Thanks for watching, this is just a quick mid week video, not to my usual production standards but I hope there is something in it for you all the same
Thank you for the tips. I have an Arcam AVR 850 and have done everything you touched on and echo your tips. I love the Arcam. I have considered upgrading to a new Arcam AVR but not sure there would be a audio improvement due to the cost of upgrading. It would be great to see you do a comparison between Arcam and leading competitors per music audio.
Great video! rare to see something to help us people who have a HT and 2ch mixed system. I bought a NAD M17v2 11 ch processor 2 years ago. It has Dirac and built in BluOs streaming. I just love the sound quality being the NAD Masters series. Wondering, AND hoping that the new Dirac will make its way to me! Dirac is amazing. I bought 2 PSA S1512 subs, only a month ago. Ran Dirac...amazing! Measured with REW and the subs were FLAT down to 10hz. +/- 2db. My "Anthem" friend was shocked how well it worked versus ARC. Cheers!
@Pursuit Perfect System, first, great video! Second, I’m curious to know what the setup process was like with the Dirac while using the REL subs you reviewed, considering the use of the LFE and high-level connections. I am considering the AV 41 and a pair of REL S/812s.
Is there a best sound quality AV reciever/processor for a terrace UK house for 5.1 or 7.1? I find I cannot go beyond these speaker setup. Any suggestion welcomed.
Double Dac is interesting and IMHO technically comprehensible. Think this way: setup 4 different DACs sounding all very different and put the signals into an ADC. You should expect that the ADC transfers each analog input into digital in a way that preserves as much information as possible. Thus, the DAC with extra bass after ADC will lead to other bits & and bytes than the DAC with lower bass and so on. In this scenario, it would be ideal to have a very neutral high-quality DAC at the second output and the DAC with your favourite sound as the input into the receiver.
Bought a Moon 680 D streamer . And bought an Arcam AVR 31 last week . Do you think I can do the Dirac or should I have someone familiar with that to do it . Running B&W 702s , center , sub rears in wall and Atmos in ceiling speakers are all B&W.
That is up to you Danny - do you have the time and patience to learn or would you prefer to pay and hire a pro and have the best result straight away. If your hiring a pro look over what previous work they have done. I have spoken to a number of people who have paid someone to come in to do a calibration and they have not done a good job. There is no substitute for real experience and without blowing my own trumpet no one knows how to calibrate an Arcam better than yours truly.
I have the avr20 and when listening to 2 channel stereo music, rather than going through the Apple TV I'd rather make use of the tidal app so I can take advantage of tidal connect! I prefer to use my Apple TV for movies an occasionally for Dolby Atmos music. Just out of curiosity what kind of speaker configuration are you running.
Another great video. The Double Dac thing has always concerned me. The Qutest Dac sounds so good and I was worried about it then going through the Arcam and being converted again through its inferior Dac. I thought this would be a really wrong way to do this but now you have made me want to try this. Cheers Terry.
If it days direct on the screen it’s in direct mode try pressing the Direct button the front to take it out of direct mode. This is a common mistake people make
@@PursuitPerfectSystem The AV10 is no longer a paperweight, thank you! Turns out I also forgot to reset the audio output device in my pc. It’s earned a few more days of testing. Very revealing on the Klipsch compared to my Marantz. Good thing I have a few speakers getting delivered this weekend. I would like to get back to my previous setup of 9.2.4, still researching which units are best for that but cheers!!
hi Terry .thanks for your help over the xmas period setting up my new arcam 41.. the standard version that comes with the 41 doesn't have the multi sub part.as you explained,so i purchased the complete suite from Dirac which included multiple subs over the xmas period. i had a few days messing about using Dirac for the first time, and the result so far are much better than what my old Yamaha Advantage processor could do .the sounds better quality and its the first time ive really heard my surrounds kicking in to make the complete image much more full on . the whole system is very coherent .you can clearly hear every speaker doing its job ,in my case an 11.2.4 all working together very well. the bass is well controlled and not bloated.A real huge upgrade from my old set up.. now for the 2 channel. i have Qobuz into my PS Audio BHK dac into the PS Audio Pre-amp then my PS Audio BHK 300 mono's that end up finally into my PMC IB2 speakers. the arcam looses out on this battle haha. but im really happy with the purchase . ive only just started with dirac.over the next few months ill get into it more and hopefully get it dialed right to a high standard. cheers dean
just trying to add the bottom octaves is not what I think subs should be used for personally and its rare speakers will produce bass in the same as way as good subwoofers - using both can add more if its done well
@@PursuitPerfectSystem Subwoofer brings unrealistic lows, it's probably good for movies but no acceptable for music. BTW Dirac manages subwoofer exact in the proper way not allowing it to boom too much.
