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Monoprice HTP-1 Home Theater Processor Review

Costas EAR

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Thank you for your extended reply. :)

My point exactly:

However, keep in mind that almost all of them lie about the corrections they perform. The graphs they show are simulated correct curves, not remeasured.
Yes, i know. :)
This is what we would like to see from you, the true performance of the auto correction, in other words: the amount of lying. ;)

Verification of the level of correction is quite easy, you can use a plain umic before and after calibration. ;)

And of course, we are interested in the sinad after calibration, not before. Before calibration is for DAC's, but these are possessors, they will never be used as DAC's.. you know what i mean, if you want a dac, you just get a dac, this monoprice is not a dac, it just includes some dacs...

even after paying $4,000, you don't get a measurement microphone with this processor! I don't know what they were thinking.
They are thinking that the average audiophile is not an expert in measurements, and there is no need to pay for a microphone he can not use, so a specialist certified for the equipment should perform the equalization, with his own microphone.
Trinnov audio also sells separately the microphone.

At low budgets, microphone is included, because noone will bother to pay a specialist to perform proper room equalization, it' out of budget. ;)
 

BDWoody

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First, even after paying $4,000, you don't get a measurement microphone with this processor! I don't know what they were thinking. So out of box, I can't perform any automatic EQ testing.

To be fair, when I ordered this unit it makes it clear on the web site that a Umik1 is needed for calibration. Since I have one, I didn't opt for a spare.
 
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Costas EAR

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My purpose of testing here is to determine any weaknesses in the pipeline itself.
We really appreciate your work. ;)

All of this said, I love to do a side-by-side test of various audio eq systems but the amount of work it takes is way beyond what I have time for.
I totally understand.
But let me reassure you, that listening after a proper Trinnov calibration, is a breathtaking experience. ;)
 

Frank Dernie

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Ah, it is clipping. The filtering in linearity test was hiding that. That's even worse. It clips at even 1 dB on the volume!
Every audio component i have that has a dB scale will clip if set to a positive dB value. These settings are only used when playing a file which stays below 0dB (ie all the good ones...) and then only just!
My Devialet Phantoms, which do not have a dB scale, are advertised by the maker of producing maximum output at a setting of 70 (out of 100), which is more than i have ever used, with some sort of compression rolled in from 70 to 100.
 

Costas EAR

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With Trinnov audio altitude 16, i've meusered reference level at -23 dB's on the volume control..

This level, in some recordings is much higher than most os us can tolerate..

In other recordings, it is tolerable up to -5dB's, almost 20dB's above reference level.

Go figure...
 
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amirm

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Every audio component i have that has a dB scale will clip if set to a positive dB value.
Not AVRs. I have had to go positive scale on a number of them without clipping. It depends on the design. In this case you actually tell it in the settings how many dBs higher you want to go. Unless you set it, it won't let you go above 0 dB.
 

Srrndhound

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To shorten the back and forth: we have 24 dB digital headroom. In your example the output would run higher than 0 dBFS.
My example was to add 10 dB boost to a 0 dBFS input. That should be 14 dB below clipping if there's 24 dB of headroom. Or are we using different definitions of headroom?
 
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amirm

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But let me reassure you, that listening after a proper Trinnov calibration, is a breathtaking experience. ;)
I have listened to them at shows.
 
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amirm

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To be fair, when I ordered this unit it makes it clear on the web site that a Umik1 is needed for calibration. Since I have one, I didn't opt for a spare.
I am not seeing that. There is no mention of a microphone. I put an HTP-1 in the cart and went to check out and still said nothing about needing a mic.

Even if they did put that notice, it still doesn't make it right. The cost of this unit is high enough to include a mic.
 
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amirm

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Martin

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I am not seeing that. There is no mention of a microphone. I put an HTP-1 in the cart and went to check out and still said nothing about needing a mic.

Even if they did put that notice, it still doesn't make it right. The cost of this unit is high enough to include a mic.

It's on page 10 of the manual (I knew I saw it somewhere.):

mike.PNG


I'd be pissed if I got my new $4000 processor setup and found it didn't have a microphone. My mid-tier Pioneer came with a microphone.

Martin
 

kokishin

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I am not seeing that. There is no mention of a microphone. I put an HTP-1 in the cart and went to check out and still said nothing about needing a mic.

Even if they did put that notice, it still doesn't make it right. The cost of this unit is high enough to include a mic.
FWIW, you also need a PC or Mac to run Dirac Live (along with the UMIK-1 plugged into the computer).

Separately, I may not have found your great forum if you hadn't done the HTP-1 analysis. I was fat, dumb, and moderately happy over at avsforums. Now I feel invigorated again! :D
 

BDWoody

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To be fair, when I ordered this unit it makes it clear on the web site that a Umik1 is needed for calibration. Since I have one, I didn't opt for a spare.

