Datasat RS20i BETA test and comparison with ADA Rhapsody/Trinnov TEQ-12!!!! - Page 2

I was getting the -60db during the pink noise burst, then the message that input 1 measurement failed.

listening intently.

funny thing is, I bet that if I used my Presonus Firebox (fire wire) it would work just fine.

Dan

Working through some connection issues with Dirac/AP20 software and my macbook. So far still at square one, we're working with it though.

At the moment, all I can say is; what I DO have connected sounds quite good, and very detailed. This is a clean processor- I can't wait to play with the Dirac, once we get the devices to play nicely together.

As an aside: it turns out to be a good thing that Datasat sent me the installer's kit- Dirac appears to only support what comes in that kit- even though my Firebox is an ASIO device. Weird. But, that's the fun of Beta testing- finding all these little things that nobody knew existed.

We're getting there, and Datasat has been very responsive to my phone calls regarding my connection problems.

Dan

I finally got everything talking today! Running a Windows 7 virtual machine on my Mac (32 bit version of Win). It took uninstalling the driver for the sound card, uninstalling the AP20 software, Matlab, java, etc. and reinstalling everything from scratch (probably the third or fourth time doing that)- but I was able to measure and come up with coefficients for an Optimization.

Considering that a week ago I was being told by pretty much everyone at Datasat that nobody ever got the software working with VM ware software instead of Boot camp; I'll take the small victory.

So, to the somewhat nitty-gritty of what I've observed so far: Dirac requires a minimum of 9 measurements to create a coefficient set for Optimization. You're able to look at magnitude response and impulse response- but I didn't see any place to look at phase response. After loading the Dirac optimization into the RS20i, I can say that there was certainly an audible difference- the FR was noticably flatter given may particular temporary test position. However, FR is only part of the equation- In my next go around, I'm going to measure Dirac on and Dirac off using my SMAART rig to look at FFT measurements of what's going on with Dirac in the areas of magnitude, FR, and phase response- I think it will prove enlightening.

Just as a reminder- this is a Beta unit, not all of the mods to the AP20-base of this product have made it. At the moment, I'm simply getting used to the UI of the device and the software necessary to install it properly and get the best performance. In my current iteration I'm using a pair of ATC Active10s on a table with the RS20i sitting atop a Denon DV-5900 connected via SPDIF, and my ipod connected via Monster 1/8" mini-to RCA cable into analog input 1.
- I know, nothing reference, really but certainly good enough to get to know the device's UI and software.

From what I've noticed so far, the Datasat is a very good sounding device (mostly out-of-the-box observation)- since I haven't delved into what happens when I put this into the theater....yet. I want to practice with it for a while before I jump from 2 channels to 16 (my particular room can use all 16 channels).

Jeff, no; other than a Beta unit software bug concerning the screen saver, this unit appears to be pretty solid.

Dan

SMAART doesn't really have an option to import data- the concept being data captures. FFT depends on the reference signal and the speaker/room signal being "known" simultaneously; if one were to import a trace from something (i.e. Dirac Live)- the FFT doesn't "know" what that reference signal was- so the FFT calculations cannot take place.

So I'll send the signal to the Datasat and run a loop back to my input, level-match and go from there.

Dan

Jeff, Steve- take your Theta jabs to another thread; like the THETA ONE!

Jeff, I think you'll like this piece when you get to see it, it's a very similar tool to what you're used-to. Think about what if Halcro and ADA had a baby, and that baby was raised by a recording engineer instead of an audiophile. It's pretty cool, and I'm just scratching the surface.

Still no word from ADA on my TEQ-12 arrival......crickets.......boards from Trinnov the hold-up......crickets chirping in French, smoking Gauloises......

This is going to be fun. I've been working on a Savant install, so the Datasat is once again on the back-burner. Maybe by the end of the week I play around some more.

Dan

Peter, your particular situation is highly unique. I think you're painting the ADA with a rather broad brush re: the global delay. You get the delay capabilities YOU need in the Datasat because it was designed for commercial cinemas, where the delays are much much longer than in a home. You would certainly have those delay capabilities if the ADA had been designed to be a commercial piece as well.

Remember, to date the only Dolby processing the Datasat does is Dolby Digital- that's it. Advanced Dolby codecs are coming ONLY to the RS20i, and once the RS20i is a viable product shipping to customers- expect the door to close on AP20 support for home installations....that's my predicition.

My analogy had more to do with setup via a screen on the device and software; like the Halcro and the ADA combined, but very utilitarian, very commercial. I think that the Datasat is DIFFERENT not necessarily better- I haven't had the opportunity to compare them directly yet, so I'm not making any comparisons there.

Dan

I totally agree about the touchscreen, I'll agree to disagree on the global delay- to the extent that you need it. My contention is that you are unique because of the severe amount of processing you're doing- remember, the vast majority of installations will never use even half the delay you need because they will probably never have 1/4 of the processing you're using. I dig the path you're on, but I'll tread at a slower pace, thanks. I'm sure I'm going to end up in a similar place, maybe not EXACTLY the same place.

When viewed as tools to get the job done; commercial gear fits the bill better than consumer gear. But consumer gear still has its place in consumer installations, and should not be completely dismissed.

Dan

OK, here's an initial test showing ETC, phase response (smoothed to 1/3 octave for readability), and magnitude response with intelligibility trace (red at top of bottom subsection- higher number is better, 100 is perfect).

There are several other traces that I can show, and as I figure out how to get them posted better, I will.

- so far, the Dirac is making the monitors sound better than they have a right to, given the fact they are 5 feet apart sitting on a table! I was not a believer in this; it took what? like 3 weeks for this stuff to finally function correctly with my computer- I was certainly skeptical. Dirac appears to me (at the moment) to be a very viable option for correction.

Dan

- the pink trace shows the Dirac OUT OF THE LOOP, the green trace is with Dirac.

 

Dirac vs No Dirac SMAART7 screenshot.pdf 230.46875k . file

Here are the traces showing the FR with and without Dirac engaged.

Dan

 

Left channel RTA Dirac vs NO Dirac.pdf 171.416015625k . file

 

Right Channel RTA Dirac vs NO Dirac.pdf 171.9052734375k . file