A new piece of equipment...

Early B.
Early B. Posts: 7,900
edited October 2006 in Electronics
This just arrived...

http://www.av123.com/products_product.php?section=processors&product=31.1

Gonna play with it over the next few days.
HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

"God grooves with tubes."
Post edited by Early B. on
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Comments

  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited October 2006
    Oooh, that'll be intersting.
    George Grand wrote: »
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  • Skynut
    Skynut Posts: 2,967
    edited October 2006
    Congrats, let us know if it is worth it.

    Does it stay in the system or is it just there for calibration?
    Skynut
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited October 2006
    Skynut wrote:
    Does it stay in the system or is it just there for calibration?

    I think it stays in the system between the sub and the receiver. The manual sucks, BTW.
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
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  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited October 2006
    is this something like a Velodyne SMS?
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
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  • unc2701
    unc2701 Posts: 3,587
    edited October 2006
    Yeah, I was looking at that & the velodyne sms... let us know what you think.
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited October 2006
    Hooked up the R-DES this afternoon and what follows are my initial impressions...

    I'll say up front that I now realize the benefits of equalization for the lower frequencies.

    OK, let's start with the set-up. I have very little knowledge about this stuff, so I was a bit concerned that this process would be too technical for me. It wasn't. Actually, it was pretty straightforward. In a nutshell, you load the software, use an SPL meter to take a frequency sweep, plug those figures in the software to generate a frequency graph, then use another software program to smooth out your graph. Then you take a USB cable and connect it from your laptop to the R-DES unit, click a button to download your settings, and you're done. The R-DES unit is simply a small, rectangular box that sits between your receiver and amp and remains there. It is powered by a walwart.

    Once I did all of that, I popped in my demo DVD and listened. There was a significant difference in bass. It's kinda hard to describe, but the bass definitely became more smooth, pronounced and palpable. The bass hits harder and creates more guttural vibrations. When Darla taps the fish tank, the whole room vibrates much more intensely. And the bass sounds cleaner. I’m also hearing bass where I hadn’t heard it before.

    As expected, my frequency graph had issues -- about four or five dips that needed some attention. I already know that better placement would help, but I don't have that luxury.

    I don't use my HT system for music, but I can imagine that the biggest benefit of the R-DES would be for music. In fact, I would highly encourage anyone with a combined HT/music system or anyone who has a 2-channel system with sub to invest in one of these devices. It doesn’t matter how great your components are or how good your sub is – you gotta tame the effects of your room. Digital equalization is one way to help do that.

    The downside to the system is that the manual sucks. No manual is included in the box, so I had to download it from the av123.com website. In addition, the software programs are a bit rudimentary. They could have been designed better.

    Is the R-DES worth $399? I would consider it a major tweak, so it depends on how much you’re willing to spend for a major performance improvement. I do think, though, that if you are serious about your system, you should consider equalization, and the R-DES is a low cost approach to making it happen.
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,094
    edited October 2006
    I looked at that a while back, but they were always sold out & back ordered. Great review, very well written. Your review has rekindled my interest. I am also eye balling the Velodyne SMS-1, but it costs about $200 more. Hmmmmmmm!!!! Decisions, decisions, decisions.
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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