Digital Room Correction: Where in the chain?


I’ve been contemplating the purchase of the McIntosh MEN220. I have a challenging room, and I’ve done my best with equipment placement, furnishings, and room treatments. My listening is 80% digital (streaming and discs), 20% vinyl. My digital chain is Roon/Qobuz, Lumin U2 Mini, Denafrips Pontus II 15th, McIntosh C-53, MC312, B&W702 S3 and REL T/7x. Transport is the MCT500 to the C-53 via din connector.


My hesitation is that the MEN220 requires an analog to digital to analog conversion. It seems like it would be best to apply any and all DSP in the upstream digital before my respectable DAC does the conversion.  Is this midstream ADA negating my digital front end? Is there inherent loss in the extra conversion cycle?  Or am I thinking about this wrong?

mattsca

Showing 1 response by yyzsantabarbara

@mattsca I agree that doing the DSP BEFORE the DAC is ideal. The MEN unit likely allows your vinyl to also be used with DSP.

Since you are a ROON user you should talk to Mitch Barnett at 
Digital Room Calibration Services, Convolver, Headphone Filtersets

He creates Convolution filters that run inside ROON. The filter is a customized DSP for your speakers | room | listening position.

I no longer use my filters since I have different speakers and different rooms.