Flea Bag
500+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2004
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- 17
Az B,
Thanks for the manufacturer's insight. I've discussed the issue of output 'clipping' with someone last week and felt that I need to clarify or better phrase my wording. The 'clipping' I was originally referring to was the User Manual's definition of clipping which is actually just a form of frequency limiting which cuts only the particular frequency which exceeds the equalizer's output capability. 'Frequency chopping' will be what I'll call it from now onwards or if someone could name the proper technical term.
With regards to the more common definition of clipping, like jhenderson010759 mentioned, the equilizer does encounter very noticable clipping across the whole frequency spectrum if the frequency chopping reaches more servere levels. My frequency chopping only involves amounts of less than 0.7dB -too small for me to hear any difference. If one were to equalize more serverely than I do, the DEQ2496 will indeed exhibit clipping as opposed to just frequency chopping. This is most obvious when playing around with the DEQ function of the 2496.
As for good recordings, they never seem to exceed the -0.0dB peak reading. However this does happen to some very well known various-artists-compilations, hastingly put together. This is especially so with a particular pirated CD I tested. Now we have aural and measured proof of bad recordings!
So for new 2496 owners; If your optical digital input shows 'clip' as a peak reading, its more likely that your recording is bad than your equipment is faulty. However, if you still get 'clip' as a frequent reading even with well mastered CDs, then your DEQ or source equipment could have a problem.
I forgot to mention that if you are boosting any particular frequency until the out level indicates 'clip', you can:
a) Reduce gain offset in page one of the utility menu.(as stated in my previous post)
b) Do it directly from the GEQ page. (THIS IS NOT LISTED IN THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL!!!) Press the upper (small) data wheel to change the FREQ selection to read 'FULL'. Now you can use the large data wheel to horizontally offset the entire frequency range.
c) If you would like a bass boost for example any range below the 80Hz mark, the PEQ can also serve as an alternate method of preventing output clipping/frequency chopping. In the PEQ page, you could turn the lower small data wheel until it reads 'L6dB', 'L12dB', 'H6dB', 'H12dB', 'LC' or 'HC' and then make the bass more prominent by reducing all other frequencies.
On the topic of bass boosting, I've got a quick and convenient tip to make the DEQ2496 operate with the convenience of a 'Mega Bass' boost button you see on a portable Discman. I save most of my settings for my HD280 in GEQ mode, keeping them neutral.(still haven't found what I call neutral yet!)
Next, I make a bass boost in PEQ mode and save both PEQ and DEQ as a single preset which I call preset A. So preset A allows me to listen to my music in a nice neutral tone (or so I would think) and when I'm not happy with the bass, I simply press and hold the PEQ button to activate/deactivate the bass boost. No need to switch between presets.
That's all I have time for at the moment!
gerG, do you think it would be good if you put up some kind of review/FAQ for the DEQ2496? It's obviously quite popular a piece of equipment around here and the instruction manual alone just isn't enough. Perhaps it'll be more of an extended instruction manual than just a review. If you would like me to put all my findings about 'clipping' in one post for the review, just let me know.
Thanks for the manufacturer's insight. I've discussed the issue of output 'clipping' with someone last week and felt that I need to clarify or better phrase my wording. The 'clipping' I was originally referring to was the User Manual's definition of clipping which is actually just a form of frequency limiting which cuts only the particular frequency which exceeds the equalizer's output capability. 'Frequency chopping' will be what I'll call it from now onwards or if someone could name the proper technical term.
With regards to the more common definition of clipping, like jhenderson010759 mentioned, the equilizer does encounter very noticable clipping across the whole frequency spectrum if the frequency chopping reaches more servere levels. My frequency chopping only involves amounts of less than 0.7dB -too small for me to hear any difference. If one were to equalize more serverely than I do, the DEQ2496 will indeed exhibit clipping as opposed to just frequency chopping. This is most obvious when playing around with the DEQ function of the 2496.
As for good recordings, they never seem to exceed the -0.0dB peak reading. However this does happen to some very well known various-artists-compilations, hastingly put together. This is especially so with a particular pirated CD I tested. Now we have aural and measured proof of bad recordings!
So for new 2496 owners; If your optical digital input shows 'clip' as a peak reading, its more likely that your recording is bad than your equipment is faulty. However, if you still get 'clip' as a frequent reading even with well mastered CDs, then your DEQ or source equipment could have a problem.
I forgot to mention that if you are boosting any particular frequency until the out level indicates 'clip', you can:
a) Reduce gain offset in page one of the utility menu.(as stated in my previous post)
b) Do it directly from the GEQ page. (THIS IS NOT LISTED IN THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL!!!) Press the upper (small) data wheel to change the FREQ selection to read 'FULL'. Now you can use the large data wheel to horizontally offset the entire frequency range.
c) If you would like a bass boost for example any range below the 80Hz mark, the PEQ can also serve as an alternate method of preventing output clipping/frequency chopping. In the PEQ page, you could turn the lower small data wheel until it reads 'L6dB', 'L12dB', 'H6dB', 'H12dB', 'LC' or 'HC' and then make the bass more prominent by reducing all other frequencies.
On the topic of bass boosting, I've got a quick and convenient tip to make the DEQ2496 operate with the convenience of a 'Mega Bass' boost button you see on a portable Discman. I save most of my settings for my HD280 in GEQ mode, keeping them neutral.(still haven't found what I call neutral yet!)
Next, I make a bass boost in PEQ mode and save both PEQ and DEQ as a single preset which I call preset A. So preset A allows me to listen to my music in a nice neutral tone (or so I would think) and when I'm not happy with the bass, I simply press and hold the PEQ button to activate/deactivate the bass boost. No need to switch between presets.
That's all I have time for at the moment!
gerG, do you think it would be good if you put up some kind of review/FAQ for the DEQ2496? It's obviously quite popular a piece of equipment around here and the instruction manual alone just isn't enough. Perhaps it'll be more of an extended instruction manual than just a review. If you would like me to put all my findings about 'clipping' in one post for the review, just let me know.