Hyperion APR-16 AV Processor Review

[RichB]

And $799 extra for full Dirac, since it's not included.

The Tide16 is 4,375 USD in the US after adding tariffs. Still, a good price if you can live with its limitations and want to buy a 1.0 product.

Emotiva has shown and not shipped a new LXP-16 processor where high SINAD is claimed. Perhaps, they got tired of getting slammed on ASR.
HDMI 2.1 chipset and full Dirac suite included. It ships with Dirac packages (ART included) and DIRAC measurements are taken using the processor (no PC is needed).
This is not a shipping product, so...

- Rich

 

[dtaylo1066]

Not quite "Hyperion to a satyr," but needs a fix.

 

[thcdru2k]

Elevated noise floor but LF is not really audible to begin with...seems forgivable even without a fix?

 

[welwynnick]

Elevated noise floor but LF is not really audible to begin with...seems forgivable even without a fix?

The problem is not low frequency noise (which as you say is not a serious problem).
The problem is that the noise increases across the whole bandwidth whenever there's a large amplitude low frequency signal present.
Therefore the low frequency content will tend to modulate the noise level at all frequencies.

 

[SuicideSquid]

16 channels is not enough for system with 8k USD processor, in my opinion. 9.x.4 is a minimum for immersive setup, so unless you invest into separate sub controllers you end up with 3 subs, which is also suboptimal.

I have never heard of a home setup needing four separate channels of sub out, nor any A/V processors for home use that have more than sixteen channels. I'm reasonably confident in saying 99.99% of users will be satisfied with 10.4.2.

Hopefully there's a software fix for the LF noise issue as in every other respect this looks like a world-class piece of hardware.

 

[welwynnick]

I have never heard of a home setup needing four separate channels of sub out,

I think it would be very advantageous with Dirac ART.

Hopefully there's a software fix for the LF noise issue as in every other respect this looks like a world-class piece of hardware.

Agreed.

 

[xanalog]

I'm sure AudioControl will fix this quickly, though, so I voted "Fine".

An 'objective' vote (based on the current performance shown by @amirm's review data) is what I understood to be the polling essence.

If, in the future and as @amirm has already stated, AudioControl implements 'fixes' (quickly or otherwise), that would be the time when we may decide to change our votes... but not now and not on a hope/prayer.

 

[darth]

From an email I got from avpro re the review
"Our engineering team is looking into it."

 

[darth]

I guess for the DPR-16 one wouldn't have to worry about the sub 300hz issue unless it's happening at a higher level in the signal processing funnel, correct? I just want AES to them genelecs

 

[Labjr]

Overpriced regardless of performance.

 

[welwynnick]

Overpriced regardless of performance.

How do you get a better AVP for less money?
All AVPs have their bugs, and the APR16 has one.
Once that's fixed, I can see people arguing that it's the best AVP.

 

[MKR]

How do you get a better AVP for less money?
All AVPs have their bugs, and the APR16 has one.
Once that's fixed, I can see people arguing that it's the best AVP.

For the money, I would argue that title should go to the HTP1

 

[prerich]

Thanks for the very fine review, Amir.


Aside from the rising distortion in the bass when using HDMI (but not XLR analog) input, I also see that it supports Dirac ART which is an essential feature, IMHO, at this price point. Still, $8 K is a stiff price for just a processor, getting up into Storm and Trinnov territory. Also have to wonder what it has that makes it worth 2.5 x the price of something like the Mini DSP Tide 16 which retails for $3500 with 16 channels, Dirac ART, a full set of miniDSP tools including PEQ, Bass Management, routing for inputs and output, limiting, etc, and supports of both Dolby ATMOS and DTS-X with at least equally good measured performance.

Maybe Dante, but still.

Dante, HDMI 2.1, more HDMI inputs, and having dealt with Audiocontrol recently (with my X9S) some of the best customer service I've seen. Looking at getting rid of a few things to cop this! Maybe let go of a few things from my other expensive hobby ...but yes, I want this piece of gear...but for now I will wait - still learning the x9s

 

[peng]

How do you get a better AVP for less money?
All AVPs have their bugs, and the APR16 has one.
Once that's fixed, I can see people arguing that it's the best AVP.

I would take the AV10 or 20 for sure for less money, but I am not surprise others will make different choices.

