So largely from my time on this site I've gotten much more interested in how differences in frequency response graphs correlate with the subjective listening experience. But honestly it was hard to know what was really relevant. Lots of reviews on ASR are critical of a jagged frequency response curve but what does that mean to the listener? Clearly many speakers manufacturers consciously choose to NOT have a perfectly flat speaker FR (looking at you B&W) while others strive for this with superhuman efforts (Genelec anyone?). And the eminent Dr. Toole tells us that a flat FR curve corresponds to the highest rating in double blinded listening tests, while others emulate a different target FR curve or swear by the Harman House Curve, for instance.
So in the last few weeks I bought a MiniDSP 2x4HD (and a UMIK-1 microphone, too) and set it up with my computer desktop system which consists of a MacMini with USB output to the MiniDSP 2x4HD with 3 analog outputs: stereo R+L to a Loxjie A30 AMP and Sub to my REL T71 (no snarky comments please). My music source is Roon with my own personal ripped CD collection and Qobuz. The stereo AMP is connected to a 4 way Monoprice speaker switch and I current have 3 pairs of desktop speakers that I can cross compare (it is a big desk). These are a Roger LS3/5a purportedly from the early 1990's (11 ohms) version, DIY CSS P215, and SoundArtist LS3/5a knockoffs. The Monoprice unit allows me to rapidly toggle between each of the speakers, but no, this is not a blinded listening comparison.
What has been a revelation is the ability to adjust the crossover and tweak the FR using the PEQ software in realtime and to listen what impact it has on the sound quality while sitting realtime. Hmm, these speakers sound bright but shallow, the other ones sound more muted in the high end. What contributes to that and how can this be adjusted, augmented and improved? Let's boost this speaker's FR at 2000Hz and above by 3 dB and hear the difference in sound. I'll have more to say about my actual in room measurements with the UMIK-1 and REW 5.1 at a later date but I am having blast with all of the above. So thanks to Amir and ASR for reconnecting me to my love of high fidelity and for introducing me to the technology that has supercharged things in ways we could never had anticipated 20+ years ago.
So in the last few weeks I bought a MiniDSP 2x4HD (and a UMIK-1 microphone, too) and set it up with my computer desktop system which consists of a MacMini with USB output to the MiniDSP 2x4HD with 3 analog outputs: stereo R+L to a Loxjie A30 AMP and Sub to my REL T71 (no snarky comments please). My music source is Roon with my own personal ripped CD collection and Qobuz. The stereo AMP is connected to a 4 way Monoprice speaker switch and I current have 3 pairs of desktop speakers that I can cross compare (it is a big desk). These are a Roger LS3/5a purportedly from the early 1990's (11 ohms) version, DIY CSS P215, and SoundArtist LS3/5a knockoffs. The Monoprice unit allows me to rapidly toggle between each of the speakers, but no, this is not a blinded listening comparison.
What has been a revelation is the ability to adjust the crossover and tweak the FR using the PEQ software in realtime and to listen what impact it has on the sound quality while sitting realtime. Hmm, these speakers sound bright but shallow, the other ones sound more muted in the high end. What contributes to that and how can this be adjusted, augmented and improved? Let's boost this speaker's FR at 2000Hz and above by 3 dB and hear the difference in sound. I'll have more to say about my actual in room measurements with the UMIK-1 and REW 5.1 at a later date but I am having blast with all of the above. So thanks to Amir and ASR for reconnecting me to my love of high fidelity and for introducing me to the technology that has supercharged things in ways we could never had anticipated 20+ years ago.