Guys,
This is a dedicated thread on the MiniDSP product called DDRC-88A home theater in a box for those who are interested in Dirac Live Room Equalization solution. Only applicable with existing pre/pro/receivers that have an 8-channel analogue output to separate amps.
What is Dirac Live?
Details of the DDRC-88A are available here: http://www.minidsp.com/products/dirac-series/ddrc-88a
Wiring diagram hookup for the DDRC-88A:
Owner's manual is available.
Cost is under a grand USD - not including shipping.
Again this is an external box solution for:
The DDRC-88A has both balanced and un-balanced inputs via Phoenix terminal blocks. A solution for those with XLR pre-outs has been given by miniDSP in their forum thread post number 17019. MiniDSP recommends to:
Analogue input and output connection details.
Features:
Current issues:
Trouble shooting:
This is a dedicated thread on the MiniDSP product called DDRC-88A home theater in a box for those who are interested in Dirac Live Room Equalization solution. Only applicable with existing pre/pro/receivers that have an 8-channel analogue output to separate amps.
What is Dirac Live?
Dirac Live digital room correction technology optimizes the sound system both in terms of it's impulse response as well as the magnitude frequency response. Dirac accomplishes room correction through a technique called mixed phase. I.e. it is not IIR nor FIR, but something in between.
A technical write-up on Dirac Live by Mathias Johansson from Dirac's website is here: http://www.dirac.se/media/12044/on_room_correction.pdf
A technical write-up on Dirac Live by Mathias Johansson from Dirac's website is here: http://www.dirac.se/media/12044/on_room_correction.pdf
Details of the DDRC-88A are available here: http://www.minidsp.com/products/dirac-series/ddrc-88a
Wiring diagram hookup for the DDRC-88A:
Owner's manual is available.
Cost is under a grand USD - not including shipping.
- For European AVS members, contact Homestudio with details provided by Keith Barnes in post number 522.
- For UK AVS members, contact Kalibrate with details provided by Keith Barnes in post number 593.
- The rest of the world will have to order from MiniDSP based in Hong Kong.
Again this is an external box solution for:
- those who have external amps to drive speakers; or
- those who have active speakers.
The DDRC-88A has both balanced and un-balanced inputs via Phoenix terminal blocks. A solution for those with XLR pre-outs has been given by miniDSP in their forum thread post number 17019. MiniDSP recommends to:
- buy a short XLR patch cable;
- Cut it in the middle;
- Use the XLR male to bare stripped wire for the DDRC OUT. You just "screw" the bare stripped wire to the pluggin phoenix connector we provide in the package (see user manual); and
- Use the XLR female to bare stripped wire for the DDRC IN.
Analogue input and output connection details.
- MiniDSP has confirmed that it's possible to have a mixture of balanced and unbalanced signals. One has to take care of the gain structure - see 2nd post for additional information.
- On the analogue input side; use either the balanced or the unbalanced connection - not both on a per channel input basis.
- It is also possible to have unbalanced input and balanced output or the other way around.
- On the output side, both the the balanced and unbalanced terminals are active; i.e. 'hot'. So both can be used at the same time.
- Link to miniDSP forum post: http://www.minidsp.com/forum/dirac-...el-analogue-input-output-dirac?start=12#16958
- Additional link verifying mixture of balanced and unbalanced signals in miniDSP forum post number 17446:http://www.minidsp.com/forum/dirac-...el-analogue-input-output-dirac?start=30#17446
Features:
- Bypass of the DDRC-88A is available. Good for those who would like to compare their current flavor of room correction such as Audyssey, ARC, YPAO, MACC, AccuEQ, PEQ, etc. vs. Dirac Live. Note when Dirac Live is ON, the REQ within the pre/pro/receiver needs to be disabled with distances/levels set to zero. See Markus post number 611 for details.
- Correction is adjustable for start and end frequency as well as tilting to a custom house curve. I.e. One can start from 20Hz up to 1kHz with a 10dB tilt and no correction below 20Hz or above 1kHz.
- Can store up to 4 presets of adjustable room curves. Dirac Live has single seat positioning (often referred to as the money seat) or a wider sofa seating positioning measurement options. The single and sofa seat + 2 more can be saved into the presets. This would allow some flexibility in tuning the sound depending on listening situation. I.e. having family/friends over vs. critical listening by yourself. Note that an unlimited number of projects can be saved on the PC for loading into anyone of the presets.
- Can do multi-zones. I.e. Up to four 2-channel stereo systems in the home, see post number 4 for additional details.
Current issues:
- Has a maximum of 7.1 channels.
- If you have height/wides/ceiling speakers (Dolby Atmos, Auro3D, DTS:X), you may want to consider an additional DDRC-88A solution to go beyond 8 channels. (Edit: AVS members westmd and Keith Barnes have successfully implemented a dual DDRC-88A setup. westmd in post number 4,900 and Keith Barnes in post number 8,675 with the tutorial in post number 8,683.)
- Sampling resolution is capped at 48kHz, might be a disappointment for those with multi-channel hi-rez files. I.e. 192kHz/24bit.
- Have to use MiniDSP's microphone for in room acoustical measurement with Dirac. Model number UMIK-1. Post number 18,754 in miniDSP forum explains the reasons for this.
- No remote trigger to start or IR code for ON/OFF operation. There could be a potential issue when the unit losses power - may cause a thump to the downstream speaker. Suggested to leave the unit on all the time and this may not please some.
Trouble shooting:
- If the front light is OFF and the switch mode power adapter is ON (i.e. showing a green light. Edit: Keith Barnes advised that not all units power adapter have a light to indicate it is powered ON in post number 8,937) most likely the internal fuse needs replacing. Specs for the fuse is 2Amp 250v 20mm x 5mm Slow Blow. Revised fuse rating by miniDSP as advised by Markus in post number 9,186.