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Speaker/ Room Measurement and DSP

If speakers and room are the two most important elements in your sound system, how many of you have gone beyond “checking by ear” to optimize speaker placement? A couple months ago, I downloaded the free REW software and bought a calibrated microphone to run some experiments. It was a fun exercise although in the end, I only moved my SF Auditor M speakers by 3-4 inches. The fact that I could objectively validate that there was nothing more to be gained by speaker placement was reassuring.

REW generates a wealth of data, most of which I don’t understand. I have a room reinforced bass bump in the 58Hz range and then another at 100Hz. See the graph I uploaded to my virtual system. However, there is no way the interior design committee (wife) approves the use of base traps or multiple subwoofers. I was considering a miniDSP Dirac Live but I’m not sure trimming those bass modes would significantly improve the sound. I’m also concerned about the amount of power required (10dB attenuation?) from my 150W amp. The cost is not trivial for me, especially if I don’t like it. To those that have DSP units, what have you found for sound improvement? What baseline did you start from?

mikexxyz
4 responses Add your response
danoroo
239 posts
 
You can't go wrong with the Dirac Live.  I do not have minidsp, but I do have Dirac Live on my computer server.  Not only will it do a great job taming the bumps and suck outs across the audio band, it will phase align every driver in your system.  The timing between your speakers and subwoofers, if you use them will be perfect.  Imaging improved dramatically.  Well worth the $450 I paid for it.
mikexxyz OP
66 posts
 
erik & willemj: Thanks for the input.  I'll explore those suggestions.

mike
willemj
1,036 posts
 
I use even smaller Harbeth P3ESR speakers as desktop speakers in my study. Due to the proximity of the desktop surface, even with the speakers on small desktop stands, I suspected a bass hump. And indeed, measuring with REW, I found some peaks. I downloaded an equalization curve into the Equalizer APO/Peace software on the desktop computer that I use as a source, and this resulted in a meaningfully cleaner sound. So I do think it is worthwhile. If you do not use a computer as a source, a MiniDSP is a cheap way to implement REW equalization.
I don't know your room (or your wife), but your speakers do not extend very far down. Unless your room is very small, I would think that a pair of small subwoofers like the black gloss SVS SB1000 (or even smaller, the REL T zero) could be hidden in two corners of the room. They would extend the frequency response significantly (particularly the SB1000s), and combined with a DSpeaker Antimode 8033 room eq unit give a very smooth response.
erik_squires
16,119 posts
 
Hi Mike,

Have you seen the GIK Acoustics Soffit Traps? Also look at their art panels which I believe can be used in bass trap (extra thick) configurations. Talk to them! :)  The range you need help in (60 and 100 Hz) are relatively easy to deal with.

Dirac is pretty comprehensive, but may also be a huge overkill if you already like the sound. It is kind of a love it or hate it. HOWEVER, lots of miniDSP units without DIRAC are cheaper and will remove those modes just as well.

Attenuating room modes reduces the burden on your amplifier. 10 dB modes are a big deal! I'm sure reducing those will improve the overall balance. Don't attempt to flatten the speaker response, just reduce the peaks, and you'll be very happy.

The ideal situation is to add bass traps first, and then add EQ if needed.

Personally, I run miniDSP on my subwoofer only. Removing the room modes allows me to turn the sub UP, and integrate seamlessly with the main speakers.

Best,

E
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