2 Channel Tone control system

[rockitman]

tone control on a two channel reference system ? Sacrilege I say ! Not !!!!

This is what I am thinking of doing. Sort of a setup like the venerable Cello Palette system:

I would want the EQ controls on a tilt stand using 15 foot xlr interconnects and a long power cord so the eq can be accessible and adjusted from my seating position.

EQ: Millennia NSEQ-4

Mixer Stand:

Having the EQ in a tape loop would allow me to listen to sources w/o the audio signal even going into the tape loop/EQ if desired. Thoughts ? I think having the ability to tweak the sound whether digital or analog would come in handy on many recordings.

 

[Bruce B]

That 21k peak/shelf band is the sweetest I've heard!

 

[flez007]

Christian - my best eq yet are my Siltech cables

 

[rockitman]

Christian - my best eq yet are my Siltech cables

The siltech 770i definatley improved the sound on my A810. I'm getting the eq for many different apps, inlcuding in house recording. I have many live recorded tapes from the DAT era done with Schoeps mics... many times, the bass is too overwhelming on two channel home systems. Some of that bass could be toned down and would sound much better. It will be a nice option to have setup next to my listening position to tweak the sound if desired.

I just bit the bullet and ordered tha Millennia NSEQ-4

 

[microstrip]

I still own the acrylic cart - but I sold the Audio Palette long ago!

It sounded good but is was the more anti-musical equipment I ever owned! Let me explain my opinion, before the anti-subjective members fires all their missiles : while I owned it, most of the time I was listening to the effect of turning the wheels, not to the music. And even after I settled the positions, something that for a non expert takes a long time, you are always thinking that may be a click on that button will improve the sound ...

I bought it used, after the Cello demise, and the day it left was a happy day: my next preamplifier did not have an equalizer and I could listen to music again. Also, unbelievable in high-end audio for a consumer, I could sell it for more what I paid!

I once watched Mark Levinson carrying a demo of the AP. He was a master using (and advertising ) it. But when you buy the device you do not buy the permanent services of the creator, and no short course can teach a neophyte to use it properly in a fast way...

 

[Phelonious Ponk]

I still own the acrylic cart - but I sold the Audio Palette long ago!

It sounded good but is was the more anti-musical equipment I ever owned! Let me explain my opinion, before the anti-subjective members fires all their missiles : while I owned it, most of the time I was listening to the effect of turning the wheels, not to the music. And even after I settled the positions, something that for a non expert takes a long time, you are always thinking that may be a click on that button will improve the sound ...

I bought it used, after the Cello demise, and the day it left was a happy day: my next preamplifier did not have an equalizer and I could listen to music again. Also, unbelievable in high-end audio for a consumer, I could sell it for more what I paid!

I once watched Mark Levinson carrying a demo of the AP. He was a master using (and advertising ) it. But when you buy the device you do not buy the permanent services of the creator, and no short course can teach a neophyte to use it properly in a fast way...

This objectivist can totally relate to what you're saying, Micro. It doesn't matter if it's a piece of equipment or just a wave of paranoia, whatever causes you to think more about the sound than the music is "anti-musical." Best use of the term "musical" I've every seen in an audiophile context.

Tim

 

[XV-1]

Rockitman

I have a Behringer Ultra Q parametric eq in my tape loop. I only use it for some bass correction at 40 Hz and it does help my 40 Hz hump a lot. I still need to play around with my 125 Hz hump more Still have to figure out how do control rhis better with bass traps, but 40 Hz is difficult

 

[rockitman]

I still own the acrylic cart - but I sold the Audio Palette long ago!

It sounded good but is was the more anti-musical equipment I ever owned! Let me explain my opinion, before the anti-subjective members fires all their missiles : while I owned it, most of the time I was listening to the effect of turning the wheels, not to the music. And even after I settled the positions, something that for a non expert takes a long time, you are always thinking that may be a click on that button will improve the sound ...

I bought it used, after the Cello demise, and the day it left was a happy day: my next preamplifier did not have an equalizer and I could listen to music again. Also, unbelievable in high-end audio for a consumer, I could sell it for more what I paid!

I once watched Mark Levinson carrying a demo of the AP. He was a master using (and advertising ) it. But when you buy the device you do not buy the permanent services of the creator, and no short course can teach a neophyte to use it properly in a fast way...

I see the biggest use for me is eq'ing live audience mic'd recordings I made with various bands back in the DAT days (hundreds of them). The can use a little bass cut at the appropriate frequency to alleviate boxiness/congested and overly extended sound in the bass region...some could use a hi frequency boost. I never used mic roll off when live recording. Also, some of the recordings are too bass demanding to play nicely on hi end audio speakers....PA systems would be a better match playing them flat out of the box. This unit I am getting is also superior sonically to the cello and much more flexible. It is pretty much state of the art in the recording engineering biz.

 

[Bruce B]

It is pretty much state of the art in the recording engineering biz.

The Millennia HV-3D mic pre's that we use are the best out there! Anything that John La Grou touches is pure magic!

 

[rockitman]

Let me explain my opinion, before the anti-subjective members fires all their missiles :

L O L !

Tom

Thanks for your valued contribution to the thread. You obviously don't get it application wise.

