Lyngdorf TDAI-1120 questions

[alaios]

1. It has Tidal Connect built in so it's good for that - I don't use Amazon and they're very restrictive on what devices can control their service/playback in hi-res (they want you to use their own devices) but I believe the Amazon music app on Android can cast to Chrome/Google cast which the 1120 has built-in.

2. Yes! That's its raison d'être! Two main speakers, two subs, all combined in harmony via Room Perfect

3. Yes - the 1120 has both optical and coaxial imputs, the silver version is only 2mm wider than the 1120 and 18mm deeper so it should sit perfectly on top. The 1120 has vibration absorbing feet. Unless you already have the Leak then you'd be replicating it's USB playback functionality as the 1120 also has that built-in but can playback higher resolution files (max resolution across all external and internal playback is limited to 24/96 on the 1120, it accepts higher resolution FLAC files but downsamples to 24/96 - a brief look at the Leak specs suggests 48khz for USB files and doesn't mention FLAC, only WAV, MP3, AAC, WMA)
I've removed my CD player as I just wasn't using it as I mostly stream Qobuz/Paradise Radio/USB files, but I actually preferred the analogue output from it into the 1120 over both coax and optical, just sounded better to me, but then you're undertaking double D/A conversion, once in the player and again in the 1120. No biggie but some people don't like that...

4. By all accounts it has a very decent phono input stage so should be compatible with most turntables (I don't use one)

5. See #2! That's what it's designed to do and how I run mine - what I would say, and it's less of an issue with dual subs, is to be mindful of your room size and main speaker demands if they're 8ohm; I had 8ohm PMC GB1 when I first bought the 1120 and they're power hungry, even with only one sub at the time it couldn't get the best from the PMCs as it only outputs 60w into 8 ohm and the PMC are fairly insensitive at 86/87db with 150w power handling capability - I changed them for Lyngdorf FR-1 mains, which are 4ohm/90db sensitive and then you get the full 120w output from the 1120, and also added a second sub of the same model, big improvement (my room is narrow but long 3.3m x 8.8m)

It's an excellent piece of kit as long as you take it's limitations into account and make sure it suits your needs, i.e. it has no digital outputs and only one set of analogue which you'd be using for the subs; if your room isn't overly la5. Rerge then it'll happily drive most speakers given the pair of subs would be doing a lot of the heavy lifting - I love mine, suits my needs perfectly.

5. Related to 5. I have two main oberon on-wall speakers that I think manufacturer says that are 6 Ohms. I also have two active rel subs that have RCA input. I guess lyngdorf should be able to handle those. Also do I understand it correct that lyngdorf can high pass the two main speakers?
Regards
Alex

 

[stevoknevo]

5. Related to 5. I have two main oberon on-wall speakers that I think manufacturer says that are 6 Ohms. I also have two active rel subs that have RCA input. I guess lyngdorf should be able to handle those. Also do I understand it correct that lyngdorf can high pass the two main speakers?
Regards
Alex

Hi Alex,

It'll handle the Dalis just fine, not sure if them being 6 ohm means the 1120 splits the power difference between 8 & 4 ohm to give 90w, but ask Lyngdorf customer service as they are exceptionally responsive and helpful, but unless you have a very large room it should be all good especially with a pair of subs (my FR-1 are not too dissimilar in design to the Oberon on-wall, slightly larger driver but with an 8" passive radiator)

It does indeed have high pass filtering for the mains, and low pass for the subs, as well as various filter types - connect the subs via the analogue outputs and set any filtering on the subs themselves to bypass to allow Room Perfect to take care of everything (you CANNOT connect subs to the 1120 via high level connection!)

I've attached screenshots of how mine is set-up in output settings on the 1120, you'd set your main speakers as custom (and one of my set-up)

 

[fuji]

Did anyone here used Room EQ Wizard to test RoomPerfect effects?

How do I play noise from my speakers if I cannot connect my PC to TDAI-1120 and use it as output device?

 

[Tassin]

Yes, I did so to see the impact of added rugs and curtains. I connected my laptop to my TV, the latter being connected to the 1120 via eARC.

 

[Puddingbuks]

Did anyone here used Room EQ Wizard to test RoomPerfect effects?

Amir https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...measurements-of-lyngdorf-roomperfect-eq.6799/

 

[elmoe420]

@alaios No, Lyngdorf products unfortunately do not natively support Amazon UHD. Streaming over Chromecast from the Amazon Music app will not get you full bitrate on UHD streams either.

However you can get use a relatively inexpensive digital transport like the WiiM Pro on the coax input of the 1120 and get full resolution, bit perfect Amazon UHD that way.

 

[stevoknevo]

@alaios No, Lyngdorf products unfortunately do not natively support Amazon UHD. Streaming over Chromecast from the Amazon Music app will not get you full bitrate on UHD streams either.

However you can get use a relatively inexpensive digital transport like the WiiM Pro on the coax input of the 1120 and get full resolution, bit perfect Amazon UHD that way.

