View Full Version : Any graphic equaliser recommendations - £30-50?
Eskimo123
12-03-2015, 17:20
Hi guys
I was just wondering if anyone had any recommendations for graphic eq separates for around £30-50?? My current setup is a Rotel RA-960BX and some Royd Minstrels.
Even better if anyone has any for sale Northwest UK based.... but recommendations are fine in any case!
Thanks in advance!
James
That's a tough call James. I doubt you could get one for the price you want to pay - not even from 'Cash Converters'. :scratch:
Plenty on eBay at the moment as BIN that are at the top end of, or just above, your budget.
My personal preference when I used them was with Technics or JVC but there's plenty around in that class; not high end but perfectly useable.
PaulStewart
13-03-2015, 10:55
Hi James,
Your question begs the wuestion "What do you want it for" if you want to correct for room acoustics, there are normally better ways to do this by treating the room itself. If that is not possible, then look for something like a JVC SEA-80 with a spectrum analyser and an input for a measuring mic. That way you can use it, to set up the room using a pink noise source. Some graphics from that period had them built in, but there are many CDs available.
If you want it to make the sound "Better" my advice would be don't bother, cheap graphics add phase problems and extra components in the way of the signal. They generally just screw up the sound, far better to use the cash to buy a few more tunes to play.
Here's a Technics one that looks to be in fairly good nick for £50 - pretty fairy lights included ;)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TECHNICS-SH-E65-GRAPHIC-EQUALIZER-SPECTRUM-ANALYSER-MIDI-SIZE-/231501097247?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item35e68a691f
If you use a PC and a DAC then JRiver's graphic equaliser and parametric EQ is so superior to any analogue EQ unit you would not believe it. Extremely transparent too. Combine it with a measurement mic so you know your system's issues/limitations and it really is worthwhile as well as being very interesting.
UMIK miniDSP highly recoomended for a mic.
However, if you don't do digital... pointless post of mine:)
The Black Adder
13-03-2015, 16:05
Hi James,
Your question begs the wuestion "What do you want it for" if you want to correct for room acoustics, there are normally better ways to do this by treating the room itself. If that is not possible, then look for something like a JVC SEA-80 with a spectrum analyser and an input for a measuring mic. That way you can use it, to set up the room using a pink noise source. Some graphics from that period had them built in, but there are many CDs available.
If you want it to make the sound "Better" my advice would be don't bother, cheap graphics add phase problems and extra components in the way of the signal. They generally just screw up the sound, far better to use the cash to buy a few more tunes to play.
Acutally, I could do with some advice on treatment, Paul. I've read your post on ze Pig. Just need to tread carefully as it has to be decor friendly.
As for an EQ... well, I'm with Paul on this. Once you touch it, you lose it. Graphic EQ's are pretty awful, lot's of connections in the signal path. I'd say position your speakers/listening position better and treat your room if possible...
The Barbarian
13-03-2015, 18:11
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alesis-M-EQ-230-Equaliser-Graphic-EQ-/131448947984?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item1e9af7c510
Eskimo123
14-03-2015, 12:31
Thanks a lot guys!!!
The main reason was to have a bit more control and to tweak the sound a bit. I don't want to go too far down the road of treating the room etc.... I guess if I'm honest it probably is to make the sound "better" out of my Royd minstrels... It's almost there but not quite.... Maybe I need to look at alternative speakers rather than eqing these ones!
The Barbarian
14-03-2015, 13:17
The people who refuse to use EQ or Tone controls are the ones that fart about for years cos they are never happy.. :D
The Black Adder
14-03-2015, 13:31
LOL... People who use EQ's spend years farting about with the fecking thing. :ner:
oooh, but if I just increase that slider.... ooh!... maybe a bit more of that one.... ooh!... maybe just a bit less of that one... oooh!...oooh, but if I just increase that slider.... ooh!... maybe a bit more of that one.... ooh!... maybe just a bit less of that one... oooh, but if I just increase that slider.... ooh!... maybe a bit more of that one.... ooh!... maybe just a bit less of that one... oooh, but if I just increase that slider.... ooh!... maybe a bit more of that one.... ooh!... maybe just a bit less of that one... oooh, but if I just increase that slider.... ooh!... maybe a bit more of that one.... ooh!... maybe just a bit less of that one... oooh, but if I just increase that slider.... ooh!... maybe a bit more of that one.... ooh!... maybe just a bit less of that one... oooh, but if I just increase that slider.... ooh!... maybe a bit more of that one.... ooh!... maybe just a bit less of that one... oooh, but if I just increase that slider.... ooh!... maybe a bit more of that one.... ooh!... maybe just a bit less of that one... oooh, but if I just increase that slider.... ooh!... maybe a bit more of that one.... ooh!... maybe just a bit less of that one... oooh, but if I just increase that slider.... ooh!... maybe a bit more of that one.... ooh!... maybe just a bit less of that one... oooh, but if I just increase that slider.... ooh!... maybe a bit more of that one.... ooh!... maybe just a bit less of that one...
