Graphic equilizers?


This may be obvious to most of you, but it isn't to me. I'm in the process of upgrading my speakers from PSB 5T's to Vandersteens, model yet to be determined. I've gotten good advice on other threads about this topic. The PSB's have an aluminum tweeter that can sound so harsh it gives me a headache. I've tried placement, tissue paper taped over the tweeter which works, sort of, and I have some "tweeter rings" on the way. I'm driving them with a Creek 5350 integrated amp, which does not have tone controls. Wouldn't an equilizer solve ALL the problems? I used to own one made by Sound Craftsman that was touted to add no distortion to the signal. I know that we now have digital correction, but the price is beyond me. Does anyone out there use an equilizer, and if so what model? I would appreciate advice.
elmuncy

Showing 1 response by rives

Do not go the equalizer route for high frequency. High frequency harshness is caused by three possible things and should be corrected at the problem--not a band aid:
1. The room is too hard, not enough high frequency absoption. The cure--add absorption particularly at the first reflection points of the side walls and floor (sometimes the ceiling too)
2. The source/amplifier equipment is harsh. Some equipment just has that characteristic and does not work well particularly with speakers that have even a slightly exagerated top end. The cure is to change the source or amplifier OR the speakers to something that is better matched.
3. The speakers, as already mentioned, can have too much high frequency accentuation. The cure is to change speakers.

Now keep in mind, that even VERY good speakers can have this characteristic. You may be very sensitive to this. Thiels are ones that have the tendency to accentuate the high frequencies--yet they are very good speakers. I have not listened to the PSB's enough to make a good judgement. I have listened to the Vandy 5s and do not think they have too much energy on the top.

Now that I've said that--I do want to clarify that equalizers are not necessarily a bad thing (contrary to many audiophiles opinion). In the high frequency the problem can be cured without electrical interaction--and thus should be dealt with that way. However, in the bass region where room modes dominate the speaker/room response, quite often parametric (NOT graphic) equalization is about the only reasonable way to cure the problem--because the other solutions are an entire wall of bass traps (not one or two) or moving the walls and ceiling distance (pretty much out of the question for most people). In many cases, once you get the bass right--everything else comes together--the mids and highs become so much clearer.

If you need some basic tips on room acoustics our website offers a tutorial. Go to issues and it will take you to the listening room and you can learn more about these issues. www.rivesaudio.com
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