Winamp EQ Plugins- Quality?

amapro704 · 06-06-2008, 02:25 PM

I'm looking at a couple different EQ plugins for winamp and wondering the sound quality of these over using my Rockford 3sixty.2. I am wondering if they add any distortion or anything or if they can be used in stead of an outboard EQ like the 3sixty.2 to the same sound quality? Any audiophiles tuning with winamp EQ??? Or am I better off with a separate program (free hopefully) just for EQ. I will be playing FLAC (maybe a few high bitrate MP3's from time to time) and cd audio through a quality DAC to High end (and very revealing) equipment so SQ is my main concern. Thanks to any pros who chime in! Happy friday

amapro704 · 06-06-2008, 05:00 PM

Bump for the impatient youth of today

Sonicxtacy02 · 06-06-2008, 06:31 PM

i have the 3sixty.1.. you should use that to perform all the tuning.. you may want to lower winamps preamp though.

amapro704 · 06-06-2008, 07:10 PM

Thanks for the response. Why? Better sound quality with the rockford's EQ vs winamps??

Oh, just to be clear, if winamps EQ works as well, the 3sixty.2 will no longer be in my setup..

Sonicxtacy02 · 06-06-2008, 09:53 PM

software EQs will never match the performance of hardware EQs, that and the fact it takes processing power to run software eqs

amapro704 · 06-06-2008, 10:13 PM

I'm not too worried about the processing power, but you are confident that the ill effects of a software eq are worse than the effects of having to convert from digital to analog an extra time and have more connections like when using something like the 3sixty?? Also, the way I understand it, the 3sixty uses software of its own to take the digital signal (that it converted from the DAC's analog output) alter it and then convert it back to digital, similar to what winamp does to the digital signal. If you are saying it sounds better, I believe you, but the method seems the same to me? It would be different with a true old school analog EQ... What about the audiophiles going active on the pc? What EQ are they using or are they suffering from a loss of quality? Anyone with any insight or thoughts please chime in!

Sonicxtacy02 · 06-07-2008, 07:26 AM

i'm speaking with my personal experience.. and again.. i have a .1 whereas you have a .2... so all things being equal ur tuning options with the 3sixty for exceed mine... but the whole point of the 3sixty is to process the digital signal before sending it to the amps. I guess its POSSIBLE to further improve the signal using winamps eq.. but using a combination of the two can lead to frequency interrupts and other means of distortion. The 3sixty also increases the line voltage and thats a must with any onboard sound and MOST commercial external sound cards.

amapro704 · 06-07-2008, 10:08 AM

I totally agree, I have the low voltage issue solved. Hippohifi Bloat DAC is 4.0volts RMS output. Just to be clear also, I wouldn't be using both EQ's, one or the other...

The 3sixty(.2) does process digitally but the signal arrives to it analog- see what I'm saying- its one more analog to digital to analog conversion that may not need to take place. Thanks for your opinion! Any of this sparking different thoughts on it now that you know more about my setup??

Felix509 · 06-08-2008, 12:58 PM

Just my opinion here, the 3sixty is software processing also..

It converts the analogue to digital and EQs and dlays, etc. with software algorithms..

I have no experience with that unit, but i would guess it is just a small computer itself with a CPU and memory and software that is doing the same thing as your computer would.

You might try the Winamp plug in that allows you to use VST plug ins, some are extremely high quality algorithms, as they are designed with pro sound in mind.

laters

audiology · 07-02-2008, 02:45 AM

I've used a couple Winamp EQ plug-ins for my home computer and find the interface too small to be operated on a 7" screen.

However, in terms of tuning here are three that i found rather useful.

Equilizer by Nevi - Graphical EQ allows you to tune each channel and frequency upto 250 Bands-- a recent update allows the eq to be resized which is a plus. =)

Shibatch Super EQ 0.01 -- 20 Bands per channel + parametric, simple sliders/generic interface.

VST Host DSP v1.0 - a bridge for VST .dll files.

Machinehead · 07-02-2008, 09:39 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Felix509

You might try the Winamp plug in that allows you to use VST plug ins, some are extremely high quality algorithms, as they are designed with pro sound in mind.

The last time I played with that plug in, it only allowed you to use 1 VST plug in at a time. Somewhat limiting that way.