Any time you boost levels the headroom is reduced, whether it be in the analog or digital domain.

If any digital audio program material is too high, 1) reduce the global level before boosting, 2) cut instead of boosting, or 3) use floating point processing and adjust the levels when it goes to fixed point.

I'm not convinced that analog eq is always desirable with disk transfers; I know the arguments pro and con. It is very helpful to have a high quality phono preamp with a variety of curves for quick reference in auditioning a disk.

--
Parker Dinkins


On Apr 11, 2012, at 11:00 PM, ARSCLIST automatic digest system wrote:

> Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:28:26 -0400
> From: Doug Pomeroy <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: analog vs digital eq
>
> I think the short answer is that the recording curve was
> imposed in the analog domain, in reversing it for playback,
> only analog eq handles the phase response correctly.
>
> Also, applying eq digitally to a truly flat transfer reduces
> available headroom somewhat.
>
> Doug Pomeroy