Dirac vs Audyssey are two of the most popular room correction systems in use today. You can apply these software solutions to improve your listening experience through an audio interface or computer.
Dirac Live is an audio processing software developed by Dirac Systems, Inc. It allows users to adjust their home theater system’s settings using a computer or mobile device. It reduces the error of an audio system by correcting for any changes in its length or distance from its source.
Likewise, Audyssey is a suite of software tools for calibrating and analyzing audio performance in your home theater system. It offers a wide range of features that allow you to optimize your overall sound experience and get the best possible performance from your speakers, subwoofer, and other aspects of your system.
Dirac and Audyssey do an amazing job of correcting for speaker placement and distance from the listener. This article looks at the most significant issues for those looking to purchase either Dirac Live vs Audyssey. By the end of this article, you will be able to decide which best suits your needs based on their intended purpose. So, let’s get started!
What is Dirac Live?
Dirac Live is a room correction system that allows you to correct sound from your speakers or headphones. Dirac Live measures the frequency response of each speaker (left and right front speakers, back left, and back right). It then applies an equalization curve to each channel that takes into account the sound each channel is producing. This is used as a way to compensate for any changes in the room itself, such as reflections and echoes.
The main idea behind Dirac room correction is that it considers the room’s dimensions and adjusts what you hear accordingly. It’s a simple technique that relies on the way waves travel through air, but it’s also very accurate. The process of Dirac room correction is simple and can be done in less than 10 minutes. So, don’t worry if you don’t have much experience with audio equipment.
How Does Dirac Live Work?
Dirac Live room correction automatically compensates for the distance between you and the speakers. This means that the speakers perfectly sync with the music so that you hear it as if it were live.
Dirac uses a small microphone to pick up the sound from your speakers. This microphone is connected to an input on your sound card, which then sends a signal to your computer’s processor.
On receiving this signal, the processor amplifies both sound channels simultaneously, creating a single output level for each channel. Depending on how much each channel has been amplified, this output will either be louder or quieter than normal. If one channel is too loud relative to the other, Dirac Live will fix this issue automatically by changing one or both levels appropriately.
Pros and Cons of Dirac Live
So, are you wondering what are some of the gives and takes of Dirac Live? Here are some of the pros and cons:
Pros:
- Aesthetically pleasing: The sound it produces is pleasant and makes your room sound great.
- Easy to use: It has a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to use without any hassle. You can adjust the sound according to your liking and get it right.
- High-quality sound: It produces a high-quality sound that will improve the quality of music in your house or office.
- Dirac Live is an excellent choice for those who do not own expensive equipment but want to listen to great music at home or in a studio.
- Dirac Live provides a full range of functions for adjusting your device’s sound.
Cons:
- It takes time for Dirac Live to work properly on your home theatre system. This means you will have to wait for a while before getting proper results from using this product on your home theatre system or speakers.
- Dirac Live’s price is higher than other brands in the market today.
What is Audyssey?
Audyssey is a function designed to correct the audio from your TV, Blu-ray player, or other audio sources. The idea behind Audyssey is that it compensates for the frequency response of each speaker in your home theater system. It does this by using a measurement microphone and analyzing the signal to determine where the speakers are located in your room. This ensures that all your speakers sound as if they were playing from the same location.
Audyssey XT32 is the most advanced multi-room correction solution, which provides an advanced and easy setup for stereo speakers. Audyssey MultEQ XT32 is a popular technology that is equipped in most receiver brands, such as Marantz, Denon, and Onkyo receivers.
Audyssey provides two different modes of operation: Dynamic Volume and Dynamic EQ.
- Audyssey Dynamic Volume offers flexible volume adjustment that complements the dynamic range of all music types. This means it increases or decreases the volume level based on how much live bass you push into your speakers. It does this carefully without disturbing quiet sections or diminishing large-scale climaxes.
- Audyssey Dynamic EQ adds precision to speech reproduction by measuring frequency response, low-frequency effect (LFE), and loudness at each speaker position. This advanced equalizer automatically compensates for deficiencies in each channel’s frequency response.
How does Audyssey work?
- To start, Audyssey creates a 3D spatialization matrix of your room that delivers accurate sound imaging and balance.
- Then, it fine-tunes each speaker based on its individual performance, taking into account its frequency range, sensitivity, power handling capabilities, and room acoustics.
- Finally, it brings out the details of your audio content by compensating for Room Acoustic Match (RAM). This is an audio technology that adjusts equalizer settings on all channels to compensate for the reflections of objects in the listening environment. The result is clear dialogue and robust bass response from even small speakers.
- For example, if your room has a hardwood floor that reflects sound differently than carpeted floors, Audyssey will work to adjust this sound. It will ensure the speakers in the uncarpeted room produce the same fine audio as those in the living room with carpeted flooring.
Pros and Cons of Audyssey
Just as any other room correction technology, Audyssey has it pros and cons that include:
Pros:
- Audyssey delivers excellent sound quality.
- Audyssey can handle any type of speaker configuration, including bi-amped and even stereo systems.
- It is easy to use and understand and provides a quick setup process without requiring technical expertise.
- Audyssey features have been around for years, and many users like that they’re familiar with their functionality.
- It offers an optional calibration microphone that can be used with an optional microphone stand to improve room correction accuracy.
- The room correction software offered by Audyssey works on virtually all current home theater receivers. So, there’s no need to go out and buy new equipment if you want to take advantage of this feature.
Cons:
- The program doesn’t offer many options for adjusting the sound quality, but it does give you some control over the room’s acoustics and bass response.
Which Should You Pick; Dirac Live vs Audyssey
Dirac and Audyssey both do an amazing job of correcting for speaker placement and distance from the listener. So, how do they stack against each other?
- Audyssey tends to be superior at dealing with bass under-control issues and tends to be more flexible in its room correction system, as it can account for different-sized rooms. It also tends to do a better job at dealing with uneven surfaces, such as a wall behind your speakers, than Dirac Live does.
- Dirac Live has more options than Audyssey. This means that Dirac has many different options for optimizing sound quality. However, unlike Dirac Live, Audyssey can be used with almost any speaker system.
- Audyssey gives you more flexibility if you want to customize your system to your personal preferences. Meanwhile, Dirac Live is easier to use because it’s designed around an algorithm that works well regardless of what kind of speaker you have.
- Audyssey also works better with older receivers that don’t support Dirac Live’s optimization system.
- Audyssey supports more components than Dirac Live, including surround sound receivers and mid-range speakers.
- Audyssey is cheaper than Dirac Live.
Final Word
In the end, Audyssey seems to have the edge over Dirac Live in this comparison between Dirac Live vs Audyssey. However, there is no universal winner since both packages seem to be quite good. They work very well in both 2-channel and multi-channel setups.
Thus, the main determiner will likely be cost, ease of use, and personal preference. The steep cost of Dirac Live likely means that many consumers won’t go with this option until it becomes absolutely necessary. If possible, experiment with both until you find the perfect one for your room.
