TOPIC:

Hi,

I have my 2.2 system setup now, I have implemented and enabled DIRAC.

So maybe the bass is a bit weak, seemingly that's a problem with the supplied DIRAC target curves.  I saw this and someone online mentioned using a 6db Harman target curve, is this possible on the SHD version of the DIRAC, how would I add the curve?

Is a second option adding 6db of PEQ to the sub outputs on the SHD UI, to save me redoing DIRAC?

Is a third option adding the 6db as a PEQ on my SVS 3000 Micro's, again, to save me redoing DIRAC?

Any downsides to any of those options?

Thanks.
Richard

I'm not aware of anything being wrong with Dirac target curves, certainly no lack of bass here with a 2.1 system. Having said that, just change the Dirac target curve if the default doesn't suit you. If you download one you can simply load it into Dirac. There is no SHD version of Dirac, you download  the same version of Dirac from their site as everyone else does.

rthorntn wrote:

how would I add the curve?

You don't 'add a curve' but rather adjust the curve that is already there by dragging the points on it. This is described in the user manual, as is the ability to add extra points if you wish.

A 6 dB boost seems like a lot to me. I add 1 dB to the target curve points below 150 Hz. See what you like best though, but in 1 or even 0.5 dB increments.
 

Hello, I also have an SHD with 2.2 speaker system. I am using all 4 analog outputs to feed Bass L, Bass R, Main L, and Main R; are you set up the same?

I usually listen at modest levels, which means I'm well down into the Fletcher-Munson curves.  And as you would expect it sometimes sounds too thin and lightweight.

I use the default curve provided in the DL software, but "season to taste" by raising the output level of my 2 bass channels as needed.  This is a bit of a cheat I suppose, but musically it works quite well.  It's amazing how rich and lifelike music can be a low volumes if it still has that bass foundation.  Maybe this might be helpful to you?  Best wishes.
 

H0m4g32B3v wrote:

Hello, I also have an SHD with 2.2 speaker system. I am using all 4 analog outputs to feed Bass L, Bass R, Main L, and Main R; are you set up the same?

I usually listen at modest levels, which means I'm well down into the Fletcher-Munson curves.  And as you would expect it sometimes sounds too thin and lightweight.

I use the default curve provided in the DL software, but "season to taste" by raising the output level of my 2 bass channels as needed.  This is a bit of a cheat I suppose, but musically it works quite well.  It's amazing how rich and lifelike music can be a low volumes if it still has that bass foundation.  Maybe this might be helpful to you?  Best wishes.

 

In your picture it looks like you have reduced the bass (subwoofer?) output by 15 dB? 

Yes it makes sense to apply more of a bass-boost for quiet listening as you say.

Ah, no, but I can see why it looks that way.

I have powered subs and the gain controls on them are all the way up.  This gives me maximum adjustment range at the SHD.  I calibrated Dirac Live with the SHD bass channels set at -15 as shown in the photo.

This gives me the ability to turn up the bass easily when playing quietly.  Some recordings played quiet need most of that 15dB adjustment range to sound full.  It works for me...

H0m4g32B3v wrote:

Ah, no, but I can see why it looks that way.

I have powered subs and the gain controls on them are all the way up.  This gives me maximum adjustment range at the SHD.  I calibrated Dirac Live with the SHD bass channels set at -15 as shown in the photo.

This gives me the ability to turn up the bass easily when playing quietly.  Some recordings played quiet need most of that 15dB adjustment range to sound full.  It works for me...

I understand.

Why do you have a 3 dB gain applied to one of your main speakers?

The 3dB is a rough offset as one of my electrostatics has a bad panel, thus lower output.  3dB added here gives DL roughly the same levels in both channels to chew on.

And to be clear, the subs set to -15 still gave me too much bass by about 5-6dB before DL correction.  Again, this is intended to give DL an environment in the bass where it's reducing gain much more than adding (it can cut by lots of dBs but can only boost by 10).

I squeeze a little more bandwidth at the bottom of the woofers' range in exchange for it sounding bassy when DL is off - which I never use anyway.

H0m4g32B3v wrote:

The 3dB is a rough offset as one of my electrostatics has a bad panel, thus lower output.  3dB added here gives DL roughly the same levels in both channels to chew on.

Do you find this works better than just going with the difference that Dirac Live would measure and correct for?

Ultrasonic wrote:

H0m4g32B3v wrote:

The 3dB is a rough offset as one of my electrostatics has a bad panel, thus lower output.  3dB added here gives DL roughly the same levels in both channels to chew on.

Do you find this works better than just going with the difference that Dirac Live would measure and correct for?
 

It makes sense because the Dirac Off mode would also be balanced correctly

entripy wrote:

Ultrasonic wrote:

H0m4g32B3v wrote:

The 3dB is a rough offset as one of my electrostatics has a bad panel, thus lower output.  3dB added here gives DL roughly the same levels in both channels to chew on.

Do you find this works better than just going with the difference that Dirac Live would measure and correct for?

 

It makes sense because the Dirac Off mode would also be balanced correctly

You'd think so but actually not, since the Dirac Live channel balance correction is still applied with Dirac Live disabled. The same goes for the channel time delay adjustment.

"the Dirac Live channel balance correction is still applied with Dirac Live disabled. The same goes for the channel time delay adjustment"

Really?  I didn't know that.  In any case I never listen with DL off.

And yes the 3dB I added to one side is probably unnecessary.  But it's baked into my DL corrections until I decide to run them again.
 

H0m4g32B3v wrote:

"the Dirac Live channel balance correction is still applied with Dirac Live disabled. The same goes for the channel time delay adjustment"

Really?  

It used to be annoying that once you'd got such adjustments saved on a preset it was tough to reset them back to zero for this reason. I had a dummy measurement set saved I used to do this, where I used the same speaker for both left and right measurements so the differences were zero. A recent Dirac Live update now gives us the option to not apply such corrections and so makes it easy to reset.

Joining in late. I've two subs I run hot by about 10dB before running Dirac so that it cuts rather than boosts. 

I let Dirac adjust the balance. 

I've used MSO to get amazingly smooth bass and minimum seat to seat variation across my listening sofa. If the bass is smooth you can get away with big boosts. My normal curve is a about a 7dB slope down from 20hz to 16khz. 

But then two of the other presets are Harman with a 4dB bass boost and the other has. 6dB boost. Before MSO this would have been too much but it's actually OK. I only use it though late at night when listening at low levels. 

I was more confident using target curves made by Harman than just dragging the bass grippers around.  If you're looking for them- and they work nicely!- go to mehlau.net/audio/dirac-live-2/  near the bottom of the page.