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Please critique my proposed set-up

6K views 45 replies 4 participants last post by  Julien43 
#1 ·
I am using Gallo Reference 3.0 loudspeakers. The Gallos have a Sub-in that allow the woofers second voice coil to be driven with a low pass signal to achieve flat response to 22Htz

My System

I plan on using the Behringer DEQ2496 between my transport and DAC. The woofers second voice coil would be driven from an amplifier fed a low pass signal through FBD

All equalization will be used for room correction of the bass frequencies. My reasoning for using the DEQ is that the full range response of the Gallos has sufficient output in the lower registrars that would benefit from room correction I also hope EQing in the digital domain will be transparent in the mid and upper frequencies

Does it sound like I'm taking on more than a novice can handle:huh:

I understand that I will have to input all filter settings manually into the DEQ. I think the hardest part will be setting up and learning REW and getting the target curves right since both curves will be applied to the same drivers There seems to be an abundance of experienced users here that might be willing to help me over the humps

Please make any suggestions. thought or tips that you feel may help

Thanks for reading my post
Julien
 
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#2 ·
So, do you plan to use one channel of the DEQ to equalize the lower end of the Gallos down to their 34Hz and the other channel to equalize and feed a power amp to connect to the second voice coil?

The specs say that the normally used Reference 3 S.A. (subwoofer amplifier) (2 x 240 watt in stereo) incorporates an active crossover/bass EQ option to extend the Nucleus Reference 3.1's bass response by driving the woofers' second voice coil directly. You would have to attempt to match the response of the active crossover of the S.A amp. Any idea of the filter specs?

brucek
 
#3 ·
I'm sorry Bruce, I should have been more clear in my original post.

I plan to use the DEQ for the full range inputs only

I will attempt to use a BFD DSP1124P to equalize an already passive lowpassed(50htz) signal for the second voice coil "sub-in" inputs

I don't have any idea what kind of EQ is used in the SA amplifier, but I don't think that will be a big deal using REW. I just hope the learning curve isn't too steep

Thanks for the response!
Julien
 
#4 ·
OK, I get the setup now.

Well, that's extremely high end equipment that you will be inserting a device into the chain. Since you will be using the DEQ exclusively in digital, it's hard to comment on the effect. Most degredation problems occur in the ADC/DAC conversion, but you are bypassing that.

I think it's certainly worth a try. The DEQ and BFD won't break the bank if you find it degrades the sound. I would think no matter what, equalizing the second coil with the BFD will be fine (and necessary). The DEQ can always be sold if it doesn't work out.

Keep us posted on how it goes.

Man, those Gallos are something else.....

brucek
 
#5 ·
Since you will be using the DEQ exclusively in digital, it's hard to comment on the effect. Most degredation problems occur in the ADC/DAC conversion, but you are bypassing that.

I think it's certainly worth a try.

I’m interested too to see how well it works (hence the do-nothing post to get the e-mail subscription :) ). Please keep us posted!

Regards,
Wayne
 
#7 ·
Thanks Guys, for your responses

For the next month or so I plan to just acquaint myself with REW buy using it to optimize speaker placement and room treatments

I don't plan to purchase any equipment until I have a good handle on the software

I think this is the best approach for me

I will post updates as I make progress on EQing my system

Thanks Again
Julien

Agan, If you have any suggestions, they are most appreciated
 
#8 ·
BTW

I am familiar with warnerwh as he post quite a bit at Audio Asylum

Some of his post are, in part, responsible for my desire to find out what digital room correction can do for my system

His post are often informative and entertaining

Wasssssup!! warnerwh??

Julien
 
#11 ·
Getting a bit of a rocky start with REW

Seeing as that I am making no progress I thought I'd leave you all a link to a recent thread where audiophiles are discussing the benefits of using the DEQ 2496 in the digital domain for room correction
I don't have enough posts to leave a link.
I can tell you that after reading the thread I feeling pretty good about my plan

I downloaded the latest driver for my Indigo IO soundcard and tried to set the level. I got the blue screen of death(a first for me since I moved to XP)
I'm not sure what the problem is. Maybe I can make some headway when I have a little more time off

I am going to do this...It just may take me some time!!
 
