DEQX Owners Thread

[almikel]

Hi Zipstartcanoe,

I ran my DEQX in crossover only mode for a while prior to doing any speaker measurements/calibration after swapping it for a dbx 2/3/4 analog LR4 crossover and noticed no sound degradation.

I've always run digital into my DEQX so I can't comment on the A/D conversion.

The DEQX D/A conversion sounds great on my setup (tri-amp).

 

Can you give any more details on your specific application?

 

cheers

Mike

 

 

 

 

[almikel]

I am interested in using DEQX for a particular application and although I am impressed by the functionality, I am concerned about degradation of signal quality. Has anyone ever put a DEQX into a signal chain and listened to the sound quality before applying any EQ?

By EQ did you mean no crossovers or anything, or just speaker correction and room EQ??

Used as a simple crossover I couldn't tell any difference between DEQX and my dbx 2/3/4 crossover

 

Mike

[Maitlynd]

I am interested in using DEQX for a particular application and although I am impressed by the functionality, I am concerned about degradation of signal quality. Has anyone ever put a DEQX into a signal chain and listened to the sound quality before applying any EQ?

 

there are plenty of guys who use deqx in an analog system. Dunno, if a die hard analog guy can use a deqx maybe that says (at least) the benefits outweigh the detriments?

[almikel]

Not sure of your specific application, but

as a simple crossover it's a bloody expensive and hopelessly under utilised piece of kit.

as a pre-amp, speaker amplititude/group delay corrector and room EQ applier in a tri-amp situation DEQX rocks.

 

If using passive crossovers then DEQX can help, and DEQX will do way less damage to the sound quality than passive crossovers will

 

cheers

Mike

Edited October 8, 2014 by almikel

[zipstartcanoe]

By EQ did you mean no crossovers or anything, or just speaker correction and room EQ??

 

Just speaker correction for room EQ on an all analogue signal path.

[analog brother]

imagine tracking an r35. impressive for 5 minutes...

[almikel]

OK,

so speaker correction is very different from room EQ in a DEQX context.

 

Sounds like you have "normal" passive crossover speakers that "may" benefit from the speaker correction available in DEQX (I say "may" only becuase I haven't tried it - speaker correction using DEQX in a triamp setup makes a big difference).

 

Room correction EQ is a different process in the DEQX.

 

I'm not familiar with the "pre-mate" type models of the DEQX, only my HDP3 which I use in tri-amp mode (3 way active crossover).

 

Others on this forum are in a better position to comment on the effectiveness of DEQX in correcting passive crossover speakers.

 

The room correction abilities of the DEQX is replicated in other products, but all will use Digital Signal Processing (DSP), and few (if any) would beat the DEQX from a SQ perspective.

cheers

Mike

 

 

[almikel]

imagine tracking an r35. impressive for 5 minutes...

you mean a Nissan R35 GTR? - impressive for ever

[analog brother]

yes. that car.

too many complications and stuff one doesn't need.

[aechmea]

there are plenty of guys who use deqx in an analog system. Dunno, if a die hard analog guy can use a deqx maybe that says (at least) the benefits outweigh the detriments?

 

Metal Beat is an analogue guy with a DEQX.  His posts seem to indicate that he is rather pleased with it.

[aechmea]

I have normal passive-crossover speakers.  The DEQX can deliver a clean focussed sound by correcting amplitude and group delay problems (ie the speaker correction process).  For me cleaning up phase anomalies is of greater benefit than multi-amping (which I used to do with previous speakers).  I was a bit leery when I first considered the new passive speakers, in that I wouldn't be able to bi-amp and would be wasting that DEQX function and a perfectly good power amp and set of cables.  In practice it hasn't mattered.  I bridged the power amps to monos and the spare cables are in a box.

 

Then, of course for me there is USB input (can do away with USB/SPDIF convertors), sub integration and room correction, so I am only missing out on a relatively small piece of functionality. Not to mention the joy of endless tinkering - ha ha.

[Darren69]

Focal, and a few others dont offer the posts required for bi-amping as they state is does nothing, haha.

[aechmea]

Ahhhhh, depends what we are talking about.

 

Normal = a single stereo amp with 1 speaker cable to 1 set of speaker inputs = XO is a passive network inside the speaker.

 

Bi-wiring  = a single stereo amp with 2 speaker cables to 2 separate speaker inputs = goes through the same passive network inside the speaker to do the XO = most think this is useless.

 

Passive bi-amping = 2 stereo amps each driving the separate speaker inputs = goes through the same passive network in the speaker to do the XO = most think this is useless.

 

Active bi-amping = as many stereo amps as you have direct access to speaker inputs, which in turn have direct access to the drivers = XO is done external to the speaker and prior to the power amps and there is no passive XO (well, sort of) = very effective because different power amps can be matched to the various drivers in the speaker and heavy loads can be spread between amps.  Typically you have a DEQX to do the XO, then feed say 3 separate power amps where, say, a whimpy valve amp does the tweeters and something does the midrange, and a muscle amp does the bass.  There are horizontal and vertical active bi-amping variants.  This is what Almikel is doing.

