I recently started using Focus Fidelity in Roon . I experimented with Rew first. This was a game changer for my 2.1 system. Tighter bass, improved soundstage. It has an easy to use measurement tool and the learning curve is not to steep. I thought . “Where has this been hiding”…
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What DRC do you use ?
- Thread starter Eddy
- Start date
I use Dirac DLBC for stereo/multichannel and REW+EasyEffects parametric equalization for desktop.
Up until a month ago, give or take, I was satisfied with Dirac, it made a difference. But I've used a new measuration pattern for the microphone and it has been transformative (well, that and finished acoustic treatment of my room).
Up until a month ago, give or take, I was satisfied with Dirac, it made a difference. But I've used a new measuration pattern for the microphone and it has been transformative (well, that and finished acoustic treatment of my room).
gfinlays
Senior Member
With my original passive crossover, I used REW and rePhase with the convolution filters applied in Roon, and then later on via Hang Loose Convolver. Now I use Acourate - I'm on a fully active setup, linear phase filters, time-aligned drivers and room correction applied via Hang Loose Convolver.
Eric Natural
Active Member
Big positive experiences here with several drc systems in this house. All of these were new to me as of 2024. Never going back.
My hobby-ist studio uses the ARC4 plugin inside Ableton pushing Fluid Audio 8" coaxial monitors. 27 points of measure with the calibration mic and the bass is so clear now.
The home theater is SonyES avr atmos using Sony's proprietary correction w/it's mics calibration. Running 5.2
The stereo room downstairs uses Minidsp FlexDL and it's calibrated points with the Umik1 as 2.2 > my old Monitor Audios and pair of modest subs. Astonishing detail.
The dining room uses 2 HomePod minis for background stereo doing their own Apple thing.
Best of Luck
My hobby-ist studio uses the ARC4 plugin inside Ableton pushing Fluid Audio 8" coaxial monitors. 27 points of measure with the calibration mic and the bass is so clear now.
The home theater is SonyES avr atmos using Sony's proprietary correction w/it's mics calibration. Running 5.2
The stereo room downstairs uses Minidsp FlexDL and it's calibrated points with the Umik1 as 2.2 > my old Monitor Audios and pair of modest subs. Astonishing detail.
The dining room uses 2 HomePod minis for background stereo doing their own Apple thing.
Best of Luck
Count Arthur
Major Contributor
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I've used REW, together with a UMIK-1, with the filter settings stored in JRiver Media Centre.
I've also used ARC Studio with the hardware box:
www.audiosciencereview.com
I got good results with both. They each provide a significant improvement to the uncorrected sound. I prefer the ARC Studio as it's quicker and easier, and the hardware box mean that it also works when I'm not playing music through JRiver.
I've also used ARC Studio with the hardware box:
The ultimate low cost solution for room correction?
Hello to all of you from ASR, I've been following you for about three years and this is my first post...I'm using Google translator, so excuse my English... I wanted to let you know that IK Multimedia has just introduced a new dedicated product to environmental correction, called: "ARC STUDIO"...
www.audiosciencereview.com
I got good results with both. They each provide a significant improvement to the uncorrected sound. I prefer the ARC Studio as it's quicker and easier, and the hardware box mean that it also works when I'm not playing music through JRiver.
livinon2wheels
Active Member
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my only experience with room correction software comes thru my Emotiva MR1L. I tried using it and spent many hours trying to get it working to my satisfaction and I found it to be awful. I did a factory reset and went back to the default setup finding it sounded cleaner and markedly better with no correction than with the automated correction applied. Then I went back and tried some manual tweaks to the sound and managed to improve it some, but the auto correction is flawed and not just in a minor way. I am likely going to pull the trigger on a Marantz processor within the year and will test the on board Audessey room eq and see if it is better than the Emotiva version...if it actually does make positive changes I will use it happily. But I am NOT paying extra for Dirac even though it might well be a good investment in the overall sound. It needs to be included in the price of the receiver. Do not upsell me on ala carte stuff that is not proven to work in my listening space. No. Just no. Bad vibes with that. The Emo gets relegated to a secondary or tertiary system...maybe the garage. Not sure yet. The amps are good, the channel info allocation algorithm is pretty darn good, the software is buggy as shit otherwise. So it will probably get used for 4 channel audio in the garage space so no matter where I am working I can hear the source material loud enough and with enough effects applied to be acceptable. But not with good speakers or Video...sadly its not good for that. 1600 dollar boat anchor that one is...
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What is a reasonable way to implement DRC where you don’t want to get a new preamp or integrated amp?
I have a McIntosh C35 preamp and MC2255 amp, with a variety of digital and analog sources all being input into the various inputs of the preamp. The C35 does have an external processor loop, so ideally there would be a device with DRC that would take the signal from the processor out jacks, do its magic, then output it back into the processor in jacks.
Are there RCA based DRC solutions that can be used via an external processor loop in a preamp?
