TOPIC:

Hi, I have a system with MiniDSP Flex rca and Dirac Live. Stereo setup with two subs (svs sb-1000 pro). My question is how do I deal with the delay between speakers and sub? Should I measure the delay in rew first or is Dirac able to find out the delay between all four components by itself?

Yes you need to use REW to make measurements to decide on the optimal delays and then apply them manually using the miniDSP plugin/Device Console. Dirac Live can't do this - it will just 'hear' two full-range speakers and make adjustments accordingly.

Thanks, but I can't understand how to measure delay with rew. I have read and watched videos, but I'm a slow learner.

In REW, you can select a speaker for timing reference.  For 2 channel, you can use either the left or right front speaker.  For Multichannel, I'd suggest the center channel.   So, select the speaker/sub you wish to measure, select timing reference, and run a sweep for each speaker/sub.  REW will first send a "chirp" to the timing reference speaker, then sweep the speaker selected to measure.  The delay (in ms, mm, and inch) will be shown in the graph legend for each measurement.

 

But I guess I have to delay front speakers, the subs are placing behind the speakers. Can I set one of the subs as a reference?
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HoJ76 wrote:

But I guess I have to delay front speakers, the subs are placing behind the speakers. Can I set one of the subs as a reference?
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What you should delay has nothing to do with what you choose as the timing reference. If the main speakers are closer than the subs (as is usually the case) then you'll likely want to be delaying the signal to the main speakers for optimal time alignment. Note that measurements also include any time delays due to the electronics driving each component so it's possible to find something further away still has an acoustic signal arriving first though.

Whatever, no, you should not use a subwoofer as an acoustic timing reference. You want whatever you choose to have high frequency output, as higher frequency gives the best timing accuracy. (REW almost certainly flat out won't work if you try to use a sub as a reference, but I've not tried as its an inherently bad idea.)

@HoJ76,
if you have two subs then look at the minidsp tutorial on using MSO. Not only will it make both subs work seamlessly together, it will work out all the best timings and filters.