IN case you’re thinking there’s a “green” story here… no, although the “Environmental Equalizer” description designated to the new McIntosh MQ112 does make for a zeitgeist-capturing moment. In simpler words, the MQ112 is an old-fashioned stereo analogue equaliser that lets you balance out anomalies in your domestic listening environment.
The MQ112 lets the user increase or decrease the levels of the audio signal at eight key bands in the 25Hz-10kHz audio frequency range.
As McIntosh explains, “Think of it as a sonic sculptor that allows you to finely tune the audio signal. With an impressive ±12dB range of adjustment for each band, you can easily cope with any sound challenge. The MQ112 is the solution you need to enhance or subdue particular instrument ranges or voice types, transforming your listening experience.”
The MQ112 does more than just fixing room acoustics, it can also “breathe new life into older, imperfect recordings… you can target specific frequencies, compensating for deficiencies in vintage tracks and unveiling their hidden brilliance.”
The “Tilt” knob opens the doors to further tweaking with its “subtle tonal balance shift of ±6dB” to boost the bass while reducing treble, or vice versa. The EQ control knob’s “In” and “Out” settings let you bypass the entire equaliser circuit to compare the adjusted sound to the original, unaltered version.
The MQ112 has both balanced and unbalanced inputs and outputs, making it flexible when it comes to integrating with various hi-fi systems. The second pair of outputs can be used to play the same music through a separate stereo system in another room, bi-amp a single pair of speakers for optimal sound control, or connect a subwoofer.
The MQ112 retails at US$3,000 and begins shipping this month.
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