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Post by John on Oct 4, 2014 17:55:38 GMT
Had a visit to Speedy Steve mostly wanted to hear his active system and how he was using it with his horns
The music has a nice sense of flow and scale that allows you to hear deep into a recording without the sound becoming muddled.
We listen to a large variety of music Steve was using a Laptop via a USB cable to his DSP system I was impressed with the quality of sound Steve got from Jriver and like that he was able to control it via a tablet
Steve Turntable sounded excellent through the system no sense of harshness being added
What I find interesting their are so many different ways to get decent sounds Steve has certainly taken the road less traveled but certainly worth it
Thanks for being a great host Steve
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Post by John on Oct 4, 2014 18:46:00 GMT
I would suggest that for anybody considering going down the active route to consider Najda DSP/ADC/DAC/XO route it is very versite. Very clean sounding too
Steve in the past you mentioned that the biggest improvement was in the bass which from my own experience with DSP was a big step forward. What about the mid and treble as our systems are so different so hard to access what it do, but imagine more headroom and detail
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Post by speedysteve on Oct 4, 2014 20:02:18 GMT
Thanks John, It was nice to see you again (it was about 5 years since last time!).
I did try correcting the mid and upper mid channels to get the perfect flat response but it made the sound rather artificial and contrived so confined my use to below about 200Hz. As we both have found only ever cutting freq never boosting.
The upper 3 channels measure pretty flat in my room at reasonable sound levels so I do not really have a problem to fix. I think is there are problems it would be better to use acoustic treatment. As you saw there is quite a lot of glass in my room, framed with drapes and to my ears the horns don't have a problem with this.
It is possible to do FIR filters for phase linearization and room correction with Najda, but I've not tried it. I think several channels of full utilisation might overload the processor. It's something I've though about doing but never fully got my head around...
One day perhaps.
There are a few upgrades that I could do from here :- Linear PSU for Najda supplying +12 and -12VDC and +5VDC, change of DAC chips and OP amps and also a dedicated linear power supply for the WaveIO USB -> I2S converter that interfaces PC with Najda.
I could also try other large format compression drivers on the mid horns - RCA field coils are an option but pretty pricey and they do need a notch filter as they have a wicked frequency peak ca 3K I think like Tannoys have.
There are YL drivers too.
I don't think I'd ever change the Vitavox S2's as they have an attention grabbing immediacy and pureness without harness or fatiguing negatives other compression drivers can have. The cinema chaps of the 30s/40/50s knew a thing or two, but my use is very different. They required lower frequencies out of them and on multicells, just 2 to fill a whole cinema from low power valve amps.
Compression drivers of good quality sound effortless at domestic vols for that very reason - they are very much in a comfortable operating spectum.
Martin suggested I start a blog about the build. It would be a summary of what's happened over the 3-4 years of dev and cover both Passive and Active incarnations. I'll have a think about content - pics and text for that.
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Post by John on Oct 4, 2014 21:00:32 GMT
Thanks Steve
I am looking forward to the blog
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Post by MartinT on Oct 4, 2014 21:47:16 GMT
Great stuff, Steve. I think many members would be interested in parts of your solution, especially the Najda, as well as your setting up experiences.
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Post by speedysteve on Oct 6, 2014 15:19:56 GMT
I've started a blog to cover the speakers in detail and much more besides. You can find it here Steve's blog |
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Post by MartinT on Oct 6, 2014 17:15:41 GMT
Cheers - it's essential reading!
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