Is DSP room correction worth it with a high end analog system?


This question was inspired by a YouTube from “2021 Capital Audio Fest: Jefferson Room”. Even though a lowly MP4, this is the best I have ever heard a drum solo!

The speakers are the Arion Apollo system. I question going through an ADA conversion coming from my quite high end analog front end with a tube preamp. The Apollo system uses a, said to be the best of its kind, Trinnov ST2 processor.

Certainly room correction seems very useful but is it worth going through a digital conversion?

mglik

I understand. Most of us carefully choose our components. We buy them because we like the way they sound. As you said we pick them for a reason. I am respectful of everyone's opinion (well almost everyone's) and encourage people to use what they are comfortable with and what they like. I comment mostly to encourage people to be open-minded.

But that's part of my point. The DSP system in transparent. Along with providing all filters/crossover functions it's there to maximize speaker/room integration not to alter the sound. In my system I use small SET tube amps to drive the towers. I can change tubes, interconnects, speaker cables, DAC, preamp, cartridge or anything else and it's just as obvious as in an all analog no DSP system. Probably more noticeable. The front end is not being processed and is not in the RC loop. The amps are because the system must gain match everything. Think of it as speakers being custom built for a specific room.

Keep in mind that applied high quality DSP/RC works in both the amplitude and the time domains. Passive room treatment works primarily in the amplitude domain and is not linear. Don't get me wrong. I have always been a strong proponent of passive room treatment. My showroom is completely treated and I have been using passive room treatment at audio shows for about 20 years and will continue to do so.

At the recent CAF show many people were surprised (and a couple in disbelief) when I told them that at the hart of our all analog system was a DSP unit preforming all crossover functions and RC. Everyone I asked told me they couldn't tell.

BTW, The VPI JBL room with the JBL Everest speakers was using full on DSP/RC. The room needed help. RC made a huge improvement. Please read what people said about that room.

All I am really saying is that people should not make unfounded negative comments about high quality DSP/RC unless they have actually tried it. I'm not talking about free DSP software or cheat Parts Express DSP units. It's unfair to discourage open minded people from exploring other valid options.

 

 

I am just concerned that the ADA conversion will loose the original SQ.

There are TONS of variables involved in this question.  I’d say do what you can with room treatments and then give some form of good DSP a try and see how it works in your room and system.  I’ve heard RC work in expensive systems that made such a dramatic improvement it swamped any concerns about the additional digital processing, but that was just in that instance but demonstrates the level potential benefit.  I’d say try to demo something like a DSpeaker anti-mode 2.0 (or buy one used) and just see what you think.  It’s really the only way to know, but I will say I think it’s WELL worth your effort to try.  Best of luck.