I’ve read about Dirac Live Room Correction technology in relation to NAD equipment.
Is there anything similar for Naim, particularly a Uniti Nova?
No. If you used a separate preamp/amplifier you could insert a MiniDSP unit between them, but Naim integrateds don’t allow for that functionality.
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Or you can insert a miniDSP unit incorporating Dirac between a digital transport/renderer and DAC. Similarly in the digital path you can insert a Trinnov unit, with their proprietary room correction capability. Or possibly if you use Audirvana - I haven’t looked at that aspect recently so I don’t know if they still offer , however when I first started using Audirvana I did trial the option of a Dirac plug-in, however I didn’t like it. Otherwise some people who use Roon utilise an option it has for some form of room correction plug-in (not Dirac)
Whichever way you may decide, do bear in mind that digital room correction, whether Dirac or anything else, cannot fix all problems, e.g. early reflections or room cancellations: If you haven’t done so already, it is wise get the best room set up you can, with attention to speaker and listening positioning, and do whatever acoustic treatment you can, before turning to electronic correction for a final polish.
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A cost effective EQ Option:
WiiM Mini, Pro, Ultra, etc. Use their room correction abilities and then feed the digital out to digital in on Nova.
I use the WiiM Ultra room correction only when using headphones (apply correction for my HD600S2s). OPT out on the Ultra to OPT in on Nova then Nova headphone out to HD660S2s.
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I believe the Naim electronics in the new Focal Diva Utopias includes some room correction software (different from Dirac AFAIK). Having dipped a toe in the water, I wonder if it might eventually find its way into components like the Nova.
Roger
That sounds categorical and makes sense to this civilian. Thanks.
The easiest way to use DSP for room correction with a Nova is probably through Roon, but at a cost, as you need a Roon subscription and suitable hardware to run the Roon Core.
You then need to carry out room measurements, interpret them and load suitable correction settings. If you have no experience of doing this, consider using the services of Home Audio Fidelity who can do this professionally.
Anyone considering a Nova might want to demo vs Lyngdorf TDAI-3400. I chose the latter not least for it’s highly sophisticated built-in room correction. In my experience it replaces the need for super-careful speaker positioning and acoustic treatment. YMMV.
Much depends on room! If your room/layout leads to early reflections, and their muddying effect, which DSP cannot prevent, then you might find it revelatory to try acoustic treatment of the reflection poinrts. While if you have no cancellations of note at your listening position the inability of DSP to make any difference would be irrelevant.
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Both the Focal Diva and the new Naim CI-Uniti 102 are based on the new streaming module Stream1955 from StreamUnlimited and have the functionality of room correction included. So it sounds logical to expect that the next generation of Uniti (whenever that might arrive) will integrate the new platform and potentially include room correction as well. Time will tell…
Room correction seems a great idea but I’m really not sure about it. Every reviewer I’ve read/listened to without fail has preferred the sound with RC turned off. Not sure how, but I’d love to hear for myself some time.
I’ve played with Dirac on a NAD M33, it’s a gimmick. You’re better off without it.
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I have DIRAC on a couple amps. On those what put me off was it was a subscription feature. You pay $thousands for an amp, and then they want $5/month to turn on DIRAC or $300 for a perpetual license. Cancel subscription and the profile goes away. GTFO. I realise some of that problem is the agreement worked out by the amp manufacturer as much as DIRAC but still.
Most tests I’ve read didn’t find it superior Audyssey which is free (well not charged extra - obviously it’s not really free) on supported hardware and been around for decades. On paper it’s in another league over Audyssey. In practice not so much.
I’m happy to do neither for stereo listening though and just focus on finding just the right speakers for the room.
I’m absolutely not against room correction. I use it in a couple systems, but not on any serious stereo setup. I know others do and that’s fine.
For me, the imperfections in the room are actually needed to give the “live in the room” illusion. So even room treatment is best done subtly. The least enjoyable systems I have ever heard have been in fully EQed and treated studios.
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I suggest you consider talking to Mitch from accuratesound.ca. I have used his services to produce FIR correction filters for my setup and the result is nothing short of jaw dropping. You can install filters in Roon or other software, depending on your playback chain. Dirac does not even come close to the true time domain correction you can achieve with his solution, I tried MiniSDP.
In a world where we all had dedicated listening rooms and the option of treating the acoustics perhaps it wouldn’t be an issue. But where the HiFi has to be accommodated in a domestic setting, furnished for family use and where, say, choice of speaker position is severely restricted, I do think it has some use.
It certainly works for me on my Linn Selekt DSM. But Linn’s Sound Optimisation only operates below 80 hz and in my room clears up a small touch of room resonance, adding clarity and realism, at least to my ears and for the predominantly acoustic music I mostly listen to.
Roger
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