The 1120 down samples higher rate streams to 24/96 so the only benefit of using an external device over Chromecast is gapless playback.

 

[NainSG]

Which one have you bought?

 

[merrillaldrich]

I have been building up a little system around the 1120 for a few years as budget permits. My wife got us a REL sub for Christmas to round it out - but setting it up was a little peculiar. Probably nobody is combining those, but if you are thinking about it this experience might help https://oneguyshtpc.wordpress.com/2...-digital-amp-meets-the-most-analog-subwoofer/

I still love this little amp - it's perfect for our room, perfect set of features for me, simple and a pleasure to use. Even works well with HDMI and CEC from our television when we use it for that.

 

[volteon]

I have been building up a little system around the 1120 for a few years as budget permits. My wife got us a REL sub for Christmas to round it out - but setting it up was a little peculiar. Probably nobody is combining those, but if you are thinking about it this experience might help https://oneguyshtpc.wordpress.com/2...-digital-amp-meets-the-most-analog-subwoofer/

I still love this little amp - it's perfect for our room, perfect set of features for me, simple and a pleasure to use. Even works well with HDMI and CEC from our television when we use it for that.

Do you use the wirless kit too, or why was there an issue?

I am using a wired HT 1003 MK2 without an issue, just manually dialed the output down by -3db.

 

[merrillaldrich]

Do you use the wirless kit too, or why was there an issue?

I am using a wired HT 1003 MK2 without an issue, just manually dialed the output down by -3db.

Thanks for replying - I am using the wireless kit with it because space constraints don't allow my sub to sit at the front of the room, and I didn't want a wire across the space. I didn't totally put together that the REL wireless doesn't send the regular "low level" input before putting it on my Christmas list. But it's all good, the other interface sounds amazing and I am happy with it.

 

[volteon]

Thanks for replying - I am using the wireless kit with it because space constraints don't allow my sub to sit at the front of the room, and I didn't want a wire across the space. I didn't totally put together that the REL wireless doesn't send the regular "low level" input before putting it on my Christmas list. But it's all good, the other interface sounds amazing and I am happy with it.

What I really like about the 1120 (besides Room Perfect) is the possibility to set a Voicing for each output as a standard. Therefore no need to adjust the Sub all the time.
If someone is interested, my Voicing setup is as follows:
Spotify - Soft
Radio - Bass (some stations sound a little thin)
HDMI - Voicing from Link below, it dials down the bass output for movies and boosts voice frequencies (speech clarity).

Link: https://www.avforums.com/threads/lyngdorf-processor-voicings.2459594/page-8#post-31909275

 

[merrillaldrich]

What I really like about the 1120 (besides Room Perfect) is the possibility to set a Voicing for each output as a standard. Therefore no need to adjust the Sub all the time.
If someone is interested, my Voicing setup is as follows:
Spotify - Soft
Radio - Bass (some stations sound a little thin)
HDMI - Voicing from Link below, it dials down the bass output for movies and boosts voice frequencies (speech clarity).

Link: https://www.avforums.com/threads/lyngdorf-processor-voicings.2459594/page-8#post-31909275

Thanks - I saw there's a warning in the Lyngdorf manual against using the high level connection with something like a REL. And REL has some peculiar language on their site about digital amplifiers that don't have a grounded black speaker binding post. But REL says to use it anyway, and Lyngdorf warns against using it. Does anyone have a definitive answer on this front? What I did was wire it with High Level but the way REL indicates for a digital amp using a grounding post instead of the black side of the speaker connection. I didn't blow the amp and it plays/sounds great this way, but obviously it's a concern. I don't want to burn it out or something.

 

[Steve356]

Thanks - I saw there's a warning in the Lyngdorf manual against using the high level connection with something like a REL. And REL has some peculiar language on their site about digital amplifiers that don't have a grounded black speaker binding post. But REL says to use it anyway, and Lyngdorf warns against using it. Does anyone have a definitive answer on this front? What I did was wire it with High Level but the way REL indicates for a digital amp using a grounding post instead of the black side of the speaker connection. I didn't blow the amp and it plays/sounds great this way, but obviously it's a concern. I don't want to burn it out or something.

I don't really understand why people want to use the REL high level connection with a Lyngdorf amp as the 1120 is very capable in terms speaker/sub integration. Personally I'd follow Lyngdorf's recommendation and not use high level connections. If you continue to use the 1120 in this way and a fault occurs, it could negatively impact any warranty claim.

 

[merrillaldrich]

I don't really understand why people want to use the REL high level connection with a Lyngdorf amp as the 1120 is very capable in terms speaker/sub integration. Personally I'd follow Lyngdorf's recommendation and not use high level connections. If you continue to use the 1120 in this way and a fault occurs, it could negatively impact any warranty claim.

I took this advice to heart last night and tried again to set up the Lyngdorf with the LFE RCA connection and to invest more time with it to get a better result. (That's the "why" - it wasn't sounding good for me.)

