Active Room Treatment (ART) by Dirac

[EWL5]

I saw new Arcam Radia AVR's with ART being announced. Expected delivery Q3 2026

https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnarcher/2026/02/03/arcam-launches-new-radia-range-of-av-amps-processors-and-power-amplifiers/

Based on issues/lack of support from current Arcam Dirac users in the big Dirac AVS thread, I'd stay away from Arcam as far as I can!

 

[patoulol]

How many subs are used in the system ?

4 subs

 

[smygolf]

4 subs

Thank you

One thing to consider with ART, more subs does not automatic mean higher dB.
The list on max dB @ different hz in the Focal spec will be roughly correct using Dirac Bass control.

With Art and how support works you can easily loose a bit of edge.
Also, changing witch sub is lfe can also change things drasticly. (been there - done that)

With all that said, 4 of those subs should be plenty as long as the room aint to big.
Best tip i can come up with is to measure how much support each speaker has, it is a pain to do but it is worth it.
If the room and subs are placed symetrical the pairs can be used as 1 sub - will give you more headroom.

 

[Oddball]

In my experience nothing wrong with 4 subs, in fact they really can go beyond ART if capable enough - the most demanding torture exercise involved additional +10dB gain on the subs to all that ART and AVP could provide (+5 master, +12 curve). Subs were just, let's say, humming along. More appropriate would be that they were tearing down the structure 5 floors up and down, but limiting volume to 130dB through their DSP.

Other speakers were not really breaking a sweat or needing a break at these levels. Even the Atmos are good to 50hz F3 response. This was for multiple hours as wanted to see how far and long I can go. Posting pictures just for new members that might not be able to use search function well.

As far as Focals, there is a serious review out there on Focal system with ART. Albeit there was RBH infrasonic sub as well. So looks like nothing wrong with Focal setup after all.

Focal 1000 Utopia IWLCR & IWSUB Speaker System Review

Focal's 1000 Utopia and Astral 16 deliver reference grade performance from an in-wall speaker. Check out our exclusive, in-depth, Focal 1000 Series Theater installation and a sneak peek at Dirac ART.

www.audioholics.com

 

[dlaloum]

Well, no Windows in my house for years except the ones on the wall. Used it only for MultiEQ-X and suffered every time.

No issues experienced with Windows 11 here...

 

[OverTheAir]

This noise is a distinct 'pop' or 'clack' occurring on low-frequency content (such as kick drums or bass lines) and is consistently reproducible on specific tracks. The issue disappears completely as soon as ART is disabled.

When you describe a driver producing a "clack" sound on low frequency content, then that seems to me like a driver is hitting its excursion limits. The subs you mention are ported, with the port tune at 19 Hz. The LCR are ported with a tune at 35 Hz. If a bass signal below the respective port tune frequencies is fed to the sub or the speaker then that might account for the sound you are hearing. This becomes more likely at higher signal levels.

Note that if the subs and LCR speakers are providing support to other speakers using ART then the bass signal will be more powerful and perhaps significantly more powerful than just the original sound content, depending on ART configuration.

If the subs have the ART "infrasonic" option ticked then more bass may be present below 20 Hz, but it isn't being managed by Dirac, so might be presenting too much bass below 19 Hz. It seems more likely that there may be too much bass signal below the LCR port tune of 35 Hz and the mechanical sounds are coming from one or more speakers. This might occur if the LCR speakers are being set in ART to support the subs or other speakers at frequencies below 35 Hz.

Just some food for thought and ideas to investigate

 

[Frank207be]

In my experience nothing wrong with 4 subs, in fact they really can go beyond ART if capable enough - the most demanding torture exercise involved additional +10dB gain on the subs to all that ART and AVP could provide (+5 master, +12 curve). Subs were just, let's say, humming along. More appropriate would be that they were tearing down the structure 5 floors up and down, but limiting volume to 130dB through their DSP.

