Is DEQX a game changer?

@jeffrubin I am not sure I am clear if the HDP5 contains the Roon Server - or is just a Roon endpoint. If it is a full on server - how do you configure it with music sources etc? Is there a remote configuration app? Can the app running on your smartphone configure the server running on your DEQX?

I understand if it is a Roon Endpoint and you have a server running on a machine elsewhere how this would work - but I see nothing on the Roon site or DEQX site that says that the HDP5 comes with the server pre-installed.

For those who have been waiting for Part 3 of the DEQX articles on Digital Audio Review, it’s up now: http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2016/09/bring-the-bass-back-with-deqx-and-dynaudio/

This part covers subwoofer integration.

Very interesting discussion there of both using the DEQX for crossover and how DEQX can impact sub placement location options. Good read. 

This may have been touched on earlier, but the potential power of the DEQX has inspired me to seriously consider attempting to build my own speakers.  I've been researching this quite a bit and it appears that the real challenge of speaker building is the cross over and time alignment -both issues that are addressed by the DEQX with near infinite flexibility.  So putting really good drivers in really rigid cabinets and then bi or tri amping with the DEQX crossover could yield some pretty amazing results.

I've gotten a lot of feedback on a terrific DIY forum.  I am leaning towards building a translam two way sealed cabinet made from laminated layers of Baltic birch with approximately 2" thick walls.  I'm still working out the details, but the design resembles a Magico Mini.  I will likely use ScanSpeak drivers with either a berillium or ring radiator tweeter.  If this comes out nicely, I plan to add a bass cabinet with 2 10" woofers.  Ultimately, the stack will be tri-amped and all controlled by an HDP5.  I've identified a number of very fine and very expensive speakers that use similar drivers and architecture but of course use passive crossovers.  It seems like I could build something pretty extrodinary for a fraction of the cost and far superior dedicated amps, electronic crossover, and time alignment.  

Does anyone here have experience with DEQX units and DIY speakers?  I would love to hear your feedback.

Yes Jeff, DEQX inspired me to build my own speakers.

I had always been impressed with Open Baffle designs because of the lack of cabinet colouration and great transient speed so I set about building various prototypes several years ago, using my original HDP-3. Once voiced exactly as wanted, I then commissioned a CNC workshop to produce the final frames in zebrano bamboo.

When you master the workings of DEQX (no mean task!), speaker building and tweaking is fascinating. I recommend going to the trouble to take measurements outdoors which produce an almost pure anechoic response (in my most recent example, windowing calibrations to 31ms before even a slight reflection, only from the mic stand). The cleaner the initial data, the better will be the final result.

Being able to use 4 preset configs with differing crossover types, frequencies and slopes enables you to listen instantly ’on-the-fly’ with music playing, although I suggest newcomers start with the DEQX defaults until you understand the various interactions. You can then go much deeper, configuring for minimum phase or minimum delay etc and learning exactly how to bring the best out of each individual driver. It’s also great that DEQX measurements treat everything downstream of the processor as one, meaning that the impact of your cabling & amplification is also taken care of by the resulting calibration - as long as you don’t change anything of course!

I learned quite fast, for instance that the tweeters in my setup had one ’perfect’ crossover point for both they & the midranges below - above this frequency there was some beaming and thickening but crossing lower, treble became subtly more brittle. Also, by trying various natural wool tweeter surround shapes & placements, measuring & listening again in-room, everything was finally clearer, more focused & smooth than any other speaker I have heard. Being able to make a change, set it into your main config and listen to music for days or even weeks before further adjustment in one of the other 3 presets means you really can be sure that changes are beneficial. Everything is also reversible or repeatable.

Please let us know how you get on & various of us here will be happy to assist if needs be. I was asked to look through the draft of the most recent DEQX manual as an experienced ’user’ by Kim Ryrie before it was published & I can confirm that it is now much more user friendly & logical to follow. It should be much easier than when I started out!

Andrew