dbx DriveRack VENU360 Review (audio processor)

[SIY]

It does not mask the distortion, it removes it. This is covered in any basic text on DSP.

 

[Pabloaguas]

Well, I removed the said capacitors and subjectively, it seems to sound better. I however can't seem to find replacement caps that are the right dieletric, value, voltage and are the 1mm size... looked all over digikey. Maybe HK is putting the wrong ones in because the right ones can't be had? Anyways it seems to sound great but I'm wondering if i should even replace the caps? Seems to work fine without them but without them is the unit pumping out excessive ultrasonic noise?

 

[Pabloaguas]

Not sure if this is the right forum for asking technical questions about the driverack... I did an internet search for a users forum but I couldn't seem to find anything. If there is a users forum please someone post a link.

 

[Pabloaguas]

Well, in the absence of a user's forum... does anyone have any ideas about the following issue:

When I change the clock from internal to external in utilities, and then press the back button it gets stuck on that page and has a pupup saying the the clock was changed to external but there is no sound and then I can't leave the utilities menu until I change it back... does anyone know if there is a fix for this?

 

[KGK]

Hello, Seniors!

I've 2 Venue 360s and get some similar issues happened.

1. The first one was used in a Bar/Restaurant as a speaker management processor for 2 years.
It was working properly before it got a no audio in/out issue. I soft/hard reset it many times but not good.

2. The Second one was bought from a Pro Audio Rental and it was working seamlessly until yesterday.

I did the firmware updating process to them today but they didn't work. The first unit shows the inputs/outputs meters are working when the input is feed some signals but no audio output.

The Second one has no activity on inputs/outputs.

They can see in the Venue 360 App on both Mac and PC and can do the configurations properly even the Signal Generator.

Please show me the direction for how can I fix the issue.

Thanks in advance.

KGK
Myanmar

 

[kipman725]

I would start by checking all power supply voltages then examing the DAC signals (I2S/TDM) and analog output.

 

[Neddy]

1) Call their support desk, I've had good results with direct calls, but do see you're outside the US, so, not sure, but they do have a toll free # (844).
I see you've already posted on their support forum - looks like they usually respond. Maybe try email.
2. There were reports of problems with the (AC?) molex power connector being intermittent (improper crimp?) at the front right of the unit on some of them.
Easy enough to check but you'd want to be sure you know what your doing before messing with it. A little surfing might find more references to that issue. Mine did NOT have that problem.
Best wishes!

 

[Maxon]

This is a review and detailed measurements of the dbx DriveRack Venu360 audio processor including DAC and ADC. It was purchased new by a member and drop shipped to me for testing. The retail cost is US $1,136 but company has it on sale for US $909 as of this writing.

NOTE: dbx is owned by Harman. Our company, Madrona Digital, does a lot of business with Harman (on the custom installation side) so feel free to read as much bias as you like into this review.

As the name indicates the Venu360 fits in a single rack unit:

View attachment 124100

As I had feared, the machine user interface is very difficult to use. I asked my son to read through the manual and he eventually figured out how to configure it. Alas, we could not find a way to disable internal processing units. There are also various settings for different input and output levels. I messed with the latter a bit in the measurements to follow. My testing is strictly focused on the DAC functionality from the point of view of audiophile use. I am not qualified to evaluate the unit functionality for its intended purpose (live sound, etc.).

For my testing, I used AES input for digital feed and balanced Channels 1 and 2 for output:

View attachment 124101

dbx Venu360 DAC Performance
Out of box configuration was very strange with one channel clipping and another not. After half hour of messing with the unit, we managed to get it produce proper output voltages and distortion:

View attachment 124102

There is a lot of distortion plus some strange interference around our main tone. SIAND, representing noise and distortion, is quite poor in our domain:

View attachment 124103

We are talking about 14 bits of distortion-free range.

Company rates the device as having 1% THD+N at 24 dBu. Strangely, the max output is just 22 dBu. You only get there if you let the device severely clip:

View attachment 124104

Fortunately that doesn't happen until you get to 8.9 volts or so.

Dynamic range is more respectable than distortion:

View attachment 124105

IMD test versus level shows the early rise in distortion:

View attachment 124106

Jitter test shows high noise floor and aforementioned sidebands/noise around our main tone:

View attachment 124107

At this point, I was disappointed enough that I stopped running more tests.

Conclusions
Some pro products fit well in a hi-fi system. Sadly the dbx Venu360 isn't one of them. It is very difficult to use for some new to it. And measured performance is quite poor, certainly worse than mass market AVRs and such. If you need the specific functionality that it provides, it may be OK but would not be a choice for me over something like MiniDSP.