That might be true for poor subwoofers but not true for good subwoofers - bass booms because of room acoustics that is unrelated to the source of the bass a lot of the time
@@PursuitPerfectSystem Maybe you clarify advantages of a subwoofer against such speakers as Wharfedale Dovedale? Even not advantages, just a reason of adding a subwoofer to Wharfedale Dovedale?
Is the AVR10 still a good choice for someone that only wants to run a 5.2 system? 99% use is 2 channel with subs. Or would an Anthem MRX 540 be a nice option?
I know, I will have to go one thing at a time. Even the most expensive model doesn’t have full Dirac (higher bass management is not included), and the mics that come with higher models are not that great, so Umic is a better option. Imax, Auro3D and HDMI 2.1 are not mandatory for me. Thanks for wonderful post and a kind answer.
As i commented on Patreon, I've been using my Ares II through the AV41 with Dirac. So for my set-up the digital information is processed through two DACs as well as Dirac. I prefer the sound of the AresII/AV41 to the AV41 internal DAC ESS9026PRO. I've tried the Ares II with stereo direct w/o Dirac but don't like it. But I'm wondering how the ESS colors the sound of the Ares II, if at all. How important is the ESS DAC to the sound quality and/or how does it affect it? Are there any DACs that you have found to pair well with the internal Arcam DACs while engaging Dirac? In general, would the pairing be better for R2R or delta-sigma DACs? Thanks!
I have been very interested in the double DAC concept with my AVR 850 as per using an external DAC for digital content converting to analog and input to a analog input of the AVR. But instead of reprocessing it again via the internal AVR 850 DAC to utilize the features of Dirac I would utilize the Direct option within the AVR. I have reached out to many people in forums as well some UA-cam reviewers regarding this idea and all that I did communicate with said the improvement wouldn't be that significant compared to just digital streaming to the internal Arcam AVR 850 DAC. Now your concept is a bit more interesting by taking the analog out of an external DAC into the Analog of the Arcam then using the AVR processor again, is this correct?
Yes that is what I am referring to, but I have only seen and heard this on the newer arcams the avr30's mostly. I am not sure if it would be exactly the same with the 850 - you would have to experiment and see.
@@PursuitPerfectSystem I may try this as an experiment and see. I think the topology of the AVR 30/31 is almost the same as the AVR 850 less a few more features and the ability to save additional Dirac profiles. My AVR 850 will only store one. The DAC is different in the AVR 30/31 but I do not think that is much of a concern. The brand new AVR 31 supports 8K from what I understand the rest looks to be the same.
There is obvious similarities between the 800 range and the newer 30 etc but there are also some quite big differences, the 30 has a more transparent clean clear sound, the arcam range before the 850 in particular was a softer warmer sound it doesnt resolve sound quite as well, not as much outright resolution. That means maybe a different dac for music might balance better - not sure
@@PursuitPerfectSystem Well I will try a test. Need to purchase a high quality external DAC that would be considered to be superior to the 850 DAC that I can return. Suggestions? +
Thanks for watching, this is just a quick mid week video, not to my usual production standards but I hope there is something in it for you all the same
I have an Avr20, i would love to know how you set up your Rel subwoofers, do you run Dirac with the Rels connected high and lfe or just lfe?
Thank you for the tips. I have an Arcam AVR 850 and have done everything you touched on and echo your tips. I love the Arcam. I have considered upgrading to a new Arcam AVR but not sure there would be a audio improvement due to the cost of upgrading. It would be great to see you do a comparison between Arcam and leading competitors per music audio.
Great video! rare to see something to help us people who have a HT and 2ch mixed system. I bought a NAD M17v2 11 ch processor 2 years ago. It has Dirac and built in BluOs streaming. I just love the sound quality being the NAD Masters series. Wondering, AND hoping that the new Dirac will make its way to me! Dirac is amazing. I bought 2 PSA S1512 subs, only a month ago. Ran Dirac...amazing! Measured with REW and the subs were FLAT down to 10hz. +/- 2db. My "Anthem" friend was shocked how well it worked versus ARC. Cheers!
