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Dirac Processors

NBPk402

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Dirac Processors
« on: November 14, 2016, 01:04:05 PM »
In the last couple of years it appears that Dirac is the HOT new processor to use. I went with the MiniDSP DDRC-88a about a year after it arrived on the market, and even with the quirks it has had, I am pretty happy with it. I would like to not have to deal with Phoenix connector blocks though. In the last year though i see other Manufacturers jumping on the Bandwagon and I think Dirac is soon going to be the best you can get for room tuning software that consumers can use.

Recently MiniDSP offered a firmware update ($99) that gives you full crossover capability too. I jumped on this and sold my Xilica crossover, and have not looked back.

I also picked up a 2nd DDRC-88a for my setup, and now it is working for my Atmos channels too.

At $1k per box it is not cheap, but at the same time it is not as expensive as getting a Trinnov Optimizer though.


Is anyone else experienced Dirac, or own one?
« Last Edit: November 14, 2016, 01:11:12 PM by ellisr63 »
Marantz av8805a, 3 K402MEHs, 4 Klipsch RP150Ms, MINIDSP DDRC88M, 1 7 channel woofer amp & heights, 3 Icepower amps, Denafrips Athena & Pontus ii, Lumin U1 mini, 2 Yamaha P2500s, Monoprice speaker wire, and XLR cables, 2 Furman filters, ProJect RPM 1.3 Carbon Turntable,  Zappiti Reference, Panasonic ub820, LG 86"" 4k fp

AVSMike

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Re: Dirac Processors
« Reply #1 on: November 14, 2016, 01:19:55 PM »
I used a DDRC-88A in my system for a year. It worked well, but I decided to simplify my system some, so sold it off. I also did not like that I was adding a lot of delay, since my LCR's are active, so the audio traveled through the 88A and then to a pair of 10x10HD's. I also would have needed a second 88A to take care of my Atmos speakers and that would have added more complexity. I will say the 88A does do what it claims and if I did music listening in my HT, I probably would have kept it in my system. Like you, I do not like Phoenix connectors and I also have a bunch of them. I have 24 Phoenix connections in my system. When I also had the 88A, I had 46 Phoenix connections. I removed the 88A and one six channel amp (replaced with three 2-channel Crown amps) that used Phoenix.
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NBPk402

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Re: Dirac Processors
« Reply #2 on: November 14, 2016, 01:41:22 PM »
I used a DDRC-88A in my system for a year. It worked well, but I decided to simplify my system some, so sold it off. I also did not like that I was adding a lot of delay, since my LCR's are active, so the audio traveled through the 88A and then to a pair of 10x10HD's. I also would have needed a second 88A to take care of my Atmos speakers and that would have added more complexity. I will say the 88A does do what it claims and if I did music listening in my HT, I probably would have kept it in my system. Like you, I do not like Phoenix connectors and I also have a bunch of them. I have 24 Phoenix connections in my system. When I also had the 88A, I had 46 Phoenix connections. I removed the 88A and one six channel amp (replaced with three 2-channel Crown amps) that used Phoenix.

I def like a less complex setup, but the advantages of Dirac were more important to me. I also had the problem of an extra device to travel through (Xilica 3060 crossover), but when they came out with the firmware update for a crossover it made it much simpler of a setup for me. Will I have this setup forever... Not sure as if it gets even more popular and other AVR/AVP get it, I might very well jump ship, and go to a AVP or AVR with it built in (I still would like XLRs though). If I would have waited another 6 months to a year to get my Yamaha...there is a very good chance I would have went with a Preamp with Dirac built in instead, and stayed with the Xilica crossover.
Marantz av8805a, 3 K402MEHs, 4 Klipsch RP150Ms, MINIDSP DDRC88M, 1 7 channel woofer amp & heights, 3 Icepower amps, Denafrips Athena & Pontus ii, Lumin U1 mini, 2 Yamaha P2500s, Monoprice speaker wire, and XLR cables, 2 Furman filters, ProJect RPM 1.3 Carbon Turntable,  Zappiti Reference, Panasonic ub820, LG 86"" 4k fp

bmoney

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Re: Dirac Processors
« Reply #3 on: November 22, 2016, 10:22:28 AM »
I also was an early adopter...however after a while I realized it wasnt a 1000.00$ worth of better sound....yes it sounded better...but I found better use for the 1k or in your case 2k!  I wish I had that kind of money to use for RC...but Audyssey imho is 95% that of Dirac...and its included in the processor so even better!
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NBPk402

