Digital correction: Who owns a DEQX so far? a TacT RCS?

ted_b · « **on:** 26 Dec 2004, 08:42 pm »

Just wanted to start a digital room correction (and speaker correction in the case of DEQX) thread, and wondered who owns the DEQX other than Mac? I know John and Denverdoc have theirs ordered, and my order is going in this week.

How about the TacT RCS 2.2X? I know George (zybar) and Eric (ekovalsky) own them, as well as RichardS, sys1 and Jose R. Any others?

Thought it would be good for all of us to know who is in the same boat.

mac · « **Reply #1 on:** 26 Dec 2004, 09:35 pm »

DEQX already has an incredibly informative user group. However, its purpose is mainly for user support, so membership is only open to owners. Starting a group here to discuss room correction systems might interest those wondering if such a solution might benefit them. Cheers, mac.

joeling39 · « **Reply #2 on:** 27 Dec 2004, 03:44 am »

Hi,

I own a TACT RCS 2.0 (old version) & the Rives audio PARC (analogue room correction system). My preference is the PARC.

Regards,
Joe Ling
Malaysia

ted_b · « **Reply #3 on:** 27 Dec 2004, 04:17 am »

Quote from: joeling39

Hi,

I own a TACT RCS 2.0 (old version) & the Rives audio PARC (analogue room correction system). My preference is the PARC.

Regards,
Joe Ling
Malaysia

Notice you're also a Big Ben fan, which is digital of course. I assume all the digital stuff eventually goes to analog before the pre or the PARC. Why do you like the PARC analog room correction? Have you tried the newer Tact (not sure what is better other than a better DAC)?
Ted_B

joeling39 · « **Reply #4 on:** 27 Dec 2004, 01:38 pm »

Dear ted-b,

I like both the TACT & PARC but my preferenc is for the PARC. At one stage I had both in my main system & I find that I bypass the TACT much more often than the PARC.

The TACT is so very flexible in that you can change the whole response curve from 20hz to 20Khz. Too flexible in my opinion as I only want to correct anomalies in the lower frequencies where room interaction becomes a problem. I had the TACT first & was thoroughly satisfied with it before I had the PARC.

So one day, I decided that I need something better than red book CD replay & went for a TT. Having lived with room correction for a few months, I cannot bear to be without one. The only alternative was to get a PARC so that I can enjoy the benefits of room correction with my TT rig. The irony is that my TT rig is entry level & costed less than 1/3 of the PARC.

The PARC only attenuates the signal in 3 frequencies relating to the 3 dimensions of the room. The amplitude & range of the attenuations are adjustable too. In this sense, the PARC is less flexible than the TACT. However, as mentioned eralier, this is all I need. I like the higher frequencies of my speakers (~ few hundred hertz & up). With the TACT, even though I mimic the target curve on the higher frequencies exactly to that of the measured response, I cannot seem to duplicate the natural response of the spekers.

Another thing about the TACT is that I always seem to hit the 0db limit & get some sort of distortion on certain passage of the music. The result is that I have to lower the amplitude of the whole target curve so that I do not hit the threshod.

Maybe I am just not that good with the patience & time needed to get the TACT right for my setup. However, I did use the measurements from the TACT as the basis to set the parameters of the PARC. The software I bought from the PARC people is just too difficult for me (I think I am just too lazy to fiddle around to get the right readings).

I have not tried the newer TACT. New TACT are pretty expensive. I bought the TACT second hand from someone who upgraded to somehting better (I think he went fot the TACT 2.2).

Regards,
Joe Ling

My system :
1) Fanless P4 PC (using Zalman TNN-500 as case) as CDT with USB out
2) Apogee BB modded to receive USB signal
3) AN DAC 1.1 modified
4) DIY Linestage based on Allen Wright's FVP
5) PARC
6) DIY OTL power amp based on Transcendant Sound T8
7) DIY 1 pair of Single driver full range speakers Mitsubishi Diatone with helper tweeter & 1 unit of REL quake subwoofer

Rega P3 with RB300 modded & SHure V15XMR cart.
9) Graham Slee Era V phonostage
10) PS audio P300 power conditioner X 2
11) Exactpower E-15A X 1

geofstro · « **Reply #5 on:** 31 Dec 2004, 11:52 am »

I started a thread a while back on digital room correction using just a PC and free software.

There seemed to be little interest. I thought I'd use this as a reminder, though, that it is possible to get your feet wet with DRC without spending a cent. It might be worth doing this to determine the benefits before shelling out for one of the units mentiioned in this thread.

Heres the url to my thread http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=14160

Hope it helps!

geoff

joeling39 · « **Reply #6 on:** 31 Dec 2004, 02:01 pm »

Dear geoftro,

Thanks for bringing this up. My impression of the alternative you described is that the program will want to target a 'flat' response. Is this right ?

Regards,
Joe Ling

geofstro · « **Reply #7 on:** 31 Dec 2004, 02:58 pm »

Hi Joe Ling,

Yes, that's my understanding. I have to admit though, my understanding of this method is limited.

I merely followed the instructions, which are linked in the thread, and am very happy with the results.

I am frustrated that I'm only able to apply this to digital sources played through the PC right now, though.

I'm going to experiment with playing external sources through my new sound card (EMU-1212M) and using the SIR VST plug-in I believe I should be able to apply the impulse response correction file to any source.

I don't think it will work well with anything higher than a 44.1 khz 16bit waveform, however, since the impulse response file itself is created at that standard.

Hope it helps

geoff

joeling39 · « **Reply #8 on:** 3 Jan 2005, 03:35 am »

Dear geofstro,

Thanks for your reply. The most important thing here is that one is happy with the result. I am glad that you are satisfied.

I dipped my toes into room correction with the Behringer, thinking that I can get away with something relatively inexpensive. However, I could not get the settings right. Then I went for the second hand TACT & then the PARC...

My biggest hurdle is that I have little time to tinker. I have heard of the free software for the room correction & in fact has already download them. However, the time involved to figure them out & take the measurement is a barrier for me.

Regards,
Joe Ling

denverdoc · « **Reply #9 on:** 4 Jan 2005, 05:00 am »

I am waiting with baited breath for delivery of my DEQX which I had shipped all the way from OZ. A while back I suggested the same idea--a circle for digital EQ/room correction devices in the room acoustics circle--feedback then was also very positive. Maybe also split off digital amps from this circle as much of what I see written is for 2 channel apps. That way, those of us who appreciate the utility of digital from source to speaker have a single circle in which to communicate.

BTW, my choice of the DEQX was influenced heavily by the desire to go to DIY speakers w/o messing with passive filters--an arcane artform if there ever was one, LEAP or similar computational models notwithstanding. After PC's with MAC, I was convinced that for now the DEQX is the tool for those wanting to not only to clean up the room, but design new speakers.