 

[terryj]

I still own the acrylic cart - but I sold the Audio Palette long ago!

It sounded good but is was the more anti-musical equipment I ever owned! Let me explain my opinion, before the anti-subjective members fires all their missiles : while I owned it, most of the time I was listening to the effect of turning the wheels, not to the music. And even after I settled the positions, something that for a non expert takes a long time, you are always thinking that may be a click on that button will improve the sound ...

I bought it used, after the Cello demise, and the day it left was a happy day: my next preamplifier did not have an equalizer and I could listen to music again. Also, unbelievable in high-end audio for a consumer, I could sell it for more what I paid!

I once watched Mark Levinson carrying a demo of the AP. He was a master using (and advertising ) it. But when you buy the device you do not buy the permanent services of the creator, and no short course can teach a neophyte to use it properly in a fast way...

Understand the phenomenon, but surely if someone was that way inclined then it will also manifest elsewhere. Let's face it, an awful lot of audiophiles are always wondering 'what if I change that cable?'

So I think if you are subject to this phenomenon, it will come out no matter what. equally, if you are not particularly that way, then you can play for a while, find out what works for you, and live with it.

A lot of it is the new toy thing, once the novelty wears off then that is when you'll find out your 'audio personality profile' haha

 

[FrantzM]

Hi

Have you considered products such as the TAcT, Lyngdorp RP-1 or DeQX? They would accomplish what you need and a lot more. They're however digital but from the opinion of those using them, transparent.

 

[microstrip]

Understand the phenomenon, but surely if someone was that way inclined then it will also manifest elsewhere. Let's face it, an awful lot of audiophiles are always wondering 'what if I change that cable?' (...)

Yes, but my point was the Audio Palette was not a room correcting device, but a recording correction device that must be tuned for every recording (the advice given was that after carrying the optimization, you should write the six settings in the sleeves). I have met many audiophiles, but no one has a different set of cables for each recording!

At most, some vinyl aficionados have two or three turntables/tonearms/cartridges.

 

[Bruce B]

Yes, but my point was the Audio Palette was not a room correcting device, but a recording correction device that must be tuned for every recording (the advice given was that after carrying the optimization, you should write the six settings in the sleeves).

This is what mastering engineers have to do after each session. We have "recall sheets" where we mark down our settings for each track we mastered.

Here's a Millennia recall sheet to get you started Christian.

 

[flez007]

@Bruce - I have a feeling regarding your vast experience in audio and recording keeps you "holding your horses" when we poor audiophiles are in the search of sonic nirvana , in other words, purity just doesen't exists, since studio eq and mastering, compression or room correction are just some of the variables that are way over our head and it does not really matters if we play cables, speaker placement, tube or SS amplification since all that plays a minor part of the whole success formula.

Tell me I am wrong!!!

 

[Bruce B]

Tell me I am wrong!!!

I really wish I could. Sometimes the tapes/files we get, for instance, from UMG, sound nothing alike the production run. Our hands are tied by the labels, producers and everyone inbetween.

 

[treitz3]

I really wish I could. Sometimes the tapes/files we get, for instance, from UMG, sound nothing alike the production run. Our hands are tied by the labels, producers and everyone inbetween.

Unfortunately, this is the cold and hard truth.

 

[terryj]

Yes, but my point was the Audio Palette was not a room correcting device, but a recording correction device that must be tuned for every recording (the advice given was that after carrying the optimization, you should write the six settings in the sleeves). I have met many audiophiles, but no one has a different set of cables for each recording!

At most, some vinyl aficionados have two or three turntables/tonearms/cartridges.

sorry, was not clear probably. I think I got that about the pallete and your reaction, ie 'fiddling' with recordings rather than room.

I do both with the deqx, so sort the room and then you can 'play' on top of that. You know, 80's recording all bright and brittle yada yada, then you can (as with the cello) mod it to suit from the LP with the remote. (at least I have 99 memories, rather than having to write it all down! Maybe 63-the memory number-is all I'd have to write).

Still, when I FIRST got it, well a new hammer and all that, there seemed to be an awful lot of nails that needed hammering.

Now, well I just don't bother to be honest. Not sure we are disagreeing all that much

 

[rockitman]

So my Millennia NSEQ-4 arrived yesterday. What a smart decision despite some of the skeptics opinions that two channel systems should have no tone (frequency adjustment) control. Running the eq in a tape loop allows me to a/b compare the source vs. eq. While I listen mostly to analog...Vinyl and RTR, I have found listening to redbook digital is tolerable once again. The eq allows me to better the sound that is usually compressed and or normalized on cd. I can zero in on the bass and extend that frequency while adding air, if necessary using the 21k eq shelving feature. Happy camper here. Thanks for your recommendation Bruce B.

All I have left to do is upgrade the interconnect to and from the unit...no small task as it require two pairs of 3.5 meter XLR cables. Based on what I want to get, Siltech Classic anniversay, I'm looking at close to $5K (more than the eq cost) for my wires. I will take a pic of the final setup soon. It's like having a command dashboard right in front of you at your listening position.

 

[Bruce B]

. I will take a pic of the final setup soon. It's like having a command dashboard right in front of you at your listening position.

Congrats!

Maybe someday you'll graduate to the Mothership!!