Just wondering your opinions. I thought I might want to get one, to better tweak the analog sound from my cd player, so I looked at crutchfield.com, and found they only have 2 or 3 models!? (from brand "Audio Source", which I am unfamiliar with). BestBuy.com also has these same models. Anybody know anyplace else to look?

Or ss everyone just satisfied with the treble/bass adjustments you get from your typical receiver nowadays?

If you have any good ones to recommend, I'd be interested. (I have a preference for pretty ones, where you see the LEDs rise and fall with the music- state of the art 1986, baby!)

Personally I always have and always will leave all tone controls FLAT.

I have never seen the need to change the mix of a particular piece of media.

I have a $400 Onkyo equalizer I haven't used in years, since my past two receivers no longer had tape monitor loops . Don't really miss it nowadays.

It depends. Some of the new digital EQs are very useful if you are an audiophile, spent major ducats on your system, own a digital SPL meter and a quality laptop, have endless hours of free time and see tweeking as a hobby. With them you can scientifically and quantitatively eliminate all room resonence and tailor the sound perfectly. For example, I know a guy that digitally EQed his dedicated, decoupled HT room and the resulting sound was unbelievably clear and lifelike. When he turned off the EQ, it didin't sound nearly as transparent and buzz-free.

Having said all of that, a traditional graphic EQ is probably very worthwhile if you just want to tailor the sound qualitatively to what you like or just to play around with. I have no idea why they are so hard to find these days... In terms of actually quantitatively improving sound quality, I guess that's in the eye of the beholder.

I use one in my computer/fun room for CDs. It's very useful, since I use smaller speakers in there. Also, since I listen to a lot of live shows from the net, it's pretty much required. The difference in sound quality is night and day.

For the home theater room though, don't need one, don't want one.

I purchased mine at Radio Shack many years ago... Probably mid-90's. It's digital, 20 bands, ran around $100 IIRC... And the LEDs rise and fall. You may want to check there.

Thanks.

Interesting. I just upgraded my receiver to a Kenwood VR-7070. Once I was done hooking it up to my home theatre/home stereo system I was dissapointed to find that it didn't have the connections for my equalizer that my old receiver (a Kenwood 1080VR) had. I was wondering if it really matters anymore with newer receivers as I recall that the 1st Kenwood receiver I had (before the 1080) sounded really weak without the EQ. The new receiver is at decent room audio at around the volume setting of 37 wheras the 1080 sounded about the same at volume level 47.