Which DR is right for me??

rolandtk

Hi-
First off, the tech in the DR is amazing, and possibly way more than i need. basically, I am looking to improve my stereo/ surround system with mainly the xo for mains and sub, as well as the auto eq.
Mains are magnepan 1.6, which currently are not bi-amped, but will be in the future. this is where the DR comes in.
Is the DR the most effective way to set the crossover for the mains and integrate the sub? (ACI Titan II)
I have no pro audio experience, and a lot of the terms on here are new, but i think i can pick up enough to get the basics down.
Is the DRPA the right product for me? is the 260 better suited?
or is the eq built into my receiver good enough? (marantz 7001/Audyssey )
(i know it wont do the main xo)


Thanks.

roland

kpippen

Hi,

The DRPA should be more than sufficient for what your trying to do... If you were planing on using it for DJing or live music then the DR260 is the way to go...

Cheers!

Kev

Dra

This may or may not make sense. IF you are going to bi-amp, there is a possibility that you may need more post x-over PEQs to tune each component in. DPRA = 3 (hi), 2 (mid), 2 (lo) 260 = 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4. Add to that computer control (mostly for set-up and tuning) with \"REAL TIME ANALIZER\" (with rta mic) and no mute pop, the 260 is the way to go (if the extra money is not THE deciding factor). Either will work.

DRA

Gadget

The 260 is definitely quieter.. also. Some have problems with hiss, the DRPA can exacerbate that.

How do you like those Magnapans? I always wanted a set, or two. My friend had the Tympani series for fronts, and the MGII's for backs and a set of Infinity subs, Conrad Johnson amps... ams did that thing sound amazing...I have the Infinity RSII speakers and they sound awesome, but I would still like to have a set of those...

gadget

rolandtk

Thanks for the responses. I love the maggies, They are great I stock. I then upgraded the passive speaker level XO, which made a huge improvement.
I've read that biamp w/ active line level XO is another big step up. I want to do it \"right\" and if the 260 will deliver audible improvements, i will prob go that route. the pc manipulation is a plus.

I dont want to ask a lot of basic questions - is there a faq that descibes PEQ and other newbie questions on this stuff? thanks.

Dra

Got to the \"READ ME FIRST SECTION\" above. If you still have ? after that post back.

DRA

kpippen

I would start with these:

http://www.dbxpro.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=958

http://www.dbxpro.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=959

http://www.dbxpro.com/Forum/viewforum.php?f=60

And then check-out Training Modules...

http://www.dbxpro.com/Download/

Cheers!

Kev

Dra

K, Nipper has a fever. I think he needs more cowbell.

DRA

kpippen

Absolutely!... He definately could use some more cowbell!...8)

Dra

Check it out.
http://c-eye.net/flash/WalkenCowbellSB.html

DRA

kpippen

As Glenn Fry said: \"And this is how it all started\"...

http://www.funnyhub.com/videos/pages/vi ... wbell.html

Kev

rolandtk

I had looked at a lot of the pages referenced, but you def. sent me some good reading.
thanks again.
more COWBELL!!.

kpippen

I GOTTA HAVE MORE COWBELL!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-AdxjDGioc&NR=1

rolandtk

Yes, this is reviving a very old thread.. but i am the OP, and with the driverack pa+, would like to know how the Plus update changes ppls thoughts on using the DR as an xo for my speakers - still Magnepan 1.6, actively crossed alread, with a rythmik 15 sub.
specifically, 1) is the unit "transparent" enought to use for home theater/ music listening,and
2) does the auto speaker setting and room eq work well enough for same use?
thanks again all.
Roland

Gadget

Did you ever GET a Driverack? The new DRPA+ is a significant improvement over the original DRPA...

I wish they would release the algorithm as a 260 upgrade! It's that good... They also added mute buttons per output, which is nice...

Yes the DRPA would work great for your system, but the 260 still has the majority of the features that make it the best choice..
G

rolandtk

No, I did not get a driverack, but came close. Instead, i built an active xo which someone on another forum had designed based in part on linkowitz's web site for an xo. (I have no ee skills, i just soldered parts where instructed.)
I looking at this again because of the PA plus model.
I have just bought a new pre-amp, which does not include audesssey room correction, and wanted to see if the PA would fit the bill and allow a consolidated xo with room correction.
I know the 260 is a better choice in terms of control and options, which is why i may still go that route. however, i wanted some advice re: does the "plus" upgrade make the PA suitable for home theater use as an xo?
thanks again.