#12 ·
Thanks for the privlage! I'll be sure not to abuse it

Ant way, here is the link. You'll find I mentioned Home Theater Shack and REW. I hope you enjoy

audioasylum.com/audio/digital/messages/125034

Use the appropiate syntax before the text and add .html to the end
 
#13 ·
hi julien

I too can recommend the DEQ 2496. I have done a write up of the 'playing' I have done with the DEQ and REW. It is in this forum, should be reasonably obvious which one it is when you scroll through.

I am using the DEQX permanently in my main system, so at the time I was killing two birds by using the DEQ ( and learning about it ) whilst simultaneously learning how to use REW. The point however, the forum you linked to also had an article on using the DEQ. In it, he stated that he only really used the DEQ to correct the room, because as he correctly pointed out in the upper frequencies the slightest movement of the microphone causes huge changes in the measurements, which would lead to wildly varying 'corrections' if you were to use the auto eq function in correcting the speakers.

If you are only going to use the DEQ to correct the room, as the fellow in the article did, then you'd be better off using the cheaper BFD's referenced on this site.

However, to use the DEQ to correct the speakers, this is how I suggest you do it. The theory and procedure follows that of the DEQX,which IS acknowledged as a world class system.

Use the auto eq function individually on the speakers, only down to say 100-150 hz. (it has a target curve function that allows you to set the limits). If you can, do the measurements outdoors, a cleaner signal will be gotten. Only go down to 150 or so, because you are one of the lucky ones who can use REW and you will be integrating the speakers into the room up to those frequencies anyway.

Now, this is the key, DON'T measure your speakers from the listening position, as is so often recommended. Measure them from about a distance of one metre ( or at whatever distance the drivers 'merge'). If you can't do them outdoors, maximixe the distance from any first reflection.

The idea we are trying to achieve is to approximate as best we can an anechoic condition, and the correct the raw or native response of the speaker. Put back into the room, integrate the bass and then we are away.

That method helps correct the speaker whilst avoiding the gross overcorrections that can occur in the higher frequencies as mentioned in the article. It is how the DEQX does it (albeit to much higher levels of accuracy than a 60 band graphic!) and is what seems to be an essential difference to the TacT approach ( NOT that I know much about it.)

Good luck, my earlier post explains a little more on the doingness, but I wanted to add the 'thinking' behind the above approach. In my earlier post I had graphs that were flat from the listening position, they are a bit misleading simply because as I said I was learning REW at the time, hence those measurments were done in the computer room, and so the listening position was coincidentally about one metre, which was the recommended distance above!! In my real room, the listening position is more 3.5-4 metres, so correcting the speakers from the listening position would have yielded vastly different and inferior results!

lots of love

terry
 
#14 ·
Hey Terry

Everything in your post makes perfect sense. So I hope you won't take this as a slam. I am very happy with the sound I'm getting from my system(incd. bass)

I know that the low frequency response, in my room is a little bumpy :~)... (with generous room treatment)

My main reasoning for using the DEQ is the ability to work in the digital domain and have little or no effect(hopefully) on the rest of the sound
If I can achieve that, I will be a ecstatic

You have taken heroic measures flatten the response of your speakers
I glad to hear that it's working great in your system
Tweak on!! :thumb:

Thanks for your response
Julien
 
#15 ·
yeah Julien

no probs.

Does not the other BFD's work in the didgital domain?? If so, they are a lot cheaper.

To be honest I was wondering about your gear, and indeed wondering if it needed too much correction, and I can see that you feel that way too!


Hence my curiosity regarding your choice of the dEQ, esp as how it looks like you won't be using a tenth of it's capabilities.

Is it because you aren't using subs therefore it will be in your mains therefore you'd like a cleaner component???

Just re-read your post and looks like I ( finally ) got it!! ha ha.