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Re: Dirac Processors
« Reply #4 on: November 22, 2016, 11:50:22 AM »
I also was an early adopter...however after a while I realized it wasnt a 1000.00$ worth of better sound....yes it sounded better...but I found better use for the 1k or in your case 2k!  I wish I had that kind of money to use for RC...but Audyssey imho is 95% that of Dirac...and its included in the processor so even better!

I lucked out and picked up my 2nd box used. I had Audyssey before I got Dirac, and what I found is with Dirac I can run the calibration over and over with every tune being sonically the same. When I ran Audyssey, every tune was sonically different, plus it was very cumbersome to load different tunes. This is what drove me to Dirac. Hopefully my next AVP/AVR will have full Dirac implemented internally.
Marantz av8805a, 3 K402MEHs, 4 Klipsch RP150Ms, MINIDSP DDRC88M, 1 7 channel woofer amp & heights, 3 Icepower amps, Denafrips Athena & Pontus ii, Lumin U1 mini, 2 Yamaha P2500s, Monoprice speaker wire, and XLR cables, 2 Furman filters, ProJect RPM 1.3 Carbon Turntable,  Zappiti Reference, Panasonic ub820, LG 86"" 4k fp

bmoney

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Re: Dirac Processors
« Reply #5 on: November 23, 2016, 12:25:08 PM »
my only gripe with dirac...is it takes a good hour to run it correctly
SadieMax 2,0 Build thread

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7.4.4 diysoundgroup 1099's (3) 
Volt 6 (8 ) 
18" SI subs (4) 
diy 130" 2.40 spandex screen
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NBPk402

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Re: Dirac Processors
« Reply #6 on: November 23, 2016, 12:28:45 PM »
my only gripe with dirac...is it takes a good hour to run it correctly

Once it is all hooked up it takes no longer for me than Audyssey did when I had it...why is it taking an hour for you to run Dirac? Maybe it is because I have run Dirac several times, and I am familiar with what needs to be done?
Marantz av8805a, 3 K402MEHs, 4 Klipsch RP150Ms, MINIDSP DDRC88M, 1 7 channel woofer amp & heights, 3 Icepower amps, Denafrips Athena & Pontus ii, Lumin U1 mini, 2 Yamaha P2500s, Monoprice speaker wire, and XLR cables, 2 Furman filters, ProJect RPM 1.3 Carbon Turntable,  Zappiti Reference, Panasonic ub820, LG 86"" 4k fp

bmoney

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Re: Dirac Processors
« Reply #7 on: November 23, 2016, 12:33:53 PM »
minimum 25 mintues to run all the speakers in 9 spots ....then tweak the curve...then upload
then 20 minutes to run rew to make sure all is good...

this does not include setup (making sure mic levels are correct etc)

I have had it since well before the minidsp was out (with the xmc-1) so I am very familiar with it,....just takes way to long to run ..audyssey is 25 minutes total ...and not that much of the worse than dirac....ymmv
SadieMax 2,0 Build thread

Nad t758v3 
7.4.4 diysoundgroup 1099's (3) 
Volt 6 (8 ) 
18" SI subs (4) 
diy 130" 2.40 spandex screen
minidsp 2x4HD
JVC rs600
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NBPk402

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Re: Dirac Processors
« Reply #8 on: November 23, 2016, 12:35:57 PM »
minimum 25 mintues to run all the speakers in 9 spots ....then tweak the curve...then upload
then 20 minutes to run rew to make sure all is good...

