Re: Graphic EQ Shootout -- specific tests

Posted by Bink on December 03, 2003 at 23:18:39:

In Reply to: Re: Graphic EQ Shootout in San Francisco posted by John Roberts on December 03, 2003 at 22:26:39:

Thanks for taking the time to give this some thought, JR. I will try to implement every single test that time permits, given the types of test equipment that folks can commit.

The location is line-of-sight and close to the largest local radio/TV transmitter. Sutro Tower. Our worthy (!) Mackie will be able to take a long rest break on GEQ Shootout day -- we will work with more appropriate RF-resistant mixers for all tests. However, all devices under test will have to withstand the RF field for the duration or display their vulnerability for all to see.

I wonder if I can spray the EQs with the RFI familiar to me from my own crummy no-name USB2.0 PCMCIA card. Didn't think of that one until now.

As far as THD+N goes I hadn't thought of using a parametric EQ and measuring/listening to the resulting noise. That's pretty cool. My neighbors in Oakland would call that method 'ghetto' -- an expression of endearment given to MacGyver-style resourcefulness. Perhaps I'll have an offer of a lab-quality THD+N measurement device and I won't need to use the PEQ cheat. At least one of the local audio engineering houses has such a device. I've still got some people getting back to me about the availability of their gear.

AFAIK, every digital EQ is made with companding. A few digital EQs will be there including Sabine's GRQ3102 and Rane's new DEQ 60L. I will synthesize a pulse CD to test tracking and linearity. What do you mean by 'widely spaced tone bursts or clicks'? If I know exactly what to put on CD then it's much easier. Wouldn't I need an o-scope to watch the results? There's an HP oscilloscope that has been confirmed for the day.

What specific 31-band units did you have a hand in designing? Peavey's GEQ model numbers confuse me. CEQ, EQ, GME, Q, QF coupled with 31, 131, 231, 431 and F or FX -- I have a hard time keeping track of each revision. Oh, and I haven't had a single participant offer a Peavey EQ yet. Somebody please speak up!

As far as wishing someone had done this years ago I'm fairly certain each manufacturer kept tabs on the competition in a similar manner but it required the internet (and LAB) to achieve the kind of critical mass for users to take the ball and run with it as a group. I was very impressed by Dan Mortensen's strictly-defined PNW AES subwoofer shootout and by other fun or sales-based shootouts held around the world but they all seem to involve speakers. There's no denying speakers are sexier and will draw a bigger crowd. Testing line-level devices is more of a 'plugger' gig. We'll still have a fun day and I hope we will establish a template for future myth-busting (or myth-confirming) get-togethers organized by end users.

Thanks again for the notes!

-Bink

Follow Ups:

• Re: Graphic EQ Shootout -- specific tests Steve Macatee 00:34:14 12/10/03 (0)
• Re: Graphic EQ Shootout -- specific tests John Roberts 03:44:39 12/04/03 (9)
  • Re: Graphic EQs as mature technology? Bink 06:30:41 12/04/03 (8)
    • Re: Graphic EQs as mature technology? Dave 21:49:01 12/04/03 (7)
      • Orban 674 Paragraphic Bink 08:23:30 12/05/03 (6)
        • Re: Orban 674 Paragraphic Dan Mortensen 22:31:12 12/05/03 (2)
          • Re: Orban 672 Paragraphic Bink 23:51:33 12/05/03 (1)
            • Re: Orban 672 Paragraphic Dan Mortensen 01:13:45 12/06/03 (0)
        • Re: Orban 674 Paragraphic... or this John Roberts 18:35:12 12/05/03 (2)
          • Re: joystick/mouse parametrics Bink 00:07:22 12/06/03 (1)
            • Re: joystick/mouse parametrics John Roberts 01:19:13 12/06/03 (0)

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Comments:
: Thanks for taking the time to give this some thought, JR. I will try to implement every single test that time permits, given the types of test equipment that folks can commit. 

: The location is line-of-sight and close to the largest local radio/TV transmitter. Sutro Tower. Our worthy (!) Mackie will be able to take a long rest break on GEQ Shootout day -- we will work with more appropriate RF-resistant mixers for all tests. However, all devices under test will have to withstand the RF field for the duration or display their vulnerability for all to see.

: I wonder if I can spray the EQs with the RFI familiar to me from my own crummy no-name USB2.0 PCMCIA card. Didn't think of that one until now.

: As far as THD+N goes I hadn't thought of using a parametric EQ and measuring/listening to the resulting noise. That's pretty cool. My neighbors in Oakland would call that method 'ghetto' -- an expression of endearment given to MacGyver-style resourcefulness. Perhaps I'll have an offer of a lab-quality THD+N measurement device and I won't need to use the PEQ cheat. At least one of the local audio engineering houses has such a device. I've still got some people getting back to me about the availability of their gear.

: AFAIK, every digital EQ is made with companding. A few digital EQs will be there including Sabine's GRQ3102 and Rane's new DEQ 60L. I will synthesize a pulse CD to test tracking and linearity. What do you mean by 'widely spaced tone bursts or clicks'? If I know exactly what to put on CD then it's much easier. Wouldn't I need an o-scope to watch the results? There's an HP oscilloscope that has been confirmed for the day.

: What specific 31-band units did you have a hand in designing? Peavey's GEQ model numbers confuse me. CEQ, EQ, GME, Q, QF coupled with 31, 131, 231, 431 and F or FX -- I have a hard time keeping track of each revision. Oh, and I haven't had a single participant offer a Peavey EQ yet. Somebody please speak up!

: As far as wishing someone had done this years ago I'm fairly certain each manufacturer kept tabs on the competition in a similar manner but it required the internet (and LAB) to achieve the kind of critical mass for users to take the ball and run with it as a group. I was very impressed by Dan Mortensen's strictly-defined PNW AES subwoofer shootout and by other fun or sales-based shootouts held around the world but they all seem to involve speakers. There's no denying speakers are sexier and will draw a bigger crowd. Testing line-level devices is more of a 'plugger' gig. We'll still have a fun day and I hope we will establish a template for future myth-busting (or myth-confirming) get-togethers organized by end users.

: Thanks again for the notes!

: -Bink



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