geebo
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"Too bad that all the people who know how to run the country are driving taxicabs and cutting hair"
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Post by geebo on Dec 14, 2014 10:35:43 GMT -5
I finally got the chance to try Dirac out last night with no grand kids and a tired wife who was exhausted after helping with inventory yesterday and decided to turn in. Anyway the setup and measuring process couldn't have been easier taking only a bit of time following some very simple instruction. I did read the manual while waiting for my activation code but I wouldn't have had any trouble because everything you need to know is displayed on the right side of the screen. Filter creation and subsequent download to the XMC went very smoothly without the slightest glitch along the entire process. I was way to tired to listen critically last night so I'm doing that this morning with a fresh cup of black coffee. I chose Joe Bonamassa Live at the Vienna Opera House which is an all acoustic performance that is recorded very well and coded in DTS MA and makes for some nice Sunday morning entertainment and I know it very well. There is a marked improvement in detail and clarity with better separation of the individual instruments when compared to what I was able to get using the built in PEQ in the XMC's other speaker presets. The bass, however, seemed a bit thin to me but I'm used to a little more bass than what is in the standard Dirac curve. A quick on-the-fly adjustment of 4dB @ 60Hz and it's right back to where I like it. The overall level is down a bit and only requires a little more volume than I'm used to having the XMC set to. About 5dB more seems about right to me. I still have to listen to some two channel music but Dirac is the first RCS I've used that I actually like. I am definitely going to be a player when the full version is made available. When using the demo last year, it was really nice being able to load a set of saved measurements and make adjustments to the curve to create a new filter. Here is a screen shot of my front speakers - ERT 8.3s. That nasty 40Hz hump is something that has been actually quite easy to tame using the XMC eq controls so it's not what I was directly comparing Dirac's results with when I commented on the slight lack of bass in the final results. good looking curve. Are the 8.3s really capable of playing down to 20hz? Or am I not understanding the chart properly and this includes sub as well. No, they're not so I have to assume the crossover of 80Hz to my dual XRef 12s is figured in. I have the 8.3s set to small in the Dirac preset.
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Post by barrak on Dec 14, 2014 11:02:33 GMT -5
good looking curve. Are the 8.3s really capable of playing down to 20hz? Or am I not understanding the chart properly and this includes sub as well. No, they're not so I have to assume the crossover of 80Hz to my dual XRef 12s is figured in. I have the 8.3s set to small in the Dirac preset. Now that's how a measurement should look like at the upper end. Interesting, though, regarding the bass extension. You would think that the speaker and sub are measured separately (that's how Tact did it). One way to verify if both are swept as per cross-over setup is to switch off the sub (without changing bass management setup), rerun the measurement, and see if the measured curve drops off a cliff at the 80 Hz crossover point.
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geebo
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"Too bad that all the people who know how to run the country are driving taxicabs and cutting hair"
Posts: 24,188
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Post by geebo on Dec 14, 2014 11:25:57 GMT -5
No, they're not so I have to assume the crossover of 80Hz to my dual XRef 12s is figured in. I have the 8.3s set to small in the Dirac preset. Now that's how a measurement should look like at the upper end. Interesting, though, regarding the bass extension. You would think that the speaker and sub are measured separately (that's how Tact did it). One way to verify if both are swept as per cross-over setup is to switch off the sub (without changing bass management setup), rerun the measurement, and see if the measured curve drops off a cliff at the 80 Hz crossover point. That would probably show the answer and I'll try to remember to try it during my next set of measurements. Dirac does measure the subs separately with their own test signal but I don't know if they also kick in during the other speakers measurements or if the result is simply extrapolated from the known measurements of the acquired data.
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Post by htguy on Dec 14, 2014 12:10:28 GMT -5
. A quick on-the-fly adjustment of 4dB @ 60Hz and it's right back to where I like it. . What controls did you use to add 4 db at 60 hz? Was it the bass control? What do you have your bass control parameters set up at?
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geebo
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"Too bad that all the people who know how to run the country are driving taxicabs and cutting hair"
Posts: 24,188
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Post by geebo on Dec 14, 2014 12:19:24 GMT -5
. A quick on-the-fly adjustment of 4dB @ 60Hz and it's right back to where I like it. . What controls did you use to add 4 db at 60 hz? Was it the bass control? What do you have your bass control parameters set up at? I used the tone controls in the Main Zone - Trims - Tone section. You can set a bass and/or treble hinge frequency and +/- level changes. My bass is currently set at Dual Mono and crossovers are at 80Hz.
