18-Nov-2015, 16:28
This is my first post on this forum. Be advised that I dabble in this stuff, I am far from being an expert. I'm happy to share experiences though.
I have embarked on setting up and using speaker EQ (or is it room EQ?) My system comprises a Windows 10 Dell tablet with docking station which is connected to my Devialet 120 via direct Ethernet. The Devialet then drives my Tannoy DC10's. I tried 3 separate trial VST EQ plugins using JRiver, and settled on Mathaudio, which conveniently was the cheapest of the bunch (I also tried DIRAC and Sonarworks and preferred the sound of Mathaudio).
To be honest, I use it, and I don't use it. Let me explain:
In measuring my room response, I found that each of the packages gave very consistent results for the frequency response in my room. I had a very boomy bass (which you didn't need to measure to notice, but it was identified right around 80Hz), and then the measurement process highlighted a couple of troublesome peaks around 3 - 4kHz. I have used that information to set the tone controls in my 120 to rein the bass in, and also tame the sparkle at 3.5kHz.
I'm currently trying to decide whether to use the EQ plug-in with the tone controls flat, or simply use the measurement info I have and adjust with the tone controls but no EQ. Either way brings a marked improvement over a non adjusted system, I just can't decide which I prefer, but I'm inclined towards using the tone controls with no EQ (of course I benefitted from the EQ measurement process to do this effectively).
As a further note, I managed to use EQ with Roon as a front end for the JRiver driver. It didn't seem too happy with 24/192, but I didn't spend too much time fiddling with the settings, so it could be that it would work okay, or perhaps these plugins only operate up to 24/96. I don't know.
My suggestion would be to measure your room, and adjust your bass response as a minimum. Time will tell you whether the rest is okay. If you use JRiver, the EQ trials can be had for free and you have 2-4 weeks to work out how they work, and whether they work for you. I used a Dayton UMM-6 USB microphone which wasn't expensive as these things go.
There is a very good article on Archimago's Blog about EQ, and for a definitive, and somewhat technical run through, check out the article by Mitch on Computer Audiophile.
Good luck and regards.
Bob
I have embarked on setting up and using speaker EQ (or is it room EQ?) My system comprises a Windows 10 Dell tablet with docking station which is connected to my Devialet 120 via direct Ethernet. The Devialet then drives my Tannoy DC10's. I tried 3 separate trial VST EQ plugins using JRiver, and settled on Mathaudio, which conveniently was the cheapest of the bunch (I also tried DIRAC and Sonarworks and preferred the sound of Mathaudio).
To be honest, I use it, and I don't use it. Let me explain:
In measuring my room response, I found that each of the packages gave very consistent results for the frequency response in my room. I had a very boomy bass (which you didn't need to measure to notice, but it was identified right around 80Hz), and then the measurement process highlighted a couple of troublesome peaks around 3 - 4kHz. I have used that information to set the tone controls in my 120 to rein the bass in, and also tame the sparkle at 3.5kHz.
I'm currently trying to decide whether to use the EQ plug-in with the tone controls flat, or simply use the measurement info I have and adjust with the tone controls but no EQ. Either way brings a marked improvement over a non adjusted system, I just can't decide which I prefer, but I'm inclined towards using the tone controls with no EQ (of course I benefitted from the EQ measurement process to do this effectively).
As a further note, I managed to use EQ with Roon as a front end for the JRiver driver. It didn't seem too happy with 24/192, but I didn't spend too much time fiddling with the settings, so it could be that it would work okay, or perhaps these plugins only operate up to 24/96. I don't know.
My suggestion would be to measure your room, and adjust your bass response as a minimum. Time will tell you whether the rest is okay. If you use JRiver, the EQ trials can be had for free and you have 2-4 weeks to work out how they work, and whether they work for you. I used a Dayton UMM-6 USB microphone which wasn't expensive as these things go.
There is a very good article on Archimago's Blog about EQ, and for a definitive, and somewhat technical run through, check out the article by Mitch on Computer Audiophile.
Good luck and regards.
Bob
