StormAudio ISP 16 MK2 Review (AV Processor)

[Andysu]

the power and the glory of Dolby Stereo 4.2.4 with JBL and THX sound system

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUf...8_YBbQVZdkinGnddyMDkNFHENqddKZY95i90FQNrN6YaQ

 

[Andysu]

new firmware 4.5r2 offers more of the usually bed channels

i have already hammered out a hybrid 37 . 20 . 1/2/4/6/8 or 60 . 25 . 1/2/4/6/8 , it maybe possible hybrid extend it furthe
still 5 channels more , rest i can easily do matrix , if there is a stereo or even mono i may do some tests

 

[Kal Rubinson]

Fully tricked-out backplate:

View attachment 122691

Note included trigger outputs.

Boy, that looks so busy compared to the Evo I am using now.

 

[Andysu]

there's storm , stormaudio mkIII 32 coming soon as it's built and shipped . reading though the pdf manual to familiarise and how to use the xlr channel outputs for full 32 channel plus with the existing modifications

------- use with behringer dcx2496 and lucasfilm ltd THX sound system - five screen wide will be used
1 L
2 Lc
3 C
4 Rc
5 R
-------
----- surround arrays left
6 Ls1
7 Ls2
8 Ls3
additional decoders added to expand with present below surround with possible 2 or 5 channels more

---- rear surround arrays
9 Lrbs
10 rear cbs
11 Rrbs
additional decoders added to expand with present below surround with possible 2 or 5 channels more

----- surround arrays right
12 Rs1
13 Rs2
14 Rs3

additional decoders added to expand with present below surround with possible 2 or 5 channels more
----- additional JBL 8330 mkII fitted on front side wall

15 front wide Left
16 front wide
additional decoders added to expand with present below surround with possible 2 or 5 channels more

---- used with Dolby SA10 to expand the basic overhead surround
17 Left height front
18 Right height front
19 Left height middle
20 Right height middle
21 Left height rear
22 Right height rear

total present 12 channels overhead and below surround
additional decoders added to expand with present below surround with possible 5 channels with 21 extra channels

23 LFE.1

24 reserved possible additional height 4 L
25 reserved possible additional height 4 R
26 reserved possible additional sub extension for overhead and surround arrays L
27 reserved possible additional sub extension for overhead and surround arrays R
28 reserved
29 reserved
30 reserved
31 reserved
32 reserved

looking at , and thinking

 

[Andysu]

the power and the glory of Dolby Stereo 4.2.4 with JBL and THX sound system

looking at , and thinking ,
the new more channels and the hybrid-ing it more , and looking at how Bear is re-cating at it then even with Dolby Stereo 4.2.4 , i think Bear should be stereophilecat reviewer since he has the best hearing sight and senses

 

[Andysu]

complected when channels are reconfigured and have to re-plug most of the more extra channels

still my superstar 360fm has more channels

waiting for more fish and chips mkI mkII to show up
meantime i use JBL control 5 , 5 plus as more channels more speakers

may think about the more JBL placed in different location for more difference ,

Bear thinks , this is as far as we've ever been able to get

 

[Andysu]

new stormaudio firmware 4.60r0

i not yet contacted for new firmware link , to be honest i'm not much interested in it , multi-subwoofer , ( i can do that on the behringer DCX ) bass shaker again ( i can do that with behringer DCX ) i was expecting the remaining extra back channels , what for atmos mixes , not even interested in atmos anymore , unless they offer true below discrete surround , i'm not interested , atmos is technically flawed at been waste of 11 no years

 

[Everett T]

new stormaudio firmware 4.60r0

i not yet contacted for new firmware link , to be honest i'm not much interested in it , multi-subwoofer , ( i can do that on the behringer DCX ) bass shaker again ( i can do that with behringer DCX ) i was expecting the remaining extra back channels , what for atmos mixes , not even interested in atmos anymore , unless they offer true below discrete surround , i'm not interested , atmos is technically flawed at been waste of 11 no years

View attachment 364151

Wouldn't this effect DIRAC ART's implementation?

