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Kali Audio LP-6 V2; Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i; ELAC Debut B5.3

Which one is better for listening to music and casual gaming?

  • Kali Audio LP-6 V2

    Votes: 11 61.1%

  • Wharfedale Diamond 12.1i

    Votes: 5 27.8%

  • ELAC Debut B5.3

    Votes: 2 11.1%

  • Q Acoustics 3020c

    Votes: 1 5.6%

  • Edifier MKIII S2000

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    18
  • This poll will close: .
c4nvas said:
crossover 80Hz, but the connections are not balanced, I'm using rca from sound card to sub.
Click to expand...
Balanced connections are irrelevant unless you're having issues with noise (which is not your issue).

The problem you are having sounds pretty certainly like you're having issues with room modes; room modes cause huge peaks in the bass region (and dips, but the peaks are more problematic) that cause perceptual masking over a large frequency range, which subjectively sounds like "muddy", "one-note" bass exactly as you are describing. You need to deal with the room modes. There's two ways to do this:

1) Get a microphone, free REW software, and learn to measure and develop some PEQ filters to smooth out the peaks. There's plenty of free EQ software for PC, such as Equalizer APO.
2) Use automated room correction software to do this for you. You will still need a microphone and to perform measurements, but the software will guide you through it as well as develop the filters and implement them for you (specifics depend on the software). Typically you will have to pay for the software.
c4nvas said:
I just ordered SMSL DO100 Pro, do you guys think this is going to improve my audio quality besides reducing noise?
Click to expand...
Nope, playing around with DACs is not going to help you.
 
Karmacoma said:
Welcome to ASR. You're one of ours now. Resistance is futile.
Click to expand...

Wow, this comment was hilarious! :D

kyuu said:
Balanced connections are irrelevant unless you're having issues with noise (which is not your issue).

The problem you are having sounds pretty certainly like you're having issues with room modes; room modes cause huge peaks in the bass region (and dips, but the peaks are more problematic) that cause perceptual masking over a large frequency range, which subjectively sounds like "muddy", "one-note" bass exactly as you are describing. You need to deal with the room modes. There's two ways to do this:

1) Get a microphone, free REW software, and learn to measure and develop some PEQ filters to smooth out the peaks. There's plenty of free EQ software for PC, such as Equalizer APO.
2) Use automated room correction software to do this for you. You will still need a microphone and to perform measurements, but the software will guide you through it as well as develop the filters and implement them for you (specifics depend on the software). Typically you will have to pay for the software.

Nope, playing around with DACs is not going to help you.
Click to expand...

Thanks so much, Kyu, for sharing your insights. I'm still learning through trial and error, so I really appreciate the advice. Unfortunately, it's a bit too late for that now!
 

i just posted this about the WS-6.2
 
I have this sub connected to creative sound blaster AE-9 (crossover 80Hz) do you guys think i should connect by LFE in 4.1 surround?
 
The more I read, the more I regret this purchase. It doesn't seem like I'll gain any audible improvement.

I don't care about gaming, DSP effects, headphones, or any of that. What matters to me is balanced connections, high-quality analog output, and excellent music and surround sound playback. Unfortunately, I only realized a few days ago that the DO100 Pro is strictly a stereo DAC—it doesn't decode or output 5.1 or 7.1 audio. I haven't even received the device yet, and I'm already disappointed. :confused:
 
c4nvas said:
The more I read, the more I regret this purchase. It doesn't seem like I'll gain any audible improvement.

I don't care about gaming, DSP effects, headphones, or any of that. What matters to me is balanced connections, high-quality analog output, and excellent music and surround sound playback. Unfortunately, I only realized a few days ago that the DO100 Pro is strictly a stereo DAC—it doesn't decode or output 5.1 or 7.1 audio. I haven't even received the device yet, and I'm already disappointed. :confused:
Click to expand...
Well it's easy, get a refund.
 
staticV3 said:
Was that not obvious from the I/O?

View attachment 543609
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@staticV3, I'm still a rookie when it comes to hi-fi audio, so I'm sure I've made plenty of mistakes since buying my Edifier R1850 speakers. I'm still learning, so I appreciate your patience and any advice you can share.

