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Room correction in high-end system???

OK,lots of praise has been heaped on the Tact and Sigtech RCS systems, including in this months TAS. However, I believe my system is pretty high-end (at least by the "How much does your system retail for?" thread) and do not want to harm the already fine sonic charactersitics. I am generally of the mind that "less is more".

Things that concern me are:
- Putting an A/D and then D/A into my vinyl playback chain.
- Putting a lower quality D/A in place or in addition to my SF Processor 3.
- Replacing my beloved BAT VK-50SE pre with a one box DAC/ADC/RCS/PRE.

If my system were in the sub $40k retail range, I would be running to a room correction system, but am a little sceptical given my current investment. It might even be a little snobbishness. However, if I do like it better with RCS, I'd end up saving a bucket of dough.

Has anyone with a well set-up room and system tried one of these? I'd be expecially curious if Mr. Porter or some of the other vinyl fans have had one of these in their system.

Thanks,
Meta
metaphysics
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drubin
3,275 posts
 
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.
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drubin
3,275 posts
 
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.

pls1
432 posts
 
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.
cornfedboy
1,645 posts
 
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
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drubin
3,275 posts
 
Kelly, can you say more about that "too perfect" quality?

-Dan
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