What equalizer should I get?

[sqlsavior]

Hi everyone

Hi Steve!

Welcome to AK.

I would love any suggestions that any of you could provide on a nice sounding equalizer for a very high-end stereo system. The purpose is not to compensate anything, rather to add fun tweakability, nothing else.
so... What EQ should he get?

I hope you don't mind if some of us make some fun out of the situation you outlined in your original post. It is full of deliciously silly irony, which I'm sure from your post that you already appreciate. As far as a recommendation, maybe ask Mr. Pig about his experiences with Dexx.

IMO, the overriding reason that his sound is the best you've heard is that nothing is ruining it. If he can't switch an equalizer out of the circuit easily, I'd say don't put one in.

Many audiophiles only approve of EQ circuits where they don't think or know about them. Such as the EQ in a phono preamp or the voicing circuits built into the passive crossovers of many speakers. Anyway I think that lets the genie out of the bottle and frees audiophiles to EQ as they please free of anxiety. If you prefer EQ fine, if not, fine.

FWIW, I approve of EQ circuits that serve a purpose, and I do believe fun is a legitimate purpose.

So, in fun:

A solution in search of a first-world problem...

Honestly, get the guy a used bulldozer, and let him tweak outside! Much, much more fun!

 

[xero-D-hero]

Many graphic EQ's are going to have like .00X% THD and >100db S2N.
If that's adding enough distortion to ruin one's listening enjoyment,then odds are that person will never be 100% satisfied with the SQ of their system.
Many (most) preamps/amps/sources/etc./etc. add as much (or more) THD as that,possibly even that Mc MX-160 ??? (could'nt find those specs on that unit so I honestly dunno)
I know this for sure,I'd have to give up the audio hobby entirely if that sorta THD were a deal breaker to me...

And as BMWCCA pointed out,if one understands how to set their EQ levels properly,then the net db/gain added = zero.
He's also right about taking the EQ outta the signal chain completely,usually that's as simple as throwing a switch on the preamp and killing the tape/epl loop.

Love 'em -or- hate 'em EQ's are a fact of life in the audio world.
Most recorded music in the last 40-50 years is EQ'd in one way-shape-form,does anyone honestly believe we'd all be better off if they did'nt exist @ all ???
Dont bother answering that ??? folks,,,that was a rhetorical question...

To each their own I say.
It's up to the individual to use (or not use) an EQ as they see fit.

FWIW

Bret P.

 

[BobbyBluz]

The only real bottom line is that if the customer is happy all is good. The rest of the subject has been discussed to death far too many times.