I can't recommend the dbx DriveRack Venu360 for our applications.

------------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.

Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/

Let me clarify as a possible reason for such a disgusting quality of this device, despite the fact that it costs $ 1600 exactly twice as much as the DBX PA2 ($800), here is my story. When I bought my first DBX PA2 processor, I also decided to measure its parameters. And oh horror, the whole picture was similar one-on-one as your measurements, only mine was DBX PA2. I found the same reviews from colleagues online. in the end, thanks to the smart people who sorted it out and found the reason. It turns out that capacitors were installed on the board in the bindings of operational amplifiers of the wrong accuracy class, depending on the temperature. After replacing with the correct capacitors, all parameters became as stated by the manufacturer. And now ask me - where did I buy my DBX PA2..? Right on Aliexpress for $ 200 )) and now ask the person who sent you the Venus 360 review, where he bought it! that's the story of how half-cent capacitors were replaced by a Chinese manufacturer with quarter-cent capacitors. and they ruined a great thing!

 

[Dark_snake]

Hi guys!
Sorry for bumping old thread but seems like I got the new revision of venu360. In this one I don’t have AK4413 dacs but instead some ICs which marked “4454 306c” in 32 pin HWQFN package, instead of 44 pin LQFP in AK4413.
I assume “4454 306c“ is AK4454, which is newer dac than AK4413, with a bit better parameters. But for now I don’t have any equipment to measure it.
Some photos

 

[khaliss]

I'm looking to purchase one of these just to play around... I'm seeing several postings on Ebay & the price is very reasonable. Do you guys think these are authentic? I have one at work (at our auditorium), so I compared pics of the box/packaging & the unit itself vs the one we have... and they look pretty much the same.

 

[khaliss]

So, the one on the left is the product sticker with the one here at work (which I know is authentic for sure, sourced from Sweetwater.com), the one on the right is from a posting on Ebay

 

[win]

I highly doubt there are inauthentic versions. It seems like there are tons of refurbished units out there though. Someone at some point explained why somewhere on this forum.

All that said, I really liked my venu360. The only issues I had with it was that the dacs on it really aren't the greatest implementation and the ux has a bit of a learning curve.

Edit; what part of California are you in?

 

[babadono]

I know not directed to me but I'm in Murrieta.... @win Irvine

 

[khaliss]

I highly doubt there are inauthentic versions. It seems like there are tons of refurbished units out there though. Someone at some point explained why somewhere on this forum.

All that said, I really liked my venu360. The only issues I had with it was that the dacs on it really aren't the greatest implementation and the ux has a bit of a learning curve.

Edit; what part of California are you in?

gotcha, thanks... the Venu360's web UI & app is not that bad to navigate around & figure out. My only gripe is that I'm not sure if there's a way to really dim the display, since all my hifi setup is up front (it would look kinda out of place)

 

[Neddy]

My Venu360 died a while back, and I replaced it with a MiniDSP Flex (analog).
I was amazed at the improvement (with same xover and EQ settings) in sound quality with the Flex.
I was hoping that the considerable difference in SINAD, etc, would be audible, but it far exceeded my expectations.
(I still have the Venu XLR mic kit, if any one is interested.)
But I do miss the great, mostly intuitive UI, and, the ability to run the app from my cellphone, tablet(s), music PC and home PC!
The subharmonic features were helpful on some recordings.
The ability to change things on-the-fly (but without making permanent changes) was great too.
I do miss it, but in my case, the Flex was a better fit for my needs (and roughly equivalent cost for a used Venu).
The Venu I purchased had been back for repairs, and after some calls, I was able to have them look up the repair ticket, and so verified that it was not a clone copy.

 

[khaliss]

did you also purchase your Venu360 from Ebay? It's a bit tempting since I can easily find one for $400 shipped

 

[Neddy]

I got mine from a seller on Reverb. Probably 10 years ago now, though. That's about what I paid for it, but may have been closer to $600?
IRCC, it was returned for power issues, and they repaired a loose AC connector plug crimp to the PCB (apparently somewhat common).

 

[khaliss]

I just looked at the specs on the miniDSP Flex, might consider it instead... we'll see =)

 

[babadono]

My $0.02...consider a Paulkitson DSP0408RTS approx $600 shipped to your door.

 

[khaliss]

My $0.02...consider a Paulkitson DSP0408RTS approx $600 shipped to your door.

interesting looking unit... I've never heard of this brand. A quick google search goes to Aliexpress listings, I don't see any reviews on ASR yet. Wish there's more info about it online =)