bvollrath
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buying an equalizer - need help
ohfourohnine
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" Equalization makes my stereo sound much better than using the tone controls. I am in the market for a new one,..."

First of all, welcome to the forum. Having said that, Zimri, the fact is that lots of folks on this forum shun both the use of equalizers and tone controls. Having said that, maybe some good advice can come your way if you provide a little more info about your system's components, the size of your room, what you use the system for (music, movies, both), and your music preferences. Beyond that, what is it about the sound of your system with the equalizer that you like better than without it? More bass, better highs, etc.

I'm aware that you'd probably prefer some direct response to the question as you raised it originally, but I can't help you at all without knowing more and I suspect some others who frequent this forum might react the same way.

bvollrath
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Cheapskate,
I have a Denon 100W/ch integrated amp driving 3 way JBL speakers with 12" woofers. My stereo is in my living room which is 12'x17' with the stereo on the 17' wall. The room is also has a 12' opening into the dining room that is 12'x11'. I use a Panasonic DVD player as a transport that feeds digitally into a MSB d/a converter. This then goes to the EQ which then goes to the amp. W/O the EQ, I need more low end bass (30-70 Hz +7db) and flatter highs (8Khz -5db, 16Khz +5db). My musical preference is hard rock (Aerosmith, Rush, VanHalen, Led Zeppelin). I also like to listen to Christian rock (Petra, Michael W Smith, Newsboys) and Classic Country (Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Lynn Anderson). The equalizer that died on me did a good job when it was working. It was a BSR 10 band. I just need something to replace it.
Hopefully all of this info will help. Thanks again.

zimri

CECE
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www.rane.com great stuff, not useless toys either. There is a difference in how equalization is done in the unit. Rane has some nice stuff. If equalization is shunned, it makes no sense, how else do you control effects of a room that you can't rebuild. Wonder why they use equalizers then in pro set ups? Guess they don't get it like audio phlakes do. I've heard the routines, about how this control and that control effects this or that....best live sound i ever heard at H.O.B in chicago...they had all kinds of controls and knobs and they musta' been making those audio electons move here and there, but what eventually came out of the incredble system was GREAT, no boom, no shrill, every nuance of every note was pristine.... A 10 band is kinda limited go 1/3 octave at least, then read all about WHY RANE does things their way, how they do it. PERFECT "Q"
http://www.rane.com/deq60l.html

CECE
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http://www.rane.com/swf/deq60lfp.swf

ohfourohnine
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Sounds like you know what you want/need. Try Audiogon item 1174806375. AudioControl C101SE selling for $250. Might be right up your alley. Looks like a reliable sellar. Link provides photos, review, etc.

Best of Luck,

bvollrath
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Cheapskate,
yeah, I guess I have an idea of what I want, but I'm not sure where to find it. All of the manufactures that I am familiar with (Denon, Sony, Pioneer, Onkyo, NAD, MSB, etc.) do not make equalizers any more. So I have no idea of what company to buy from. I'm looking for someone to recommend some companies for me. All of my equipment has the RCA-phono jacks. So I would like an EQ that accepts the RCA-phono plugs. Where do I find that AudioControl that you mentioned? I tried googling it, but I cannot find it. Thanks.

zimri

Kal Rubinson
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http://www.wholehouseaudiocontrol.com/product.asp?Product_Id=28282&d_id=8129&l1=8129&l2=
Looks like AC doesn't make them any more. Try ebay.

Kal

ohfourohnine
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The Audiogon reference I passed along in my earlier post is a private sale offer of a used, but high quality, ($800 new) equalizer. Try googling Audiogon and go from there. I suspect you'll have more luck finding a used one than a new one, so eBay and Audiogon seem logical sources to me.

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful. Good luck.

CECE
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Newer RANE are better sounding. AC had an annoying hiss issue to me. I used Audio Control for years, the RANE are much superior. And they make a variety of different models

CECE
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Rane has a Balanced to RCA converter called Balance Buddy it works great. Rane makes the best stuff at the reasonable price level. Klark Teknik and some others are also great, but pricey

bvollrath
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That Rane ME15S looks like a nice equalizer. I've only used RCA connections. I just want to make sure that I understand this. TRS and RCA phono are both unbalanced? Does this mean that if I had adapters that went from phono to TRS, I would be able to use the TRS inputs and outputs on the Rane? Would the impedence and audio levels match? Or be close? If I buy the Rane, I would like to hook it up the best/simplest way possible. Thanks for your help.

bvollrath
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I just want to let everyone know what I ended up doing. I found someone that I work worth is into audio and I got his advice. He told me that Applied Research & Technology (ART) makes good audio products. I never heard of the company before, but decided to give them a chance because they have the phono jacks. Converting between different jacks sounded complicated. I just wanted to keep it simple. I bought the ART 341 web page. It sounds great. I'm very pleased with my purchase. It gives my whole system a well balanced and defined sound. I just wanted to post this so people are aware of what is available out there because I never heard of the company before. Thanks for all of the responses to my question.

zimri

CECE
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You won't hear of lotsa great stuff reading only consumer oriented magazines, like SteroPhile and Absolute sound etc. Ya needs www.prosoundnews.com And Pro Audio Review ART is a very common brand there, so is Rane EAW,SLS..so much good stuff, actually better stuff for less money than most extremely overhyped consumer things, that sell flash and nonsense, before sound quality and build quality and reliabilty and robustness. I notice what brands are NOT in pro publications...Furutech, Tara,and numerous other nonsense brands.

Elk
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Zimri, it's great to hear that everything worked out and you are happy with your system. This is all that matters.

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