I am running AP 3.2.14 on a mac mini with a 2.5 GHz core i5, 12 GB memory and a hard drive. I use an AU parametric eq set for a sharp notch at around 70 Hz. This is the only active band.
Sometimes I think I can hear an overall quality reduction with the EQ in. It is very subtle. Could my processor be insufficient for this DSP?
Have you looked in Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor and then at Window > CPU Usage to see how hard the Mini is working?
I believe I am right that this window will appear to show twice as many cores as you think you have if your CPU has ‘hyperthreading’ - which allows the CPU to operate ‘virtual cores’. I would look at the ‘odd’ bars - which are the physical cores, not the even bars which are virtual.