[Darren69]

Ahh.

 

Forgive my lack of knowing stuff.

[hyper]

Hey guys, I was hoping someone could offer some advise, I am thinking of trialling a devialet 250 and am wondering how I could integrate it with my deqx premate? Current system I am running pre out into deqx and then out of deqx into my power amps, has anyone integrated one or have ideas about how this could be done?? Looking at the amp i online I can't seem to work out best way for this to be acheieved if at all... Any feedback would be appreciated.. Thanks guys

[davewantsmoore]

I am interested in using DEQX for a particular application and although I am impressed by the functionality, I am concerned about degradation of signal quality. Has anyone ever put a DEQX into a signal chain and listened to the sound quality before applying any EQ?

 

Yes, it's easy to do.    If you also include a passive switchbox you can switch it in and out in real time, which can eliminate 'audio memory', seating location, and all the other things that can make no difference seem like a 'small difference' .... or vice vera.

[metal beat]

I am interested in using DEQX for a particular application and although I am impressed by the functionality, I am concerned about degradation of signal quality. Has anyone ever put a DEQX into a signal chain and listened to the sound quality before applying any EQ?

 

 

  Hi Zip

 

yes, I have done this.   Put the Deqx HDP-4 into the tape loop and played direct and with the deqx in the signal before any correction/eq.      No discernable difference in the sound, so transparency is a given.     Swapping cables made more difference - so make sure the cables are neutral and extended.

 

cheers

[Maitlynd]

Hey guys, I was hoping someone could offer some advise, I am thinking of trialling a devialet 250 and am wondering how I could integrate it with my deqx premate? Current system I am running pre out into deqx and then out of deqx into my power amps, has anyone integrated one or have ideas about how this could be done?? Looking at the amp i online I can't seem to work out best way for this to be acheieved if at all... Any feedback would be appreciated.. Thanks guys

 

sorry, what's the "actual" question? Ie, there must be *something* about the devialet (?) which makes a duplication of the existing signal path problematic? Is it a power amp? (must not be, else you'd just replace the current amp with it) Is it an integrated? (does it not have jumpers linking the pre section and power section?) What is the potential problem you forsee that is not answered by looking online?

[hyper]

sorry, what's the "actual" question? Ie, there must be *something* about the devialet (?) which makes a duplication of the existing signal path problematic? Is it a power amp? (must not be, else you'd just replace the current amp with it) Is it an integrated? (does it not have jumpers linking the pre section and power section?) What is the potential problem you forsee that is not answered by looking online?

Hi mate

The issue is looking at the devialet http://en.devialet.com/devialet-400-en I don't see based on the type of connections available how to/if it can be inserted into the signal path? Correct it is a integrated...

Cheers!

Edited October 18, 2014 by hyper

[Darren69]

I have asked for some prices from Al on the three top models from these guys-

http://www.legendspeakers.com.au/products.html

Wondering whether to go that way instead of hooking the premate up to the Focals. Hmm.

[wanta911]

Are there any DEQX owners in Perth that are willing to chat with their experiences/tips etc? Or is there anyone in Perth I could get over to look at setting up a PreMate in my system?

 

I travel overseas a LOT for work and I never seem to have a lot of spare time to relax at home between trips, so the thought of going through an elongated learning process is not appealing in the least. I am off for a week again tonight

 

I bought a PreMate almost on a whim, in hindsight I think it was a stupid thing to do - it has been sitting in the box for months. It is probably overkill for room correction with my passive crossovers and I have an integrated amp.

 

Anyway, before I sell it and cut my losses it would be nice to talk to someone on whether or not it is worth having a go with in my situation.......

[Darren69]

@@wanta911 , seriously, I would sell the Premate to me as quickly as possible and get the hell out of such a twist totally unscathed.

[wanta911]

@@wanta911 , seriously, I would sell the Premate to me as quickly as possible and get the hell out of such a twist totally unscathed.

 

Somehow, I expected that response

 

You never know......

 

Anyway - time to pack, I have a 2:30am flight to KL and a headache!

[wanta911]

Well, I went through the remote setup process with Alan yesterday. It was cool to watch him controlling my laptop and changing settings that would have taken me weeks to work out 

 

He just did the LF stuff and left me with 3 presets to play around with:

 

1. adjusted up to 200hz
2. adjusted up to 300hz
3. adjusted up to 500hz

He commented that my room bass response was actually one of the better ones he had seen, which was nice justification for all the moving & tweaks I've done. I had intended to use it in the tape loop configuration with my integrated amp but there seems to be some ground loop noise, so I'm feeding my DAC to the PreMate and then to the amp.

 

Despite that, the PreMate is a big improvement with some nice rich bass now filling some gaps that were obviously there. Whilst my setup was sounding pretty good as it was, there is now a very noticeable difference that gives the music more body and musicality.

 

So at the moment it is a pricey bass management system but there is scope to do more if I'm so inclined, so I'm very happy 

[Darren69]

So the DEQX-pert thingy is an accurate way to do it? Pardon my ignorance.