 

[HighImpactAV]

Here are the changes with Firmware 4.6r0 dated April 15, 2024:

• Add Zone 2.x support:
  • Use of the Configurator to create Zones.
  • Add Sub(s) with bass management support on Zones.
  • Add multi-way support on Zones.
  • Zones become by default audio/video zones.
  • Add Dirac ART support on Zones.
  • Multiple Zones’ Audio Profiles management selectable on remote controls.
• Add multi-way Sub management allowing sub array with Dirac Live Bass Control and ART
• Add Bass shaker management on ISP platform:
  • Bass shaker takes LFE channel.
  • Bass Shaker not included in Dirac calibration.
• Add on Settings page:
  • Audio / Video mode selection for the Zones, AV by default,
  • Add CEC settings:
    • Enable general CEC.
    • Allow Standby from TV.
    • Allow Standby from device.
    • Enable one touch play.
• Add Top speaker selection without Center Height speaker in allowed configurations.
• StormXt extension to Native mode: 5.1 & 7.1 legacy now included.
• In the WebUI Header, presets now classified by Theater.
• Add Bessel filter on bass management crossover: BESS 12, BESS 24, BESS 36, BES 48
• Always generate a Preset when a profile is created.
• With StormEasy, automatically assign created Inputs and Presets to the IR assignment table.
• CEC expansion:
  • Add CEC Hostname.
  • Bug fix on CEC Order stack.
  • CEC Mode passthrough added.
  • Power On and power Off of ISP / TV / Source in fast boot mode.
  • Blocking of CEC commands for zone 2 (HDMI Output 2)
• Improve the message on front panel when switching On or Off.
• TCP IP :
  • Prevent selection of disabled input. Return error message.
  • Add zone2x audio profile selection.
  • Add Preset + and – commands.\
  • Add Input + and – commands.
• Add StormXt status on OSD.
• Allow SP4 (Bryston) and Astral (Focal) upgradeability to StormAudio firmware via license.
• FAN monitoring Bug Fix on ISR and 2ISP.

 

[Andysu]

Wouldn't this effect DIRAC ART's implementation?

i don't care for storm pack of electronics audio anymore , atmos is flawed of waste of 11 no years , ranting about it on live yt video at present

 

[Everett T]

i don't care for storm pack of electronics audio anymore , atmos is flawed of waste of 11 no years , ranting about it on live yt video at present

Ok, but isn't ART supposed to fix some of those issues, especially in setups that are like yours?

 

[Andysu]

Ok, but isn't ART supposed to fix some of those issues, especially in setups that are like yours?

i'm live now , i'll answer that in the video , leave comment on the video

 

[Dj7675]

Here are the changes with Firmware 4.6r0 dated April 15, 2024:

• Add Zone 2.x support:
  • Use of the Configurator to create Zones.
  • Add Sub(s) with bass management support on Zones.
  • Add multi-way support on Zones.
  • Zones become by default audio/video zones.
  • Add Dirac ART support on Zones.
  • Multiple Zones’ Audio Profiles management selectable on remote controls.
• Add multi-way Sub management allowing sub array with Dirac Live Bass Control and ART
• Add Bass shaker management on ISP platform:
  • Bass shaker takes LFE channel.
  • Bass Shaker not included in Dirac calibration.
• Add on Settings page:
  • Audio / Video mode selection for the Zones, AV by default,
  • Add CEC settings:
    • Enable general CEC.
    • Allow Standby from TV.
    • Allow Standby from device.
    • Enable one touch play.
• Add Top speaker selection without Center Height speaker in allowed configurations.
• StormXt extension to Native mode: 5.1 & 7.1 legacy now included.
• In the WebUI Header, presets now classified by Theater.
• Add Bessel filter on bass management crossover: BESS 12, BESS 24, BESS 36, BES 48
• Always generate a Preset when a profile is created.
• With StormEasy, automatically assign created Inputs and Presets to the IR assignment table.
• CEC expansion:
  • Add CEC Hostname.
  • Bug fix on CEC Order stack.
  • CEC Mode passthrough added.
  • Power On and power Off of ISP / TV / Source in fast boot mode.
  • Blocking of CEC commands for zone 2 (HDMI Output 2)
• Improve the message on front panel when switching On or Off.
• TCP IP :
  • Prevent selection of disabled input. Return error message.
  • Add zone2x audio profile selection.
  • Add Preset + and – commands.\
  • Add Input + and – commands.
• Add StormXt status on OSD.
• Allow SP4 (Bryston) and Astral (Focal) upgradeability to StormAudio firmware via license.
• FAN monitoring Bug Fix on ISR and 2ISP.

