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[Talisman]

I decided to buy Art just yesterday. I know exactly what the problem is with your sales: you don't have a free trial, even for just a week. When someone compares Art to DSP room correction, I realize they don't have a clear understanding of the difference. To understand it, it's not enough to read the explanations; you have to try it, you have to understand the real benefits, you have to understand how it will work in your setup. No one wants to blindly spend €700 on software whose results they're unsure of.
Personally, I took a leap of faith because, in a 4-subwoofer setup, the possibility of a significant improvement made me risk it, but I hesitated a lot before pulling the trigger.
Now I know I did the right thing and I'm enjoying results that seemed unthinkable to me, but those who don't know better have a hard time spending that amount without even trying it.

 

[Chr1]

This is definitely a deal breaker for me. I am currently using MathAudio RoomEQ and after some experimenting, am very happy with the results. I use it in conjunction with EasyQ. Considering that they are both free of charge, there is no way I would pay that kind of money without some kind of a free trial first.

 

[Kal Rubinson]

Free trial offer for PC/Mac versions of Room Correction and Bass Control. No ART offer yet.

 

[Oddball]

I thought that with AVR versions you can return in 30 days? Has that changed? So not exactly a free trial but trial and return.

 

[MarkS]

Double basses will not move to the left in the stereo image, just because you place the subwoofer on the left.

Depends on the crossover frequency. With smallish bookshelves as my main speakers, I want to cross at >100Hz

 

[MarkS]

View attachment 529182

Free trial offer for PC/Mac versions of Room Correction and Bass Control. No ART offer yet.

I really would like to get a lot more detailed specifics.

"Automates subwoofer setup". But no complete explanation (that I can find anywhere). Do I have to choose the crossover frequencies and slopes, or will the software do it for me? Can I have stereo bass, or are all subs in mono?

 

[Kal Rubinson]

Do I have to choose the crossover frequencies and slopes, or will the software do it for me?

Depends on which version you have and whether you choose to accept the default recommendations of the software.

Can I have stereo bass, or are all subs in mono?

Either way possible. Remember, these particular versions run on PC/Mac and the software that precedes Dirac in the signal chain (I use Jriver) allows for many options.

 

[Ultrasonic]

@Flak the survey isn't appropriate to me as I already use DL but one change I'd like to see would be for the old linear target curve to be brought back at least as a user selectable option. I much preferred it as a starting point to the current high and low shelf default target curve.

 

[Ultrasonic]

I’d love auto updates to the Mac/PC application. I was having trouble getting it to work only to learn I was using an older versions and had to go online and download manually. Surprised there is no way to natively update within the app itself.

As an option, sure, but if forced I would HATE to see this introduced. New versions are not always better and I like to control if/when I update.

 

[MarkS]

Depends on which version you have

I want Dirac to explain to me which version does what.

This is apparently too much to ask of them, which is why I have not yet bought anything from them.

 

[Oddball]

I want Dirac to explain to me which version does what.

This is apparently too much to ask of them, which is why I have not yet bought anything from them.

There is plenty out there, and lots of details. There are also hundreds of Dirac threads for the fine print, and lots of pretty graphs on the side. But if you are expecting something in your inbox, that probably ain't happening.

 

[MarkS]

I expect a company that wants to tell me something to tell me the details, not send me to the interwebs to try to guess which anonymous posters with names like "Oddball" know what they're talking about and which don't.

The info on the dirac.com site is extremely sparse, mostly marketing-speak about how great it all is.

Just as I'm not buying speakers from a company that doesn't publish measurements, I'm not buying software from a company that doesn't clearly explain the options for configuring it.

 

[Snarfie]

I expect a company that wants to tell me something to tell me the details, not send me to the interwebs to try to guess which anonymous posters with names like "Oddball" know what they're talking about and which don't.

The info on the dirac.com site is extremely sparse, mostly marketing-speak about how great it all is.

Just as I'm not buying speakers from a company that doesn't publish measurements, I'm not buying software from a company that doesn't clearly explain the options for configuring it.

For sure it is quite from Dirac a topic they started!

 

[Oddball]

I expect a company that wants to tell me something to tell me the details, not send me to the interwebs to try to guess which anonymous posters with names like "Oddball" know what they're talking about and which don't.

The info on the dirac.com site is extremely sparse, mostly marketing-speak about how great it all is.

Just as I'm not buying speakers from a company that doesn't publish measurements, I'm not buying software from a company that doesn't clearly explain the options for configuring it.

Dirac did publish plenty or info including the guides to specific issues. and there are plenty of resources on forums that can point you to the right direction based on your preferences. As I said, none of these things are ending up in your inbox. So obviously, at your peril, this is not a solution for you.

With no disrespect meant, but you seem to be very comfortable and easy to push the critique button.

 

[MarkS]

Dirac did publish plenty or info including the guides to specific issues.

Where? Please link to Dirac's guides to setting up a 2.2 system under the 3 options (Dirac Live, DLBC, ART).

And yes, I am critical. It's my money. If Dirac doesn't want to explain to me what I would be getting for it for their various products, then fine, I will go elsewhere (and already have, but I would be willing to pay to switch to Dirac if they were willing to explain what I would be getting).

 

[jhaider]

Where? Please link to Dirac's guides to setting up a 2.2 system under the 3 options (Dirac Live, DLBC, ART).

MiniDSP has a Dirac tutorial for 2.x. It’s a PITA.

Not sure what you need for DLBC (mono bass management) or ART (channel support). It seems pretty obvious.

 

[kyuu]

Where? Please link to Dirac's guides to setting up a 2.2 system under the 3 options (Dirac Live, DLBC, ART).

And yes, I am critical. It's my money. If Dirac doesn't want to explain to me what I would be getting for it for their various products, then fine, I will go elsewhere (and already have, but I would be willing to pay to switch to Dirac if they were willing to explain what I would be getting).

Have you checked out this page (click "Browse PDF User Guides and Manuals")?

 

[MarkS]

Have you checked out this page (click "Browse PDF User Guides and Manuals")?

I don't think I ever found that page previously. There is actually some useful information in the user manuals of the sort I was seeking (though it still has to be ferreted out from amidst software installation procedures). Still not clear to me is whether DLBC attempts to preserve stereo bass information if there is more than one subwoofer. Some of what is written seems to indicate yes, but then it also says that subwoofers can be placed anywhere in the room (which would seem to indicate no).

 

[Ultrasonic]

MiniDSP has a Dirac tutorial for 2.x. It’s a PITA.

The guide isn't quite how I'd do it but either way it's not that complicated. But it is not automated so definitely to be avoided by those who want this. ON the other hand the user does have full control which I'm not sure they would have with DLBC, so actually I'd prefer to stick to the manual approach.

 

[Satanica]

I don't think I ever found that page previously. There is actually some useful information in the user manuals of the sort I was seeking (though it still has to be ferreted out from amidst software installation procedures). Still not clear to me is whether DLBC attempts to preserve stereo bass information if there is more than one subwoofer. Some of what is written seems to indicate yes, but then it also says that subwoofers can be placed anywhere in the room (which would seem to indicate no).

The answer is no as DLBC only supports mono bass.