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Streamer/DAC with Dirac

starfly

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Which streamer + DAC combos are out there that also have Dirac Live built in? I know of the MiniDSP SHD, which was reviewed by Amir and measures well.

Are there any others out there? I guess an alternative would be to build a miniPC running Windows and install Dirac Live Studio, and use a separate external DAC, but then that's two boxes (but could still be cheaper than a MiniDSP SHD).
 
If you are not completely attached to DIRAC but willing to consider ARC Genesis, you can get a device from Paradigm or Martin Logan for $200.
Ah, hadn't heard about those. ARC would also be good. Any measurements anywhere of these devices?

Do you also know if they have something like Dynamic EQ where it'll automatically boost certain frequencies when listening at lower volume?
 
Ah, hadn't heard about those. ARC would also be good. Any measurements anywhere of these devices?

Do you also know if they have something like Dynamic EQ where it'll automatically boost certain frequencies when listening at lower volume?

Our site host has measured the PW LINK and likes it WITH CAVEATS so read his measurements/review and see if those caveats are a deal breaker.

Review and Measurements of Paradigm PW-Link Streamer/DAC

I'm using the digital input and output and find the results to be very pleasing.

As near as I can tell it does NOT have a feature like dynamic EQ, though you can dial in a house curve to optimize the EQ for your most common listening case.
 
Our site host has measured the PW LINK and likes it WITH CAVEATS so read his measurements/review and see if those caveats are a deal breaker.

Review and Measurements of Paradigm PW-Link Streamer/DAC

I'm using the digital input and output and find the results to be very pleasing.

As near as I can tell it does NOT have a feature like dynamic EQ, though you can dial in a house curve to optimize the EQ for your most common listening case.
Thanks, I read through that whole thread. It does seem like the most affordable way to get good room correction, but that device and its user experience doesn't seem to be great, with all kinds of issues. Too bad.

At this point I'm leaning towards getting an Intel NUC (one of those tiny PCs), put windows on it and Dirac live studio. Then route the output to a good dac with balanced outs and volume control, and send that to my 2 channel amp.
 
Thanks, I read through that whole thread. It does seem like the most affordable way to get good room correction, but that device and its user experience doesn't seem to be great, with all kinds of issues. Too bad.

At this point I'm leaning towards getting an Intel NUC (one of those tiny PCs), put windows on it and Dirac live studio. Then route the output to a good dac with balanced outs and volume control, and send that to my 2 channel amp.

Out of curiosity, what would be required for a NUC/Dirac Live Studio setup to recognize multiple subwoofers?
 
Out of curiosity, what would be required for a NUC/Dirac Live Studio setup to recognize multiple subwoofers?

My best guess would be one of the miniDSP products, but I currently don't have any subwoofers so haven't really researched that angle yet.

If you want an all-in-one solution for 2.2 listening (so two channel with 2 subwoofers), I'd recommend a miniDSP SHD @ $1200. Has Dirac Live built-in and comes with Volumio for streaming. Measured well here on ASR.
 
I'm aware of the shd - by all accounts a great product. I just didn't know how flexible the pc version of Dirac Live Studio is with respect to interfacing with multiple channels.
 
I'm aware of the shd - by all accounts a great product. I just didn't know how flexible the pc version of Dirac Live Studio is with respect to interfacing with multiple channels.
Yeah, the Dirac site doesn't give too much detail on what's possible with Dirac studio. But they do have a 14 day free trial, so there's that.

If it does support subs, perhaps using it in combination with an okto dac would be a great solution. That's the only multi channel dac I know of. Heck, you could turn it into an all-round system for movies with surround sound as well.

I think with Dirac studio you can set it up (with additional software) that all audio is routed through the Dirac processor VST plugin, so you don't need VST specific software to run it. It does support JRiver media center though.
 
The Octo Dac8 or a pro audio interface was what I initially had in mind.

As an enthusiast, I always have extra PC's around, I also happen to have several DACs sitting unused - it would be nice if I could just route channels to each dac in software and manage it that way.

However, this is my busy season, and due to covid19 I have a pregnant wife and toddler around all...the...time... I won't be able to experiment with with any of this within a 14 day trial window for quite some time.
 
The Octo Dac8 or a pro audio interface was what I initially had in mind.

As an enthusiast, I always have extra PC's around, I also happen to have several DACs sitting unused - it would be nice if I could just route channels to each dac in software and manage it that way.

