Got a chance to bag a mint-condition SEQ-50 for a reasonable price. Always been curious/tempted to have one in the collection, especially as I love tweaking pb for different headphones. DBB is laudible on some Walkmans so I'd be interested in seeing if this will bring any sonic benefits. The only thing I'm concerned about is the lack of any gain compensation. I'm used to cutting or boosting gain depending on EQ settings so I would assume there will be some distortion if over-boosting certain frequencies. Or is compensation automatic/built-in with this device? Any owners of the SEQ-50 experience any distortion on playback? Anyone made any measurements?
well i have never had one of these but have used multiple equ's linked to each other with for years with no issues like you speak of so you may be ok, good luck
I have one of these. I found using it to be much the same as if the walkman you're connecting it to had a 5-band EQ - i.e. if you max the bass slider & push the volume, distortion will result, but only if you push it too far. As mentioned, the lowest slider is 100Hz so don't expect earth-shaking bass to be boosted with it. Also, it does introduce a very small amount of hiss when active. I did like the ability to bypass it, to compare your EQ setting with the original sound.
I would love to see a retro remake in the form of a portable DAC with some sliders, and a small screen
I should have updated this thread to say that the one that originally presented itself got snatched away by somebody else eventually. Well, the search went on. Albeit a bit half-heartedly, until a couple of weeks ago and over 2 years after my search began when I spotted one on my weekly trawl using hi-fi shark. A '100% working, good condition' one advertised on ebay for €200. It's been a while since I've seen one on the radar for anything under that price point so I took the plunge and bought it. Couldn't be happier. It meets expectations and works great in combination with my various portable amps. Without an amp you're really at the mercy of whatever meagre device output you're using with the added caveat that the SEQ-50 does add a soupson of hiss as reliably reported by other owners. No problem for me however and when placed in the middle of the signal path between source and my Fiio Mont Blanc amp the hiss is actually diminished or hidden somewhat. Tried it out first on my TC-D5M and works great. Currently listening to some Ian Brown on my D3 and performs equally tiptop. I always wanted a bit of a bass boost using these portables aswell as a bit more control over the mid frequencies and the SEQ-50 really facilitates that admirably. Sonic heaven. Well, as far as analogue tape can provide that!
It blows my mind how some of the accessories are going for big money now. Great photos, it looks like it's happy now cranking some sonic pixies....
If you paid £200 for your one, I'm glad I found mine at a boot sale for £3! I have to admit I don't use it much, but it does make a difference when you do.
It's truly bonkers. Have you seen what Sony portable MDR headphones go for these days? Insane in the membrane! Lucky find! I love those kind of stories. I got a lucky find at a 'rommelmarkt' (jumble sale) here in NL a few years ago; 5 NOS Sony Metal ES cassettes for five European Euros each. I went giddy and shivered with disbelief at the sight. My gf who was with me thought I'd sh!t my pants when I looked at her with an expression of disbelief and shock. hahahaa I swiftly moved in and offered the seller his asking price and as he was an 'older gent' I gave him an extra 'pony' to which he initially refused but I insisted and then I scurried away, clutching the booty with both hands. lol I think it was a win-win for both parties. The collection is bourgeoining nicely these days.
We mostly beat the crap out of the headphones, I do want to go through my pile and see If I have any gems but most are low end. Do we have a headphone thread around here? My headphone and microphone knowledge is bare bones, I just know I got a lot of grief at school when the sonic pixies escaped the foam pads.
I thought I'd get around to re-cabling the SEQ50 today. I've managed to find some reclaimed time via some small operational changes for my business. I'm now using printable shipping stickers which saves me a whole 4 hours a week based on current order levels and a new parcel pickup/dropoff station has opened right around the corner from me which also saves me a bunch time these days. Woo-wee! So I thought I'd use some of that saved time to do something nice for myself, lol. The SEQ50 comes with a stupidly long and rather feeble-looking cable as standard and I wanted to replace it. I chose 8-core SPC as the capacitance value is ultra low for SPC which, contrary to what many people claim otherwise DOES actually make a difference within the signal path and the resultant sound signature. Anyway, let's get crackin' .... Desolder the old sh!tty cable Choose a connector Prep and tin up a length of 8-core SPC Went with a nice strong angled-connector Terminate the other end to the board. 3 cores for each channel, 2 cores for the ground connection. It's a pretty tight fit for the cable to sit between the case and board but we're in, like Flynn Used the original cable-grommet and it's a nice snug fit Moment of truth; sounds tip-top! Seems to be a lot less hiss than before too. A definite upgrade! It wasn't all plain-sailing though - I managed to bollocks-up the LED as it doesn't light up anymore. Maybe I need to resolder the connections. I'll have a butcher's later... EDIT: A butcher's later and I have managed to fix the LED. (Butcher's hook = look, for those not au fait with the Cockney vernacular) While I had the case apart again I also placed a small amount of silicone grease on the plastic tracks of the EQ band sliders as I thought they could be a bit smoother. Well worth it as the're now as smooth as budderrr EDIT EDIT: Well, I think this is my D5M's way of letting me know that it objects in the strongest possible terms to being EQ'd. Harumph!
