Dirac ART for 2-Channel Stereo Music

[TonyYu]

First post here!

I have a simple 5.1.4 home theatre system with Denon AVR running Dirac ART, KEF speakers and SVS subwoofer, as well as several GIK acoustic panels placing at first reflection points and front wall to tame a bit SBIR. My front speakers are 2.8m apart and 3m away from MLP. The majority use >95% of my system is on 2-channel music with 2.1 configuration streaming from Spotify, Tidal and Apple Music. I simply use Denon as audio steamer and Apple TV 4K as video streamer. I used Audyssey (also A1 Evo AcoustiX from OCA), then I switched to Dirac ART since it was launched back in October 2025 for Denon and Marantz, and never look back.

In the past 9 months, I found Dirac ART is a game changer even for stereo music on my 2.1 configuration. Bass is clean and tight, vocal imaging is stable and clear, instrucment positioning is good, soundstage is reasonable wide and depth. I compared before (including pure direct, Audyssey, Dynamic EQ, etc.) and after Dirac ART on my setup, it's a huge leap, I occasionally up-mix 2-channel to Auro-3D and Dolby Surround for live concert, which is pretty immersive and fun. I also measured with REW, frequency response, impulse response, decay time and other figures are all pretty decent. I have no complaint at all for such entry level setup in my living room.

I have been this hobby for decades, and I was a 2-channel purist guy using B&W 803 speakers, decent pre-amp and power-amp setup in the past. Many audiophiles understand "room matters more than most audio gear", while Dirac ART fixed most of my room issues especially in bass. The improvement is way more dramatic than upgrading a streamer, DAC, amplifier or even speakers, as well as those crazy expensive Hi-Fi grade speaker cable, speaker legs, signal cable, LAN cable, power cord, conditioner, etc. Occasionally, I have been challenged by my friends (die-hard audiophiles) saying why downgraded to AVR for stereo music? I showed them the REW measurement, invited them to listen my "downgraded" system, but they are not convinced even it sounds better.

As I don't see many posts about Dirac ART application on 2-channel music, I'm wondering how many of you audiophiles using Dirac ART for music? I appreciate if you can share your recommendations to further improve using Dirac ART on stereo music.

Happy listening!

 

[PatentLawyer]

I just got the email about upgrading my Mac Dirac Live to allow addition of ART. I'd be interested in hearing more about whether it's a worthwhile investment.

 

[Talisman]

I'll give my modest contribution.

Since I purchased the Art license, I've tried several speakers to understand how much Art would affect the audio quality. The result was that I sold the R3s and am using some old Polk Audio RTI8s because they have more authority in the 80/250 Hz range, and the type of correction Dirac performs gives them a precision and clarity that without correction I could only achieve with the R3s.

 

[smygolf]

I am using my system both for movies and 2ch music.
Full range LCR and 3 subs and ART does wonders in both cases.

If only had a 2ch system but i had ART i would immediately buy +2sub to get most out of ART

 

[Svend P]

If only had a 2ch system but i had ART i would immediately buy +2sub to get most out of ART

But at least for Windows it is only possible to send one subwoofer signal over HDMI, so if all the subwoofers are corrected as one, the impact of ART might not be as great?

 

[smygolf]

But at least for Windows it is only possible to send one subwoofer signal over HDMI, so if all the subwoofers are corrected as one, the impact of ART might not be as great?

Correct, it would be seen as one Big sub. (might be other ways to solve multi subs like Jriver with Daw)
But with competent front speakers you can use them as support.

 

[Svend P]

I just got the email about upgrading my Mac Dirac Live to allow addition of ART. I'd be interested in hearing more about whether it's a worthwhile investment.

There is a 14 day free trial period, so I am definitely going to try it out soon.

ART as an add on is $299. The complete bundle for my Denon 4800 is $799. I guess I am at a cross road. The Denon can handle 4 subs independently and the pc can not...

 

[TonyYu]

I just got the email about upgrading my Mac Dirac Live to allow addition of ART. I'd be interested in hearing more about whether it's a worthwhile investment.

Which McIntosh AVR are you using? I'm unaware any McIntosh AVR (neither MHT300 nor MX200) supporting ART. If it really supports ART, it is no-brainer to get it.

 

[Power Pop 23]

Which McIntosh AVR are you using? I'm unaware any McIntosh AVR (neither MHT300 nor MX200) supporting ART. If it really supports ART, it is no-brainer to get it.

He may mean the Mac OS.

 

[Kal Rubinson]

Correct, it would be seen as one Big sub. (might be other ways to solve multi subs like Jriver with Daw)

JRiver on Mac/PC and out via USB.

 

[PatentLawyer]

Which McIntosh AVR are you using? I'm unaware any McIntosh AVR (neither MHT300 nor MX200) supporting ART. If it really supports ART, it is no-brainer to get it.

