Look what the cat dragged in
Let's have a closer look at this device. I'll update this post as we go along.
Pros
- Price (cheap compared to processors with similar feature set)
- Parametric EQs
- Sturdy casing
- Small form factor (1.5 RU height)
- Well structured on-screen menu
- Rack mountable (rack ears sold separately)
Cons
- Price (expensive compared to AVRs with similar feature set)
- No parametric EQ for back surrounds
- Only 3 parametric EQs for the subwoofer channel vs. 11 for all other channels (except back surrounds)
- Distance settings allow only for 0.3ft (10cm) steps
- No upload of EQ settings, EQ has to be set with remote (takes about 10 minutes per speaker)
- Only rudimentary manual/documentation available
- After startup volume ramps up to last used setting which can create problems with universal remote controls
- No changelog for firmware updates
- On-screen volume display hard to read on light backgrounds
- Doesn't support sample rate of 176.4kHz
- Doesn't support PLII or Neo:6 at sample rates higher than 96kHz
Bugs (Firmware version 1.52.02.47)
- Bass management filters create a 180° phase shift when a 12dB filter slope is selected (see post #686)
- LFE crossover and slope is mislabeled as "Subwoofer"
- Odd manual test tones for level calibration (see post #3 and post #50)
- Manual test tone generator is situated downstream from EQ (should be upstream so test signal passes through EQ)
- Enhanced bass option defaults to "on" although front speakers default to "small"
- Headphone output is downstream from bass management, delay, gain and EQ -> completely distorted sound in headphones
- "Direct" mode with x.0 digital input signal is downstream from bass management and delay with redirected bass muted -> all channels are high pass filtered, low frequencies are lost
- "Direct" mode with x.1 digital input signal is downstream from bass management and delay -> all processing active except EQ
- "All Stereo" with 2 channel digital or analog input signal is downstream from bass management, delay and EQ -> processed L/R is sent to surrounds
- Multichannel LPCM 7.1 output mode is mislabeled as "All Stereo"
- Reset EQ values of a speaker aren't retained after restart
Other observations
- Rubber feets smell
- HDMI switching is about 4 seconds
Tips
How to configure listening modes? (Post 130)
How does "Direct mode" work? (Post 99)
How to set speaker distance settings using REW measurements with loopback (Post 593)
Let's have a closer look at this device. I'll update this post as we go along.
Pros
- Price (cheap compared to processors with similar feature set)
- Parametric EQs
- Sturdy casing
- Small form factor (1.5 RU height)
- Well structured on-screen menu
- Rack mountable (rack ears sold separately)
Cons
- Price (expensive compared to AVRs with similar feature set)
- No parametric EQ for back surrounds
- Only 3 parametric EQs for the subwoofer channel vs. 11 for all other channels (except back surrounds)
- Distance settings allow only for 0.3ft (10cm) steps
- No upload of EQ settings, EQ has to be set with remote (takes about 10 minutes per speaker)
- Only rudimentary manual/documentation available
- After startup volume ramps up to last used setting which can create problems with universal remote controls
- No changelog for firmware updates
- On-screen volume display hard to read on light backgrounds
- Doesn't support sample rate of 176.4kHz
- Doesn't support PLII or Neo:6 at sample rates higher than 96kHz
Bugs (Firmware version 1.52.02.47)
- Bass management filters create a 180° phase shift when a 12dB filter slope is selected (see post #686)
- LFE crossover and slope is mislabeled as "Subwoofer"
- Odd manual test tones for level calibration (see post #3 and post #50)
- Manual test tone generator is situated downstream from EQ (should be upstream so test signal passes through EQ)
- Enhanced bass option defaults to "on" although front speakers default to "small"
- Headphone output is downstream from bass management, delay, gain and EQ -> completely distorted sound in headphones
- "Direct" mode with x.0 digital input signal is downstream from bass management and delay with redirected bass muted -> all channels are high pass filtered, low frequencies are lost
- "Direct" mode with x.1 digital input signal is downstream from bass management and delay -> all processing active except EQ
- "All Stereo" with 2 channel digital or analog input signal is downstream from bass management, delay and EQ -> processed L/R is sent to surrounds
- Multichannel LPCM 7.1 output mode is mislabeled as "All Stereo"
- Reset EQ values of a speaker aren't retained after restart
Other observations
- Rubber feets smell
- HDMI switching is about 4 seconds
Tips
How to configure listening modes? (Post 130)
How does "Direct mode" work? (Post 99)
How to set speaker distance settings using REW measurements with loopback (Post 593)