mikematrix
Member
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2023
- Messages
- 71
- Likes
- 45
don't forget the umik microphone for Dirac
-
Welcome to ASR. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!
BLUESOUND goes Dirac Live
- Thread starter pogo
- Start date
I have an old Marantz AVR that came with a mic for Audyssey. I was hoping to use that.
mikematrix
Member
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2023
- Messages
- 71
- Likes
- 45
You have to pay attention to the target curve, Dirac is not a plug & play tool. You have to be careful with this otherwise it will modify the sound of the speakers to which you are accustomed too much.
Bluesound sells the microphone for Dirac installation and it is quite a bit less than the UMIK 1.
I’m definitely not a subject matter expert but if you’re using Dirac with a proper mic over an iPhone there should be a noticeable improvement. Keep in mind Dirac is an advanced tool and it’s not as straight forward as Room Perfect or Audessey. There are people who can help and filters that should be applied after proper measurements. Some of us are adept naturally at this and others (myself included) are not so choose wisely. Ask yourself if you will dive down the rabbit hole or seek out help from experts? If the answer is no to either then no, it will not be an improvement, but it can be if implemented properly. For proof look at all the NAD M33’s for sale because buyers didn’t want to “figure it out”.
mikematrix
Member
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2023
- Messages
- 71
- Likes
- 45
As I explained, you chose your speakers because they had some characteristics that stood out here and there.
Then you choose a filter or a target curve that will see this as a defect and remove it, so you're not happy with the result.
For me, Dirac is a tool for those who know a little about measurements or who want to learn.
Then you choose a filter or a target curve that will see this as a defect and remove it, so you're not happy with the result.
For me, Dirac is a tool for those who know a little about measurements or who want to learn.
I used Dirac Live on my N132 Node with a umik-2 and I enjoy it so much I just ordered a miniDSP SHD today so I can integrate my subwoofers better into the Dirac flow. I know I can't use Dirac Live Bass Control (DLBC) on miniDSP yet, but what I'm planning to do is MSO my two subs, then create two hybrid channels with crossovers for my main speakers and Dirac that. If that's too much of a pain, I'll just crossover each sub to the channel it's closest to and then run Dirac on those two channels instead.
I'm hopeful that one day we'll get DLBC on the miniDSP but in the meantime, short of buying some $7000 NAD or an ARCAM receiver with way too many features/channels for what I'm trying to do, I think the SHD is optimal (I'm trying to keep the chain with my JBL 4329Ps all digital so I'm not converting between digital and analog twice, which precludes most receivers that support DLBC but have no kind of digital out, and when they do it's not like I can run a high-pass filter on it).
I'm hopeful that one day we'll get DLBC on the miniDSP but in the meantime, short of buying some $7000 NAD or an ARCAM receiver with way too many features/channels for what I'm trying to do, I think the SHD is optimal (I'm trying to keep the chain with my JBL 4329Ps all digital so I'm not converting between digital and analog twice, which precludes most receivers that support DLBC but have no kind of digital out, and when they do it's not like I can run a high-pass filter on it).
Great points everyone. I prefer a warm, smooth, and laid-back sound, which is why I'm swapping my B&W DM602 S2s for Wharfedale Diamond 225s.
To your point, if something like Dirac ends up flattening or removing my preferred sound character, I’d rather not use it.
Also, I’m not doing critical listening from a fixed sweet spot. My setup is in a small 600 sq. ft. space where the living room, kitchen, and my office area are all connected and I move around a lot. So I’m not sure how much value room correction would add when there isn’t one consistent listening position. How can it create an EQ that works for such a variable environment? I think it might even make things sound worse in some spots!
To your point, if something like Dirac ends up flattening or removing my preferred sound character, I’d rather not use it.
Also, I’m not doing critical listening from a fixed sweet spot. My setup is in a small 600 sq. ft. space where the living room, kitchen, and my office area are all connected and I move around a lot. So I’m not sure how much value room correction would add when there isn’t one consistent listening position. How can it create an EQ that works for such a variable environment? I think it might even make things sound worse in some spots!
mikematrix
Member
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2023
- Messages
- 71
- Likes
- 45
I'm happy with Dirac. I started with the plugin on my PC, which allows for a lot of configuration and 8 memory locations. You can also try it for free.
All you need is a sound card or a home theater amplifier, which I used via HDMI for 2.2 (using the center channel for the second subwoofer).
On the Node, if you have multiple listening positions, you can put them in the 5 memory locations.
On the other hand, unlike on the PC, with Dirac "on," the sound on the Node is significantly attenuated compared to when Dirac is off. It's impressive, I wonder if there's a way to adjust this somewhere.
All you need is a sound card or a home theater amplifier, which I used via HDMI for 2.2 (using the center channel for the second subwoofer).
On the Node, if you have multiple listening positions, you can put them in the 5 memory locations.
