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A Pair of Inexpensive Components that make an Awesome Difference

Posted by tantra (A) on April 13, 2007 at 18:30:05

I recently added two components to my system that together have hugely improved the sound. I am not talking subtle changes here!

The first component is a Behringer UltraCurve Pro DEQ2496. The DEQ2496 allows you to correct the frequency response of each channel using a 31-band digital equalizer. This means no phase-errors or noise, since everything is done in the digital domain. The DEQ2496 permits correction of each channel for system- or room-induced non-linearity using its internal pink-noise generator, real-time analyzer, and a calibrated microphone positioned at your listening position. You can save the correction, then make additional changes to suit the music or your mood. It gives you total control of the tonal balance of your system. WAY more control than you can effect by changing IC’s or speaker wires. You can dial out any extra brightness, dial in more bass or mids, anything you like. I was amazed how many peaks and dips in the frequency response my system contained. Also, the frequency responses of the two channels were different from each other. Not any more! The DEQ2496 has multiple other features, but I haven’t found them to be as useful as the digital equalizer.

When I first started using the DEQ2496, something about the sound annoyed me. I couldn’t listen at high levels without feeling tense. I sensed a loss of smoothness. Then I read in one of the audio forums that the DAC in the DEQ2496 is not that great. Probably worse than the DAC in my CDP. Also, the digital cables may have been introducing jitter. So I bought a Benchmark DAC1, which is extremely resolving and has a circuit that eliminates jitter. What a difference! The sound from the DAC1 has a kind of creaminess that is not at all fatiguing. The way I have it dialed-in now, the soundstage jumps forward when I toggle in the DEQ2496/DAC1. I used to like my system before, but it sounds so much more live now. This is without any loss of transparency, soundstage width or depth, or change in dynamics. The impulse response is better with the DAC1. I have practically stopped listening to my SACD collection because I cannot listen to SACD’s through the DEQ2496/DAC1 without an extra round of AD-DA conversion. The same with vinyl. To be honest, I cannot really hear any degradation going through another AD-DA cycle, but the idea bothers me. I will probably just get over it and start listening to SACD’s and vinyl through the DEQ2496/DAC1.

I feel like Christopher Columbus after discovering the New World. I can’t believe other people aren’t using this combo, or at least not writing about it. Here’s the kicker: I bought the DEQ2496 new for $300, the DAC1 used for $750, and the ECM8000 measuring mic for $60. People pay more than this for a power cord!

Associated equipment:
CD/SACD player: Sony 999ES
Preamp: Modwright 9.0SE
Amps: Conrad-Johnson Premier 12’s
Main speakers: Gallo Reference 3’s
Subwoofer: REL Storm III

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