Ascilab C8C plus BX8C or Dirac ART and distributed subs?

[AudioJester]

Brief update:
I am now running two C8C with BX8C bass extension modules. After a brief setup phase and some comparative measurements I settled on preset P3 (extended cardioid) as this showed the best frequency response (max. SPL) in the important 200Hz range. Peaks up to 300Hz are corrected with manual PEQ, and I tweaked them slightly to prevent large holes in summed L+R frequency response.

Guys, these speakers produce - subjectively - the very best (in terms of impact and fullness vs. precision) bass I have experienced in my living room so far!

Money thank god was not wasted, and I feel absolutely no need to further investigate how my 2x subs could possibly be integrated into the system or even to try a Dirac ART setup.

Nice one!

Do you have dirac ART?
Was thinking of using an unused sub I have purely as a support speaker to help fill some mild dips.

 

[markstein]

Nice one!

Do you have dirac ART?
Was thinking of using an unused sub I have purely as a support speaker to help fill some mild dips.

No, I thought about Dirac ART plus additional subs vs BX8C and then chose the "simpler" solution (BX8C). It sounds very well - for me and in my room.

As I am so satisfied - at the moment - I will not further investigate into Dirac ART. I could sell my RME gear and buy a Denon X3900 plus Dirac licence instead. But I do not like the idea using such an AVR. I could buy Dirac for my PC and run all music through jriver MC with Dirac VST plugin - however that would even further complicate my already complicated setup.

Maybe next year. This year I will just listen to and enjoy my music

 

[MKR]

No, I thought about Dirac ART plus additional subs vs BX8C and then chose the "simpler" solution (BX8C). It sounds very well - for me and in my room.

As I am so satisfied - at the moment - I will not further investigate into Dirac ART. I could sell my RME gear and buy a Denon X3900 plus Dirac licence instead. But I do not like the idea using such an AVR. I could buy Dirac for my PC and run all music through jriver MC with Dirac VST plugin - however that would even further complicate my already complicated setup.

Maybe next year. This year I will just listen to and enjoy my music

Low frequency cardioid is so effective at dealing with bass issues in room that I doubt ART would bring much benefit down to 40Hz, it may even do more harm than good. I have been a zealot here on ASR for the benefits of full range cardioid for years now, great to see some of you now also hearing the results. It’s a true game changer and and as I have stated prior, once you have heard low freq cardioid there is no going back. Even better is a multi-cardioid sub approach as I now have running in my system . Enjoy !

 

[AudioJester]

I have a full range cardioid 2.0 setup and a 5.4.2 Dirac ART setup. Although in different rooms I can not say one system has better bass than the other. The multichannel system is probably similar cost. While the bass is equivalent in quality to the cardioid system- listening in stereo, the midrange and treble is definitely not. My front left and right are ok, but not great - can not compete.

While cardioid significantly lessens room induced bass variations it wont eliminate peaks and dips. You can EQ peaks. But the only solution for dips is additional bass sources. If you dont have audible dips then your sweet.

 

[MKR]

I have a full range cardioid 2.0 setup and a 5.4.2 Dirac ART setup. Although in different rooms I can not say one system has better bass than the other. The multichannel system is probably similar cost. While the bass is equivalent in quality to the cardioid system- listening in stereo, the midrange and treble is definitely not. My front left and right are ok, but not great - can not compete.

While cardioid significantly lessens room induced bass variations it wont eliminate peaks and dips. You can EQ peaks. But the only solution for dips is additional bass sources. If you dont have audible dips then your sweet.

Agreed … I had a dip at 60Hz and my additional cardioid subs corrected it perfectly

 

[badtimeticket]

I'll be able to test 4.2 C8C + Dirac ART setup as soon as the C8Cs arrive. I'm curious how this will go

 

[a_ron]

The purpose of ART is to reduce decay below 150Hz. I'm surprised to see nobody has suggested you measure your decay times, unless I missed it.

No doubt the Ascilab speakers and sub modules are impressive, and that cardiod is genuinely helpful. But in my most humble opinion, I'm skeptical that cardiod down to 80hz, while very helpful, solves the problem that ART will.

Those speakers and sub modules + two subs in the front and two in the rear + ART + absorption on your first reflections (besides the front wall, which cardiod has addressed) and in the rear... That would be glorious!

Take one for the team. Build and measure it so the rest of us can be jealous. Please!

 

[a_ron]

Depending on the music you listen to, those sub modules probably provide sufficient LF output up front. Add the subs you have to the rear and ART will use them with the sub modules to control decay below 150Hz.

You have already invested a fair amount. Do those amazing speakers and sub modules justice by jumping to ART and four subs! Oh, and don't forget some 150Hz+ absorption panels.

I got a Tide16 so I can do stereo + four subs + ART. It has some quirks and bugs right now but I'm very happy with my choice, and ART is impressive.