However, this is my busy season, and due to covid19 I have a pregnant wife and toddler around all...the...time... I won't be able to experiment with with any of this within a 14 day trial window for quite some time.

Ah yeah, pretty much the same situation here, except my wife isn't pregnant (thankfully!).

I'm about to dive into the world of building my first amp, Purifi class D. So that'll keep me busy, but will only do it after everyone has gone to bed.

On my desktop I use a Motu M4 audio interface. But for my living room I'd want a DAC that comes with a remote for volume control and stuff :)
 
Congrats on the purify build. I've been tempted for a long time to try one. I recently bought 2 hypex nc400 amps posted on these forums, which will replace 2 PS Audio Delta 250s that I got for free.

My father in law is the repair tech for a local hifi shop, so i keep buying used amps on the local market since I can get them fixed for free. While that arrangement is extremely beneficial to me, it has made it difficult to justify buying what I actually want.

I own a paradigm pw link, which was referenced above. It is a terrible dac and a poor streamer, but a very cost effective implementation of ARC.

Also, I cannot recommend the RME ADI2 enough.
 
Congrats on the purify build. I've been tempted for a long time to try one. I recently bought 2 hypex nc400 amps posted on these forums, which will replace 2 PS Audio Delta 250s that I got for free.

My father in law is the repair tech for a local hifi shop, so i keep buying used amps on the local market since I can get them fixed for free. While that arrangement is extremely beneficial to me, it has made it difficult to justify buying what I actually want.

I own a paradigm pw link, which was referenced above. It is a terrible dac and a poor streamer, but a very cost effective implementation of ARC.

Also, I cannot recommend the RME ADI2 enough.

Yeah, RME makes nice stuff. But for pretty much the same price you can also get the Okto 8 DAC. I actually shot Dirac an email about multi-channel capabilities of Dirac Live Studio, and if it has built-in crossover capabilities for when using it with a multi-ch DAC and subwoofers. Will see what they say.
 
Well, Dirac replied (that was quick!), and said that multi-channel capabilities are currently in beta testing, but will eventually come to Dirac Live. He also mentioned Dirac Live Bass Control, which will essentially function like a crossover and redirect low-level frequencies to subwoofers (if you want that).

He linked this doc: http://diracdocs.com/Bass Control in Live.pdf

So yeah, leaning towards the miniPC + Dirac Live Studio + OktoDAC at this point. For surround I'll at most go for a 5.2 system anyway, more than that seems like overkill, so I could even use the OktoDAC for movies :) But getting this DAC is likely at least a year away. Between having recently upgraded my PC to the latest and greatest + having installed a custom watercooling loop, and me about to build a new amp with all the modules and power supply costing quite a bit, I'm running low on funds for these kind of "fun" expenses :)

My 3 hobbies are audio, computers and photography. All very expensive, so f*** my wallet, haha.
 
Please post your experience with the dac8 when you get one.

I wasn't sure if there was much point, for me, for a multi channel dac without access to all the respective surround formats.

I hear you on the expense front. The nice thing about having a business, is running some of those hobbies as expenses - I certainly need an office computer...and music helps me concentrate...

The great thing about water cooling is that it carries across generations. I've upgraded since. But there is no reason, that I couldn't have carried the same setup I used with a q9550 that I have with a 5930k. Priorities change, and I somewhat regret my purchase of a cosmos 2 case with custom loop, as it tips the scale at around 80lbs. But, in the end it was a very cost effective purchase.
 
Please post your experience with the dac8 when you get one.

I wasn't sure if there was much point, for me, for a multi channel dac without access to all the respective surround formats.

I hear you on the expense front. The nice thing about having a business, is running some of those hobbies as expenses - I certainly need an office computer...and music helps me concentrate...

The great thing about water cooling is that it carries across generations. I've upgraded since. But there is no reason, that I couldn't have carried the same setup I used with a q9550 that I have with a 5930k. Priorities change, and I somewhat regret my purchase of a cosmos 2 case with custom loop, as it tips the scale at around 80lbs. But, in the end it was a very cost effective purchase.

Yeah I will, but it might be next year when I get that dac. So it'll be a while. And I want to get a new video card first, preferably the 3080ti whenever that gets released later this year or early next year.

The Cosmos 2 is a huge case. I got the Phanteks 719 myself, and went the AMD route this time around, coming from Intel:

20200425_134831.jpg
 
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