Other speakers were not really breaking a sweat or needing a break at these levels. Even the Atmos are good to 50hz F3 response. This was for multiple hours as wanted to see how far and long I can go. Posting pictures just for new members that might not be able to use search function well.

View attachment 508947

View attachment 508948

View attachment 508949

As far as Focals, there is a serious review out there on Focal system with ART. Albeit there was RBH infrasonic sub as well. So looks like nothing wrong with Focal setup after all.

Focal 1000 Utopia IWLCR & IWSUB Speaker System Review

Focal's 1000 Utopia and Astral 16 deliver reference grade performance from an in-wall speaker. Check out our exclusive, in-depth, Focal 1000 Series Theater installation and a sneak peek at Dirac ART.

www.audioholics.com

Always nice to see suche a beautiful system

As for the Focal: I'd choose those Focal 1000 IWLCR Utopia from that review any day over those cinema LCR as they are sealed:

My Focal Scala Utopia are also ported but at a lower 24Hz compared to those Cinema LCR and I only use them for support each other and the center speaker from 50Hz up. Not a single hiccup this way.

 

[smygolf]

When you describe a driver producing a "clack" sound on low frequency content, then that seems to me like a driver is hitting its excursion limits. The subs you mention are ported, with the port tune at 19 Hz. The LCR are ported with a tune at 35 Hz. If a bass signal below the respective port tune frequencies is fed to the sub or the speaker then that might account for the sound you are hearing. This becomes more likely at higher signal levels.

Note that if the subs and LCR speakers are providing support to other speakers using ART then the bass signal will be more powerful and perhaps significantly more powerful than just the original sound content, depending on ART configuration.

If the subs have the ART "infrasonic" option ticked then more bass may be present below 20 Hz, but it isn't being managed by Dirac, so might be presenting too much bass below 19 Hz. It seems more likely that there may be too much bass signal below the LCR port tune of 35 Hz and the mechanical sounds are coming from one or more speakers. This might occur if the LCR speakers are being set in ART to support the subs or other speakers at frequencies below 35 Hz.

Just some food for thought and ideas to investigate

Also to consider, in a ported system Xmax is Very easy to reach 10-20hz above tuning frequency. (see random pic below)
I Many cases it is this that defines max db - not power input.

 

[Frank207be]

When you describe a driver producing a "clack" sound on low frequency content, then that seems to me like a driver is hitting its excursion limits. The subs you mention are ported, with the port tune at 19 Hz. The LCR are ported with a tune at 35 Hz. If a bass signal below the respective port tune frequencies is fed to the sub or the speaker then that might account for the sound you are hearing. This becomes more likely at higher signal levels.

Note that if the subs and LCR speakers are providing support to other speakers using ART then the bass signal will be more powerful and perhaps significantly more powerful than just the original sound content, depending on ART configuration.

If the subs have the ART "infrasonic" option ticked then more bass may be present below 20 Hz, but it isn't being managed by Dirac, so might be presenting too much bass below 19 Hz. It seems more likely that there may be too much bass signal below the LCR port tune of 35 Hz and the mechanical sounds are coming from one or more speakers. This might occur if the LCR speakers are being set in ART to support the subs or other speakers at frequencies below 35 Hz.

Just some food for thought and ideas to investigate

Damn I missed that 35Hz tuning of the LCR IMHO that's bad for a high end product.

 

[Frank207be]

Also to consider, in a ported system Xmax is Very easy to reach 10-20hz above tuning frequency. (see random pic below)
I Many cases it is this that defines max db - not power input.


View attachment 509084

Plus the infamous unloading under port tuning.

Nice to see other people using that GRS 12SW-4HE too. I built a dual opposed ported sub with them tuned at 13Hz and they have a solid response down to 7Hz in a small bedroom.

 

[patoulol]

When you describe a driver producing a "clack" sound on low frequency content, then that seems to me like a driver is hitting its excursion limits. The subs you mention are ported, with the port tune at 19 Hz. The LCR are ported with a tune at 35 Hz. If a bass signal below the respective port tune frequencies is fed to the sub or the speaker then that might account for the sound you are hearing. This becomes more likely at higher signal levels.

