Velodyne SMS-1!!!@@@

Anyone tried it? What do you think?

I'll tell you mine later when I get the chance.

"Audiophiles" traditionally do not like inserting EQ into their systems, at least when it involves extra DA conversions, because the benefits of the EQ may be
hurt more by the loss of sonics in the DA conversions. Or at least it may be better to use room treatments and design to flatten frequency response, but that doesn't work as well in the low bass. In fact, I designed my room from the ground up to have an outstanding sound, #3 on the Louden scale for recommended rooms (not #1 because that wasn't long enough for home theater). And from my sweet spot my room is flat easily within 3 dB above 100 Hz, thanks to design, furnishings and Michael Green acoustic control products. The question is whether a highly resolving system will hear this extra DA conversion steps at the low bass frequencies only, when the SMS-1 is used only for the subwoofers and not for the main speakers? What do you think?

What about crossover and slope?

I can set my main speakers to whatever crossover and slope I like via my Theta CB3 surround processor for redbook CD, Dolby Digital and DTS sources, so I set the SMS-1 low pass to off.

Note that my Aerial SW12 subs are placed direct to the inside of my main speakers. Traditionally, with full range Aerials, I have set the main speakers low pass using Phase Perfect and at 40 Hz 6 dB slope, because in listening to redbook CD there is no question that the music and bass seems to have more vibrancy, naturalness and reality doing this. When you go up to 80 Hz there is clearly something magical that's lost and it still sounds good, but doesn't get you thumpin'.

Using the SMS-1 with the CB3 high pass set at 80 Hz 6 dB the SMS-1 monitor frequency slope is a good amount evener 100 Hz and below, than using 40 Hz 6 dB as the high pass. So wouldn't you think that objectively it makes sense to use the 80 Hz 6 dB high pass, that it should sound better? What do you folks think?

I'm doing it the easy way. I set each Aerial sub's rear volume to the one-quarter mark. I placed the SMS-1 prior to the front left Aerial sub - before all three subs as the other two subs are chained from the front left one.

Then I simply use the SMS-1 as though only one sub is connected.

If I want to see the frequency response difference between using one vs two vs three subs, all I need do is turn off the sub(s) that I don't want to measure.

The DSP1124P like the SMS-1 uses DA conversion to perform the EQ digitally.
The SMS-1 has both auto and manual modes. So I don't understand what you think makes the DSP1124P better other than its much lower price?

Here's specs on the DSP1124P:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...l_Channel.html

The DSP1124P sells for $99. It must be the very, very, very, very, etc. BEST audio bargain in the whole world to have such unexcelled high end audio quality for that meager price.
I am overwhelmed!

The SMS-1 so far seems to work nicely for me and I find that provided I use my Theta CB3
crossover at 40 z 6 dB to my main Aerial speakers, my system sounds somewhat better using it, despite the extra DA conversion steps. I tried the 80 Hz 6 dB crossover and
it didn't sound as good although it measured well on the SMS-1's on screen display.

For you needs, the Behringer seems to work well and you're happy with it, so fine.

Jeff

Have you tried the SMS-1?

What microphopone do you use and what does it cost? Or is there a microphone supplied with the $99 DSP1124P?

I ain't sayin' that the SMS-1 or the DSP1124P are the best ways to do this? But the SMS-1 us east for me as a layperson to do - and it seems to work nicely even in my high resolution room and system.

Bulldogger gives good advise which ain't no bull!!!@@@ No matter how good it sounds there may always be ways to get closer to sonic nirvana. Will do as get the chance.

As I discussed above, initially I setup the SMS-1 using a main speaker high pass crossover of 80 Hz 6 dB (set in my Theta CB3 menu) . But especially when I played some multi-channel SACD, I noted that my bass seemed sort of to lose some of its life, that the music clearly moved me so much more before engaging the EQ.

Then I setup the SMS-1 using a main speaker crossover of 40 Hz 6 dB. NICE! Multi-channel SACD as engaging as ever - thought it was perhaps better than before, but really didn't do critical comparison yet, just enjoyed, using this setting for all of my music, tv and movie formats.

My audiophile Psychologist buddy Lon Grushko just came over. I showed him how easy the SMS-1 is to setup.
I decided, as we re setup everything, to run main speakers full range with no crossover.

Interesting. We set up the SMS-1 from the sweet spot front row center leather recliner spot, as before, but this time main speakers with no crossover, run full range. Then I took microphone over to other five recliners, and to the very back of the room behind the last row of recliners. WOW! The SMS-1 on screen graph showed very little difference
regardless of room position of the microphone. No wonder my bass has always sounded so similar throughout the room!!

Then I put on some multi-channel SACDs, specifically, Steely Dan Gaucho and a jazz sampler disc from Telarc
Heads Up label. Immediately Lon, who has spent a number of hours listening to my system especially these discs,
noted that we didn't even to take the SMS-1 out of my system to compare With vs. Without SMS-1 Eqing, because it was so clear that my system had never ever sounded this good (and it sounded darn good before).

Well, I decided to take out the SMS-1 Eqing but connecting the sub cable from the CB3's Six Shooter output direct to the front left Aerial sub (chained to the other two subs). WOW! Right away, music I used to love, I no longer wanted to listen to. After a minute, I quickly inserted the SMS-1 back in, and WOW music nirvana.

Here's what Lon had to say about comparing multi-channel SACD music EQed with the SMS-1 vs not using the EQ:

"With the EQ: Overall, more coherent, more of a seamless integration between subs and main speakers, end result being a cleaner, smoother performance, with obviously the improved bottom end improving the overall performance of the mids and highs as well. A substantial sonic improvement."

I was hoping for some improvement with the SMS-1 EQ - but this was a very substantial improvement towards being there live. Quite amazing.

Hi Eric. Guess I'm lucky as the SMS-1 causes no problems at all in my system. I've got five Bryston 7B mono amps as well - and as you say, when it comes to support, no one beats Bryston.