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Can Room Correction Be Added to an Existing DAC?

  This is probably a stupid question, and I’ve been  hesitant to ask it since it will reveal the depth of my ignorance, but here goes.
  In my home I have 3 systems.  2 are HT systems with mid Fi equipment, then my two channel system is upstairs (my HE system).  I had added an Anthem AvVR to one of the HT systems and was duly impressed.  I added the same AVR to my basement system a few weeks ago and now I am blown away.  I am wondering what room correction could do in my main system.  However, I already have Bryston DAC3 in that system that I really like.  So my question is whether it’s possible to apply RC after the processing done in the DAC .  My intuition is Probably Not, since the RC is also processing the signal.
mahler123
erik_squires
16,100 posts
 
It's not a stupid question, but he answer may not be entirely what you want to do.

DAC's which do not come with digital signal processing (DSP) built in can't have this compute ability added, BUT! you can do DSP in the digital domain before the DAC gets to it.

There are two popular paths I know of.  First is Roon with it's built in parametric and convolution capabilities.  The second is miniDSP which has a number of digital domain (digital in, digital out) equalizers.

Best,
E
mike_in_nc
1,153 posts
 
I agree, it's best done in the digital domain before the DAC.

Among the miniDSP units (mentioned by @erik_squires ), the miniDSP SHD Studio is a digital-in, digital-out processor with Dirac room correction built in. Dirac is often mentioned as one of the best DSP systems for audio. You might give that a close look.

It will also give you a streamer.

Welcome to the fold of happy DSP users! I think it's the future (and increasingly the present) of high-end home audio.
koestner
670 posts
 
My Auralic Aeries G1 file player, as well as the G2 and some other Auralic products have digital EQ built into the firmware to be used, or turned off.
mahler123 OP
3,346 posts
 
I really like the Anthem RC, but to get it in two channel I would have to buy the preamp processor DAC unit for 4K, and that would sideline my Bryson DAC and my Cary Pre Amp.  Glad to know the processing can be done in the pre DAC stage and the price seems right at $900, but can anyone compare Dirac Room Processing vs Anthem?  I did compare the Anthem 520 vs Yamaha AVR RC and it was no comparison—the Anthem was much more immersive.
djones51
4,947 posts
 
If you don’t need a streamer the Minidsp DDRC-22D would work. I’ve used ARC and Dirac they are comparable. You can use Dirac the same as ARC by accepting the correction it recommends or tweak it.
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