Digital room correction available now @ BD-Audio

[volante]

Looks interesting.

Even after reading the online manual I am still a little confused.

If one has a system comprising either:
1. analog source/passive pre/power amp/four way passive speakers or full range speakers (sometimes with a sub - sometimes without a sub - the sub input in my system is taken from a spare output on the pre (rather than from the power amp speaker terminals)) or
2. same as above but a digital source with an existing DAC feeding the pre/power amp,
where does this unit go in the system?
Is it adjusting the signal (be it analog or digital ) between the source and the pre/power amp or does it only adjust a signal from a digital source using its own DACs? Where does that leave my existing (good) DAC in the equation? The manual refers to the use of powered speakers - is that just because it is aimed at the pro market?

Based on the above which version should I consider - stereo or dual core? Excuse my dumb questions but they may help others as well!

[Parkandbike]

Hi

My only interest in these is that I have just bought a Dual Core

"Based on the above which version should I consider - stereo or dual core?"

The 8033S is not really a stereo device; it can accept stereo signals and output them to a mono sub. If you have two subs you could use two of these or two of the cheaper 8033Cs.

The 8033s and 8033c have a limited pass-band (can't remember exactly, but around 250Hz in the case of the 8033S), so they cannot be used to feed full-range speakers. The Dual Core passes the full frequency range and offers correction up to 500Hz (among other things)

"If one has a system comprising either:
1. analog source/passive pre/power amp/four way passive speakers or full range speakers (sometimes with a sub - sometimes without a sub - the sub input in my system is taken from a spare output on the pre (rather than from the power amp speaker terminals)) or
2. same as above but a digital source with an existing DAC feeding the pre/power amp,
where does this unit go in the system?"

It depends what you want to do and which you buy. The 8033C or 8033S would go in the line to the sub and the Dual Core could be used there also.

In 1) you could also put it between your passive pre and your power amp, but you should look at the input impedance and decide if that would work with a passive (I think Speedy Steve uses his 8033Cs this way, but he uses a TVC not a resistive pre). Assuming your DAC feeds the power amp directly rather than going through your passive pre it would obviously have no impact on CD replay in this position.

in 2) you could put the Dual Core between the CDP and DAC (optical connection only) or between the DAC and power amp. Obviously it would have no impact on your analogue replay. I use it between "DAC" and power amps, because I only have an integrated CDP rather than a transport and DAC , however I only use it for my bass amps, so I am not using a lot of its functionality.

"Is it adjusting the signal (be it analog or digital) between the source and the pre/power amp or does it only adjust a signal from a digital source using its own DACs?"
If you feed it digital, it can output digital, or analogue using its own DACs. If you feed it analogue, it converts to digital using its ADCs , processes the signal and reconverts to analogue using its DACs

"Where does that leave my existing (good) DAC in the equation?"
Good question; theoretically you would not need it. I’ll leave Jack to comment if he wants to, but the same concern coupled with an aversion to introducing two more analogue/digital conversions to the mid frequency signal is why I currently only use the Antimode in the base line. That is not to say that it would be inferior to the DACs in my CDP DAC; I don’t know, because I have not compared them.

[volante]

thanks Park that's very helpful. neil

[bigdur]

Great post Park, thanks for the answer.
It is also worth adding you can feed in via a USB (from for instance a PC or Mac) and then back out with optical to an external Dac if that has an optical input, or use the internal Dac and feed out via phonos. As for the quality of the internal Dac that would be a subjective matter, personally I feel it does the job of a Dac very well and use this for digital streaming, I still use my Audionote transport and Dac for cd replay though this is because at the moment I do not have a Dac with optical in. I am looking around for a good Dac to stock which fits in with my current product range.......

[bigdur]

I have another 3 coming in this coming week, pre orders being taken now, the factory are trying to keep up with demand!

[bigdur]

Now in stock, credit and debit facilities available on this fantastic product.

[tommy1]

I've a (stupid?) question. If you have an amp with tone controls, would you be able to plug the unit in and adjust the tone controls on your amp to match what the unit acheives, then remove the unit from your system, or does it do other things to affect the sound?

[bigdur]

No, it is not the same as tone controls. The levels are varied through the frequency.

[tommy1]

Thanks, obvious really. Unless you're a thicky!

[bigdur]

No not at all
The unit measures the in room response with a mic and then automatically reduces or increases the levels to produce a flat bass response at the listening position, you can set quite a few different profiles so it's possible to measure and fix at all the seating positions if you like and flick through them with the remote. You can also adjust everything manually after if you prefer a different eq to flat, I for instance have a little lift at the top and bottom as I prefer the sound, all switchable via remote. It's a breeze to use, I challenged the wife to have a go and she cracked it first time.
The unit needs to be left connected for it to work.

[loosend]

Hi Jack

Great product and I would wish u good luck with it but I feel that's not necessary, looks like they are selling themselves

I have one question which if I've overlooked the answer on here somewhere I apologise.

Does the unit (dual core version) produce better results in the digital domain or analogue?
between SB and Dac or Dac and amp?

Thqnks
Danny

[bigdur]

Hi Danny, good question, the Audiophile lurking inside me likes the idea of running the digital through it and then in to a Dac. Mine is connected between the pre and power amps though, its an easy connection solution for me and at the low frequencies I'm dealing with I'm not so sure you could hear a differenc between the connection methods.

[loosend]

Hi Danny, good question, the Audiophile lurking inside me likes the idea of running the digital through it and then in to a Dac. Mine is connected between the pre and power amps though, its an easy connection solution for me and at the low frequencies I'm dealing with I'm not so sure you could hear a differenc between the connection methods.

Would be an interesting test for the full range and even may take the edge off the digital sound that some people stress about once corrected in an all digital system?

[Jumpin'atshadows]

This looks a brilliant little device and I'm very tempted, however, with my system I run a turntable and digital sources into an integrated amp. Having read the various posts, do I take it that I'd need 2 of these units running in line with each source?

[bigdur]

No just the one, you would connect from the Squeezebox to the Dualcore then to the Caiman, the Whest to the Dualcore then to your amp.

[pmac]

This looks a brilliant little device and I'm very tempted, however, with my system I run a turntable and digital sources into an integrated amp. Having read the various posts, do I take it that I'd need 2 of these units running in line with each source?

Just BUY ONE, they're astonishing! I got mine this week and it is the best money I have spent on my system that I can remember!

For the money, they are half the price of a good pair of speaker cables and make a MUCH bigger difference

[karlinamillion]

I have DRC in my system (care of a Tact 2.2x).
DRC is fecking brilliant!
People fret & sweat over a dB or two in the chain, spend buckets on boxes & cables, yet if you do an in room response curve it will look like a cross section of the Alps. For a couple of hundred quid this DRC will pretty much sort that, despite the naysayers.

[NAM]

I'm very interested in this (dual core stereo version). Is the volume control digital or analogue, and what's the output level of the balanced outs? Is the SPDIF input only optical? Is there the possibility to trial at home? Thanks!

I was wondering about a KRK ergo, but this isn't much more and I've read the ergo doesn't reclock as a dac, but this does?

[loosend]

One more question Jack, are all the analogue outputs active regardless of which input is used?

[bigdur]

I'll look into your questions later guys, we're on our holidays in Cornwall this week but I've got wifi back at the holiday home so I'll look through it all later.