For what it's worth, I use the Behringer EQ completely in digital mode, and I've found it to be not only totally transparant but to have a very decent DAC to boot. I use the SB's digital out to the DEQX 2496 and I find it an absolute dream - and find that MP3's on shoutcast radio stations (128k or higher) sound surprisingly good.
The audiophile answer to not use an EQ applied more when EQ's were in the analog domain with all their attendant filters and electronics - when in purely digital mode all it does is alter the bitstream, I can find no lack of transparancy via my Quad electrostatics at all and that says a lot. When I switch back to non-eq mode now and hear the bass bouncing all over the room, I quickly realize that whatever slight loss in transparacy there may be, it pales in comparison to the room problems it solves! I'm still absolutely amazed that MP3 streams at 128k are as listenable as they are via the SB. Many 128k stations are not that good - perhaps they play comprimised MP3 sources or don't have as good an encoding scheme as other stations, but those stations that play CD's at the source with good encoding to 128k sound surprisingly good. I'm getting a faster modem to tap into the 320k bitstreams, very interested to hear how they sound. You'll love the Behringer + SB - and if you want a different sound, you can add a DAC onto the end of the Behringer - perhaps a tube based DAC. True, you're adding some jitter possibilities, but I've found the jitter from the SB to the Behringer negligable - it sounds fantastic! -- quadguy _______________________________________________ audiophiles mailing list [email protected] http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
