As a recent convert to Dirac's EQ/Impulse Response correction software, I thought I'd throw out a few thoughts regarding the audiophile world's slow adoption of digital correction strategies. As an old analog-purist guy, I had severe trouble at first with the concept. It took some pushing from some good folks to get me to try it out, and to spend the $329 (!!!) on the Dirac software that accompanies the Amarra Symphony music player software.
First, my thoughts wandered to why so many folks have negative thoughts of this process.
In our listening rooms, we are used to hearing ALL sounds (not just our music playback) colored by the room acoustics. In the same manner, we become very familiar with the sound of music playback in that environment. When we suddenly hear sounds in our room that are obviously different because they don't have the colorations attached, they sound foreign. There is an immediate stress imposed upon us, as we are being presented with a new stimulus that is uncomfortably different than that to which we have become accustomed. I now believe that there is a "re-learning" of hearing in our room that occurs as a result of a "corrected" signal. For those of us with expensive systems, it can be hard to hear something quite different than usual and proclaim it "great".
Dirac changes the listening experience in ways similar to listening to great headphones. While headphones don't produce that "you are there in front of the band" illusion, there can be no denial that listening through headphones removes many layers of distortion, both room-borne and system-induced. Imagine having that "headphone clarity" coming from your loudspeaker system, with greatly increased "see-through" quality. Percussive elements just jump out of the speakers and can startle you with their reality. Voices carry a clarity and openness that draws you into the performance. This kind of improvement is what makes you want to listen to your whole collection over again.
While I don't have the mega-$$$ system like some of our members here, my system is close to six figures and nowhere else could I have spent the "ridiculous" sum of $329 (to add this capability to my Amarra Symphony player) and gotten anywhere near this level of gain. I'd say that spending 10 times that amount on gear, etc. wouldn't have netted me an equivalent improvement.
So, for those of you sitting on the fence, I'd recommend giving Dirac a try. Hell, many of you spend more than that on one AC outlet! I'm hoping to save for a full-fledged multi-channel Dirac setup, so that I can run my home theater soundtracks through it.
I have no affiliation with Dirac or Sonic Solutions (Amarra), beyond being a satisfied paying customer.
Lee
First, my thoughts wandered to why so many folks have negative thoughts of this process.
In our listening rooms, we are used to hearing ALL sounds (not just our music playback) colored by the room acoustics. In the same manner, we become very familiar with the sound of music playback in that environment. When we suddenly hear sounds in our room that are obviously different because they don't have the colorations attached, they sound foreign. There is an immediate stress imposed upon us, as we are being presented with a new stimulus that is uncomfortably different than that to which we have become accustomed. I now believe that there is a "re-learning" of hearing in our room that occurs as a result of a "corrected" signal. For those of us with expensive systems, it can be hard to hear something quite different than usual and proclaim it "great".
Dirac changes the listening experience in ways similar to listening to great headphones. While headphones don't produce that "you are there in front of the band" illusion, there can be no denial that listening through headphones removes many layers of distortion, both room-borne and system-induced. Imagine having that "headphone clarity" coming from your loudspeaker system, with greatly increased "see-through" quality. Percussive elements just jump out of the speakers and can startle you with their reality. Voices carry a clarity and openness that draws you into the performance. This kind of improvement is what makes you want to listen to your whole collection over again.
While I don't have the mega-$$$ system like some of our members here, my system is close to six figures and nowhere else could I have spent the "ridiculous" sum of $329 (to add this capability to my Amarra Symphony player) and gotten anywhere near this level of gain. I'd say that spending 10 times that amount on gear, etc. wouldn't have netted me an equivalent improvement.
So, for those of you sitting on the fence, I'd recommend giving Dirac a try. Hell, many of you spend more than that on one AC outlet! I'm hoping to save for a full-fledged multi-channel Dirac setup, so that I can run my home theater soundtracks through it.
I have no affiliation with Dirac or Sonic Solutions (Amarra), beyond being a satisfied paying customer.
Lee