@Pursuit Perfect System, first, great video! Second, I’m curious to know what the setup process was like with the Dirac while using the REL subs you reviewed, considering the use of the LFE and high-level connections. I am considering the AV 41 and a pair of REL S/812s.
I have calibrated a ton of Arcams with both lfe and high level, so long as you know what your doing and adjusting it’s fine
High level disconnected before calibration 🤔
Is there a best sound quality AV reciever/processor for a terrace UK house for 5.1 or 7.1? I find I cannot go beyond these speaker setup. Any suggestion welcomed.
I have been using arcam and now JBL synthesis for years, thanks! Never got the music part right :P but I am gonna try your tips
Double Dac is interesting and IMHO technically comprehensible. Think this way: setup 4 different DACs sounding all very different and put the signals into an ADC. You should expect that the ADC transfers each analog input into digital in a way that preserves as much information as possible. Thus, the DAC with extra bass after ADC will lead to other bits & and bytes than the DAC with lower bass and so on. In this scenario, it would be ideal to have a very neutral high-quality DAC at the second output and the DAC with your favourite sound as the input into the receiver.
Question if you set it left/right plus sub doesn't this just doubles the bass with the mains and the subwoofer?
With regards to using a double dac, I have the arcam cd5 and an arcam avr11, how should I connect them to take advantage of both dacs?
Thanks. Dean.
Maybe try it and see how it goes, impossible To say for sure
Excellent approach to the snakeoilist's, unbelievers etc.
A voice of accumulated experience.
Wonderful.
Bought a Moon 680 D streamer . And bought an Arcam AVR 31 last week . Do you think I can do the Dirac or should I have someone familiar with that to do it . Running B&W 702s , center , sub rears in wall and Atmos in ceiling speakers are all B&W.
That is up to you Danny - do you have the time and patience to learn or would you prefer to pay and hire a pro and have the best result straight away. If your hiring a pro look over what previous work they have done. I have spoken to a number of people who have paid someone to come in to do a calibration and they have not done a good job. There is no substitute for real experience and without blowing my own trumpet no one knows how to calibrate an Arcam better than yours truly.
I have the arcam avr10, and use the current apple tv connected thru the hdmi, playing music on tidal. Am I getting the highest quality?
I have the avr20 and when listening to 2 channel stereo music, rather than going through the Apple TV I'd rather make use of the tidal app so I can take advantage of tidal connect! I prefer to use my Apple TV for movies an occasionally for Dolby Atmos music. Just out of curiosity what kind of speaker configuration are you running.
Another great video. The Double Dac thing has always concerned me. The Qutest Dac sounds so good and I was worried about it then going through the Arcam and being converted again through its inferior Dac. I thought this would be a really wrong way to do this but now you have made me want to try this. Cheers Terry.
It’s worth a try remember this is also taking one of my calibrations into account too
Bought this yesterday and is still a paperweight. No sound. Inputs say direct even though it says HDMI in the settings. Worst setup ever
If it days direct on the screen it’s in direct mode try pressing the Direct button the front to take it out of direct mode. This is a common mistake people make
@@PursuitPerfectSystem The AV10 is no longer a paperweight, thank you! Turns out I also forgot to reset the audio output device in my pc. It’s earned a few more days of testing. Very revealing on the Klipsch compared to my Marantz. Good thing I have a few speakers getting delivered this weekend. I would like to get back to my previous setup of 9.2.4, still researching which units are best for that but cheers!!
Technology is not for everyone mate. Get the grandkids to set it up for you.
THANKS TERRY, MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS 🤗👍💚💚💚
hi Terry .thanks for your help over the xmas period setting up my new arcam 41.. the standard version that comes with the 41 doesn't have the multi sub part.as you explained,so i purchased the complete suite from Dirac which included multiple subs over the xmas period. i had a few days messing about using Dirac for the first time, and the result so far are much better than what my old Yamaha Advantage processor could do .the sounds better quality and its the first time ive really heard my surrounds kicking in to make the complete image much more full on . the whole system is very coherent .you can clearly hear every speaker doing its job ,in my case an 11.2.4 all working together very well. the bass is well controlled and not bloated.A real huge upgrade from my old set up.. now for the 2 channel. i have Qobuz into my PS Audio BHK dac into the PS Audio Pre-amp then my PS Audio BHK 300 mono's that end up finally into my PMC IB2 speakers. the arcam looses out on this battle haha. but im really happy with the purchase . ive only just started with dirac.over the next few months ill get into it more and hopefully get it dialed right to a high standard. cheers dean
But if you bought speakers as in one of your videos having 25Hz capability, you can skip on the subwoofer.
just trying to add the bottom octaves is not what I think subs should be used for personally and its rare speakers will produce bass in the same as way as good subwoofers - using both can add more if its done well
@@PursuitPerfectSystem Subwoofer brings unrealistic lows, it's probably good for movies but no acceptable for music. BTW Dirac manages subwoofer exact in the proper way not allowing it to boom too much.
