TOPIC:

Guys,
Once Dirac suggests a target curve or you load your own, is there any way to move the whole curve (all points) up or down by the same amount rather than having to move each point individually?

Thanks

Save your target curve at;
Dirac software > Menu > Save target Curve > Group 1.
then edit it at
"C:\Users\<username>\Dirac\targets"
Opening with notepad would do, or use your own notepad software.

You'll get something like
If I recall, you need to finish the numbers with .0 or decimal points or it would crap out when loading into Dirac > Menu > Load target Curve > Group 1.

Thanks. In the absence of being able to highlight the curve and use arrow keys to move the whole thing this would seem the next best option.

I use a downstream integrated amp for volume control as I like to see volume display. It also means that I’ve set my ddrc24 up slightly strangely.

Channel 1 goes to left input, Channel 2 goes to right and the sub is fed off a high level feed from the speakers.

So that Dirac has control over the sub I cranked the gain up on it before running Dirac so that when Dirac tames the bass it rolls the overlapping main speaker low frequency off more rapidly.

When it sets the target curve though I presume it’s setting the position based on its average readings for not realising that the sub is artificially and purposefully set higher. If I don’t lower the curve it will try to boost pretty much the entire frequency range of the main speakers!!

Do you have a passive sub or might a line level input be an option?

It’s active. It’s a REL strata V. It has both RCA and speaker level inputs and can actually use both at the same time. The idea is it can receive a LFE signal via rca and supplement the bass of main speakers whilst receiving exactly the same signal.

When I first started setting the ddrc up I sent
input 1 to output 1 and 3
input 2 to output 2 and 3

1 and 2 went to the integrated and 3 went to the sub’s low level input, but then I realised the error of my ways and that if I wanted to use the amp’s volume control (which I do because of the display) this wouldn’t work as I’d be changing the main speaker’s sound level but not the sub as it bypasses the amp.

It’s then I thought to use the speaker level input of the sub and just increase the level by about 10dB before running Dirac. That way the sub drowns out the speakers from 100Hz to 60Hz. When Dirac cuts the sub’s level which it has to, it also dramatically cuts those frequencies of my mains.

If there’s a better way I’m open to try it.

asx77 wrote:

If there’s a better way I’m open to try it.

Only if you'd be prepared to control the volume with your miniDSP. I used a 2x4 HD this way for about a year and totally understand the frustration of the lack of display. A major way in which the SHD I replaced it with was an upgrade was it having a display!

I don't tend to look at the volume once set but its really handy as we all know of volume levels which we shouldn't exceed when.... the rest of the house is asleep or... the neighbour next door is in!

So I do have another option... The DDRC24 only has an optical in and my previous streamer (RRP £2000 Primare NP30) only has a coax out! Typical! but it means I'm using a Logitech Squeezebox 3 streamer as the source now and that has volume control and a display!

I will try as soon as I have some time, reconfiguring everything. I'll use the logitech with display to control volume. I'll integrate the sub with crossover set in the DDRC using RCA outputs. I'll feed the Left and Right straight into the power amp section of the Integrated. I'll re run Dirac.

My concern is the quality of the Squeezebox. I've already down graded from the Primare NP30 and now I'm going to swap the pre-amp section of my Krell KAV400xi for the volume control of the Squeezebox! Don't know. Just hope I'm not reducing the quality of the front end too much!

asx77 wrote:

I don't tend to look at the volume once set but its really handy as we all know of volume levels which we shouldn't exceed when.... the rest of the house is asleep or... the neighbour next door is in!

So I do have another option... The DDRC24 only has an optical in and my previous streamer (RRP £2000 Primare NP30) only has a coax out! Typical! but it means I'm using a Logitech Squeezebox 3 streamer as the source now and that has volume control and a display!

I will try as soon as I have some time, reconfiguring everything. I'll use the logitech with display to control volume. I'll integrate the sub with crossover set in the DDRC using RCA outputs. I'll feed the Left and Right straight into the power amp section of the Integrated. I'll re run Dirac.

My concern is the quality of the Squeezebox. I've already down graded from the Primare NP30 and now I'm going to swap the pre-amp section of my Krell KAV400xi for the volume control of the Squeezebox! Don't know. Just hope I'm not reducing the quality of the front end too much!

I guess you just have to try it and see.

Given the calibre of some of your other equipment I'm tempted to think you'd be best off with an SHD though. Is getting one to demo an option where you live? If you find you like it then selling your Krell would presumably cover the cost (unless you've sold it already!)

I think you mean sell the Primare but yes I take your point. I was looking at the SHD but thought I would dip my toe in cautiously. Hindsight eh. Demo... maybe. Not many stockists in the UK but I should look into that option.

The one thing in the Squeezebox’s favour is it is “just” passing 0s and 1s. It’s DAC isn’t being called into service since the DDRC is handling that. Hopefully it should be faithfully passing the data to te DDRC. It just the question of whether reducing its output effects the quality of the 0s and 1s!!

You’re right it’s a question of trying now.

asx77 wrote:

I think you mean sell the Primare

I meant the Krell actually, but the Primare too . If you liked the SHD enough.

asx77 wrote:

The one thing in the Squeezebox’s favour is it is “just” passing 0s and 1s.

If you're using it to control volume then this isn't true - it will be changing the 0s and 1s, and depending on how it does this the signal quality could be adversely affected.

Actually I was thinking it was a Krell pre-amp, but you were talking about the pre-amp section of an inegrated amp weren't you. Doh!

Thanks danthe0. This is exactly what I was also looking at. I use the miniDSP SHD. The default Dirac curve has about 3 dB bass boost. Is there any limit on the max bass boost that the unit can do? I mean increase to say +5 or +8. Or is it better to restrict the bass boost to + 3 dB and cut the higher frequencies?