DEQX speaker calibration makes any speaker sound better…

but we needed this online demo to work using even a pair of ear-buds, so we went for contrast! Taking a pair of $80 plastic outdoor public address speakers (used on railway platforms), we applied DEQX ‘speaker calibration’ only (DEQX room correction not applied). Please listen using a pair of earbuds, good headphones or good speakers, but not—for example— the tiny speakers in a laptop. See below for uncompressed audio and how the recording was made.

YouTube

TRACK 1
Excerpt from Well, I‘ve Been To Memphis

  • First several seconds: No DEQX correction i.e. horns au-naturelle
  • Second, 10 seconds: DEQX speaker calibration applied
  • Third several seconds: No DEQX

TRACK 2
Excerpt from Will It Go ‘Round in Circles

  • First several seconds: No DEQX correction i.e. horns au-naturelle
  • Second, 10 seconds: DEQX speaker calibration applied
  • Third several seconds: No DEQX

TRACK 3
Excerpt from The Lake

  • First several seconds: No DEQX correction i.e. horns au-naturelle
  • Second, 10 seconds: DEQX speaker calibration applied
  • Third several seconds: No DEQX

All tracks from An Introduction to SACD (Chesky records) from HDTracks.com.

Uncompressed audio

The video clip above uses compressed MP3 320kbps audio. However, apart from the MP3 compression, you are listening to exactly what the microphones heard—with no EQ or anything else added to these recordings. Below are uncompressed versions of the audio.

44.1 kHz, 16-bit (CD-quality)

96 kHz, 24-bit (true high-resolution audio)

How we prepared this demo

  • First, we set up two ‘high end’ ($80) plastic public address horns (TOA model 154U) in a professional recording studio.
  • We powered their 4-inch drivers directly from a 25w stereo ICEpower amp, using a DEQX one-way processor (with no crossovers or subwoofers).
  • Then we chose three Chesky Records 24/96 tracks from the marvellous HDTracks.com
  • Next we placed the horns on 2-meter high stands, set three meters apart.
  • We then positioned two Neuman U56 studio reference microphones in front of each speaker, one meter on-axis.
  • The two tracks were then played via the DEQX using ‘bypass mode’ (no correction) and secondly with DEQX correction (see Side Notes). The Neuman mic outputs were recorded without using equalisation or any kind of processing to a ProTools disc recorder at a 24/96 resolution.
  • Our tracks were subsequently edited (see Side Notes) with the ‘uncorrected’ ones having their gain increased +3dB to equalise the RMS level so as to match the DEQX-calibrated versions.

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