By listening to a bunch of different recordings over several hours I narrowed the issue I am having to a very specific sonic problem - I had picked a track that I really like to start listening to the sub for the first time, a Tedeschi Trucks Band recording of Whiskey Legs from their Beacon Theater residency. That track has a kick drum (or maybe two, they have two drummers) at something like 50-60 hz that has always sounded good previously, and sounds good using the high level connection to the REL.

But when connected over LFE and with all the settings in the 1120 set up for a sub, and with RoomPerfect calibrated: that specific drum sound is terrible. It dwarfs everything else in the recording, shakes the floor, all out of balance with the rest of the music. We are not talking a subtle Audiophile difference, either. :-D

I think I jumped to conclusions by hearing that very bad result first. Somehow other recordings of different genres don't have this issue. I suppose (?) the mix on this specific record could just have a giant boost at that frequency that isn't revealed without a powerful sub at all. I'm honestly a little stumped by it.

 

[volteon]

I took this advice to heart last night and tried again to set up the Lyngdorf with the LFE RCA connection and to invest more time with it to get a better result. (That's the "why" - it wasn't sounding good for me.)

By listening to a bunch of different recordings over several hours I narrowed the issue I am having to a very specific sonic problem - I had picked a track that I really like to start listening to the sub for the first time, a Tedeschi Trucks Band recording of Whiskey Legs from their Beacon Theater residency. That track has a kick drum (or maybe two, they have two drummers) at something like 50-60 hz that has always sounded good previously, and sounds good using the high level connection to the REL.

But when connected over LFE and with all the settings in the 1120 set up for a sub, and with RoomPerfect calibrated: that specific drum sound is terrible. It dwarfs everything else in the recording, shakes the floor, all out of balance with the rest of the music. We are not talking a subtle Audiophile difference, either. :-D

I think I jumped to conclusions by hearing that very bad result first. Somehow other recordings of different genres don't have this issue. I suppose (?) the mix on this specific record could just have a giant boost at that frequency that isn't revealed without a powerful sub at all. I'm honestly a little stumped by it.

I did not like the result of the LFE connection too (subjectively too thick and „muddy“ while playing around with a Powernode).
If I remember correctly, there was an article or video by Rel, that the LFE port has a fixed 120Hz filter.

I am currently happy with Out 1 (Lyngdorf, white port) to Low Level In (Rel, white port). Crossover is at 200Mz (Lyngdorf sets it to 80Hz) and Level is set at 50%. Phase is at 0.

 

[Snoopy]

But what good is the LFE crossover 80hz on the Lynhdorf if the highlevel connection still runs full range? Doesn’t one cancel out the other and mess with room perfect

A rel is nice on a traditional stereo amp but on something with room correction?

 

[alaios]

I have been building up a little system around the 1120 for a few years as budget permits. My wife got us a REL sub for Christmas to round it out - but setting it up was a little peculiar. Probably nobody is combining those, but if you are thinking about it this experience might help https://oneguyshtpc.wordpress.com/2...-digital-amp-meets-the-most-analog-subwoofer/

I still love this little amp - it's perfect for our room, perfect set of features for me, simple and a pleasure to use. Even works well with HDMI and CEC from our television when we use it for that.

Have you noticed your main speakers to be more musical and relaxed when you have high pass filtered them?

 

[merrillaldrich]

Update: I am eating a little crow this week :-D

I have updated my wee article, having returned to the LFE/RCA interface on the REL (wireless module) https://oneguyshtpc.wordpress.com/2...-digital-amp-meets-the-most-analog-subwoofer/

I still have this issue with the one recording kick drum, but having read up a whole lot more, and listened more, the LFE input on the REL is viable, and more attractive than the risk of burning up the amplifier somehow.

 

[merrillaldrich]

But what good is the LFE crossover 80hz on the Lynhdorf if the highlevel connection still runs full range? Doesn’t one cancel out the other and mess with room perfect

A rel is nice on a traditional stereo amp but on something with room correction?

I think bass management and room correction are two separate things.

To me bass management means to provide a separate wire/signal path to main speakers vs a dedicated bass speaker (subwoofer) and then to attempt to send them uniquely tailored, different signals with different frequency ranges

Room correction means to adjust the signal sent to a speaker or set of speakers to compensate for variations in the sound caused by the room itself, as sampled from playback through a mic in the physical space.

So according to these definitions you can have either one or both. You can have no bass management and apply room correction without any issue; you can apply bass management but not room correction; you can use both together.

The way I think of it is imagine room correction for a very large three way pair of speakers. Just because the woofers are large, does the room correction stop working? I don't think so. Same with connecting a sub and its own crossover.

Now the software might have smarts that get you a better result when it can combine the two, because in theory it could do something like timing that could not work with room correction alone. But I don't know enough about the internals of RoomPerfect to be able to say.

At the end of the day if you have a mechanically good sub from any brand it ought to work OK.