It looks like I had confused my minidsp purchase with this one regarding that drop down box...can't really avoid seeing it on that site. At least that's my story, and I'm sticking to it!

I am not seeing that. There is no mention of a microphone. I put an HTP-1 in the cart and went to check out and still said nothing about needing a mic.

Even if they did put that notice, it still doesn't make it right. The cost of this unit is high enough to include a mic.

You are of course correct. My mistake. I also may have not thought as much about it because I read the manual, which is available on the site, where it obviously brings it up and knew I had one.

Edit: It does say that any calibrated mic will work. Doesn't have to be the Umik-1...

Anyway, sorry for the correction that needed correction.
 
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A/V Analysis

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The Monoprice is sold at thin margins with no dealer network or mark up. If it were to be sold like a Lyngdorf, it would retail for $10,000. And if it had the brand assurance of Benchmark, it again would sell for a lot more money.
Yes! The target consumers for the HTP-1 are using amplifiers ranging from 1.2V - 2.5V rms sensitivity and that is the optimal range of the HTP-1. You are going to flip your lid when you see how the Trinnov of StormAudio units measure at these low levels. I haven't completed the measurements but the basic SINAD (I see that ASR prefers the SINAD presentation over THD + Noise, so I will provide SINAD). It is at 4V and greater where they hit their stride (which makes sense as the Trinnov Amplitude amplifiers have a +18dBu sensitivity).

@amirm how did you come up with the 2.7V level (rather than 2.0V) to determine how the HTP-1 measures at lower output? I've browsed several of your reviews where you do measure at 2.0V (not 2.7V AFAICT).
 

A/V Analysis

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In this forum, we are after engineering excellence. When corners are cut at the expense of the consumer, then we point it out. We have a large reference of audio products tested. As I said, the ones with DACs near 300 units now. The standard of performance is firmly established even among bargain products sold by brands similar to Monoprice. We are not going to grade on a curve just because something has HDMI switching and a DSP.

It is time that the AV industry wakes up and produces proper performance when it comes to audio. The dark secrets are no more.
I commend what you are doing. It is obvious that greater performance is achieved with greater output levels. However, consumers are limited by the sensitivities of their amplifiers. My goal is to characterize these processors for real world use. Defining their optimum operating levels as well as determining which metrics actually matter in-room. I realize many of us are OCD types, but if it isn't audible does it really matter?

These electronics are only means to enjoying content, music and cinema. I fear a devolution into an [IMO unhealthy] obsession with the hardware specifications and losing site of the original focus of this hobby, enjoyment of the content. I have been guilty of this but I regular remind myself to maintain focus on the sound, not the measurements. I use measurements to optimize the sound. There are many factors that contribute to optimal sound more than the electronics. @amirm the fact that you do not own a measurement mic is disappointing (shocking really). You own a 5-figure analyzer (I'm sure you paid at least 4 figures, right?) yet you don't own a measurement mic which start at $75? Why is in-room analysis not [as] important? The room is the primary source of distortion.
 
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amirm

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@amirm how did you come up with the 2.7V level (rather than 2.0V) to determine how the HTP-1 measures at lower output? I've browsed several of your reviews where you do measure at 2.0V (not 2.7V AFAICT).
It was what I recall the Marantz specifying so I thought I start to use that as a lower bar.
 
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amirm

amirm

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@amirm the fact that you do not own a measurement mic is disappointing (shocking really).
Where do you get that idea? Of course I have measurement microphones. A product like this needs to come with preconfigured microphone so that there is no doubt as to what mic the user provided, whether it had its calibration or not, etc. I don't know why this is so hard to understand.
 
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amirm

amirm

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Why is in-room analysis not [as] important? The room is the primary source of distortion.
I highly suggest you read more of what is posted here before running off with comments like this. You can start with the banner in the review tab that takes you to my series on room measurements: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...om-measurement-tutorial-for-dummies-part-1.4/

After you are done with that, you can read more advanced articles like this one: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ds/perceptual-effects-of-room-reflections.13/

And no, the room doesn't add "distortion" unless there is some kind of rattle in there. The transformation is linear.
 
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amirm

amirm

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I commend what you are doing. It is obvious that greater performance is achieved with greater output levels. However, consumers are limited by the sensitivities of their amplifiers. My goal is to characterize these processors for real world use.
Your goal seems to be defending manufacturer's/industry's current poor practices and help propagate poor implementations that provide no value to consumers.

Most of what I test comes from owners so I don't feel any obligation to look the other way when it comes to equipment flaws. It is much tougher when you are loaned expensive gear and feel like returning the favor.
 
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