Room correction in high-end system???

Metaphysics, I'm in pretty much the same boat as you. I'm hoping that at some point dCS will put the room correction capability into their Purcell (which I have) so I could see what it does to the digital side of my system without a large cash outlay and another box. However, I don't know how much I really want flat frequency response in my vinyl playback, or any playback, for that matter (I too would not like to bypass my beloved JP80). Green of TAS seems to think that the improvements of flat frequency response far outweigh the additional wire/circuits/digitalization of an analog signal; I'm not so sure. Plus, it could upset the balance of the system which could require new cables, etc., which I have chosen based on how they work in my system and room without the correction. I guess really the only way to find out for sure is to get a dealer to lend you a unit which would be compared on the digital side of the system, that way you could hear for yourself whether you really want the improvements. Given my listening biases, I probably won't want to do it, unless the logical side of my brain takes over.

SACD is also an issue here. You would have to either bypass the DSP or do A-D on the SACD, which I think would reduce its advantages over 16/44.

Rcprince, regarding the balance of the system, my understanding is that you would correct for desired frequency response on the system as a whole, as it is. So you wouldn't need or want to change cables necessarily. Though I suppose how and why we choose the cables we do could be altered dramatically with room correction in the picture.

Also, I'm not sure flat response is the goal here. The folks at TacT seem to feel that a truly flat response would not be enjoyable. The idea is to get rid of the big variations. I have not seen the latest TAS yet, maybe REG has a different perspective.

I own a Sigtech and currently use it with dCS Elgar and 972 units direct into customized Melos 400watt monoblocks driving Dunlavy SC-Vs. If you are addicted to a pure analog vinyl sound you should not use the current generation of DSP. ASC room treatment is the only really high end alternative. Neither TACT or Sigtech will have units that have sample rates of 96 or 192 in the forseeable future. So using the new dCS A to D will not work since you won't be able to use the higher sample rates. If you are primarily digital, the Sigtech is an excellent addition no matter what the cost of your system in and has no audible negative artifacts.

Very few people spend enough time or effort on good room layout and treatment (physical or DSP). If your system is north of $40K you sure aren't hearing your money's worth without it.

drubin: if you use the accuphase dg-28, together with their 2-box sacd combo (dp-100/dc-101), you don't bypass the system bus in the dac and, thus, get "true" sacd playback. or so i'm told. this is a waay expensive trio of electronics, tho.

i've experience analogue playback for some time through a digital pre/dac (accuphase dc-330) that takes a signal from a>d, d>a. on the whole it sounds quite good, tho i still prefer a "straight" phono stage for the last extraction of ambiance and air.

i'm also dubious of digital correction devices. the only one of spent any time with is the accuphase. while it does, indeed, offer readily apparent corrections to the output curve in a less-than-perfect audio environment (and what space isn't thus?), it always has a sort of "too perfect" quality about it. kinda like surgically-enhanced female breasts; they may look enticing but virtually never appear "real."

-kelly