Note that if the subs and LCR speakers are providing support to other speakers using ART then the bass signal will be more powerful and perhaps significantly more powerful than just the original sound content, depending on ART configuration.

If the subs have the ART "infrasonic" option ticked then more bass may be present below 20 Hz, but it isn't being managed by Dirac, so might be presenting too much bass below 19 Hz. It seems more likely that there may be too much bass signal below the LCR port tune of 35 Hz and the mechanical sounds are coming from one or more speakers. This might occur if the LCR speakers are being set in ART to support the subs or other speakers at frequencies below 35 Hz.

Just some food for thought and ideas to investigate

Thank you so much for taking the time to explain! I prepared a few questions for the calibrator who did DIRAC ART on the configuration in question

As far as Focals, there is a serious review out there on Focal system with ART. Albeit there was RBH infrasonic sub as well. So looks like nothing wrong with Focal setup after all.

Decidedly, you don't want to get to the bottom of things, or understand

 

[gepgep]

@gepgep, you never answered me but I found from one of your earlier posts. Since you have the Cinema 30, you should make sure it's fully updated as there were issues earlier w/WIDE speakers and Dirac.

Sorry for not replying
Its up to date and it seems the issue is playing the sweeps for REW in the correct channels
MacOS only supports bitstream (hdmi passthrough) in certain circumstances

 

[AudioJester]

Edit: Wrong thread - doh!

 

[EngineerNate]

In my experience nothing wrong with 4 subs, in fact they really can go beyond ART if capable enough - the most demanding torture exercise involved additional +10dB gain on the subs to all that ART and AVP could provide (+5 master, +12 curve). Subs were just, let's say, humming along. More appropriate would be that they were tearing down the structure 5 floors up and down, but limiting volume to 130dB through their DSP.

Other speakers were not really breaking a sweat or needing a break at these levels. Even the Atmos are good to 50hz F3 response. This was for multiple hours as wanted to see how far and long I can go. Posting pictures just for new members that might not be able to use search function well.

View attachment 508947

View attachment 508948

View attachment 508949

As far as Focals, there is a serious review out there on Focal system with ART. Albeit there was RBH infrasonic sub as well. So looks like nothing wrong with Focal setup after all.

Focal 1000 Utopia IWLCR & IWSUB Speaker System Review

Focal's 1000 Utopia and Astral 16 deliver reference grade performance from an in-wall speaker. Check out our exclusive, in-depth, Focal 1000 Series Theater installation and a sneak peek at Dirac ART.

www.audioholics.com

So much better than a race car bed.

 

[kawauso]

The JBL subwoofer driver I bought the other day broke, so I tried replacing it with a driver called the STW-350F.
As a result, the response around 20 Hz is much more solid than with the previous subwoofer driver, and I’m very satisfied.
There were a few mishaps along the way, such as the rear reinforcement brace interfering with the driver, but in the end, everything worked out well.

 

[smygolf]

The JBL subwoofer driver I bought the other day broke, so I tried replacing it with a driver called the STW-350F.
As a result, the response around 20 Hz is much more solid than with the previous subwoofer driver, and I’m very satisfied.
There were a few mishaps along the way, such as the rear reinforcement brace interfering with the driver, but in the end, everything worked out well.

View attachment 509271
View attachment 509272
View attachment 509273
View attachment 509274

Is it a 12" or 15"

 

[kawauso]

Is it a 12" or 15"

It’s a 15-inch driver! It’s an excellent performer!

 

[smygolf]

Have already simulate it, one of my contender as support sub

1000w

 

[smygolf]

It’s a 15-inch driver! It’s an excellent performer!

Martini shaker

 

[Oddball]

What do you guys think about this video? It was linked by a member in another thread. I have some reservations, but then I am the oddball