Equalizer suggestions? Will an EQ really make a significant audio improvement?
- Thread starter Art Vandalay
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- bose dull eqaulizer ortofon 2m red phono
First, welcome to AK, and second, sorry about the job. I know where you are, am there myself.
The fellas here are right. Let's address the speakers first. As for the eq, I have had several. None stayed. Like another said, don't put a band aid on it, fix the issue. EQ's introduce distortion and phasing issues. If you MUST use one, use it to cut bad frequencies, try never to boost.
Hang in there, be patient, we'll get ya sorted out.
The fellas here are right. Let's address the speakers first. As for the eq, I have had several. None stayed. Like another said, don't put a band aid on it, fix the issue. EQ's introduce distortion and phasing issues. If you MUST use one, use it to cut bad frequencies, try never to boost.
Hang in there, be patient, we'll get ya sorted out.
Try a sumiko pearl not much more than the red but a really nice cartige !
Not exactly.He said they sounded good with the CD player
"When I had a CD player hooked up, the CDs sounded much better than the records do now."
Now that one of the tweeters is fried? OTOH, there are many who prefer the CD presentation to that of a modest TT. What exactly are we comparing?
Sgt Shultz
Addicted Member
For truly dynamic sound, I would replace the Bose speakers all together. Those would be the first thing. A modern speaker will almost instantly solve the short-comings you are hearing. I personally run an EQ, but only to add a bit of treble to tapes and for the cool display mine has (I have a Kenwood GE7030 parametric EQ).
Art Vandalay
New Member
** Update ** OK, I have replaced the tweeters in both 401's and confirmed they are working fine. The Pyle pre-amp has been on for several days (some have suggested that it needs a "burn-in" period). I played tracks from a few albums of differing genres; rock, country, and classical. They all sound like crap; flat, dull, with no depth whatsoever. To say I am deflated is a massive understatement. I simply wanted to listen to my old records from years ago when they sounded really good. I cannot afford any more additions to this "sound system." I find it discouraging that my nice Onkyo receiver, Bose speakers, and Polk sub cause records to sound as though they are being played through Edison's original Gramophone. Everything else coming through those components sound fantastic.
Gigantic
A big, big love
As I think I mentioned previously, it’s your cartridge. I had an Ortofon red on my Pro-Ject Debut Carbon and I went through similar issues. First I thought it was the phono stage, so I replaced that and it still sounded like crap. It wasn’t my amp or speakers, because other sources sounded great. Finally, I bit the bullet and upgraded to an Ortofon Blue cart and everything sounded fantastic. You needed to fix your speakers anyway, it was a worthwhile investment. Now, skip lunch for a few weeks and next month, upgrade your stylus to a Blue. It will set you back a couple Benjamins, which is a bitter pill to swallow, but I guarantee it will be a dramatic improvement over the what you have. You’ll save a few bucks by buying only the stylus, which uses the same cartridge body as the red.
JoeESP9
ESL's & tubes since 83
Just send me all your vinyl. Problem solved.
FWIW: Even the TOTL Bose 901's don't do it for me. Their lower models sound even worse to me.
Are you sure your TT is properly set up?
I agree with this post. A standard Ortofon Red may not be the "cat's meow". Even so, I find it hard to believe it naturally sounds as bad as the OP is experiencing.
DB-7
Super Member
Do you have any friends that may have an older system that you can hook your turntable to direct (no pre-amp) to test.
On a second test. Hook the turntable with pre amp just as you would on your own system.
That would give you answers if it is a table problem or pre-amp problem.
On a second test. Hook the turntable with pre amp just as you would on your own system.
That would give you answers if it is a table problem or pre-amp problem.
jqp
Well-Known Member
Do you have the Pyle PP999? If so there are some easy mods to fix the cartridge loading. In stock form the loading is 23.5 kohm and 220 pf of capacitance. As far as an equalizer is concerned, yes go and buy one, the more bands the better! You can fine tune the bass frequencies much better than using a loudness button. Treble can sometimes use a boost in the 16 khz region as well. I can switch between eq on and eq off on my pre-amp and the sound is always better with eq on. An eq does not add any distortion.
goodolpg
Just an old fart trying to help.
If someone already asked this I didn't see it...if you're "old" or have been around loud noises a good part of your life, there's decent chance your hearing has changed. You might not be hearing the same as you did when younger. Sparkle and shimmer may be decreased or non existent now. I'm both old and spent a lot of time around loud noises for 30 + years so my ability to hear tones "way up there" is diminished. Maybe yours has been reduced as well.
Since the OP said it sounded good with cd's, it might not be very expensive to purchase a new phono cartridge and/or a different phono preamp, maybe try it and see if your listening experience improves.
Since the OP said it sounded good with cd's, it might not be very expensive to purchase a new phono cartridge and/or a different phono preamp, maybe try it and see if your listening experience improves.
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Morgan D
Super Member
Since it sounds fantastic with other sources, go back to the tech that mounted your cart and have him test your TT and phono pre on some of his gear if you can.
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^ This. You have narrowed down the problem, so that is progress. You've got something wrong in the cartridge>phono>phono preamp>receiver preamp link for sure. Try switching to a known good set of inputs on the receiver (e.g. the cd player inputs) just to see if it's something about that receiver circuit, then bring the TT/phono-pre to a tech for diagnosis.
It could be a cartridge installation error, headshell or wiring connections, a bad cartridge or phono preamp, bad cables, etc etc. The tech should have enough known good equipment to isolate the bad component.
(BTW: Electronics do not need to burn in.)
Art Vandalay
New Member
I absolutely, sincerely appreciate all of your suggestions and input. I grew up immersed in music and love albums, so this situation is extremely frustrating to me.
Being unemployed now, I cannot purchase any more equipment. The Ortofon Blue stylus is $200!
I am not going to play any records on this set up as is, so should I just return the Pyle preamp and Ortofon Red cartridge, and wait until I can afford a new turntable, cartridge, and decent preamp?
Being unemployed now, I cannot purchase any more equipment. The Ortofon Blue stylus is $200!
I am not going to play any records on this set up as is, so should I just return the Pyle preamp and Ortofon Red cartridge, and wait until I can afford a new turntable, cartridge, and decent preamp?