Is DEQX a game changer?

Hi Bruce,

Yes, I've been following the ARC KT-150 upgrade threads to some extent, particularly including your posts. Glad it appears to be working out well.

And yes, at this point I'm satisfied with the transparency of the DEQX, and I'm ready to move on to the measurement and calibration/correction processes. As I indicated, though, progress may be a bit slow in the coming weeks, due to other activities. Also, before moving the speakers to the center of the room for the measurements (outdoors measurement being a non-starter in my case, as it was in yours), I'm planning to first dry run the entire process with the speakers in their normal position. That way I won't risk moving the speakers to the center of the room and then back, finding that I've screwed up or at least not done things optimally, and then having to move them again. Even though the bases and footers I have the speakers on only raise them a bit less than 5 inches above the floor, I don't relish lifting/sliding their 108 pound weight off of those bases, and subsequently raising and maneuvering them back on.

Best,
-- Al

Bifwynne, could you describe this artifact?

I'd like to know about the artifact as well. Before relying on the DEQX as the 'brain' of my system, I needed to convince myself that it was virtually transparent in bypass mode. In bypass, the room and speaker corrections are left out, but the A/D and D/A conversions are performed by the DEQX. I compared my setup with and without the DEQX, keeping my analog preamp in the loop for both. I was unable to hear any sonic degradation being introduced by the DEQX. This is amazing to me.

Al,

Thanks for your report on your experiences with the HDP-5. I like your step-by-step approach of evaluating the bypass mode in comparision to your previous set-up. I look forward to hearing what differences you hear in bypass mode once you have had a chance to listen and compare for a longer stretch.

Unsound, when I speak of the DEQX as being an "artifact," I am only saying that it is a component that is stuck in the signal path. Period!! Of course, its very purpose and function is to change ... and quite significantly so ... the signal when engaged.

Stated differently, IMO, the best scenario is one in which one's speakers are already *perfectly* time aligned and the room is perfectly neutral. Ergo, no need for the DEQX at all. But alas ... such is NOT the case with my rig and I suspect with most others' rigs.

Bottom line: 2 steps back and 5 steps forward. Net positive sum improvement, which I believe the DEQX has achieved for me.

@Al ... just an fyi. When Larry the DEQXPert time aligned my speakers, he had me shove a bunch of pillows or seat cushions in front of my speakers. The pillows attenuated the fist reflective floor bounce off the woofers. That may help with your speaker correction results.

@Psag ... your anecdotal experience is consistent with what Al reports. Your results are indeed amazing and good to know since I too am a DEQX owner.