this does not include setup (making sure mic levels are correct etc)

I have had it since well before the minidsp was out (with the xmc-1) so I am very familiar with it,....just takes way to long to run ..audyssey is 25 minutes total ...and not that much of the worse than dirac....ymmv
OK, now i understand. I only ran REW when i was doing my crossovers...after that i have not run REW again, so my process is shorter than yours.
Marantz av8805a, 3 K402MEHs, 4 Klipsch RP150Ms, MINIDSP DDRC88M, 1 7 channel woofer amp & heights, 3 Icepower amps, Denafrips Athena & Pontus ii, Lumin U1 mini, 2 Yamaha P2500s, Monoprice speaker wire, and XLR cables, 2 Furman filters, ProJect RPM 1.3 Carbon Turntable,  Zappiti Reference, Panasonic ub820, LG 86"" 4k fp

bmoney

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Re: Dirac Processors
« Reply #9 on: November 23, 2016, 12:37:22 PM »
and for some reason....when done and MV was at 0.0 I never got 75db for my testones....so always had to bump up the trims


PIA
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Volt 6 (8 ) 
18" SI subs (4) 
diy 130" 2.40 spandex screen
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NBPk402

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Re: Dirac Processors
« Reply #10 on: November 23, 2016, 12:39:03 PM »
and for some reason....when done and MV was at 0.0 I never got 75db for my testones....so always had to bump up the trims


PIA
:o The few times I have checked my levels they were right on the money.
Marantz av8805a, 3 K402MEHs, 4 Klipsch RP150Ms, MINIDSP DDRC88M, 1 7 channel woofer amp & heights, 3 Icepower amps, Denafrips Athena & Pontus ii, Lumin U1 mini, 2 Yamaha P2500s, Monoprice speaker wire, and XLR cables, 2 Furman filters, ProJect RPM 1.3 Carbon Turntable,  Zappiti Reference, Panasonic ub820, LG 86"" 4k fp

bmoney

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Re: Dirac Processors
« Reply #11 on: November 23, 2016, 12:39:53 PM »
i think it had to do with the voltage and my speakers
SadieMax 2,0 Build thread

Nad t758v3 
7.4.4 diysoundgroup 1099's (3) 
Volt 6 (8 ) 
18" SI subs (4) 
diy 130" 2.40 spandex screen
minidsp 2x4HD
JVC rs600
Lumagen radiance pro 4242
Nvidia shield pro
Emby NAS media player

NBPk402

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Re: Dirac Processors
« Reply #12 on: June 01, 2021, 04:19:14 PM »
Well I sold my Dirac when I moved to Mexico, and I ended up buying 2 more again. After a few months I have decided it is time to sell both of them and the Yamaha cxa5100, and get a new AVP with Dirac built in. By going this route I can also get Auro3d, and newer technology all in one unit with less wires.
Marantz av8805a, 3 K402MEHs, 4 Klipsch RP150Ms, MINIDSP DDRC88M, 1 7 channel woofer amp & heights, 3 Icepower amps, Denafrips Athena & Pontus ii, Lumin U1 mini, 2 Yamaha P2500s, Monoprice speaker wire, and XLR cables, 2 Furman filters, ProJect RPM 1.3 Carbon Turntable,  Zappiti Reference, Panasonic ub820, LG 86"" 4k fp

bmoney

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Re: Dirac Processors
« Reply #13 on: June 01, 2021, 10:38:57 PM »
Lots more
Options now for Dirac
SadieMax 2,0 Build thread

Nad t758v3 
7.4.4 diysoundgroup 1099's (3) 
Volt 6 (8 ) 
18" SI subs (4) 
diy 130" 2.40 spandex screen
minidsp 2x4HD
JVC rs600
Lumagen radiance pro 4242
Nvidia shield pro
Emby NAS media player

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