MQ112 Environmental Equalizer

[Maks]

Originally Posted by audioquest4life

In addition to that, why would someone with a direct and pure analog source path, ,I.e.,vinyl, tube preamp, tube phono, tube amps, and non powered speakers add a digital link in the middle of all that. Sure, it may be imperceptible in terms of measurements but typically audio listening translates into differences in sound with a digital/ solid state middleware attached to the all analog rig.

Am I not understanding your post, or are you implying this is a digital device? Mc's site says it's analog. I am actually considering this since I pulled my MEN220 out of my system temporarily.

Also back to my prior tape loop comment, I find it interesting that Mc mentions this device can be hooked up using processor or tape loops "found on many preamplifiers"...just not their new ones. Yeah, I am a little bitter about that still. Give us a C2800 with a tape loop feature and I'd consider upgrading from my C2300.

[Antonmb]

Originally Posted by Maks

Am I not understanding your post, or are you implying this is a digital device? Mc's site says it's analog. I am actually considering this since I pulled my MEN220 out of my system temporarily.

Also back to my prior tape loop comment, I find it interesting that Mc mentions this device can be hooked up using processor or tape loops "found on many preamplifiers"...just not their new ones. Yeah, I am a little bitter about that still. Give us a C2800 with a tape loop feature and I'd consider upgrading from my C2300.

Just curious, can't you just put it between the pre and the amp?

[brownbear]

Originally Posted by Antonmb

Just curious, can't you just put it between the pre and the amp?

That's what they say to do

[Vintage Pete]

Originally Posted by Maks

Am I not understanding your post, or are you implying this is a digital device? Mc's site says it's analog. I am actually considering this since I pulled my MEN220 out of my system temporarily.

Also back to my prior tape loop comment, I find it interesting that Mc mentions this device can be hooked up using processor or tape loops "found on many preamplifiers"...just not their new ones. Yeah, I am a little bitter about that still. Give us a C2800 with a tape loop feature and I'd consider upgrading from my C2300.

Maks....I found that post strange as well. The only way it makes sense to me is if you substitute the words "solid state" for "digital". Since it appears that audioquest4life has an all tube system, this would seem to make sense. Perhaps he misspoke here. Clearly, the MQ112 is not a digital product.

As to McIntosh omitting a tape monitor or processor loop in their preamp offerings, I agree this was a bad move. The reality is, many users still have tape recorders and/or signal processors, and such an omission could (and has in your case) make users hesitant to "upgrade" their preamps, maybe even steer them to a different brand. As I mentioned before, this is one of the reasons my C40 preamp hasn't gone anywhere.

McIntosh needs to re-think the monitor/processor loop question. Perhaps they will now that they have introduced this product....?

[Masterlu]

A monitor/processor loop would cost them about $10 to provide.

[Maks]

Originally Posted by Antonmb

Just curious, can't you just put it between the pre and the amp?

I'm not sure what your question is here. I'm talking about Mc's lack of a tape/processor loop. My MEN220 sat between my pre and amp. A cassette deck cannot sit there.

[Antonmb]

Originally Posted by Maks

I'm not sure what your question is here. I'm talking about Mc's lack of a tape/processor loop. My MEN220 sat between my pre and amp. A cassette deck cannot sit there.

Sorry, I was referring to the equalizer.

[audioquest4life]

Originally Posted by Maks

Am I not understanding your post, or are you implying this is a digital device? Mc's site says it's analog. I am actually considering this since I pulled my MEN220 out of my system temporarily.

Also back to my prior tape loop comment, I find it interesting that Mc mentions this device can be hooked up using processor or tape loops "found on many preamplifiers"...just not their new ones. Yeah, I am a little bitter about that still. Give us a C2800 with a tape loop feature and I'd consider upgrading from my C2300.

Hasty choice of words. However, it is easy to discern what I mean...the implication is that by using this equalizer, regardless of its analog nature, is that it introduces another electronic item into the music chain. In my opinion and from past experiences this more than likely may lead to noise which may or may not be perceptible to some. Hence my statement. The ability to fine tune certain frequency bands used to be alluring to me until it wasn't. I tune my room by using measuring tools and a combination of diffusors, absorbers, and spot treatments. When I was younger, I had SAE, Carver, Pioneer, Soundcraftsman and a few other EQ devices. After many years of use, I just started playing around with room tuning and found myself reducing the need to use EQ. in my opinion, the best EQ's are the parametric type. I used the tape loop extensively back in the day when I employed the use of equalizers in my systems.

I have been using the Velodyne SMS-1 sub EQ off and on to experiment with the subs.

[prepress]

Originally Posted by Vintage Pete

I know what you mean...though they did include a "processor loop" in some preamps, such as my C40, and a few others, I believe. My C40 supports three tape recorders, and has the "listen" and "record" processor loops as well. These are a few of the reasons my C40 hasn't gone anywhere.

I believe there is a facility that can be used as a workaround with preamps such as the C2300, C2500, etc. but don't remember what it's called. Server loop? or something like that.

My assessment is that the MQ112 a very nice offering, and long overdue. Its frequency centers are well placed. It does not, as far as I can tell, enable the channels to be adjusted individually. Eight bands is nice. It's a very nice, clean looking unit.

Shortly after I bought my C40 preamp, which has a built in 5 band eq, the C42 was introduced, with an 8 band on board eq. But oddly, the top frequency band was only 4Khz. I never figured out what their thinking was there, but it turned me off to the idea of moving into a C42. (the C40's top frequency is 10Khz, as is this new model).

I think this would be a great product for someone with a Mc system with a preamp such as the C49, one of the basic preamps that has, at best, just basic bass and treble controls.

As for my system, I think I would stay with what I have. I have the C40's five band eq for quick adjustments, and my vintage Soundcraftsmen DC2215 was their best model and is a fine unit. While this unit could certainly look very nice in my setup, to integrate it would mean tinkering with my stack that has been long established.

I predict the MQ112 will sell like hotcakes. And the $3K price is not bad at all.

I definitely like it. But objectively, it may not be a logical move for me.

Plus, I've had/have enough money going out.

Other than that, I still want one.

I can identify with the money going out thing.

I set my C2300 to -2dB in the treble and left it at that. So far so good after quite a while. The MQ112 is still cool, but I'm struggling with other audio choices right now: replacing my equipment racks, my speakers, or a phono preamp. Not all three things, probably just one. The new racks would cost less than the MQ112, a plus for them.

[miatadan]

Picking up the MQ112 equalizer this upcoming Tuesday . Ordered it back in November.
Rearranged stereo stand so I can place it on top of my D1100 dac/preamp.

Only thing I missed on the D1100 was tone controls…

Will post once hooked up difference in sound.

Dan