Graphic Equaliser for RPi?

[Starterman]

Currently using RPi2 + IQ Audio DAC+ and Moode (release 3.1 2016-12-05).
I would like to be able to adjust the frequency balance, ideally like a graphic equaliser.
Some googling shows that there is a possibility to do this with SoX, but I have no clue as to how to implement this.

Can anyone guide me as to how to do this? I'm happy to change to Volumio or another lump of software, but if it involves code I will need quite a bit of hand-holding.

Thanks,
Dave

[jonners]

Hi Dave,
Volumio (2.368) now has a graphic equaliser plug-in available, easy to install. Moode 4.0 has graphic and parametric eq, but installing Moode is not as simple as it was. Still not that difficult though if you have the time and patience to learn the process.

[Starterman]

Thanks John, I just noticed that Moode 4.0 has a 10 channel eq'er. Any idea on the spec of the Volumio and where to find instructions to add the plugin?

[jonners]

The Volumio is 10-channel, that's all I know.
Select Plug-Ins from the menu, find the Eq one from the menu on the left and click to install it. Then turn it on. That's it.

[Starterman]

I'm guessing that they both use the same Alsaequal graphic equaliser - see the pic here:
http://svxcard.f5uii.net/doku.php?id=en:equalizer

I will give Volumio a go in the next few days.

Thanks John!

[Primalsea]

The believe the equaliser plugin disables the soft volume control. I like to listen with volume at 100% on volumio as there is a noticeable difference in quality at lower volumes, but soft volume is handy for just general listening of radio and Amazon Music etc. If you use the soft volume you will lose some convenience potentially.

[Starterman]

I am using hardware volume control in ithe IQAudio DAC.
In the past I found that upsampling (including the advanced audio kernel) and software volume control doesn't give the best sound. I'm hoping I can keep no upsampling and hardware vol.

[Marco]

Hi Dave,

I'm intrigued as to what you're finding is lacking, sonically, with the RPi/IQ Audio combo, such that you feel that adding a graphic equaliser will help matters?

Having used that combo myself now for some time, I've never even been remotely tempted to change its sound in that way, as it sounds *spot on*, 'as is'! :)

Are you using yours with a high-quality fully-regulated linear PSU, or battery, instead of the crappy SMPS unit supplied?

If not, my advice would be to pursue that route, before adding a graphic EQ, as you'll be making a genuine improvement, rather than simply adding a bandage (by increasing distortion to alter the tonal response), in an attempt to 'cure' whatever issue it is you're currently experiencing.

Marco.

[Marco]

I like to listen with volume at 100% on volumio as there is a noticeable difference in quality at lower volumes...

Interesting, Paul. For me, it's the exact opposite. I set the recommended PCM level at 96db, in alsamixer, (which corresponds to a setting of 0db), then disabled the hardware control. If I set the PCM level at 100%, it's clipped on peaks (sound is too loud and sometimes distorts), when playing music that's been recorded at a high level.

You might not notice it though, if you're only playing audiophile recordings, with very good dynamic range, which also tend not to be recorded 'hot'.

Marco.

[Simon_LDT]

Marco, what's this about 96% being 0db in Volumio? Does that mean 100% is over 0db? Curious as I've always left it at 100% but now I'm wondering......

[Marco]

Hi Simon,

Read here: https://volumio.org/forum/alsamixer-settings-should-different-for-dacs-t3809.html

Marco.

[struth]

with moode the mixer is blanked out now. Have you ever tried moode 3.7(last version b4 it changed to version4.)

[Simon_LDT]

Hi Simon,

Read here: https://volumio.org/forum/alsamixer-settings-should-different-for-dacs-t3809.html

Marco.

Thanks Marco. Had a read but found it a bit confusing. Is that only applicable for I2S DACs? I'm using an external DAC and am sure I usually have all the mixer options turned off but I'll have to have a look in the options again when I boot it up next.

[Marco]

with moode the mixer is blanked out now. Have you ever tried moode 3.7(last version b4 it changed to version4.)

Was that question directed at me, mate? :)

If so, I've not messed with any of the settings for ages, since Duncan last installed everything with alsamixer. I just leave it as it is and enjoy the music, but I do know from times when I've experimented with the settings, that in my system, the PCM level sounds best set at 96%. Anything higher causes audible clipping on music peaks.

Marco.

[Marco]

Thanks Marco. Had a read but found it a bit confusing. Is that only applicable for I2S DACs? I'm using an external DAC and am sure I usually have all the mixer options turned off but I'll have to have a look in the options again when I boot it up next.

Not sure Simon. All I can comment on is the results of my experience to date, as outlined. Next time you boot up, try setting the PCM level at 96% and disabling the hardware control, and see if you can detect a sonic improvement or not :)

Marco.

