Speakers: custom-built 3-way towers and 2-way center, paradigm Atom v2 surrounds
Receiver/Amp: Denon AVR-685
Headphones: Denon AH-D1000
Soundcard: Auzentech X-Fi Prelude
Software: X-Fi software suite, RC8 drivers, WMP Lossless encoding on most music.
Audio Obsession Level: devout audiophile and DIYer
ketxxx:
just looking at your EQ settings, i have an important suggestion, the same goes for anyone using EQ. i don't see a total gain adjustment/compensator anywhere (normally 0db, sometimes +12dB, to -12db, for a +/-12dB EQ). all of your adjustments are positive amplitude, this means that across all frequency bands, you are adding a net average of + gain. this is where the use of the total gain adjustment comes in. for best results on any audio system, the average DC value across an equalizer should be 0dB, otherwise you are just adding static gain into the signal which will more than likely result in clipping. yes it is possible to clip your output signal if it is gained too much, yes there are in-audible levels of clipping. normally clipping becomes audible at very high levels so if your stuff sounds fine right now, its probably still clipping at an in-audible level. 0dB on the EQ corresponds to the reference output level of your audio hardware, so asking for a static gain of +6dB is a poor choice. just because your EQ goes to +12dB, that doesnt mean your hardware can handle +12dB. hard to say exactly what someones EQ could really handle in terms of gaining the reference signal, but generally that just isnt a good idea. it is also possible that the EQ software already determines the dc and biases it automatically to avoid clipping. that would be great implementation by the manufacturer, but i highly doubt its common (my auzen prelude doesn't do that).
why is a static gain a bad thing?
1) you can clip your outputs before the amplifier (between your soundcard, before the signal reaches your speakers)
2) every +3dB increase results in a 2x power demand on your amplifier. having a static gain on your EQ is the same thing as having your volume permanently turned up by a small amount.
to avoid clipping your ouput: slide everything down in equal amounts so the average overall gain is 0dB, or use an overall gain compensator in the EQ to negate the DC gain of the current EQ settings-- this will not change the way your EQ settings sound, it will be the same thing as turning down the volume.
it's really easy to find the average gain, just average all frequency band magnitudes together, if it's postive, you need to cut, if it's negative you're OK but could stand to raise the level a bit.
hope that all makes sense.
edit: here's my EQ settings, should show the concept a little better. i gain the low bass heavily because i don't have a sub, my receiver has good clean power that can handle it (my towers are 3.0cuft w/ 12" woofers).
