Foh eq questions.

A

Alan Sledzieski

Senior
Sep 11, 2011
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Hamburg, NY.
I'm using a dbx 2231 right now on foh, slowly been upgrading a lot of my equipment and as some of you know i just bought a pro desk 8.

So how does the 2231 compare, or should I ask, would it be worth it to change eq's?

I have been looking at the ashley 3102, how about a bss 966, or 960. Actually, sound wise, whats the difference between the 960 and 966?

Thanks.
 
Re: Foh eq questions.

Dick Rees said:
I like my KT DN360B.
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I liked the KT DN-27 better than the DN 360. I sold the DN-27 after finding I prefer the filters of the Alesis DEQ 830.

Also found having 8 1/3 octave EQ in one rack space, with 99 curve memories to be useful, as well as the built in RTA feature.
 
Re: Foh eq questions.

I like my dbx2231's... I use one unit (stereo) for my FOH and one (or two) additional units for monitors (depending on how many mixes I need).
Besides the EQ section, the limitters are handy and the "noise reduction" can save the day.
I can afford to upgrade but for my needs, the 2231's are fine.
Mike Monte
 
Re: Foh eq questions.

Dick Rees said:
I like my KT DN360B.
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+1 My favorite by far. Next best thing Ashly 3102, almost as good and the fader center detent position is a hard wired bypass just like on the Klark. The DBX 2231 would be my 3rd choice. Still a good unit but not as nice as the other 2. I have not used the BSS units so no opinion there.
 
The Ashly's suck. The BSS (dark gray), KT, and XTA are all good units. I can't comment on the dbx.
Perhaps one of the real engineers can comment on why the Ashly's cause feedback to occur where it wasn't before. When I use DN360s I push gain until it rings, pull that frequency. It's stable. Push gain until it rings pull another frequency or maybe the same one if it needs it. With the gqx I do the same but when I cut the frequency that is ringing often times another one starts ringing even as the one I cut stops with no further increase in gain. By the time you are done the thing is hacked up. I've been stuck with these many times since the early 90s.
 
Re: Foh eq questions.

Eric Cagle said:
.... 2. I have not used the BSS units so no opinion there.
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That's why the KT and Ashley are your favorites. :) Just kiddin! The BSS 960s sound excellent. The BSS 966 Opals - not so much. And actually, the KTs are very good. The have +/-15db boost or cut vs +/-12db available with the BSS. I personally never found the extra 3db to be an issue. I like the broad and narrow filter switch on the BSS. To my ear, the KT is a little more"clinical" and the BSS a little "sweeter". Both solid performers.
 
Re: Foh eq questions.

harrybrilljr said:
The Ashly's suck. The BSS (dark gray), KT, and XTA are all good units. I can't comment on the dbx.
Perhaps one of the real engineers can comment on why the Ashly's cause feedback to occur where it wasn't before. When I use DN360s I push gain until it rings, pull that frequency. It's stable. Push gain until it rings pull another frequency or maybe the same one if it needs it. With the gqx I do the same but when I cut the frequency that is ringing often times another one starts ringing even as the one I cut stops with no further increase in gain. By the time you are done the thing is hacked up. I've been stuck with these many times since the early 90s.
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Hmmm, I have never experienced that but I do vaguely remember thinking the Q seemed to be a little more broad and less defined compared to the KT. It has been a couple of years since I have personally used an Ashly but I will pull one out tonight and see if I can make that happen. Mine are the older blue ones. For what it is worth I usually use the +or- 6db setting on monitors and always at FOH. I will toggle back and forth and see if that makes a difference as well. I have had active powered wedges (pretty flat) and really high gain before feedback mics on vocals for the last several years so it still might not happen.

Also I worked for a company in the 90's that had a 3102 Ashly with pin 3 hot if I am not mistaken. I don't know if that would make any difference but maybe. When I first used a Klark DN 360 at FOH it was enough of a difference to make me switch favorites. It just seemed cleaner and maybe richer or more solid sounding when I slid a fader for lack of a more scientific term or observation. I would love to try the upper line BSS unit but I doubt that will happen since I am phasing in the digital consoles and speaker processing more and more now that they actually sound good.
 
Re: Foh eq questions.

Evan Kirkendall said:
People still use graphic EQ's?



Evan
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IMO as much as we can, (and do), get things set well in the DSP's and digital consoles there is still something nice about having a GEQ right there at my finger tips that I can make little teaks on at a moment's notice without having to go through pages on a console or computer interface on a DSP.


As for which one to go with? Well we have both the Ashly and BSS 960 models. For B-rig and blow FOH and monitor work the Ashly's are great. Never had a single issue and to me they sound better than the DBX units when I've used them head to head. The BSS though has an absolutely superb sound. However we have found it a bit finicky with it's gain; sometimes one side is off from the other. We had it into a certified repair center and were told "oh you must not be using a balanced signal", even when it definitely is. Most of the time it works normally and when it does get pissy it's really not a big deal to have one gain knob up or down a bit.
 
Re: Foh eq questions.

Peter Etheredge said:
IMO as much as we can, (and do), get things set well in the DSP's and digital consoles there is still something nice about having a GEQ right there at my finger tips that I can make little teaks on at a moment's notice without having to go through pages on a console or computer interface on a DSP.
Click to expand...

I guess I'm just spoiled always having a lake and a tablet with me. :)



Evan
 
Re: Foh eq questions.

We have KT DN360 for most of our FOH analog racks, but the FCS960 is a more "musical" EQ. Not experienced the noise issue with them. Any product can have "character"; the KT can develop their own anomalies as they age, too. If this really worries you, buy new before these go the way of hand weaving and human answering services.
 
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