Doesn't SPDIF optical support 6-channel audio?
 
c4nvas said:
@staticV3, I'm still a rookie when it comes to hi-fi audio, so I'm sure I've made plenty of mistakes since buying my Edifier R1850 speakers. I'm still learning, so I appreciate your patience and any advice you can share.

Doesn't SPDIF optical support 6-channel audio?
Click to expand...
Yes, Optical cables can transmit Dolby/DTS encoded 5.1 surround.

To play that content back, you will need a device with Dolby decoding built-in and at least six Line or Speaker ports on the back, which are typically labeled as "L/R/C/SL/SR/LFE".

Or, to save space, some manufacturers combine two surround channels using an Aux connection, like on your AE-9:
Creative-Sound-Blaster-AE-9-Connection-Ports-Image-By-Tech4Gamers-1024x768.jpg

With this, it is possible to get 5.1 channel Line out with only three Aux jacks: L/R, C/LFE, SL/SR.
 
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staticV3 said:
Yes, Optical cables can transmit Dolby/DTS encoded 5.1 surround.

To play that content back, you will need a device with Dolby decoding built-in and at least six Line or Speaker ports on the back, which are typically labeled as "L/R/C/SL/SR/LFE".

Or, to save space, some manufacturers combine two surround channels using an Aux connection, like on your AE-9:
View attachment 543614

With this, it is possible to get 5.1 channel Line out with only three Aux jacks: L/R, C/LFE, SL/SR.
Click to expand...

yeah, i know, that's how i have it connected at the moment.
 


Just received the DAC. It's already installed and up and running. Sound-wise, it's good—not wonderful or amazing, but perfectly decent. So far, I'd say it's okay.
 
Karmacoma said:
So you forgot the idea to get a refund already ?
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Karmacoma, well it's complicated... lol :facepalm:

I want to see if there's any improvement at all. I'm testing the whole setup.
 
So what should i do to improve my audio quality?

Edit: I've noticed that the bass is punchier (not placebo—and not in a good way). The AE-9, with all DSPs disabled and in Direct Mode, sounded more neutral in the low end.

As for the mids and highs, I honestly can't hear much of a difference.

I'm listening to FLAC 24-bit/196 kHz files in stereo through Foobar2000, using a few tracks that I know extremely well for testing: Still a Friend of Mine by Incognito, Fragments of Time by Daft Punk, No Ordinary Love by Sade, Dreams by Fleetwood Mac, 15 Step by Radiohead, and, occasionally, some Jaco Pastorius.
 
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c4nvas said:
So what should i do to improve my audio quality?
Click to expand...
Room treatment, room correction, speaker placement, new speakers.

Nothing else matters for sound quality.

c4nvas said:
Edit: I've noticed that the bass is punchier (not placebo—and not in a good way). The AE-9, with all DSPs disabled and in Direct Mode, sounded more neutral in the low end.
Click to expand...
The DO100 Pro does not modify bass (or anything else for that matter):

202404111642553660.jpg

Two possibilities:
  1. The AE-9 was the one that modified bass, and now you're hearing neutrality for the first time in a while
  2. Placebo
 
staticV3 said:
Room treatment, room correction, speaker placement, new speakers.

Nothing else matters for sound quality.


The DO100 Pro does not modify bass (or anything else for that matter):

View attachment 543700

Two possibilities:
  1. The AE-9 was the one that modified bass, and now you're hearing neutrality for the first time in a while
  2. Placebo
Click to expand...
Hi staticV3, I think you're right. With the Creative sound card, though, the bass was cleaner—not as loud or boomy, if that makes sense. When I set the bass to neutral now, it sounds a bit strange because I have to turn the subwoofer volume down to below the 12 o'clock position. Before, I could leave it at 12 o'clock and everything sounded balanced. But I'm not qualified to say what's truly neutral or not—I can only trust my ears, and I think I have pretty good ones. The downside of this setup is that I can't use a 4.1-channel configuration like I could before. So, as you said, this wasn't really an upgrade—it turned out to be more of a failed purchase. It could still be useful in the future, which is why I'm keeping the DO100 Pro.
 
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