AAAArgh.. stop it! :steam:
jollyfix
14-03-2015, 13:33
LOL... People who use EQ's spend years farting about with the fecking thing. :ner:
oooh, but if I just increase that slider.... ooh!... maybe a bit more of that one.... ooh!... maybe just a bit less of that one... oooh!...oooh, but if I just increase that slider.... ooh!... maybe a bit more of that one.... ooh!... maybe just a bit less of that one... oooh, but if I just increase that slider.... ooh!... maybe a bit more of that one.... ooh!... maybe just a bit less of that one... oooh, but if I just increase that slider.... ooh!... maybe a bit more of that one.... ooh!... maybe just a bit less of that one... oooh, but if I just increase that slider.... ooh!... maybe a bit more of that one.... ooh!... maybe just a bit less of that one... oooh, but if I just increase that slider.... ooh!... maybe a bit more of that one.... ooh!... maybe just a bit less of that one... oooh, but if I just increase that slider.... ooh!... maybe a bit more of that one.... ooh!... maybe just a bit less of that one... oooh, but if I just increase that slider.... ooh!... maybe a bit more of that one.... ooh!... maybe just a bit less of that one... oooh, but if I just increase that slider.... ooh!... maybe a bit more of that one.... ooh!... maybe just a bit less of that one... oooh, but if I just increase that slider.... ooh!... maybe a bit more of that one.... ooh!... maybe just a bit less of that one... oooh, but if I just increase that slider.... ooh!... maybe a bit more of that one.... ooh!... maybe just a bit less of that one...
AAAArgh.. stop it! :steam:
:lol::lol::lol: very true Jo. All that normally followed by " i'll just start that track again and give it another go".
The Black Adder
14-03-2015, 13:40
:lol::lol::lol: very true Jo. All that normaly followed by " i'll just start that track again and give it another go".
...lol and then... "this track sounded really good the last time I heard it... now, which configuration was that? I've got 1,000,000,001 permutations to try, so here goes." and after all that, your 90 years old and it turns out that flat sounds the best... :doh:
The Barbarian
14-03-2015, 13:44
Bit like ooo ill change that amp cos my speakers dont sound right.. ooo o shit the amp was ok i guess cos my new speakers sound worse with my 50th new amp. o shit what have i done i better buy another new amp & hope for the best.. if only i had an Eq it would be much easier but what on earth would my Forum mates say, they would surely send me to the dog house of at the very worse exile me. I suppose ill have to save face & put up with crap sounding system..
Tell you what ill be crafty & use Interconnects & Different brands of Valves as Tone Controls, Will my mates actually twig on? Na cos they are just as crafty see
The Black Adder
14-03-2015, 13:48
Yeah, but it's much more fun and less confusing than being a slider pusher.... Nahh, naah! :ner:
Anyway only very confused people change their amps and speakers regularly. So glad I'm not like that.
Get a system and make it work in your space, it's the only way sez I.
The Barbarian
14-03-2015, 13:50
Confusing cos people havent a clue how to use frequency settings. They just slide the sliders about & hope for the best, the front pannel may as well be blank to them :lol:
The Black Adder
14-03-2015, 13:52
Confusing cos people havent a clue how to use frequency settings. They just slide the sliders about & hope for the best, the front pannel may as well be blank to them :lol:
lol.. well yes... that counts for a lot of people I think.
Andre's convinced me. I'm gonna try this graphic in my main system. What is there to lose? Plus with all those sliders it looks like you're taking it seriously:
http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac233/Macca_photos_2009/equalize001.jpg (http://s903.photobucket.com/user/Macca_photos_2009/media/equalize001.jpg.html)
There is an awful lot of negative guff about tone controls and eq controls (on both sides of the fence)
In an ideal world there would be an ideal amp with ideal speakers and ideal cables that would produce an ideal sound (for ideal people)
In the real world, achieving anything approaching that nirvana can be an extremely time consuming and very costly process that most can neither afford nor bring up the patience to pursue. There is also a raft of other situations that make globalising statements (for and against) meaningless.
In my own case, I have significant selective frequency deafness in one ear following a viral infection 30 years ago. In the 5 years between getting that properly diagnosed and having a hearing aid fitted that goes any way to combatting it, I was dependent on my amp's tone controls and sometimes additional help from a graphic equaliser to get any kind of balance in my system. Without it speech radio (for instance) was a right PITA to listen to and understand. Perhaps I could have designed a totally different system using components specifically matched to the properties and deficiencies of each ear without resorting to the dreaded taboo of tone controls but quite honestly life's too short for that kind of pissing in the wind.
