Home Theater Equalizer

Equalizers are mostly considered home theater audio accessories, but many Canadian home theater owners who try it end up buying one of their own. An equalizer helps even out the sound coming from various channels (i.e. your 5.1 or 7.1 system), giving you fuller, rounder audio. You may not notice the difference when you play a song or two, but you will when you watch a recorded concert or musical.

There are two main equalizer types: fixed and user-adjustable. The latter is more common in professional applications, as it requires some understanding of audio electronics. Fixed models for Canadian home theater systems are usually tuned to provide optimal quality for standard indoor sound. This way, you won’t have to fiddle with the knobs every time you change your disc—the equalizer does most of the work. If you want an adjustable equalizer, make sure it comes with a revert or ‘auto’ feature so you can always go back to default when you get confused.

You may also want to get one with a graphic equalizer screen. This shows you the levels of sound as they come out, so you can see what you’re working with. It’s particularly useful when you have a complex audio system or have a good ear for home theater audio quality. Graphic equalizers found in most modern equalizers, so you’ll find a wide variety at most Canadian home theater shops.