Digital Room Correction For Speakers

Everything you can do to improve the acoustics of the room is what you should do first.

On top of that, well implemented digital room correction can be outstanding. I started down that path, then went 4 channels to add stereo subs, and now 6 ways to have the midbass in the towers on separate channels. 

How is your system configured? What source/s do you use?

samgar,

In my prior post I asked which sources you used. This is important because if you had analog sources then a good solution becomes more complex. But I see you are only talking Roon, so that simplifies things.

As noted above, "solutions" can be as simple as implementing a parametric eq by ear on Roon to the DEQX-HDP4 soma mentioned. Of course with varying results.

The DEQX is probably the best solution, and also the most expensive.

But you have Roon that can convolve digital filters that were taken to correct for the room. Their effectiveness is directly connected to how those filters were developed.

I use a software called Acourate. Quite sophisticated and time consuming to learn, as it's super flexible. You need a mic and and mic pre, and analog to digital conversion. I generate the correction filters, then run them through HQPlayer in my audio computer. And have Roon in another computer feeding HQPlayer the music. Sounds amazing. The solution I think is on par with DEQX, depending on what hardware you use. Dirac is another good software solution, easier to use than Acourate, but less flexible.

But then someone mentioned there are services doing the measurements for you, so they could bring mic, pre and ADC, take the measurements, do the corrections, and provide you with the filters for you to convolve in Roon. That might be a good first step for you.

In my view well implemented digital room correction is hard to beat. I wouldn't live without it. As usual, implementation is the key/tricky piece.

Certainly don't mind! They are also a consequence of how I got to this point, so let me provide more for perspective.

Years ago I went from to PC as front end, after reading Mitch Barnett's articles on computeraudiophile about using Acourate for room correction. I was hesitant initially, so bought a Dayton EMM-6 calibrated much and a Tascam US-122mkII to connect the mic, convert from analog to digital and connect to the PC. I started with 2-channel digital room correction. I was using my audiophile -channel DAC for playback.

I then wanted to explore multichannel stereo, following Mitch's articles. I purchased a Lynx Hilo as multichannel DAC/ADC, like Mitch had. I still have it.

Uli Brueggemann, the man behind Acourate, recommends using the same device for DAC and ADC. So I use the Hilo. But the Hilo doesn't have a mic pre, so currently I use the Tascam set up so it just passes the analog signal it gets from the mic onto the Hilo analog in.

Depends on the soundcard you use (Hilo in my case), you may or may not need a separate mic pre. Prism Titan, for example, includes mic pres. 

Ulis also recommends not using USB mics. as they are converting analog to digital internally.

Is all this absolutely critical? Dunno! 

BTW, I have the book you linked to and is very good.

Hope this helps!

What to buy is largely driven by budget.

Mic: the Dayton EMM6 is good. Earthworks M30 and M50 are better and more expensive. I bought the EMM6 to try out DRC, then entertained the idea of upgrading and I consistently got the feedback the delta wasn't large enough.

Pre: dunno. Uli used to sell one. Monacor MPA-102 was mentioned as a good option. Haven't looked much into it.

ADC: here it gets tricky. You could use one unit for ADC and a separate one for playback (DAC), which is not what Uli recommends. Then regular DACs become options. Or you can follow Uli's guidance and use the same unit (same clock) for both conversions. I'm not familiar with the Babyface, but know several guys running Acourate use RME products. Merging has a new product (Anubis?) that had good comments. Prism Lyra, Lynx Hilo.

It's not clear to me what the BACCH system does and how Acourate fits in the picture. Acourate enables turning your system into active, which in my experience makes a huge positive impact. In that light I would recommend a multichannel unit rather than 2 channel. I've taken the passive crossover out of my speakers, drive them directly, and there is no going back for me.

Cheers!