Thanks.
I have a McIntosh C35 preamp and MC2255 amp, with a variety of digital and analog sources all being input into the various inputs of the preamp. The C35 does have an external processor loop, so ideally there would be a device with DRC that would take the signal from the processor out jacks, do its magic, then output it back into the processor in jacks.
Are there RCA based DRC solutions that can be used via an external processor loop in a preamp?
Thanks.
Welcome to ASR!
The miniDSP Flex is probably the most obvious choice. The balanced in/out version is reviewed here (there is a RCA version as well):
Minidsp Flex Review (Audio DSP)
This is a review and detailed measurement of the Minidsp Flex audio signal processor. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $475 for unbalanced and $550 for balanced that I tested. Flex borrows the interface from SHD and puts it in a compact package. Seeing how I really liked that...
www.audiosciencereview.com
[Edit] The DSPeaker Antimode X2 is an alternative to the miniDSP. The measured performance of the more expensive (with balanced in/out) 2.0 Dual Core version was not very good. However, the X2 is much newer than the Dual Core.
DSPeaker Anti-Mode 2.0 Dual Core Room EQ Review
This is a review and detailed measurements of the DSPeaker Anti-Mode 2.0 Dual Core Room Equalizer. It is on kind loan from a member and costs US $1,200. This review is only focused on electronic performance of the device. If I have time, I may test its correction ability later. There is not...
www.audiosciencereview.com
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Welcome to ASR!
The miniDSP Flex is probably the most obvious choice. The balanced in/out version is reviewed here (there is a RCA version as well):
Minidsp Flex Review (Audio DSP)
This is a review and detailed measurement of the Minidsp Flex audio signal processor. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $475 for unbalanced and $550 for balanced that I tested. Flex borrows the interface from SHD and puts it in a compact package. Seeing how I really liked that...
[Edit] The DSPeaker Antimode X2 is an alternative to the miniDSP. The measured performance of the more expensive (with balanced in/out) 2.0 Dual Core version was not very good. However, the X2 is much newer than the Dual Core.
DSPeaker Anti-Mode 2.0 Dual Core Room EQ Review
This is a review and detailed measurements of the DSPeaker Anti-Mode 2.0 Dual Core Room Equalizer. It is on kind loan from a member and costs US $1,200. This review is only focused on electronic performance of the device. If I have time, I may test its correction ability later. There is not...
Thank you!
Looks like the DSpeaker Antimode uses their own proprietary room correction algorithm vs Dirac Live. Have there been any comparisons between them to determine if one is significantly better than the other?
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This is what 3 different speakers (Sonus Faber Electa Amator II, Monitor Audio Gold Reference 20, Sonus Faber Concerto Domus) look like in my room:
So all are showing similar characteristics which I have to assume is due to room. I tried to toe-in, move distance between speakers, and move further into the room. Subtle things change, but the overall characteristic is very similar.
Room treatments, if you can figure out how to apply them, can cost over $1000 easily, and the results will still likely be fairly bumpy.
I figured if I can spend less than $1000 to do DRC and correct the major issues with the room, that will be preferable to spending that on treatments which also affect aesthetics.
So that’s where I’m coming from. I have an amp and preamp I’m happy with, so doing this via an external processor that can be inserted in a processor or monitor loop, would be ideal.
I don't have any first hand experience with Anitmode or Dirac. From what I have read, the Anitmode is supposed to be easy to use to get decent results. The miniDSP Flex with (or without) Dirac would be much more flexible.
Keith_W
Master Contributor
I just had a look at the manual for the Antimode software. "MiniDSP is more flexible" is an understatement. It looks as if you can not directly program the DSP on the Antimode using third party software or measurements, you are forever stuck using their software. There are no instructions on how to load the cal file for the XLR microphone supplied with the Antimode, meaning it is unlikely to be calibrated. There is very little detail on how the calibration process works, whether you take measurements from one position or multiple positions.
The software seems to be designed to remove as much decision making as possible from the user, even going to the extent of choosing an appropriate XO slope without user intervention. I don't think I would trust software that much, any more than I would trust a robot to make me breakfast. Think about it for a moment - Facebook knows a lot more about you than this software knows about your room. How good is Facebook at showing you ads?
The software seems to be designed to remove as much decision making as possible from the user, even going to the extent of choosing an appropriate XO slope without user intervention. I don't think I would trust software that much, any more than I would trust a robot to make me breakfast. Think about it for a moment - Facebook knows a lot more about you than this software knows about your room. How good is Facebook at showing you ads?
Eric Natural
Active Member
this sounds exactly like the drc in my SonyES AVR - Sony calibrates it to either a model of their own atmos recording studio or to flat response of the mains. Either or. Beyond that there's only the tuning-abilty of a basic bass/treb eq and levels of each channel. I'm pretty happy with the calibration it's done to the speakers in the room, set and forget. Your mileage . . .
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