A really welcome update on quite a number of things. It is really encouraging the rate that Stormaudio continues to develop the product. For people that want to use the device for multiple zones, this is a great update. As long as you have free channels for other zones, you can do other 2.1 zones with Dirac/ART with the added subwoofer support. For me, the only other things on my list would be:
-Speaker remapping (they have committed to this, but no timeline).
-Loudness compensation-they have not mentioned this on their roadmap. I have been fine with their trebble/bass controls but this would be a nice update
-BEQ-I would be interested in this, which is compensation for many of the 4k sources which heavily filter bass under 30hz.
I find most modern film Atmos mixes quite good, and some of the streaming providers original content as good and sometimes better. Netflix in particular seems to make good use of the platform.

 

[apgood]

new stormaudio firmware 4.60r0

i not yet contacted for new firmware link , to be honest i'm not much interested in it , multi-subwoofer , ( i can do that on the behringer DCX ) bass shaker again ( i can do that with behringer DCX ) i was expecting the remaining extra back channels , what for atmos mixes , not even interested in atmos anymore , unless they offer true below discrete surround , i'm not interested , atmos is technically flawed at been waste of 11 no years

View attachment 364151

Looks like all the speaker locations are selectable in a single layout too but of course you can only decode Atmos to 24 of them.
Last time I check the Configurator the Base Layer maxed out at 13.1. Now it goes all the way to 19.1. It lets you add more subs but since there are only 32 independent outputs regardless if you use analogue or digital, so if you enable all the speaker locations you'd only have a single out put left for a sub.

 

[Andysu]

there's another new stormaudio firmware update released to day , 28th , 4.6r0p2 there was one last month or month before , two firmware updates within few months

again i don't need this new firmware , i don't use dirac live , again my THX cinema B-chain is far complex than most home theatres around , can't use it unless i's an outboard diac live 32 XLR input/output with dante's peak AES for those that want to spend more £$$£$ , rather have outboard made for £500 anything over that cost is daylight robbery

otherwise i can use behringer DCX 2496 do sub bass unlimited amount same goes for bass shakers i use behringer DCX 2496 for all the seats and floor areas

 

[Andysu]

stormaudio is such a rubbish audio processor that i wouldn't endorse as it doesn't work always often has audio dropouts where processor has to be switched off and back on to restore , that's why i don;t care to download anymore of its rubbish firmware

 

[apgood]

stormaudio is such a rubbish audio processor that i wouldn't endorse as it doesn't work always often has audio dropouts where processor has to be switched off and back on to restore , that's why i don;t care to download anymore of its rubbish firmware

Strange. I don't have any such issues on mine. It is rock solid with a variety of sources.

Only issue I ever had with a failing hdmi cable. Swapped it out and no more issues.

Given your use of commercial equipment in your signal chain not sure if you use the AES67 module or AES/EBU modules in your ISP. I have AES/EBU digital output module connecting to a Q-SYS Core Processor that does my active crossovers for my LCRs and links to some io frames and a network amp for my subs. All very solid.

Personally I couldn't be happier with the setup. Any subpar movie experiences sound wise tend to be related to a poor home sound mix in the movie itself.

 

[Andysu]

Strange. I don't have any such issues on mine. It is rock solid with a variety of sources.

Only issue I ever had with a failing hdmi cable. Swapped it out and no more issues.

Given your use of commercial equipment in your signal chain not sure if you use the AES67 module or AES/EBU modules in your ISP. I have AES/EBU digital output module connecting to a Q-SYS Core Processor that does my active crossovers for my LCRs and links to some io frames and a network amp for my subs. All very solid.

Personally I couldn't be happier with the setup. Any subpar movie experiences sound wise tend to be related to a poor home sound mix in the movie itself.

i didn't opt for the extra board fitted for AES

 

[Andysu]

what is stormaudio , dirac talking about , 20Hz like we are imagining it , ( again i don't use dirac , i find it awkward to use , sure it must be easy
but i don't care to use it since my B-chain is complicated to) dirac should have made the EQ as an outboard 32 channel module to connect to any system and not just singling it down to few branded manufactures products

https://register.gotowebinar.com/recording/2036972173879801176

 

[Andysu]

i like how the video shows moving a microphone around without even a cable connected to to the mic , guess its TX to RX mic