TOPIC:

I'm building an all-digital 2.1 system using your PWR-ICE plate amps. How do you perform room EQ when you have plural PWR-ICE powered speakers? I understand the basic concept of using your UMIK-1 and the REW software, but the application note apparently only discusses it in regards to ONE PWR-ICE plate amp. What happens when I have 3 of your plate amps (a 2.1 active all digital system)? How do I integrate all of the plate amps into a system? Should I instead use a DSP chip in something like the nano-DIGI 2x8 to perform room correction for the entire system and leave the crossover work to the DSP's in the plate amps? I'm confused. Any support appreciated.

So, it looks like the new DDRC-22D would be the device I need, is that right? Let the DSP in the plate amps handle the crossover work, and let the SHARC in the DDRC-22D do the room EQ? Now I just need $900.... sigh.

dirkwright wrote:

I'm building an all-digital 2.1 system using your PWR-ICE plate amps. How do you perform room EQ when you have plural PWR-ICE powered speakers?
...

How do I integrate all of the plate amps into a system? Should I instead use a DSP chip in something like the nano-DIGI 2x8 to perform room correction for the entire system and leave the crossover work to the DSP's in the plate amps? I'm confused. Any support appreciated.

What I would do is use the plate amps to EQ each individual speaker. Measure "near field" so that you get more of the speaker and less of the room. Preferably outside... Set a crossover for each driver and EQ each speaker to be flat using the plate amp's DSP. Then, use the nanoDIGI to send a signal to all of your plate amps at once. Now you want to set your levels. Raise and lower the levels of each speaker until you get the same SPL and a flat sound.

Once you have your levels set and the speakers EQed flat, move the microphone to your listening position. Here is where you want to fine tune your sound by EQing it again. Use the nanoDIGI to provide a "house curve". In other words you will EQ the speakers all working together to sound good in the room.

So for summary... EQ the speakers "near field" at the plate amp. Set your levels. Re-EQ your speakers with the nanoDIGI from the listening position.

So, creating a room EQ with the nanoDIGI and REW is good? How does it compare to the DDRC-22D or OpenDRC? (I'm looking at the OpenDRC now - it falls off the bottom of my laptop screen when I click on "products") It looks like I need the OpenDRC.

DDRC uses Dirac Live and is completely different. See tech note linked from product page. In theory, one could accomplish the same result with OpenDRC (except sample rate), but it's more work.

dirkwright wrote:

So, creating a room EQ with the nanoDIGI and REW is good? How does it compare to the DDRC-22D or OpenDRC? (I'm looking at the OpenDRC now - it falls off the bottom of my laptop screen when I click on "products") It looks like I need the OpenDRC.

Adding the nanoDIGI to the PWR-ICE would be a bit redundant I think.. You'd just be adding some more PEQ (IIR) to the input. That's all.
Either go for DDRC series (more automated room correction and multiple measurement) or go the OpenDRC path (more manual as suggested by John). It will be hard to reach the same level of room correction with OpenDRC knowing these are completely different filter structure and don't have the power of Dirac Live. But for the price, you do get a really powerful unit with the OpenDRC.

DevTeam

So, the plan is to do as the attached figure. I think this will give maximum flexibility. The OpenDRC-DI handles the room EQ and each plate amp controls the crossovers. What do you think?

@ Dirk,

That diagram makes indeed much sense. All digital all the way and leveraging the Digital in/out of the PWR-ICE. We'd do that if we were you.

DevTeam

OK, I have purchased the OpenDRC-DI and now I need a plugin for my 2.1 system. I see a 2x2 plugin and a 4x8 plugin. Which do I need to do room EQ with a 2.1 stereo system that uses your DSP plate amps? I think I need the 2x2 plugin, but was confused because I have 3 speakers. Thanks!

Per your diagram above, you have the three amps in series. Each takes the left, right, or the sum (the sub) from the stereo digital signal. You would need to set the highpass on the speakers and the lowpass on the sub for reasonable integration, then use the OpenDRC-DI with the 2x2 plugin to do room EQ on the combined response.

I apologize for being so stupid about this, but this kind of hifi is completely new to me. I think I understand how the OpenDRC interacts with the plate amps now, so I got the 2x2 plugin for the OpenDRC and have connected my laptop up and tested it and it's all good. Now I need to master REW to make some FIR filters. I need to study a lot more, thanks for your kind replies.

No worries, good luck!