Is Dirac Just A Bass Thing, Can Audyssey Replicate What Dirac Does?

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[@erod9088]

Joe, summed it nicely. Dirac seems more seamless, and the changes are more purposeful and accurate. It even has different dB levels for some speakers, but leave it alone. Everything blends nicely.

[@patrickmiller4987]

diff. dB levels with Audy also mate.

[@hometheaterjoe9489]

Really like this clip, @Micheal Wyckoff good morning!! Hope everyone has a great day… BOOM!!

[@dicmccoy]

When you're correcting full frequency, Audyssey won't even come close to Dirac for sound. Dirac is correcting the impulse response of the speakers. This drastically improves the soundstage and imaging because there will be less smearing/instrument bleeding. Everything on the stage will be more tightly focused and have more space between them.

[@joentell]

I think you have even greater flexibility with Audyssey MultEQ-X if you know what you're doing with manual calibration. It becomes something like a MiniDSP at that point. Then it's about how good you are at calibrating.

[@Prerich45]

I disagree...as Dirac made my imaging muddy, and shifted my center image. Voices used to come from directly between the speakers. With Dirac, they shifted left and sound hollow. I checked my phase and everything was correct. I'm using DIrac as a vst in Jriver. The uncorrected measurements pretty much match what Multeq-X detected. MultEq-X was much clearer and the midbass was tighter. I'm going to give it a go tomorrow night and attempt to take a new set of measurements but I will not use the focused setting - I'm going for the laser-sharp setting. For $500 ...I actually want it to beat Audyssey!!!!

[@dicmccoy]

@@Prerich45 I use a Umik-1 with the 90° calibration file loaded and a Mac/PC. I had inconsistent results with the supplied mic that came with my NAD and using the mobile/phone app. The first mic position for the main listening position is the one to get perfectly positioned as it's the one that matters the most. I also don't like the default Dirac target curve. It has 0 bass. I use the Harman curves and then follow my speakers natural in-room response for the target curve. Dirac isn't perfect and sometimes gets things wrong. I find it gets my subs crossed and reverses the phase/polarity on one of the subs sometimes. Always make sure you have the levels set properly, and check the impulse responses. I also like to measure in REW before and after.

[@shaolin95]

​@Prerich45 then you are doing it wrong.

[@wa2368]

IME. timing and phase alignment are best in the advanced YPAO which is provided in their flagship prepros/receivers. This YPAO version is very different due to the RSC filters that are used and is not found on the lower level YPAO present in budget yamaha receivers.

[@shaolin95]

YPAO hahaha good one...

[@gufiaito69able]

How can I contact Joe and tell?

[@leo11877]

Is there a reason to bump the base in surrounds when all surrounds are crossoverd between 40-80Hz?

[@TheDanEdwards]

Have you tried a Trinnov set-up?

[@joentell]

Not yet.

[@brucecarter6205]

It all depends on what flavour of Dirac you’re talking about, Dirac Live or Dirac Live Bass Control. DLBC is on a whole other level and most people who go the DLBC route end up pulling the miniDSP out of their systems. Be careful though, because not all AVR/processor’s with Dirac Live support the Bass Control license. For example, the Pioneer that Channa is using does NOT have support for the Bass Control license. Either way, both versions of Dirac Live absolutely smoke Audyssey MultEQ XT.

[@erod9088]

Actually, leave the MiniDSP in there. DLBC first then the mini to tighten it up.

[@brucecarter6205]

@@erod9088 you are in the minority with that over complicated configuration. That said, do whatever works best for you.

[@kietlu8953]

Has anyone compared Audio Control Maestro X7 (Dirac Live) vs. Marantz av8805 (MultEQ X)?

[@turnne]

In my opinion, the imaging and clarity is much better in Dirac versus Audyssey Small nuances of sound are also much better

[@TheDanEdwards]

On "target curves" - long ago (predates Dr. Olive) some in the industry decided that a mid-bass hump and a gentle negative slop over the entire rest of the audio band is what people wanted. I guess they were right, as so many people (at least Americans) gravitate towards that.

[@healthynutster]

What about the Fletcher-Munson curve? This suggests people prefer a rising bass response

[@michaelwyckoff7593]

Yo fellas howya all doin today great I hope and NO WORRIES like Channa D would say.

[@arielrodriguez6980]

I have never heard Dirac but I do agree how many users of Audyssey including myself have to go up on the sub level after running Audyssey. Good to know that's not the case with Dirac.

[@Kenny_Edmonton]

So with MultiEq-X if you do a manual calibration you can get better results then Dirac so it would be more beneficial to ungraded to the MultiEq-X for $200 then to change out receiver to something with Dirac? What equipment do you need for doing a manual calibration with MultiEq-X ?

[@ripleyhrgiger4669]

MiniDSP + MSO is better than Dirac Bass Control - BUT ONLY IF YOU TAKE THE TIME TO LEARN IT. WHich most people don't want to do. You can approuch MSO in two ways too - you can have a seperate EQ for each individual sub (which is how DIRAC bass control works), just use a shared input PEQ for all 4 subs, or a hybrid, shared + 2-4 PEQS for each sub. It should be noted that, when you EQ subs individually you can and most likely will get some outstanding results BUT your subs will play at different volume levels and there wil most likely be one or two subs that play louder at certain frequencies than the other two (assuming a 4 subwoofer setup). This perfectly fine and is how these calibration methods are designed to work. But if you want all your subs to play around the same volume level then you would use a shared input EQ method (with 10 PEQs for MiniDSP2x4HD) and 2-4 individual PEQs for each sub (limiting their cut and boost to only -2 to -4 to +3 or +4). Keep the delays smaller too and you will have a great sounding BASS layer that will make all your speakers come alive. There are many other ways to achieve outstanding subwoofer calibrations and I recommend watching Jeff Mery's MSO tutorials here on yourtube and going to the AVS forum and check out their MSO thread for some amazing information and you can speak directly with the developer there who has made great home theater bass possible for everyone (if you're willing to put in the time and effort). You will learn a lot about how important calibrating your sub to up to 160hz is for great bass(If crossing your speakers over at 80hz you will want your subs to be calibrated well up to 160hz where the slope begins), why delay is important, taking proper measurements in REQ (honestly the best REW tutorial too), and understanding curves and many many more things. I was able to get incredible bass in my theater room, not just in 2 or 3 seats but the entire room where you could roam or place a body. I have 4 large subwoofers through so results will vary for each person, but I promise with time and effort you too can achieve amazing bass without DIRAC bass control if that's not an option for you.

[@kkenmmac22]

I tried MSO and did not like it.