So don't be offended by my post, but hey, once you've got it and are playing with it just out of sheer curiosity you can test it that way for yourself, and let us know what the results were!!

Good luck and happy journeying down the ( seemingly ) never-ending audio road!!

lots of love

terry
 
#17 ·
Re: House curve for fullrange down to 40htz~~How's this look??

Are you going to carry on from 40Hz at ~82dB and below with your sub?

Why are you starting your boost at 100Hz? Seems extremely high.

Note1: please post your graphs with a vertical scale of 45dB to 105dB.
Note2: do you mind if I merge this post with your setup post? As this post stands, no one will have a clue what you're trying to accomplish.

brucek
 
#18 ·
Re: House curve for fullrange down to 40htz~~How's this look??

Yes Bruce, Please move this to the original thread

I had set the graph axis but didn't "apply" it :duh:

Here is a little different one starting a little lower and a steeper rolloff below 40htz

The reason I started so high is because I believe it is still below the Gallos crossover point



Yes I do plan to address everything below 40htz with a FBQ-2496 a little later

I feel sure I will have to adjust the curves when I try to apply both together

Thanks for responding
Julien
 
#21 ·
Terry,
Bruce,
Wayne.

Terry:
Does not the other BFD's work in the didgital domain?? If so, they are a lot cheaper.
I don't believe they do. That is why I chose the DEQ2496

Is it because you aren't using subs therefore it will be in your mains therefore you'd like a cleaner component???
Actually my speakers have a "Sub-In" to the woofers second voice coil that extends the response down to 22 hertz (with EQing)
I plan to use a Behringer unit to smooth out the response down there too. I'm still undecided on which one, the DSP-1124P or FBQ-2496. Since I'll only be using it below 40-50htz, I am not too concerned about not being able to EQ in the digital domain

So don't be offended by my post, but hey, once you've got it and are playing with it just out of sheer curiosity you can test it that way for yourself, and let us know what the results were!!
No offense taken:~) Once I get everything set up, with the curves correct at the transition point, I"ll try your approach and post the results verses just correcting just the bottom end

Bruce:
Yeah, you'll have to do some experimenting to get it to where you like the sound. I don't know if you can anticipate much before you start.
I'm sure your correct. I am so glad that I happened across The Home Theater Shack. I am hoping REW can get me close to where I want to go

Wayne:
Am I the only one who can’t see the graphs?
With Bruce's responses and the fact that I can see the graphs, I'd have to say Yes!

Julien
 
#26 ·
Okay Here we go again

This is the revised target curve for the full range signal down to 40htz

Text Line Slope Plot Pattern


I do plan to address everything below 40htz with either a DSP-1124P or FEQ-2496 feeding an amp driving the Gallo's woofers second voice coils

I want to make sure that I am not asking more of the full-range response than is reasonable

I apologize for the mess above but when I previewed the messages the graphs appeared
When I view this thread on the computer that has the files on the hard drive I can still see them
The only thing I can think of is that something happened when that post was moved to this thread????

Thanks for looking!!
Julien
 
#27 ·
brucek asks:
Why are you starting your boost at 100Hz? Seems extremely high
julien answers:
The reason I started so high is because I believe it is still below the Gallos crossover point
Can you explain this further in the context of the final outcome of the end state with the extra amp and second voice coil being used. I still don't understand what you are trying to accomplish with this house curve starting at 100Hz. I think it will sound bass bloated...

brucek
 
#28 ·
Can you explain this further in the context of the final outcome of the end state with the extra amp and second voice coil being used. I still don't understand what you are trying to accomplish with this house curve starting at 100Hz. I think it will sound bass bloated...
brucek
Actually Bruce I had never heard of a house curve until I came to The Shack. I think I have read in some posts that the curve should start around the crossover point. Based on your statement, I'm begining to understand that this was meant in the context of EQing a sub

It is all new to me. What would you suggest as a good starting point for well integrated bass. I sure don't want any bloat

Your comments and suggestions are much appreciated!!
Julien
 
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