Does anyone build a simple DAC/pre with built-in DSP room correction?

[Phelonious Ponk]

The title says it all. I don't want to buy a AV receiver to accomplish this. I don't want to fiddle with software any more than I have to, and most products seem to be targeted at wonky tweakers (or is that tweaky wankers?). A bit of EQ I could use to build pre-sets for old recordings would be nice, but mostly I just want a good DAC I can plug into my actives, a volume control and DSP that will read my room from a mic and correct appropriately. This seems like such an obvious product...

Tim

 

[Keith_W]

Acourate/Abacus Preamp 14 Cleanvolver. http://www.audiovero.de/en/preamp-14-cleanvolver.php

DEQX HDP-5: http://deqx.com/product-hdp5-overview.php

MiniDSP DDRC-22DA: https://www.minidsp.com/dirac-series/ddrc-22da

There was also something from TaCT/Lyngdorf but I can't seem to find the website.

IMHO you would be better off rolling your own. Buy a PC, install Acourate/AcourateConvolver, and buy a DAC. In addition to all the usual advantages of DSP, you can also use it to stream and serve music. And watch porn.

 

[Vincent Kars]

http://www.trinnov.com/
http://www.lyngdorf.com/products/tdai-2170
http://www.dspeaker.com/

 

[Purité Audio]

Illusonic IAP processors are superb, the price includes a lifetime of bespoke EQs created by Christof Faller himself, just follow the step by step measurement guide ,send the results off to Christof and he will return you a custom EQ for your room.
You can then ask him to tweak in any way or tweak yourself.
Keith

 

[NorthSky]

• http://www.tnt-audio.com/accessories/dspeaker_antimode2_e.html
• http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/dspeaker-anti-mode-20-dualcore-digital-signal-processor/
• http://www.underwoodhifi.com/products/dspeaker

• http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/dspeaker-anti-mode-8033-dsp-subwoofer-equalizer-tas-204/

Vincent mentioned that one in his above post.
I was looking for one that costs only $200 ... couldn't find any.
Maybe a used one?

 

[Phelonious Ponk]

This one is nearly perfect: https://www.minidsp.com/dirac-series/ddrc-22da. It could use RCA outs, but I can get around that. A remote volume control would be great as well. I can get up. Do I understand correctly that the software is built-in?

Tim

 

[RayDunzl]

Do I understand correctly that the software is built-in?

You take measurements and create a filter using software at the PC (it's lots of number crunching) and download the filter to the miniDSP in all cases.

I chose the non-Dirac version, with digital in/out, and use AcourateDRC to build the filter.

The Dirac Version is locked and can't use any other software with it... It has a different firmware load in it, to, I suppose, understand the proprietary(?) Dirac filter coefficients.

That, and the high price, made the decision for me. I used rePhase (free) initially before automating the filter generation with AcourateDRC ($90).

Remote:

It has an IR receiver on the front and you can train a universal remote to drive it, though I haven't tried, having volume control elsewhere in the chain. It doesn't come with a physical remote. The knob on the front will do volume.

https://www.minidsp.com/forum/hardware-support/5753-re-opendrc-remote-control

Also:

The USB port is for command/control, it's not a music input, to be clear.

 

[Phelonious Ponk]

You take measurements and create a filter using software at the PC (it's lots of number crunching) and download the filter to the miniDSP in all cases.

I chose the non-Dirac version, with digital in/out, and use AcourateDRC to build the filter.

The Dirac Version is locked and can't use any other software with it... It has a different firmware load in it, to, I suppose, understand the proprietary(?) Dirac filter coefficients.

That, and the high price, made the decision for me. I used rePhase (free) initially before automating the filter generation with AcourateDRC ($90).

Remote:

It has an IR receiver on the front and you can train a universal remote to drive it, though I haven't tried, having volume control elsewhere in the chain. It doesn't come with a physical remote. The knob on the front will do volume.

https://www.minidsp.com/forum/hardware-support/5753-re-opendrc-remote-control

Also:

The USB port is for command/control, it's not a music input, to be clear.

Which model did you get Ray?

Tim

 

[RayDunzl]

Which model did you get Ray?

OpenDRC-DI https://www.minidsp.com/products/opendrc-series/opendrc-di

It doesn't have a DAC in it. Digital in and out.