That might be true for poor subwoofers but not true for good subwoofers - bass booms because of room acoustics that is unrelated to the source of the bass a lot of the time
@@PursuitPerfectSystem Maybe you clarify advantages of a subwoofer against such speakers as Wharfedale Dovedale? Even not advantages, just a reason of adding a subwoofer to Wharfedale Dovedale?
Is the AVR10 still a good choice for someone that only wants to run a 5.2 system? 99% use is 2 channel with subs. Or would an Anthem MRX 540 be a nice option?
For 2-channel 99% of the time, look at the AVR5 - it doesn't have all the bells and whistles you likely won't need.
How about AVR5? :)
Yeah I am sure that would be the same but I dont think it comes with a Dirac Licence being the only difference, you would have to buy that on top
I know, I will have to go one thing at a time. Even the most expensive model doesn’t have full Dirac (higher bass management is not included), and the mics that come with higher models are not that great, so Umic is a better option. Imax, Auro3D and HDMI 2.1 are not mandatory for me. Thanks for wonderful post and a kind answer.
Yeah not full Dirac, but full frequency, some kit comes with a limited freq licence included and the full frequency is a paid for extra
🤓
thank you
Good video! Do you adjust speaker levels after Dirac live have set the levels?
As i commented on Patreon, I've been using my Ares II through the AV41 with Dirac. So for my set-up the digital information is processed through two DACs as well as Dirac. I prefer the sound of the AresII/AV41 to the AV41 internal DAC ESS9026PRO. I've tried the Ares II with stereo direct w/o Dirac but don't like it. But I'm wondering how the ESS colors the sound of the Ares II, if at all. How important is the ESS DAC to the sound quality and/or how does it affect it? Are there any DACs that you have found to pair well with the internal Arcam DACs while engaging Dirac? In general, would the pairing be better for R2R or delta-sigma DACs? Thanks!
Getting the Power Foundation right is truly step #1 if one is seriously interested in developing a top flight reproduction chain
Hey Terry, when are gonna get a "sound bite" of your system since the Jcat Optimo Atx has been installed?!?!?!? jeeesus
I did make one it was awesome but UA-cam blocked it it after 4 weeks and I was so pissed off I haven't done anymore since as it takes so much time
@@PursuitPerfectSystem nobs.
I have been very interested in the double DAC concept with my AVR 850 as per using an external DAC for digital content converting to analog and input to a analog input of the AVR. But instead of reprocessing it again via the internal AVR 850 DAC to utilize the features of Dirac I would utilize the Direct option within the AVR. I have reached out to many people in forums as well some UA-cam reviewers regarding this idea and all that I did communicate with said the improvement wouldn't be that significant compared to just digital streaming to the internal Arcam AVR 850 DAC. Now your concept is a bit more interesting by taking the analog out of an external DAC into the Analog of the Arcam then using the AVR processor again, is this correct?
Yes that is what I am referring to, but I have only seen and heard this on the newer arcams the avr30's mostly. I am not sure if it would be exactly the same with the 850 - you would have to experiment and see.
@@PursuitPerfectSystem I may try this as an experiment and see. I think the topology of the AVR 30/31 is almost the same as the AVR 850 less a few more features and the ability to save additional Dirac profiles. My AVR 850 will only store one. The DAC is different in the AVR 30/31 but I do not think that is much of a concern. The brand new AVR 31 supports 8K from what I understand the rest looks to be the same.
There is obvious similarities between the 800 range and the newer 30 etc but there are also some quite big differences, the 30 has a more transparent clean clear sound, the arcam range before the 850 in particular was a softer warmer sound it doesnt resolve sound quite as well, not as much outright resolution. That means maybe a different dac for music might balance better - not sure
@@PursuitPerfectSystem Well I will try a test. Need to purchase a high quality external DAC that would be considered to be superior to the 850 DAC that I can return. Suggestions?
+