 

[prerich]

Another + ...it's designed and manufactured in the USA!

 

[prerich]

Yes its expensive but its 16 balanced channels that's 500$ per channel with DSP . So for a specialist niche product with support its not completely unreasonable ?
Maybe too expensive for me rigth now ? I had a meridian G68 that thing costed more than this 20 years ago and performed much worse ( if you used analog ouputs ).

This kind company probably supports their products extensively . And having good software and UI costs a bit too

They really support their end users.... exhaustively!

 

[welwynnick]

Once that's fixed, I can see people arguing that it's the best AVP.

For the money, I would argue that title should go to the HTP1

I don't think you'd be alone. It makes a good case for itself if you don't take Amir's test too literally.
The reason for sticking my neck out is because I compared the APR-16 side-by-side with the ASR tests of all the best processors:

• Anthem AVM90
• Datasat LS10
• Denon A1-H (AVR)
• Lyngdorf MP40
• Marantz AV10
• McIntosh MX100 (Erin)
• Monoprice HTP1
• Storm ISP
• Trinnov AL16.

I made the following important but reasonable assumptions:

• AudioControl fixes the low frequency noise bug.
• 16 channels is enough.
• You value Dirac room correction over Optimiser, Room Perfect or ARC.
• You pay the extra for Dirac ART.

When you look at ALL the test results for ALL the processors, you'd have to say that although it's pretty close between many of them, the APR-16 does come out on top.

 

[PGAMiami]

From an email I got from avpro re the review
"Our engineering team is looking into it."

I also got an email from them with a couple questions. I forwarded the contact information to Amir as he’s much better equipped than me to answer their questions. Cannot complain about the speediness of their response.

 

[MKR]

I don't think you'd be alone. It makes a good case for itself if you don't take Amir's test too literally.
The reason for sticking my neck out is because I compared the APR-16 side-by-side with the ASR tests of all the best processors:

• Anthem AVM90
• Datasat LS10
• Denon A1-H (AVR)
• Lyngdorf MP40
• Marantz AV10
• McIntosh MX100 (Erin)
• Monoprice HTP1
• Storm ISP
• Trinnov AL16.

I made the following important but reasonable assumptions:

• AudioControl fixes the low frequency noise bug.
• 16 channels is enough.
• You value Dirac room correction over Optimiser, Room Perfect or ARC.
• You pay the extra for Dirac ART.

When you look at ALL the test results for ALL the processors, you'd have to say that although it's pretty close between many of them, the APR-16 does come out on top.

If your only criteria for not putting HTP1 in first place is Amir’s review, there is the below updated review. If you really dig deep on the HTP1 latest capability (check out AVS forum thread), I think regardless of price (it is still the lowest priced out of all of them I believe, especially if you pick up a used one as I did!), it has the crown

'Monolith HTP-1 AV Processor Measurements (June 2023 Firmware + User Testing)'
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ements-june-2023-firmware-user-testing.47365/

 

[Fidji]

I have never heard of a home setup needing four separate channels of sub out, nor any A/V processors for home use that have more than sixteen channels. I'm reasonably confident in saying 99.99% of users will be satisfied with 10.4.2.

Hopefully there's a software fix for the LF noise issue as in every other respect this looks like a world-class piece of hardware.

More than 16 Channels - Marantz AV10 [15+4subs] as an example, I think even AV20 has 13+4.Emotivas, top of line Anthems …., so pretty common in AVP category.
16 channels is used as it is probably enough to have two DAC boards, 8CH each, similar to MiniDsp or Monoprice [and trinnov, storm too work wiht multiples of 8]

This is CI/Pro processor, so not intended for usual “bit better than soundbar” living room installs, where you are absolutely fine with 16Ch, as you say.
And for such systems, i still think 16 channels is not enough for high performant system [and you should aim for one, if you spend 8k for processor].

9 channels for ear level - you need wides for modern Atmos/DTS:X mixes, especially in uncompressed formats.
4 channels for basic overhead panning [6 is not adding that much value over 4, so 4 is good enough for 1 row]]
And this is for 1 row HT - once you get into multi-row HT territory, you start to add channels like crazy

4 subs for spatial coverage and seat to seat consistency is long established science [Velti/SFM]

so yes, 9.4.4 is basic layout for high performance immersive audio.