Low output after EQ.

[fbczar]

Mar 24, 2016 12:01:58 GMT -5 gabe said:

I Am using Dirac full, and no I can't post graphs.

Gabe, If you have time to check out the two Dirac threads by ansat under "processors" in these forums I think most of your questions can be answered.

[gabe]

I looked , and the answer I saw is lots of people are having the same, largely unresolved issue. One thing I did not see anywhere is how to move the "curtains" after measurement, does anyone know?

[edrummereasye]

Mar 6, 2016 8:45:53 GMT -5 klinemj said:

Mar 5, 2016 18:41:09 GMT -5 gabe said:

Hi all I experience around a 10db drop in output when I select the Dirac preset. Overall it sounds better than preset 1 or2 with NO EQ, of course, but I can't drive my speakers loud enough on the Dirac preset. Tried going to XLRS ( $1,200 down the drain) same result. I have run the setup routine more than once, followed the instructions, still the same. The preamp runs out of gas about -20 db or so. What am I doing wrong? Also, I have two identical passive subs. According to how I read the manual, they do not have to be connected both to the left channel to run in mono, is this right?

It's hard to tell what's wrong, but what you are experiencing is unusual...a 10 db drop. I can't say what is wrong for sure, but I have heard that if DIRAC needs to boost a part of your spectrum too much, it will not do so to avoid over-driving your amps/speakers. Instead, it will "throttle back" everything so it can get to a reasonable shot at the target curve without over-driving anything.

I suggest you look at the before/after DIRAC data to look for signs of that. It may reveal a problem you can fix outside DIRAC that will allow DIRAC to do what it needs to once the other issue is corrected.

PS...what bolle said...he and I are guiding you down the same path!

Mark

Could be it is trying to EQ too much of the spectrum... if you're using Dirac Full, you may be able to fix this by adjusting the curtains. Make sure Dirac isn't trying to level your speakers out beyond what they're capable of, like trying to EQ the subs at 200 Hz or satellites (or even your mains) down to 20 Hz, etc. Also maybe some interaction between the subs is creating a huge peak somewhere that it's trying to tame by bringing everything way down...

[gabe]

IF I understand what has been said in the two longest threads about Dirac, I think I understand the fatal flaw in that system. Dirac tries to equalize ALL channels towards the curve it has selected as optimum. As I understand it does this regardless of what the speakers are capable of or what high pass crossover point has been set in the XMC-1. No wonder it is trying to add so much in the low/midbass region. My surrounds are crossed over at 100hz because I don't want them trying to do low bass! It seems, again as I understand, that Dirac is trying to jam so much low frequency boost into speakers that are not designed for, and BELOW the crossover point set "later on" that it is limiting the total output of the preamp. Is that about right? I hope not!

[mickseymour]

My understanding is that you move the curtains on the surrounds to 100Hz and Dirac will not try to do anything on those speakers below that frequency.

[gabe]

I was going to try that, but I couldn't get the "curtains" to move. I could drag the points around, but the curtains would not budge. What am I doing wrong?

[gabe]

I figured it out.

[gabe]

I figured out how to move the curtains. You can not "drag" them across any "point" of the suggested curve, that point has to be moved first or double clicked and gotten rid of before the curtain can be moved. I still have (had, see my latest post) low output after Dirac though. I thought I had something figured out but it did not work. My speakers are a modified set of Bose 901, ( I can hear the golden ears groaning from here) that I do not use the factory equalizer for. With my previous setup I was able to EQ the room and the speakers with the Diva. After reading about how smart Dirac thinks it is as far as boost in any band and limiting total output accordingly, I tried putting the Bose EQs back in the system. This way the speakers would be pre-equalized before Dirac "heard " them. Fart smeller.....smart feller, right? Same deal after Dirac. Low output, the volume stops increasing about -20, and moving up the trims makes the effect on the volume control worse.

[KeithL]

Just a note about Dirac......   

There is a limit to how much boost Dirac will even attempt to apply (I think it's 12 dB).
I suspect that the Bose 901 requires more boost than that to approach flat.

May 3, 2016 7:29:02 GMT -5 gabe said:

I figured out how to move the curtains. You can not "drag" them across any "point" of the suggested curve, that point has to be moved first or double clicked and gotten rid of before the curtain can be moved. I still have (had, see my latest post) low output after Dirac though. I thought I had something figured out but it did not work. My speakers are a modified set of Bose 901, ( I can hear the golden ears groaning from here) that I do not use the factory equalizer for. With my previous setup I was able to EQ the room and the speakers with the Diva. After reading about how smart Dirac thinks it is as far as boost in any band and limiting total output accordingly, I tried putting the Bose EQs back in the system. This way the speakers would be pre-equalized before Dirac "heard " them. Fart smeller.....smart feller, right? Same deal after Dirac. Low output, the volume stops increasing about -20, and moving up the trims makes the effect on the volume control worse.

[socketman]

gabe what amps exactly are you using. It may be that the XMC-1 is not able to drive your amps to full power due to its input sensitivity. By the time Dirac makes cuts to your frequency band the output may be lower than what is required to drive the amps to full power.

[gabe]

The result was the same with or without the Bose EQs in the circuit. I was able to EQ flat with my old equalizer and have plenty of output even with the Bose EQs not in line. The amps are Sunfire.