Don’t give up too quickly. I know that it can be done. Yes, dipoles do radiate to the rear. Some less than others, but like you state, it is a major factor.
The Pre-8 is my fourth DEQX since 2012 and I have great success not only with with this pair of Apogees but earlier with a pair of Duetta Sigs as well. I’ve always used "conventional" indoor DEQX recommended methods to measure the ribbons. I will admit that there has been a lot of trial error with mic placement, crossover point and slope selection as well as speaker placement and toe-in (or in my case no toe-in). I’ve also had great success with precise subwoofer integration with both sets of Apogees as well.
This Pre-8 was purchased to replace my third DEQX which is a Larry Owens heavily modded HDP-Express II. To be honest, there was nothing at all wrong with the sound. In fact, the sound was drop-dead great. Fantastic imaging, great slam, deep smooth bass, very realistic sounding piano and voices - sometimes I had to wonder why am I messing with something that ain’t broken!
I’m thinking that the fourth generation DEQX will actually go to that next level. It may not initially as the software is still a beta release. I fully believe that the hardware is a SOTA as humanly possible at this date. No other manufacture of ANY audio product of ANY type is at the technological level of DEQX. Yes, you’ll see plenty of new, latest and greatest stuff for sale out there saying that they have the latest technology, promising to take you to the next level and built with unobtanium suspended in pure ether, and of course at a price that you would need a second mortgage in order to purchase. And in the end, it’s all the same stuff but with new lipstick.
I know that this doesn’t apply to anyone on this thread, but most audiophiles I talk to don’t mind spending the money but they want it simple. They just want to plug a few components together, read a review or two about a power cord or such, buy it, two minutes to install it, a week to break it in, and life is good.
If anyone who has electrostatic, planer magnetic, ribbon, MBL, or other non-conventional speakers AND DEQX, it’s never going to be plug-n-play. DEQX wants to make it easier for their customer and they gone a long way to make that happen. I’m sure that many potential DEQX customers have been scared off in the past by its level of hands-on technological prowess required. On the other hand, they can’t abandon their nuts-and-bolts type customers like us as well. I doubt many any beta tester customers expected plug and play.
The knowledge may be proprietary, but at this point, I for one would like to know what, at least in general, goes on in each step of the cloud processing. A block diagram would be great. That way we look at it and say, "ah-ha" that where _____ happens. Right now it’s a black box. Data in, data out. If it doesn’t come out right, change a parameter and try again.
OK, I’m done.
ForrestC in Tallahassee