MacOS. I use my laptop as a source, feeding a Topping D90SE...which then connects to a bunch of stuff that would get me banned here. LOL

 

[TonyYu]

I'll give my modest contribution.

Since I purchased the Art license, I've tried several speakers to understand how much Art would affect the audio quality. The result was that I sold the R3s and am using some old Polk Audio RTI8s because they have more authority in the 80/250 Hz range, and the type of correction Dirac performs gives them a precision and clarity that without correction I could only achieve with the R3s.

Thanks for the feedback. Dirac ART basically fixes your ROOM from 20Hz to 150Hz. Every room has its own standing wave (room mode) and SBIR, usually in low frequency. Boomy and muddy bass always masks the mids and highs to impact the "precision and clarity". ART fixed the bass issues, and both mids and highs are significantly improved also with help of standard Dirac Live.

 

[SGiniS]

MacOS. I use my laptop as a source, feeding a Topping D90SE...which then connects to a bunch of stuff that would get me banned here. LOL

I'm also using a mac as source. I'm listening 2.2 but I also tested in 2.0 without subs (my speakers do 32hz(-6dB)). To me it's totally worth the investment. In my room (not treated) it's a clear difference, not subtle at all! I will rank it in my top 3 main noticeable changes with subwoofers and room treatement.

@TonyYu I think you have already done all the most significant improvements you can have. Now just... enjoy
Maybe, if not done yet, you can look for a target curve which better suits you taste. Personally i really like the Harman Kardon curve (+6dB), but I'm still exploring.

I would also advice for a second subwoofer, but this may be more subtle depending how you listen to music.

 

[TonyYu]

I'm also using a mac as source. I'm listening 2.2 but I also tested in 2.0 without subs (my speakers do 32hz(-6dB)). To me it's totally worth the investment. In my room (not treated) it's a clear difference, not subtle at all! I will rank it in my top 3 main noticeable changes with subwoofers and room treatement.

@TonyYu I think you have already done all the most significant improvements you can have. Now just... enjoy
Maybe, if not done yet, you can look for a target curve which better suits you taste. Personally i really like the Harman Kardon curve (+6dB), but I'm still exploring.

I would also advice for a second subwoofer, but this may be more subtle depending how you listen to music.

Thanks for the feedback. I have 2 target curves for music and 1 target curve for movie. The 2 music curves are pretty similar to Harman curve with +4dB and +6.5dB from 20Hz to 60Hz.

I initially planned to get a second SVS sub last year before Dirac ART released, in order to smooth out the peaks and dips in bass region caused by standing wave and room mode, but I decided to wait for Dirac ART and see how it goes. Anyway, I pulled the trigger and bought ART bundle upon release, then ran the calibration on my PC with Umik-1. Holy cow, ART fixed most of the bass issues all the way from 20Hz to 120Hz (blue line). Thus, I give up the plan of getting second sub for the time being.

My KEF front L+R in room response is down to 30-32Hz (yellow line) without subwoofer nor Dirac ART, while the spec claims down to only 48Hz (±3dB). I was surprised how good are these little bookshelf speakers, though the frequency response graph is a bit awful mainly due to room mode without Dirac.

 

[TonyYu]

MacOS. I use my laptop as a source, feeding a Topping D90SE...which then connects to a bunch of stuff that would get me banned here. LOL

You shouldn't get banned even using some Chinese clone products from AliExpress. I'm wondering what sort of "bunch of stuff" are you using?

 

[PatentLawyer]

You shouldn't get banned even using some Chinese clone products from AliExpress. I'm wondering what sort of "bunch of stuff" are you using?

I was kidding. My system was 95% complete before joining here and seeing the light on objective testing of components. So I’ve got a bunch of pricey components and cables that would get lots of criticism here.

 

[Mort]

I was kidding. My system was 95% complete before joining here and seeing the light on objective testing of components. So I’ve got a bunch of pricey components and cables that would get lots of criticism here.

We have an amnesty program if you turn in your offending gear.

 

[PatentLawyer]

We have an amnesty program if you turn in your offending gear.

Very generous!

 

[PatentLawyer]

I added ART today to my setup (running on MacOS through a plugin on JRiver). Maybe it is my room / speakers, but it's hardly night and day. Switching between a non-ART filter and an ART filter, the only difference I'm getting is maybe some cleaner bass. But I am not confident that I would crush a blind. I might just be hearing the $300.

Caution: If you aren't paying attention, ART would have high passed my full range mains at 150hz, even though I have no subs.

I will decide over the next two weeks whether to let the trial expire.

 

[SGiniS]

Very sorry to hear that!
Well, the difference HAS to be on the bass, Art don't operate over 150hz (it's just normal room correction over that). What kind of music do you listen? If there is not much bass in the content it's impossible to spot

P.s. very strange about the the high pass. In my system it offloaded some bass from the mains but they still go pretty deep (I tried muting the subs to hear what the mains were reproducing)