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novisnick
EmoPhile
CEO Secret Monoblock Society
Posts: 27,230
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Post by novisnick on Dec 14, 2014 12:23:23 GMT -5
What controls did you use to add 4 db at 60 hz? Was it the bass control? What do you have your bass control parameters set up at? I used the tone controls in the Main Zone - Trims - Tone section. You can set a bass and/or treble hinge frequency and +/- level changes. My bass is currently set at Dual Mono and crossovers are at 80Hz. Wow!! Are you kidding me? All I can say ,,,,is,,,,is,,,,, Wow!!!!
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Post by yeeeha17 on Dec 14, 2014 13:06:54 GMT -5
Geebo Do the tone controls stay at where you set them if you turn the XMC off and on again or does it revert to where Dirac have them at?
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Post by fbczar on Dec 14, 2014 13:21:24 GMT -5
Will the version of Dirac in the XMC-1 allow you to set the frequency range it equalizes? Many reviewers indicate equalizing the lower frequencies, say from 20Hz to 500Hz or 20Hz to to 250Hz, gives a better result than the entire frequency range. The Anthem receivers with their ARC EQ can do that. Many reviewers are not using Dirac... FYI : Mathias Johansson: Dirac Live RCS uses a full-band correction as a default. We however offer the user a low-frequency limit and a high-frequency limit if the user wants to compensate only a certain frequency region. We have just started offering a ”bass-only” version of Dirac Live, which applies correction below 500 Hz only. But you can still adjust the target curve freely within that range.
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geebo
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"Too bad that all the people who know how to run the country are driving taxicabs and cutting hair"
Posts: 24,188
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Post by geebo on Dec 14, 2014 13:52:43 GMT -5
Geebo Do the tone controls stay at where you set them if you turn the XMC off and on again or does it revert to where Dirac have them at? First of all, Dirac doesn't have them at anything. They will always be at zero until the user decides to change them. Dirac does not touch them. Secondly, the frequency values remain but the boost and/or cuts revert to zero when the unit is switched off or a preset is changed. I would like to see an option to have those values stick like the frequency values do. The loudness control stays activated when the unit is shut down so it may be an easy thing to do. Until then or until I get the full version I guess a few button presses with my thumb to make an on-the-fly adjustment won't hurt me.
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Post by usxplong on Dec 14, 2014 14:37:50 GMT -5
I finally got the chance to try Dirac out last night with no grand kids and a tired wife who was exhausted after helping with inventory yesterday and decided to turn in. Anyway the setup and measuring process couldn't have been easier taking only a bit of time following some very simple instruction. I did read the manual while waiting for my activation code but I wouldn't have had any trouble because everything you need to know is displayed on the right side of the screen. Filter creation and subsequent download to the XMC went very smoothly without the slightest glitch along the entire process. I was way to tired to listen critically last night so I'm doing that this morning with a fresh cup of black coffee. I chose Joe Bonamassa Live at the Vienna Opera House which is an all acoustic performance that is recorded very well and coded in DTS MA and makes for some nice Sunday morning entertainment and I know it very well. There is a marked improvement in detail and clarity with better separation of the individual instruments when compared to what I was able to get using the built in PEQ in the XMC's other speaker presets. The bass, however, seemed a bit thin to me but I'm used to a little more bass than what is in the standard Dirac curve. A quick on-the-fly adjustment of 4dB @ 60Hz and it's right back to where I like it. The overall level is down a bit and only requires a little more volume than I'm used to having the XMC set to. About 5dB more seems about right to me. I still have to listen to some two channel music but Dirac is the first RCS I've used that I actually like. I am definitely going to be a player when the full version is made available. When using the demo last year, it was really nice being able to load a set of saved measurements and make adjustments to the curve to create a new filter. Here is a screen shot of my front speakers - ERT 8.3s. That nasty 40Hz hump is something that has been actually quite easy to tame using the XMC eq controls so it's not what I was directly comparing Dirac's results with when I commented on the slight lack of bass in the final results. There should be a huge improvement on your left & right mains. Dirac has fixed it big time. You used to hear a lot of room response below 120hz which creates a boomy sound that seems like you are used to. Set your mains X-over above 50hz.
