HQPlayer REW Tutorial Parametric EQ

Moy · February 18, 2023, 2:24pm

After using Housecure before to add parametric EQ on HQPlayer, I tried REW and I came out with these settings. Wanted to check if this is a good introductory method.
The video is here Correct your speakers with REW, UMIK-1 and Equalizer APO (Room Correction Tutorial) - YouTube

Here are my average measuring curves

Adjusting the House Curve

Then using the EQ setting to get the measurements

Final results before adding to HQplayer
Room EQ V5.20.13
Dated: Feb 18, 2023 9:35:13 PM

Notes:house-curve-rew

Equaliser: Generic
RMS Average 1
Filter 1: ON PK Fc 117.5 Hz Gain -6.70 dB Q 11.814
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 127.0 Hz Gain -4.50 dB Q 11.392
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 321.0 Hz Gain -7.30 dB Q 7.971
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 324.0 Hz Gain 6.00 dB Q 6.890
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 396.0 Hz Gain -3.50 dB Q 8.314
Filter 6: ON PK Fc 514.0 Hz Gain 5.90 dB Q 1.026
Filter 7: ON PK Fc 625.0 Hz Gain -9.20 dB Q 1.014
Filter 8: ON PK Fc 936.0 Hz Gain 6.00 dB Q 1.108
Filter 9: ON PK Fc 1061 Hz Gain -5.80 dB Q 3.444
Filter 10: ON PK Fc 1552 Hz Gain -3.40 dB Q 3.741
Filter 11: ON PK Fc 3343 Hz Gain -2.70 dB Q 2.982
Filter 12: ON PK Fc 4351 Hz Gain -3.80 dB Q 1.196

Converted into single string:
iir:type=peak;f=117.5;g=-6.70;q=11.814,iir:type=peak;f=127.0;g=-4.50;q=11.392,iir:type=peak;f=321.0;g=-7.30;q=7.971,iir:type=peak;f=324.0;g=6.00;q=6.890,iir:type=peak;f=324.0;g=6.00;q=6.890,iir:type=peak;f=396.0;g=-3.50;q=8.314,iir:type=peak;f=514.0;g=5.90;q=1.026,iir:type=peak;f=625.0;g=-9.20;q=1.014,iir:type=peak;f=936.0;g=6.00;q=1.108,iir:type=peak;f=1061;g=-5.80;q=3.444,iir:type=peak;f=1552;g=-3.40;q=3.741,iir:type=peak;f=3343;g=-2.70;q=2.982,iir:type=peak;f=4351;g=-3.80;q=1.196

Edit: Here is the Plot in HQplayer

Traian_Boldea · February 18, 2023, 2:36pm

Thanks for the video, I did not know it.
I nothing but a beginner, but I really like to load the settings in HQP and plot the result.
Following the thread closely, great idea.

Moy · February 18, 2023, 2:40pm

Me too! Just learning here! This is the best video I’ve found so far to the point!

Traian_Boldea · February 18, 2023, 2:43pm

there are some more threads I think in the DSP sections of the forum, one with 2k posts

For the moment I only have filters under 500 but one more question as I did not yet watched the video, why do you have just one correction and not 2 (Left and Right)?

Moy · February 18, 2023, 2:45pm

I did left and right and then the average curve

Average

Traian_Boldea · February 18, 2023, 2:47pm

This I was only guessing from the name.
But how you load that in HQP? you duplicate the text file for the 2 channels? Why not do them separately?

Traian_Boldea · February 18, 2023, 2:50pm

here is what I have. Not happy with the right one. But I have to remeasure as I did change from iFi Zen Dac v2 to the iFi Zen Dac V2 Signature

Left
CLP L Speaker+Sub 70hz 40% Jan 14
Filter 1: ON PK Fc 46.40 Hz Gain -7.60 dB Q 2.000
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 59.40 Hz Gain -9.00 dB Q 12.249
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 255.0 Hz Gain -11.20 dB Q 9.413

Right

Equaliser: Generic
CLP R Speaker+Sub 70hz 40% Jan 14
Filter 1: ON PK Fc 43.75 Hz Gain -7.00 dB Q 16.753
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 59.20 Hz Gain -13.60 dB Q 8.875
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 103.5 Hz Gain -8.50 dB Q 18.259
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 184.0 Hz Gain -9.50 dB Q 24.893
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 247.0 Hz Gain 0.00 dB Q 8.709
Filter 6: ON PK Fc 304.0 Hz Gain -8.70 dB Q 2.315

Moy · February 18, 2023, 3:09pm

I’ve updated the post.
Your values go into a string that goes into the channel Process like this:
iir:type=peak;f=117.5;g=-6.70, next filter…

Then you need to adjust the Gain in proportion to your compensation, I put -5.00 otherwise will be too loud.

