Spinorama EQ in A1 Evo AcoustiX

[incaseoftrouble]

Hi all,

I get the point of not EQing high frequencies based on in-room / steady-state frequency response, but after reading through Dr. Toole's "Sound Reproduction" (fantastic book, highly recommended!) I also see that applying PEQ based on aneonic / spinorama measurements might be a good idea. A1 Evo AcoustiX offers the possibility to apply custom filters, but only after alignment with the subwoofer.

To my understanding, it would make sense to apply the full range of spinorama measurements but attenuate their effects below the transition range. For example, my Q3 Meta have a suggested PK filter at 52 Hz with 0.25 Q - this has a notable influence well into the HF range. But I don't want to add the filter afterwards, as that would mess with level matching and subwoofer alignment. (I want to EQ the speaker, not the final signal)

I did try to "trick" acoustiX by replacing the measured response with an EQd response in the "custom time alignment" step, but the filters are applied to the full range signal, meaning my subwoofer response is actually boosted slightly if I use the entire suggested AutoEQ.

I guess what would be really cool is a "speaker-EQ" mode, where you can add filters that are applied to the measurement before processing, but these filters then are also incorporated into the final filter chain, attenuated by crossover etc. -- basically acting like having an extra amp with these filters between the AVR and the speakers. I understand this would be yet another feature, but there is strong science to back it up.

Does anyone have experience with this?

EDIT: To clarify, I am not asking whether using spinorama data for EQ makes sense (I am rather convinced of it), rather how to best integrate it in the EQ workflow.

 

[Blueprint]

I don’t see what the point would be? You want to add custom filters to frequencies below Schroeder even though the room will mess all that up anyway? The solution is to apply Acoustix correction below 200hz and introduce custom filters above 200hz. Then test if it sounds better with or without the custom filters. Probably if you have good speakers it won’t sound any better.

 

[incaseoftrouble]

Yes and no - cutting the filters around the transition zone and below would not be an issue as here measured in-room steady-state response is useful, but even figuring out where the transition zone is is a hard problem + the AutoEQs generated by Spinorama tend to be broadband (so even those in the LF band may extend into the HF band). In any case, the HF EQ is also important for e.g. loudness matching.

Basically I would want acousticX to behave as if the spinorama EQ were applied to the speaker before measurement (as with active speakers with integrated DSP), evening out its anechoic flaws, only that this EQ is then integrated into the Audyssey filters.

 

[LTig]

It makes sense to correct errors in the on-axis frequency response of a speaker if the spinorama shows no directivity errors.

 

[90sNintendoKid]

I think this would work. When I did custom full range EQ in A1 Evo Acoustix I had per speaker target curves and I used REW fit response to target and it calculated PEQs. From memory, I believe that A1 Evo Acoustix uses the PEQs from REW from the EQ screen. I propose in your case you would have to manually input the PEQs from Spinorama. I recommend you watch the video by @OCA on A1 Evo Acoustix, he demonstrates the custom EQ functionality.

 

[incaseoftrouble]

I think this would work. When I did custom full range EQ in A1 Evo Acoustix I had per speaker target curves and I used REW fit response to target and it calculated PEQs. From memory, I believe that A1 Evo Acoustix uses the PEQs from REW from the EQ screen. I propose in your case you would have to manually input the PEQs from Spinorama. I recommend you watch the video by @OCA on A1 Evo Acoustix, he demonstrates the custom EQ functionality.

Jeah that's what I did (and it sounds quite good!). But the custom EQs are applied *after* level matching, crossover, etc. Ideally, the spinorama PEQ would be integrated into the speaker response directly. Not sure how much difference this makes though.