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Post by usxplong on Dec 14, 2014 14:41:52 GMT -5
I finally got the chance to try Dirac out last night with no grand kids and a tired wife who was exhausted after helping with inventory yesterday and decided to turn in. Anyway the setup and measuring process couldn't have been easier taking only a bit of time following some very simple instruction. I did read the manual while waiting for my activation code but I wouldn't have had any trouble because everything you need to know is displayed on the right side of the screen. Filter creation and subsequent download to the XMC went very smoothly without the slightest glitch along the entire process. I was way to tired to listen critically last night so I'm doing that this morning with a fresh cup of black coffee. I chose Joe Bonamassa Live at the Vienna Opera House which is an all acoustic performance that is recorded very well and coded in DTS MA and makes for some nice Sunday morning entertainment and I know it very well. There is a marked improvement in detail and clarity with better separation of the individual instruments when compared to what I was able to get using the built in PEQ in the XMC's other speaker presets. The bass, however, seemed a bit thin to me but I'm used to a little more bass than what is in the standard Dirac curve. A quick on-the-fly adjustment of 4dB @ 60Hz and it's right back to where I like it. The overall level is down a bit and only requires a little more volume than I'm used to having the XMC set to. About 5dB more seems about right to me. I still have to listen to some two channel music but Dirac is the first RCS I've used that I actually like. I am definitely going to be a player when the full version is made available. When using the demo last year, it was really nice being able to load a set of saved measurements and make adjustments to the curve to create a new filter. Here is a screen shot of my front speakers - ERT 8.3s. That nasty 40Hz hump is something that has been actually quite easy to tame using the XMC eq controls so it's not what I was directly comparing Dirac's results with when I commented on the slight lack of bass in the final results. good looking curve. Are the 8.3s really capable of playing down to 20hz? Or am I not understanding the chart properly and this includes sub as well. Usually it is the room gain that produces a lower bass not the speakers itself. This peaks at lower freq. gets bigger with rear ported speakers if placed close to the back wall.
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geebo
Emo VIPs
"Too bad that all the people who know how to run the country are driving taxicabs and cutting hair"
Posts: 24,188
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Post by geebo on Dec 14, 2014 15:05:30 GMT -5
good looking curve. Are the 8.3s really capable of playing down to 20hz? Or am I not understanding the chart properly and this includes sub as well. Usually it is the room gain that produces a lower bass not the speakers itself. This peaks at lower freq. gets bigger with rear ported speakers if placed close to the back wall. No doubt it's room effects that has been fairly easy to get in check with the PEQs in the XMC so it's not the way I've been listening. Those are just the uncorrected response curves that don't show the effect of the PEQ in speaker presets 1 and 2. I actually had it pretty well controlled before Dirac. Mt subs are the sealed variety.
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Post by tunatamer on Dec 14, 2014 15:42:48 GMT -5
Geebo Do the tone controls stay at where you set them if you turn the XMC off and on again or does it revert to where Dirac have them at? First of all, Dirac doesn't have them at anything. They will always be at zero until the user decides to change them. Dirac does not touch them. Secondly, the frequency values remain but the boost and/or cuts revert to zero when the unit is switched off or a preset is changed. I would like to see an option to have those values stick like the frequency values do. The loudness control stays activated when the unit is shut down so it may be an easy thing to do. Until then or until I get the full version I guess a few button presses with my thumb to make an on-the-fly adjustment won't hurt me. Geebo, If you perform that 4 DB bump in the system EQ settings inside speaker setup it stays. Edit: Just realized that option might not be available inside the Dirac preset.
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klinemj
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Honorary Emofest Scribe
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Post by klinemj on Dec 14, 2014 15:59:17 GMT -5
Correct...it is not.
But, you can make the adjustment on the fly!
Mark
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geebo
Emo VIPs
"Too bad that all the people who know how to run the country are driving taxicabs and cutting hair"
Posts: 24,188
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Post by geebo on Dec 14, 2014 16:41:07 GMT -5
First of all, Dirac doesn't have them at anything. They will always be at zero until the user decides to change them. Dirac does not touch them. Secondly, the frequency values remain but the boost and/or cuts revert to zero when the unit is switched off or a preset is changed. I would like to see an option to have those values stick like the frequency values do. The loudness control stays activated when the unit is shut down so it may be an easy thing to do. Until then or until I get the full version I guess a few button presses with my thumb to make an on-the-fly adjustment won't hurt me. Geebo, If you perform that 4 DB bump in the system EQ settings inside speaker setup it stays. Edit: Just realized that option might not be available inside the Dirac preset. Correct on your edit. The only adjustments allowed in the Dirac preset are size and levels.
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xlr8ed
Seeker Of Truth
Posts: 8
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Post by xlr8ed on Dec 14, 2014 21:53:01 GMT -5
These adjusted curves are quite amazing and to say I'm excited about trying Dirac on my system would be quite an understatement. Congratulations to the Emo team for delivering such a solution at reasonable cost. I can't wait to get the key (as I already have to mic) so that I can try it out!
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Post by pop on Dec 15, 2014 9:59:45 GMT -5
Color me jealous!
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Post by ÈlTwo on Dec 15, 2014 10:26:39 GMT -5
All I want . . . is my key!
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Post by AudioHTIT on Dec 15, 2014 10:38:19 GMT -5
... But, you can make the adjustment on the fly! ... So the robotic controls 'on the fly' ARE included with the XMC-1!
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Post by djoel on Dec 15, 2014 10:53:37 GMT -5
So who here with basic one curb dirac is going with the whole shebang version, thus far what I'm seeing here looks very impressive.
Djoel
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