Best Audio Equalizers In 2022

How We Chose Our Selection Of Audio Equalizers

Brand – Unfortunately, in the land of electronics, cheap imitations are a dime a dozen. For this reason, we looked at manufacturers with a proven track record for producing good quality electronic devices. In particular, audiophiles simply do not want to settle for anything less than auditory perfection so we chose brand names that specialize in sound. This is your assurance that you won’t be covering your ears when you’re listening to music, watching movies or even playing your favorite games.

Price – For the bargain hunters out there, we found a few audio equalizers that are affordable, yet still offer great value in terms of cleaning up and perfecting sounds. Of course, some people simply want the best and some of the prices reflect this. The price will depend on the number of channels or bands, as well as a variety of other features.

Reviews – We can learn a lot from people who have actually tested the audio equalizers in our selection. Many of them are audiophiles who know what to expect from their audio equalizers and won’t hold back if their particular one didn’t deliver in terms of quality and features. We checked the reviews to see which audio equalizers did live up to expectations. If the reviews were good, we took a closer look. Negative reviews were also checked to see what aspects of the audio equalizers may be a deal-breaker for potential buyers.

Features To Look For In Audio Equalizers

Frequencies – Most of the pitches the human ear seems to zone in on fall between 60Hz and 4kHz. However, there are a number of factors that need to be taken into consideration such as where you’ll be listening to your music or movies and even ambient noises and the surrounding environment in general. The human ear is capable of picking up frequencies of around 20 000 Hz. Obviously, some people pick up on different frequencies and this too will depend on where you’re tuning in.

Decibels – We’re all aware that the unit for measuring sound is the decibel and most audiophiles like to crank up the volume. With any good audio equalizer, you should be able to increase or decrease the loudness of a particular frequency by moving the slider up or down. Even the tiniest adjustments can dramatically change a particular frequency depending so take it easy. Check the manufacturer’s specifications to see how high or low your EQ can go.

EQ Presets – An audio equalizer with presets can make adjusting your music frequencies a lot easier. Presets for music genres like rock, jazz or classical music can help you avoid a lot of fiddling. While these may not give you the exact sound you’re hoping for, they’re a great way for newbies to get accustomed to their EQ.  Start off with the presettings then experiment with getting the sound exactly how you like it. Some audio equalizers can also show you what the frequency curve of the music should look like depending on the preset mode you have selected. Use this and you will gradually learn from your own experiences, exactly what your EQ is capable of.

Number Of Bands – Different audio equalizers will have different bands and some will give you a wider range than others. Look for an audio equalizer with a variety of different bands that can enhance things like bass, sub-bass, low-mids, high-mids, brilliance and more.

Filters – Audio filters can amplify, pass or cut some of the frequency ranges.  They do this via a frequency-dependent amplifier circuit. A good audio equalizer will help you adjust the music you are listening too and eliminate or alter certain sounds using the filters.

Types Of Audio Equalizers

There are a 5 main types of audio equalizers and they are;

Shelving EQ – This is the most common type audio equalizer and is generally the least expensive. With a shelving EQ, you can control the treble and the bass with relative ease, as well as increase or decrease the gain, and the central frequency and bandwidth are fixed.

High Pass / Low Pass Filter EQ – The primary difference between a high pass and low pass filter EQ is the range of the frequency they pass. As the names suggest, if we are looking at an audio equalizer with a high pass filter, it will allow the higher frequencies to pass, while blocking the lower frequencies. Low pass filter EQs allow the lower frequencies to pass, but not the high frequencies.

Graphic EQ – Graphic equalizers are very popular with professionals and those who are totally dedicated to perfection in music. Much of the music recorded during the 20^th Century would have been recorded on a graphic equalizer. As good as they were, it was only a matter of time before they were replaced by something better. You can still find some people using graphic equalizers, but most professionals have moved on to something better.

Parametric EQ – This is the audio equalizer that made the graphic equalizer relatively obsolete. They are considerably more precise and incredibly versatile. The beauty of the parametric equalizer is that you can choose the pivotal frequency you want to equalize. The parametric equalizer can be used to filter out any sounds and frequencies you don’t want to hear.

Bandpass EQ – A bandpass equalizer, also known as a bandpass filter, is used to allow certain range of frequencies to be heard, while eliminating those you don’t want heard. It is also used to enhance the signal to noise ratio and the sensitivity of a receiver.

Audio Equalizer FAQ

Q: What is equalization?

A: From a musical vantage, equalization is the process of altering the sounds and frequencies of a song or mix. These frequencies fall into certain categories and you’ve probably heard some, or even all of them, at some point. Terms such as bass, treble, mid-range, etc., are all examples of sound frequencies. In any given musical composition, you have a range of instruments all clamoring together. To the amateur, the music may sound great, but to a professional, it may sound a little off. The idea behind the audio equalizer is to eliminate or filter some of the frequencies so you get a song that is in perfect harmony.

Q: Do I need an audio equalizer?

A: This is a tough question and will depend entirely on how much of a perfectionist you are with your music. The average person probably doesn’t even think of equalizing music but audiophiles will certainly want to filter those frequencies. Most certainly, a newbie will want to take things very slowly, especially if they are creating, recording, or putting together a song or mix. Even a slight change can drastically alter the sound, and not always for the better.

The thing to keep in mind with an audio equalizer is that you don’t want to get carried away. In fact, your focus should be on tweaking the tunes, not actually altering them. If you’re putting together your own mix, don’t go overboard with different sounds and instruments. It takes professionals years to master mixing and equalizing, so when you are new to the game, keep it simple and work with smaller projects, working your way up to bigger ones as you gain experience.

Q: Should I use the presets?

A: The presets are a great feature for beginners. You can choose from rock, metal and pretty much any musical genre you like. However, these are only meant to be used as a guide when you are first experimenting with an equalizer.

Q: Do I need to equalize with expensive speakers?

A: Speakers do not necessarily need to be the most expensive to be used with your audio equalizer. Some of the middle range speakers can be just as good as some of the high-end models. However, be careful when equalizing. You can actually damage your speakers with your equalizer if you’re not careful. If you accidentally have the wrong level of output going through your speakers, you may damage them. To check for damage, play the sounds through the speakers at an increased level of output. If the sound is distorted at a low level, the speaker could be damaged. The good news is, most modern speakers have been designed to handle short term distortion. Just make sure you listen carefully.

Q: How to equalize?

A: Getting a particular song or piece of music just right, takes a bit of practice, but there are a few steps you can take to get used to equalizing.

• Check your equipment. Before you start moving all the sliders and dials around, make sure everything that needs to be plugged in is. Also, check and make sure that it’s working properly.
• Listen to the music before you begin. Chances are the song or music is already perfect so you don’t want to alter something that’s already great.
• Get the right headphones or speakers. These will help in hearing the music the way it should be heard.
• Subtle flaws can then be corrected. Start listening to the music and use the sliders on your audio equalizer to make very slight adjustments. No big movements.
• Go down, not up. Experts say you should always equalize down. Some frequencies become quite distorted when you equalize up and this will not only lower the quality of the sound, it may also make the job of equalizing the rest of the music a lot harder.

Whether you are a professional musician, a beginner or just someone who insists on listening to perfect tunes, an audio equalizer is certain to enhance your music. You can connect an audio equalizer to your home sound system, in your car or even your boat. There are dozens of different types of audio equalizers you can choose from. The main point to remember is that equalizing is a fine art and takes some finesse and the best audio equalizer will help you make good music even better.