Dennis

Can you do surround sound with only two inputs?

Dennis

Gadget

I think he means home audio...2 Magaplaners and some subs does not make a home theater setup...

Ya I think the new DRPA+ is a significant upgrade to the DRPA... It's quieter, the auto eq is better sounding, and massively fast, but you will need the measurement mic as well...but I figure it will make you smile... far more than a fixed analog crossover would...so many cool tools to manipulate the system..
G

rolandtk

I have a 5.1 system... i know the pa would be limited to 2.1 eq, but that is the most important i think. i believe upgrading to the 260 will allow me to go 3.1 with the center as well.. not convinvced it would be necessary though.. the pre has some basic eq built in, so the center and surrounds will get some room corection treatment from the pre. music is mostly 2.1, and also where the most critical listening would occur.

thanks.

Dennis

rolandtk wrote:

I have a 5.1 system... i know the pa would be limited to 2.1 eq, but that is the most important i think. i believe upgrading to the 260 will allow me to go 3.1 with the center as well.. not convinvced it would be necessary though.. the pre has some basic eq built in, so the center and surrounds will get some room corection treatment from the pre. music is mostly 2.1, and also where the most critical listening would occur.

thanks.

Me and Gadget disagree on how much latency is caused by a DriveRack but we do agree that some latency is caused by a DriveRack. You will be delaying some speakers but not others. Not only will you have audio misalignment but the video won't sinc with the audio.

Dennis

rolandtk

thats not good ;( .. couldnt delays and synch be handled by the pre?

Dennis

rolandtk wrote:

thats not good ;( .. couldnt delays and synch be handled by the pre?

When I talk of latency, it is the latency caused by the processing time of the DR unit, not any delay that has been added to an output or input channel.

Dennis

rolandtk

Forgive my ignorance.. but what is the difference? if the mains get delayed 5ms, cant i adjust by telling the pre that the remaining speakers are 5ms further away than actual (not sure how many feet that might be)
thanks again. newbie to pro audio gear here..

Dra

Actually any DR will only do 2.0. You can down mix the front speakers to include the sub content, then you could control the sub with a DR, but no other way.

DRA

rolandtk

yes, 2.0 in, which would already have the sub info mixed in by the preamp, and the 2.1 out from the pa..

Dra

Well, technically you lose the .1 (separate sub content control), but it works in the end. The front speakers may have content, say to 60hz (not sent to sub), and there may be sub content at 60hz that is not sent to the front speakers.

DRA

Gadget

The science is .885 ms/ft ...we use a default of roughly 1 ms/ft so 5 ms is 4-5 ft...

Dennis, why not measure a couple of common setups in SMAART and tell us what you find...I didn't realize we disagreed on that :? The only info I have is that Mikey measured the LR24 and got 7.4 something like that ms from high to low in a 2x4 on the 260...other than that no "base" was ever set forth other than what I read on the PSW and that was about .5 ms (still looking for the thread...)

any way if the receiver has delay you should (jn theory) be able to align the system...
G

Dennis

Gadget wrote:

...I didn't realize we disagreed on that :?

We had a conversation a year ago about Mikey's test...when I measured between input and output, I came up with about 1.5ms

Gadget wrote:

The only info I have is that Mikey measured the LR24 and got 7.4 something like that ms from high to low in a 2x4 on the 260

After you explained more, it turned out that Mikey's test was a little more complex than mine and also frequency dependent. I don't understand completely how he conducted the test so I can't reproduce it.

Gadget wrote:

any way if the receiver has delay you should (jn theory) be able to align the system...

If all the speakers were aimed the same direction, that would be true. With the rear speakers aimed toward the front speakers, it throws a big monkey wrench into the alignment process. I feel the only reason surround sound works is that there is totally different information fed to the rear speakers than the front ones and alignment is not crucial.

Dennis