 

[RayDunzl]

mostly I just want a good DAC I can plug into my actives, a volume control and DSP that will read my room from a mic and correct appropriately. This seems like such an obvious product...

That would be the OpenDRC-DA with additional software at the PC.

My additional software is AcourateDRC - http://www.audiovero.de/en/acouratedrc.php

If you gotta have Dirac, then it's the DDRC-22DA - https://www.minidsp.com/dirac-series/ddrc-22da, which has Dirac software at the PC.

Digital in, Analog out. No USB music input if that's important.

-----

mostly I just want a good DAC - Probably good enough. Uses the ESS9023

a volume control - yes

DSP that will read the room from a mic - that is a function of measurement software residing on a PC

Correct appropriately - that's software that looks at the measurement and creates a filter to be downloaded to the DSP device.

 

[RayDunzl]

I'm not pushing miniDSP, it's what I have, it works for me, and I'm not familiar with the other available solutions.

 

[Blumlein 88]

The Emotiva XMC-1 comes close. Has a simple version of Dirac built in. This is a 7.1 pre-amp/DAC, but has direct stereo modes. You would interface to the Dirac with a computer which can be done over your home wifi wirelessly. Put the microphone in the 6 places and let it measure. It would do the rest.

In addition it has some parametric and conventional EQ built in. So you can for instance let Dirac setup the Room correction, then add as you wished some EQ controllable from the remote via the front panel for recording variations which will not interfere with what Dirac is doing.

For a few extra dollars you can upgrade to full Dirac which for instance can store and use multiple correction curves that adhere to custom chosen target responses of your choosing.

 

[cjf]

The Classe CP800 fits the bill. It's the PreAmp I use and have been pretty happy with even though I'm not using any of the DSP Room correction features it has built in.

Not sure the price range you are interested in playing in but it's not exactly cheap in that regard @$6k

 

[RayDunzl]

Does anyone build a simple DAC/pre with built-in DSP room correction?

Did you get a usable answer?

 

[Phelonious Ponk]

I did. If I were doing this now, I'd go straight for the Mini DSP model with the built in DAC - optical in, balanced XLR out. But I won't even need to think about this much more until November, when I move into a new place. But even then, we're talking about $800, vs. $500 for a really robust DAC/pre from Emotiva. And I don't have any subs. I've very intrigued by the technology, but I'm not sure I really need it.

Tim

 

[NorthSky]

I have a philosophy. ...When I'm not sure if I need something ... I don't need it.

But! It's only when I get something that I don't really need that I can truly know how much it was missing in my life or not.

Best is to have a thirty-day period where you can return it if not truly needed. Full money back and no question asked. Shipping return (one-way only, usually).
* Emotiva you got that. MiniDSP...I don't know...maybe...I think...not sure...I hope so.

 

[Phelonious Ponk]

And thanks to all for your perspectives and recommendations.

Tim

I have a philosophy. ...When I'm not sure if I need something ... I don't need it.

But! It's only when I get something that I don't really need that I can truly know how much it was missing in my life or not.

Best is to have a thirty-day period where you can return it if not truly needed. Full money back and no question asked. Shipping return (one-way only, usually).
* Emotiva you got that. MiniDSP...I don't know...maybe...I think...not sure...I hope so.

You have well-described my state of mind.

Tim

 

[RayDunzl]

If you just want something cheap to fool around with various sorts of EQ, I have a Behringer DEQ2496 you might like.

About $300

http://www.music-group.com/Categories/Behringer/Signal-Processors/Equalizers/DEQ2496/p/P0146

It will even do a pink-noise automated DRC, if you have a mic for it.

I use it digital in/out, but it has analog in/outs too.

No remote.

Mine does service mostly as a meter of the signal passing through it, or a bar graph display of room levels (RTA), though right now I have a Dynamic EQ setting to mimic Fletcher Munson in the low frequencies. The Bass levels are scrunched together, low volume bass is raised, higher volume bass left alone.

If you get one, and it is flaky in operation, properly reseat the big ROM at the top right. Mine had a leg bent and not making contact - couldn't save settings, my buddy's would intermittently restart. Other than that no problems since April 2012.