You save settings and enable them. You can look see your graphic by the “Plot” button and share and ask for comments.

jussi_laako · February 18, 2023, 7:08pm

I would recommend to apply for example 1/9th octave smoothing before filter design. This way you don’t get overly aggressive filters which usually would be valid only for very small listening area.

Just export this to .txt file form REW and load it to matrix. Take note of maximum gain of +6 dB and apply corresponding -6 dB gain in your pipeline. Alternatively, you can edit the txt and add

Preamp: -6

before the first “Filter 1:” line.

You don’t need to go through the trouble to do this if you just use the .txt export and load it to matrix.

Moy · February 19, 2023, 1:42am

Many thanks, Jussi! Save me lots of time! Will update!

New modeling

Updated with 1/6th smoothing (no 1/9th option)

Got 7 filters

Filter Settings file

Room EQ V5.20.13
Dated: Feb 19, 2023 10:02:20 AM

Notes:1-6-design-curve

Equaliser: Generic
RMS Average 1
Filter 1: ON PK Fc 26.00 Hz Gain -0.00 dB Q 9.864
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 26.95 Hz Gain -13.60 dB Q 2.874
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 30.65 Hz Gain 6.00 dB Q 2.000
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 108.5 Hz Gain 4.50 dB Q 3.418
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 118.5 Hz Gain -9.70 dB Q 4.677
Filter 6: ON PK Fc 1125 Hz Gain -2.00 dB Q 2.815
Filter 7: ON PK Fc 3852 Hz Gain -5.00 dB Q 1.311

Plotted on HQplayer and sounds great

jussi_laako · February 19, 2023, 5:17am

Looks more relaxed. I would also try with couple of different smoothing options (remember to always start from the unsmoothed result). Another thing worth trying is to keep corrections to <500 Hz frequencies. Higher the frequency, broader correction you should have. Because otherwise it becomes really listening position related. But your higher frequency corrections above are pretty broad and should be OK.

If something is being overdone with too steep/drastic corrections, you will notice strange unnatural sound that is not nice listening to. So it is good to start with a gentle small adjustments for worst parts and then proceed to more fine grained EQ. And stop where you think the boundary is before it starts getting worse again.

Moy · February 19, 2023, 9:19am

Follow the updates <500Hz

Got just 3 filters where its mostly needed

Filter Settings file

Room EQ V5.20.13
Dated: Feb 19, 2023 5:04:04 PM

Notes:500hz-eq

Equaliser: Generic
RMS Average 1
Filter 1: ON PK Fc 26.05 Hz Gain -9.00 dB Q 4.331
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 111.5 Hz Gain 5.70 dB Q 3.238
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 118.5 Hz Gain -11.50 dB Q 4.911

The graph more relaxed, sounds fantastic

dabassgoesboomboom · February 19, 2023, 9:21am

You can try a low Q value at approx 3.5 kHz

Like Q = 0.7 or 0.5

Moy · February 19, 2023, 9:25am

Where do I adjust the “Q” value

dabassgoesboomboom · February 19, 2023, 9:49am

Not on this screen. In the EQ screen of REW you can have a preview of what it will look like

Moy · February 19, 2023, 2:35pm

I clicked optimize gains, Qs and frequencies
Screenshot 2023-02-19 at 10.16.35 PM

Got this

Look like this

Will try

Traian_Boldea · February 19, 2023, 2:48pm

You can add manually a filter (in your second screenshot)

Moy · February 20, 2023, 3:11pm

Done

Curve

EQ
Equaliser: Generic
RMS Average 1
Filter 1: ON PK Fc 23.45 Hz Gain -8.10 dB Q 0.700
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 112.0 Hz Gain 6.00 dB Q 0.500
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 119.0 Hz Gain -11.60 dB Q 0.700

Will test later!

jussi_laako · February 20, 2023, 4:33pm

I would level out the small peak at around 120 Hz, and have a broad gain around 200 Hz. That should give pretty smooth response.

dabassgoesboomboom · February 20, 2023, 9:51pm

Still the same at 3.5 kHz? I didn’t mean to change all Q values to 0.5/0.7

But if you can get good results with lower Q, this is usually a good thing too

You can make different profiles in HQP and listen while music plays and work out what sounds best to you, in your room