eq with rta

dholmes

Could you use a eq with rta & mic as a calibration tool, or just see what your system output is, thanks

Phil Dawson

Yes you can and this is a very good way to calibrate a system. There are several issues you must keep in mind if you are going to do this. You need to use a high quality reference mic (very flat) so that you don't wind compensating for the mic with your EQ. You should have as many bands of EQ as you can come up with or use paraametric EQ. Since you are going to be putting EQ into the signal path you need to use high quality EQ or you may wind up putting a bunch of noise into the system. Remember that any time you signal process in any way (such as EQ) you are adding distrortion to the signal. A totally flat signal may not be the most pleasing to the ear. Although recording studios strive for very flat monitoring situations many people do not find it a pleasing listening situation. The way the music sounds is more important that a reference flat sound in a home listening situation.
Good Luck, Phil

madmax

Phil Dawson wrote:

The way the music sounds is more important that a reference flat sound in a home listening situation.
Good Luck, Phil

For example,
The SDA series does not have a flat output and was not intended to.

madmax

dholmes

Thanks, you cant use an eq with surround, if you hook it up in the tape-loop. I was just going to hook it up & use it to see what freq do what & use my spl meter for output.

Phil Dawson

You can use EQ for surround and it is done in the professional mixing world all of the time. You just need to have EQ for every channel. Most surround processors have a bit of EQ built in at least to make compensation for either small or large speakers and many sub channels can be adjusted for the amount of low freq material going to the sub. There are other places in the signal path to insert EQ than in the tape loop.
Phil

dholmes

Thanks, I used a eq when I had two ch. I had it between the pre-amp & amp. It would still work if I used it on the tape loop just to see what freq my system puts out.

TheReaper

Phil Dawson wrote:

...You just need to have EQ for every channel...

Some receivers have digital room equalizers on each channel, which can be either automatically or manually set. I know the Onkyo TXSR702 has a 5 band digital equalizer on each channnel (I own one), and according to the manual a Denon 3805 has an 8 band digital equalizer on each channel.