Some newbie questions about the equalizer options in Rockbox on the Clip+

[Sleep mode zZ]

Hello, I got a few questions, not of the burning or practical kind, but i would be thankful if someone could anwer these.

In the manual it is warned that boosting frequncies may distort the sound. Is this distortion independent of the overal volume of the player? For example, boosting the bass frequncies 10dB could cause distortion when listening at a volume -50dB and not cause distortion when listening at -40db without boosting the bass frequencies. The distortion would be in the "preamp" and not in the "poweramp"?

In the sound settings there is bass and treble settings that are independent from the equalizer settings. How do these settings work in the Clip+? What frequncies do they boost or cut? Do the same warnings about boosting frequencies apply in these? Do these settings consume less cpu cycles than the full parametric eq?

Thank you.

[saratoga]

Originally Posted by Sleep mode zZ

In the manual it is warned that boosting frequncies may distort the sound. Is this distortion independent of the overal volume of the player?

Yes. Distortion happens if you apply (too much) positive gain. It has nothing to do with volume.

Originally Posted by Sleep mode zZ

In the sound settings there is bass and treble settings that are independent from the equalizer settings. How do these settings work in the Clip+? What frequncies do they boost or cut? Do the same warnings about boosting frequencies apply in these? Do these settings consume less cpu cycles than the full parametric eq?

They're fixed EQ settings, and they do not apply positive gain at all.

[Sleep mode zZ]

Originally Posted by saratoga

Yes. Distortion happens if you apply (too much) positive gain. It has nothing to do with volume.

I understand then that "too much positive gain" have to do with the music played. 1dB of gain may distort on some recording that already uses it's dynamic range fully for those frequencies, and on some other recording you could boost much more without problems.

Originally Posted by saratoga

They're fixed EQ settings, and they do not apply positive gain at all.

Is there a difference in cpu cycles and battery life used in these cases:
1. Bass 0dB, eq off.
2. Bass +5dB, eq off.
3. Bass 0dB, eq on and bass emphasized with it.
4. Bass +5dB and eq also on.

Thank you.

[saratoga]

Turning on the bass boost just enables one more EQ band basically.

Edit: If you just want to do course bass adjustments, the bass/treble controls do all the stuff for you. The EQ on the other hand can do the same thing, but lets you decide on things like Q factor, cutoffs and precut.