Copland DRC205 digital room correction

I borrowed a laptop from my dealer and finally got to see what my room graph looked like. It is very interesting to see how the individual channels measure differently. I made my own P1 curve last night which will require a couple of days of listening to fully assess. I plan to make a P2 curve also so I have some variation to play with. I think the bass balance from the flat A1 curve is fine but it needs to be dialed in differently for the mids and treble. This is an exciting tool to learn and use.

It has been a steep learning curve so far. The flat frequency response into the room in the treble freqencies does not sound right. Looking at the in-room frequency graphs of the more highly regarded speakers measured by Stereophile, all show a decreasing response in the top end, usually ending up around -5 to -10 db at 10000 hz. The thing to remember, when adjusting the filters is that you are manipulating the measured room response and not the speaker response.

My basic setting for P1 after 6 days of trial and error has resulted in using the "shelving high" filter set at 4000 hz with the level set at -3.0 db and a Q of .6. The other filter I used was the "low pass" filter set to 12500 hz with a Q of .5. I left the bass and midrange frequencies set to flat. So far this has resulted in the most natural balance. With this setting, I have a -7 db point at 10000 hz for an in-room setting.

The supplied manual isn't very helpful with instructions at "how to" achieve an acceptable in-room response. Perhaps some other users can relate their experience as well.

I have heard demonstrations of the Lyngdorf and Copland units at the RMAF and CES. The improvements were quite audible. I just have great pause to run analog signal through an A to D and then back again. The magic of audio reproduction is just so fragile that I just cannot bring myself to buy either unit.

Tbg, I know what you mean. I still have reservations about another box and cables in the signal path. However, most of my listening is using cd as a source so I figured another D/A conversion in the chain would not be sacrilige. Right now I have the DRC205 installed between my backup preamp (Manley Shrimp) which doesn't have a tape monitor loop, and the Linn Numerik DAC. The Manley does not have the resolution of my VAC Renaissance so if and when it ever returns from VAC I will have a better understanding of any signal degradation. Right now, I would say it is minimal. The VAC has a tape monitor loop so it would be easy to switch the DRC205 totally out of the system if signal purity was deemed paramount.

Amy more updates on pro's and con's of this device??