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From: 5121cdd@houxm.UUCP (C.DORY)
Newsgroups: net.audio
Subject: equalizers, etc
Message-ID: <781@houxm.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 10-May-84 10:08:25 EDT
Article-I.D.: houxm.781
Posted: Thu May 10 10:08:25 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 12-May-84 07:42:37 EDT
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Holmdel NJ
Lines: 33


Equalizers are very audible in the system -- even with the controls set to
"flat".  I've had experience with several graphics (of much higher quality
than you'll ever see in home hi-fi) and the were quite audible -- even
when I was monitoring with JBL studio monitors (lousy loudspeakers
although they play quite loudly).  What I heard (in most cases) was
a defocused (blurred) stereo image, more noise, and less dynamic impact.

Don't get me wrong, however, equalizers are very useful devices.  In
recording, the engineer can change the sound of the violin section to suite
his personal tastes -- of course, Antonio Stradivari didn't know what
a violin should sound like.  As well, discos (and home discos too) can
boost the low end 10-12dB with an equalizer so that the sound of the
bass drum can alter your heart beat and crack plaster.

In all seriousness folks, equalizers are more often abused than used
properly.  Many stereo systems (do to room acoustics, etc.) really need
some form of equalization -- my only point is to use the equalizer ONLY
to fix the room/loudspeaker match problem.  There will be, in some cases
an audible price to pay for the use of the equalizer, however.  I think
that the salespeople in audio stores have made a killing on selling
equalizers to hi-fi enthusiasts who are made to believe they have a
need for a equalizer.


Craig Dory
AT&T Bell Laboratories
Holmdel, NJ


P.S.  You don't need to be a "super-human" to hear these or many other
      phenomenon discussed on this net -- a little careful listening, call
      it "training", is sufficient.