[Starterman]

Hi Dave,

I'm intrigued as to what you're finding is lacking, sonically, with the RPi/IQ Audio combo, such that you feel that adding a graphic equaliser will help matters?

Having used that combo myself now for some time, I've never even been remotely tempted to change its sound in that way, as it sounds *spot on*, 'as is'! :)

Are you using yours with a high-quality fully-regulated linear PSU, or battery, instead of the crappy SMPS unit supplied?

If not, my advice would be to pursue that route, before adding a graphic EQ, as you'll be making a genuine improvement, rather than simply adding a bandage (by increasing distortion to alter the tonal response), in an attempt to 'cure' whatever issue it is you're currently experiencing.

Marco.

Hi Marco,

It's not the Pi/DAC that I'm trying to fix, it's the speakers!!
This is rather OT for this particular thread but....
As you probably know I have been running a DIY setup with CAOW1 speakers and ZRB bass extenders (as you heard at NEBO 6ish, where they sounded rather poor TBH). Since then I have moved from an old Arcam CDP, which I had found difficult to beat, even with very expensive modern digital, to the Pi + IQ DAC+ Moode. I have experimented a lot with PSs and believe I have it fairly well optimised. I also bought a Piano 2.1 and Kali but was disappointed with the sound, no matter how I powered the pair.
Anyway I been very happy with this setup until recently, when I visited a friend - actually the guy who designed the ZRB. He has quite a collection of speakers, all of which are improved by adding the ZRBs: ESL63, Gale 401, LS3/5A, JR149. In the past we allways preferred my CAOW1s, but he has added a pair of LS50s to his collection. Long story short... possibly/probably the best sound I have ever heard from any hifi!!
Now here's the crazy bit: he had an ancient budget graphic equaliser in circuit!!!
Just a couple of dB cut at 2.5KHz transformed the KEF/ZRB combo into something astonishing. It all just snapped into focus and tune. Brass instruments sounded real with wonderful harmonic shading/balance but not by being bright or forward. Voices were full bodied but clear. We then tried the CAOW1s and although they had a better tonal balance without eq they just could not get close to the clarity and correctness of the KEFs (with eq) - particularly noticeable on brass instruments.

So, when I started this thread I was thinking of buying a pair of LS50s (despite the looks :-() and tweaking the eq in the Pi. But the disappointment with my own system after this experience caused me to fish out a load of old kit and start a period of frenzied experimenting. Final conclusion: The old Arcam CDP is slightly better than the Pi+ DAC.
So now I'm not sure which way to go. Going back to dicking about with CDs is not appealing, so I'm thinking about a Soekris dam1021 in the hope that this will give the best of both worlds in combination with the Pi. This would still leave the speaker issue and how to eq them, but I think I have to sort the source first.

[Marco]

Hi Dave,

Ah I see, no worries. However, from your opening post you can see how the confusion occurred, as there is no mention there of speakers:



Currently using RPi2 + IQ Audio DAC+ and Moode (release 3.1 2016-12-05).
I would like to be able to adjust the frequency balance, ideally like a graphic equaliser.
Some googling shows that there is a possibility to do this with SoX, but I have no clue as to how to implement this.

Can anyone guide me as to how to do this? I'm happy to change to Volumio or another lump of software, but if it involves code I will need quite a bit of hand-holding.


;)

Anyway, good luck with your project and I hope that you get to where you want to be with your system soon :)

Marco.

[Yatsushiro]

The 96% setting was only to be used with DACs using Ti PCM5122 chips, and then only with older linux kernels. Most RPi sw builds from mid 2016 onwards should not need the 96% setting, as 100% is now 0dB.

[Simon_LDT]

The 96% setting was only to be used with DACs using Ti PCM5122 chips, and then only with older linux kernels. Most RPi sw builds from mid 2016 onwards should not need the 96% setting, as 100% is now 0dB.

Thanks Paul. Was doing some searching this morning and couldn't find anything much. I'm currently listening and have looked at the settings. Seems that when using 'Mixer' set to 'None' it disables any volume control (as I thought) so can't change it from 100%. I haven't tried any of the other Mixer settings but don't think I need to as I've got no reason to need volume control at the source. I just want it to send an unmolested signal to my DAC (I don't even use upsampling).

[Marco]

Hi Paul,


The 96% setting was only to be used with DACs using Ti PCM5122 chips, and then only with older linux kernels. Most RPi sw builds from mid 2016 onwards should not need the 96% setting, as 100% is now 0dB.

Thanks for the info. No idea how that applies in my case, using an IQ Audio DAC, bought around 2016. I'm not sure which chipset it uses. As I said, all I can do is report what I can hear, and in my system I can clearly hear clipping on musical peaks (on 'hot', high-level recordings) with the setting at 100%.

Marco.