On the other hand, unlike on the PC, with Dirac "on," the sound on the Node is significantly attenuated compared to when Dirac is off. It's impressive, I wonder if there's a way to adjust this somewhere.
Miniyouuuu
Active Member
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2022
- Messages
- 212
- Likes
- 108
As I pointed out in a similar post, to me Dirac is focused on Cinema. Music requires some careful adjustments:
1- First measurement is critical. You need a good microphone, enough volume and perfect middle point measurement between speakers. I use laser measurement to be sure the middle is perfectly balance.
2-next measurements should be equidistant to that middle point. Using a camera tripod is very helpful. Put it in the middle, rotate same angle to the left, same angle to the right, same height up, same height down. Otherwise Dirac will affect balance and delay hardly. After none symetrical measurements is very common for Dirac to set and unbalanced scene.
3-disable gain/delay in the upper menu. This is the second way to avoid unbalanced scene. There is a huge difference in naturality of the sound when you disable gain/delay. With this enabled sound gets deeply affected, soundstage narrows, volume goes down… to me that was a huge discovery: ALWAYS DISABLE GAIN/DELAY!!
4- be careful with huge differences between target curve and real measured frecuency response. Automated frecuency response should be chosen when full range speakers with acoustic treatment and ideal conditions. As this is mostly unrealistic, better adjust the target curve point by point. Never set a gain higher than 2 dB, try to replicate a middle point between measured left and right channel. And don’t try to fill valleys.
With all the above Dirac will be almost imperceptible, but enough to improve your system without affecting soundstage or the natural character of your speakers.
My last advice is to create several presets.
1-preset without any correction. Nice to compare if Dirac is improving or not your system.
2 - preset with curtains set up from 40/60hz to 500/600hz. Below 40hz, sometime Dirac tries to fill valleys creating new resonances, and upper frequencies affect speakers character.
3-preset for a full range correction but careful target curve set in the middle of each channel response.
4- preset for fake loudness. Lower the middle, force a +2dB gain from 2500 to 10000hz. This will help inteligibility for tv during night sessions.
When everything is well set you won’t leave preset 3. If you see that sometimes you still want to change to preset 1 or 2 for some music styles , you didn’t get the right configuration inside Dirac. Start again step 4.
1- First measurement is critical. You need a good microphone, enough volume and perfect middle point measurement between speakers. I use laser measurement to be sure the middle is perfectly balance.
2-next measurements should be equidistant to that middle point. Using a camera tripod is very helpful. Put it in the middle, rotate same angle to the left, same angle to the right, same height up, same height down. Otherwise Dirac will affect balance and delay hardly. After none symetrical measurements is very common for Dirac to set and unbalanced scene.
3-disable gain/delay in the upper menu. This is the second way to avoid unbalanced scene. There is a huge difference in naturality of the sound when you disable gain/delay. With this enabled sound gets deeply affected, soundstage narrows, volume goes down… to me that was a huge discovery: ALWAYS DISABLE GAIN/DELAY!!
4- be careful with huge differences between target curve and real measured frecuency response. Automated frecuency response should be chosen when full range speakers with acoustic treatment and ideal conditions. As this is mostly unrealistic, better adjust the target curve point by point. Never set a gain higher than 2 dB, try to replicate a middle point between measured left and right channel. And don’t try to fill valleys.
With all the above Dirac will be almost imperceptible, but enough to improve your system without affecting soundstage or the natural character of your speakers.
My last advice is to create several presets.
1-preset without any correction. Nice to compare if Dirac is improving or not your system.
2 - preset with curtains set up from 40/60hz to 500/600hz. Below 40hz, sometime Dirac tries to fill valleys creating new resonances, and upper frequencies affect speakers character.
3-preset for a full range correction but careful target curve set in the middle of each channel response.
4- preset for fake loudness. Lower the middle, force a +2dB gain from 2500 to 10000hz. This will help inteligibility for tv during night sessions.
When everything is well set you won’t leave preset 3. If you see that sometimes you still want to change to preset 1 or 2 for some music styles , you didn’t get the right configuration inside Dirac. Start again step 4.
Last edited:
mikematrix
Member
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2023
- Messages
- 71
- Likes
- 45
For me, it's precisely the gain/delay that makes all the difference. My speakers completely disappear, and even if you close your eyes, it's impossible to locate them.
The voice comes out perfectly in the middle of the stage, with everything else all around it. It should also be said that I have one speaker a little further away than the other due to the room, and afterward, Dirac corrected this problem, so personally, I would never disable this option.
So... everyone does what they want, as long as it suits them.
The voice comes out perfectly in the middle of the stage, with everything else all around it. It should also be said that I have one speaker a little further away than the other due to the room, and afterward, Dirac corrected this problem, so personally, I would never disable this option.
So... everyone does what they want, as long as it suits them.
Miniyouuuu
Active Member
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2022
- Messages
- 212
- Likes
- 108
For asymmetric layout makes all the sense your recommendation! Have fun!
Similar threads
- Locked
- Locked