I
f rWay, february 27, 1976
t
daily r.ebraskan
paga 7
V
s
out of f Stereo equalizer can
distorted sound frequency
a
Rv Rvan Scott
In my last stereo column, it was noted that many re
gard the speaker as the most critical component in as
sembling modem stereo systems. Your stereo is only as
good as the speaker's sound.
Many people discover that, much to their surprise,
the speaker that sounds outstanding in the store sounds
altogether different in the home. Others are upset to find
the speaker that sounds great on rock sounds terrible on
classical. Rarely may these problems be attributed to a
defective speaker. Tne problem is one of equalization.
Sound reaches our ears in the form of sound waves.
Sound is comprised of different tones and pitches called
frequencies. Frequency is measured, by counting the num
ber of sound wave oscillations in a second. Low pitch
frequencies oscillate fewer times in one second than high
pitch frequencies.
Each frequency has a number refering to the number
of sound wave oscillations in a second. Following the fre
quency number is the abbreviation cps, which stands for
"cycle per second," the unit measure of sound. (Cps has
been replaced with "Hz" irw tribute to German phy
sicist Heinrich Hertz, for his contribution to the study of
sound).
The human-ear has an effective frequency hearing
range of 20 to 20,000 Hi. Speaker manufacturers try to
produce speakers that can effectively reproduce this same
audible frequency range as flat as possible. (A flat fre
quency response is one in which every frequency is dis
cerned at the same audible leve, called sound pressure
level).
Bass and treble
Equalization allow for contouring of a speaker's fre
quency response. Ii also allows for correction of defi
ciencies inherent in the listening environment, and for per
sonal taste preferences in sound reproduction.
All of us are familiar with some mode of equalization.
The bass and treble controls on most stereos are effective
equalizers, though they have a very small operating range.
Active equalizers then are merely tone controls with a
more definite and precise operating range.
The 20 to 20,000 Hz frequency spectrum may be bro
ken down into ten ranges of sound called octaves. Whereas
typical bass and treble controls are assigned to cover the
highest and lowest octaves, the equalizer assigns one band
to each octave or half octave. Each band is assigned a
frequency number and given an effective range inside that
! QBflDD BB-OPBDEDO I
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number of plus or minus 10 decibels. The result is a box
full of knobs or sliders that gives you the thrill of play
ing sound engineer.
If your ear is sensitive to irregularities in frequency re
sponse, like the "bumpy" midrange response mentioned
in the last column, a decrease of 2 to 4 decibels in the
midrange area of 1,000 to 5,000 Hz win smooth this
problem right out the speaker.
Almost any desired sound can be achieved with equal
izers, as long as you remember to stay within the design
limitations of your speaker (boosts in frequency response,
especially in the bass, require a boost in amplifier power
as well. It is easy cook" (destroy) your speaker
through carelessness.) -Listening
environment
The most serious and beneficial area of frequency con
touring comes in regard to inherent difficulties in the
listening environment. Few people realize that the lis
tening environment can drastically alter a speaker's per
ceived performance.
Briefly, the type of furnishings in the room have the
most effect on a speakers response. Thick carpets, heavy
drapes and heavily upholstered chain and couches tend
to soak up high frequency response and accent bass re
sponse. Bare walls, uncarpeted floors and highly reflective
sources like windows, picture frame glass and mirrors tend
to reverberate and distort sound around the room.
Proper application of an equalizer can reduce these
problems to the point of near nonexistence.
The room's layout also alters sound. Sound waves do
not turn comers, rather they bounce off the obstruction
they run into and radiate back into the listening environ
ment. .
Equalizers can adjust for this problem, which should
delight owners of L-shaped livingdining rooms.
Tape enthusiasts also will enjoy using an equalizer. The
sound of old, scratchy records can be improved greatly
when processed through an equalizer before recording.
Many companies are manufacturing equalizers today.
BSRMetrotec offers the least expensive, assembled equal
izer in their model FEW-2, a five band equalizer offering
two octaves of equalization a band. Soundcraftsmen
offers the most popular and reasonably priced ten band
(one an octave) equalizes currently on the market. SAE
markets a 20 band a channel equalizer, and ALTEC's
model 729A offers 24 bands a channel at the "reasonable"
price of $875.00 (both the SAE and ALTEC operate in
naif octaves). A few companies offer equalizer kits for the
do-it-yourselfers. '
'Equalization is an interesting and complex subject
which, once again, deserves more discussion than space
allows. Audio buffs, whether novices or confirmed freaks,
should look into the addition of an equalizer as a neces
sary component in the assembly of stereo systems.
oris of
Sheldon presents
two Renoir films
By Diane Wanek
The Sheldon Film Theatre presents two classic films
by Jean Renoir this weekend. A Day in the Country, a
"dialogue between Renoir and Nature," and The Lower
Depths, Renoir's version of Maxim Gorky's play, are the
fourth and fifth films the theatre is showing in their
Renoir series.
A Day in the Country is Renoir's story of an innocent
young girl who comes of age in the late 1800s. For
Renoir, the making of A Day in the Country must have
been a labor of love, it is so full of the details of the
famous canvasses of his artist father, August e.
Even the positions and attitudes of the actors, not to
mention the costumes and sets, seem as if an Auguste
Renoir canvas has come to life.
The Lower Depths, in contrast, is a flophouse at the
bottom rung of the ladder, the end of the line." Call it
what you will, this trap has ensnared thieves, prostitutes,
a baron down on his money and his luck-some trying des
perately to crawl out, others to adjust, and others just
trying to maintain their illusions.
Pauline Kacl, in the book Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, said,
"The bottom drawer of society is represented in a filthy
rooming house for transients-a skid row that has the
horror and fascination of looking over a cliff. One might,
like the gambler baron or the actor, fall down there-or
one might, like the thief, be down there trying to climb
up...
,4Thesa people at the lower depths are not very dlffer
ent from people anywhere, except for the loss of human
dignity: in a flophouse, gregarlousness is the unspeakably
ugly fact of life."
Screenings of tha films will be at 3, 7 and 9:15 today
and Saturday.
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Tie Jr.'s Perl Parlor
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S i tis inn
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Open 7-10, Mon.-Sai., 1-lOpm Sun.
THE KAPPA CHAPTER OF
SIGMA ALPHA IOTA
PRESENTS
"AMERICANS IN MUSIC"
a benefit concert
SUNDAY FEB. 29fh 8:00
SHELDON ART GALLERY AUD.
proceeds so to Sigma Alpha lota philanthropies
KUTI&5S DAILY
XiJ at 2:15 4:4$ 7:15 M g
2nd kzzd C:iy fercr.: Xkd
A film you won't see on television for a long, long time.
' HPTTTT A collection
, XX1 , Jii ' of prize-winning
TiTnPfYfi and specially
PI !iC X VX1 selected films
nTFTTP presented at the
XXXXLi annual New York
Film Festival.
The Official
Judges included:
Andy Warhol
Sylvia Miles
Terry Southern
Milos Forman
Xavcrla Hollander
Holly Woodlawn
Core Vldal.
Executive Director
of the Festival:
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Kaird X. UiKter 17 not tsJniltted.
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7:00 a 9:30 p,m, Nebr. Unksn Ballroom $1
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BEST PICTURE
Best Actor
JACK NICHOLSON
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