Worth noting that when I was being fitted with my hearing aid the NHS guy used a special bit of kit to fine tune it - gasp !!! - a graphic equaliser :lol:
The Barbarian
14-03-2015, 14:34
Martin: there's Eq's & there's Eq's ;)
The Black Adder
14-03-2015, 14:56
One of the bes EQ's I've seen (not heard) is the big jobbie from Pioneer. I think it's one of the SPEC range... now 'THAT' looks da biz.
Martin: there's Eq's & there's Eq's ;)
Are you calling my EQ a puff?
If you must buy a graphic equaliser, buy a professional one such as those made by Urei or Klark Technic.
jollyfix
14-03-2015, 15:12
When i had Amps with tone controls, i would use them. My old Sansui 990 which i loved Bass. Treble, and Midrange tone controls. I have nothing against tone controls, or eq's. but i found Jo's post so funny as that was me back in the 80's. The wall of sound days. no stereo image, using 4 speakers ( A&B Speakers button always on). I would always sit on the floor by my HIFI ( far less effort changing records) , and fiddle with my equalizer for each track for hours at a time, i loved it, great fun. Up on one slider, adjust bass on amp also, turn off the loudness button, no turn it back on again, start track again, bass down a tad, oh sod this lets make a wave or smile with the faders, oh that sounds ok, just a wee bit more up on this fader, down a tad more on that etc... etc.... getting there... Looking back i was never trying to get the best sound, it was just fun being able to adjust the sound.
Are you calling my EQ a puff?
Wrong forum mate ;-)
The Barbarian
14-03-2015, 16:21
If you must buy a graphic equaliser, buy a professional one such as those made by Urei or Klark Technic.
I was gonna reply to Martin that Klark Technic is my choice.
http://www.klarkteknik.com/dn360.php
When i had Amps with tone controls, i would use them. My old Sansui 990 which i loved Bass. Treble, and Midrange tone controls. I have nothing against tone controls, or eq's. but i found Jo's post so funny as that was me back in the 80's. The wall of sound days. no stereo image, using 4 speakers ( A&B Speakers button always on). I would always sit on the floor by my HIFI ( far less effort changing records) , and fiddle with my equalizer for each track for hours at a time, i loved it, great fun. Up on one slider, adjust bass on amp also, turn off the loudness button, no turn it back on again, start track again, bass down a tad, oh sod this lets make a wave or smile with the faders, oh that sounds ok, just a wee bit more up on this fader, down a tad more on that etc... etc.... getting there... Looking back i was never trying to get the best sound, it was just fun being able to adjust the sound.
Used to know a guy who was a massive dub fan and had 4 massive PA speakers in his smoking room all controlled from a big mixer with eq, reverb units and tape echo units and other vintage weirdness. He even had a few police sirens and microphones wired up and as he was disabled he would just sit there playing with it all whilst we young uns would choose from his massive collection of rare 45s. He also had some kind of joystick arrangement you could send the sound whirling around the room. Told me it was what the Floyd used, I was well impressed. Happy days.
Sadly he's no longer with us. He'd probably slag me off for my little system.
Back to the OP, if I were after one then I'd be looking for a reasonably priced pro unit from the 90s. Must be loads of them around these days.
I was gonna reply to Martin that Klark Technic is my choice.
http://www.klarkteknik.com/dn360.php
Proper. But expensive. A bag of sand plus change...
I've recently asked for advice/opinions on here about whether to buy an EQ to tweak the sound and the overiding feeling was...don't.
For once I took the peeps advice and stayed clear.
A few years back I had my system singing sweetly and was proud of it. My brother paid me a visit and I played some tunes to demo it to him. He said it sounded just okay to him. He has one of those Marantz CR all in one thingymabobs. I've heard it and think it sounds bloody awful but he thinks it's great.
I've listened to friends very expensive systems and have been left wondering where the justification in the price tag is.
Just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, great sound is in the ear of the listener
A lot of us continually strive to achieve the 'perfect sound' and in the process waste a fair amount of money and much of lifes precious time.
Perhaps we should all spend less time, money and effort trying to achieve the unachievable and just listen to the music.
This is only my opinion but I don't actually think there is any such thing as perfect sound.
THERE IS JUST SOUND.
The Barbarian
18-03-2015, 12:41
SHEEP :eyebrows:
PaulStewart
18-03-2015, 21:19
If you must buy a graphic equaliser, buy a professional one such as those made by Urei or Klark Technic.
+1 Pro eqs especially the K-Ts have minimal phase change in the signal when eq'ed and are the ones to go for
PaulStewart
18-03-2015, 21:23
Acutally, I could do with some advice on treatment, Paul. I've read your post on ze Pig. Just need to tread carefully as it has to be decor friendly.
As for an EQ... well, I'm with Paul on this. Once you touch it, you lose it. Graphic EQ's are pretty awful, lot's of connections in the signal path. I'd say position your speakers/listening position better and treat your room if possible...
Hi Jo
Send me details of the room, preferably a diagram with dimensions and description of furnishings and I'll see what can be done :)
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