TOPIC:

So I've been using the wife's laptop with my DDRC-24 and have gotten great results. I recently purchased a laptop for myself and running the same Dirac program (same version but it's appearance is different) I'm getting some odd behavior from my stereo. Once everything is loaded the playback heavily favors the left channel. All measurements made with her laptop work and sound great but everything I've done so far using my laptop favors the left channel. Probably something easy to fix but I can't figure it out. Anyone got any idea or thoughts on what might be going on here?
Thanks!

My first thought is that if the software looks different then surely it must be a different version?

I downloaded the program to each computer myself and made sure I used the same link for 2.5.3 on Dirac's web site.

Regarding the differences I noticed between the programs...

For one, on the wife's PC the graphics for the "seat/couch" measurement options are the older style. On my computer the "seat/couch" option has the newer, larger, more detailed graphics as far as mic placement goes. Don't know if that matters or not but I thought I'd throw it in there.

So I took a closer look at the two program results to compare the two. On the wife's computer, the one with no issues, the inputs screen of the DDRC plug-in shows the right speaker is being attenuated by 0.2dB. When I look at the same on my computer the right speaker is being attenuated by 2.8dB. Anyone got any idea what is going on here? All measurements were taken with the same cables, mic and exact mic placements.

Is the operating system on the two computers the same? I'm still struggling with how they look different.

On the level difference I'd start by checking all the plugin settings, most obviously for any unintended input or output attenuation but check crossover and PEQ settings too.

You can tell what the level difference will be just from the volume calibration page by the way, rather than doing a full set of microphone measurements.

Both PCs are running Win10

The first thing I did before taking another set of measurements was to make sure both computers had the same DDRC plug-in settings. When I got done with the new set of measurements my computer was still attenuating the right channel.

I'd check again as it's by far the most likely cause here. I'm struggling to think of an alternative.

Although there is obviously something else going on with the software being different, no software version should do this.

It might help if you posted some screenshots of your teo plugins and what your Dirac measurements look like.

Well I give up. I'll just use her computer if I want to make anymore changes and she can use mine. I went back thru everything and took special care to get the balance between the speakers just right. I measured everything, created the filter and loaded it up. On the DDRC plug-in it now said the right channel was being attenuated by 0.3dB. I thought GREAT! I'm in business. Gave it a quick listen and the soundstage is still skewed to the left. No improvement at all. I switch presets to one made on her PC and the image snaps back into the center. Something else popped up that has me confused. Using the same mic placements her computer adds a 0.2ms delay to the left speaker. Measurements on mine place a 3ms delay on the right speaker. I'm going on memory here so the left and right may be mixed up but the delay times are correct. Why would the delays be different if the mic was within 1" of where I always place it? I have marks on my ceiling that allow me to hang cotton balls at precise places and heights. They hang from threads tacked to the ceiling. Before getting my new PC the time delay between speakers measured on her PC have always been less than 0.5ms. The only time it's ever given a reading higher than 1ms was my very first attempt at room correction. It was then that I decided to do the cotton ball thing.

Can you post a screenshot of the spectra measured on your computer please?

The 3 ms delay can't be right but makes me think this is caused by a difference in the frequency response, at the high frequency end.

All I have are some screen captures of the DDRC plug-in. Last night I uninstalled Dirac 2.5.3 and installed 3.0. Took measurements, made a filter and gave it a listen. The image was now centered but the sound quality was awful compared to what I've been able to do on her computer using the exact same settings.

The first image shows the 3.1ms delay in the right channel. The 2nd photo shows only a 0.1ms delay in the left channel.

In your first screenshot, is the Right channel supposed to be routed to Output2?

I just noticed that before reading your post. Wow! I can’t believe I missed that. I hooked up my computer just now and the setting is correct. Not sure what happened between taking the screen shot and now.

Anyway… the wife and I have decided to swap computers. I’m very happy with how the stereo is sounding right now so I’m not going to worry about it anymore. As odd as this has been I’m going to just leave well enough alone. We can consider this case closed as far as I’m concerned.

In Config1 I bet you don't want the left channel to be going to Output2 as well as Output1.

What do you have connected to each of the four outputs?

Edit: cross-posted with above!