phoenixdogfan
1000+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2015
- Posts
- 1,181
- Likes
- 463
Great reply ,Darin.
I've used this program for well over a year now, and I've found it to be excellent, and worth every penny.
I also believe that ultimately it's unnecessary to have a separate box (even it's using Field Programmable Gate Arrays) to do this job. Consider, for example, that a separate blue ray player isn't needed to play blue ray files--something like JRiver works just fine. Also consider that room and speaker correction can be done from any number of software solutions. Back when I had a big rig I used a Tact RCS to correct my Ariel 10t's. Today I use Dirac Live running on my HP to correct my KEF LS50's.
Is speaker emulation any more processor intensive than replaying a blue ray file with 7.1 channel sound? Or doing room and speaker correction, while replaying a 7.1 channel blue ray file? Somehow, I don't think so.
As for a specific set of headphone being needed, that's just ignorant. This is what Smyh says:
"We judge headphones in a number of ways. How comfortable are they to wear for an extended period of time, can they faithfully reproduce virtualised loudspeakers and how cost effective they are. For example the entire range of Stax headphones are comfortable and can reproduce virtual loudspeakers with stunning accuracy. Hence we continue to use the Stax 2170 for our own internal use due to its cost effectiveness. Sennheiser HD800s on the other hand have the same performance, are almost as comfortable, but are physically more robust, don’t require an external amplifier and they go louder. Hence we have moved over to using these headphones for demonstrations. These are two headphones we use every day and can vouch for their performance and comfort."
It seems that more than one headphone can perform with the equalizer. Myself, with OOYH I'm using Hd800's and Audeze LCD X;s. A number of users get excellent results with less expensive phones, if the feedback on this forum can be believed.
As for whether OOYH files can come close to Realizer results, consider DF offers personalized measurements (no doubt made using his Realizer). Perhaps someone who has made use of this service would like to review that service.
As for the default speaker selections that come with OOYH, just listen to each individual one on the trial version. Myself, I found several that I thought dramatically improved the performance of my LCD X's and HD 800's. YMMV.
BTW, even Smyth sees the value of using non personalized measurement on their product. Consider the following quote from their PRIR exchange site:
"For clarity, the term PRIR means a measurement file made using the member’s own head. A BRIR means a measurement file made using some other head...A BRIR of a high fidelity sound room can be personalised using information from a member’s PRIR. The algorithm comprises a three step process and has the capability to dramatically improve the localisation of the loudspeakers and suppress unnatural room colouration. It does not alter the nature of the room acoustics nor the reverberation. While personalising a BRIR is unlikely to ever sound superior to a PRIR made by the member in the same room, the improvement can be very useful where this is not an option and will often result in a better sounding room than a PRIR made in a regular room. As a result, this option should give members access to a much wider selection of decent sounding files"
In other words, if a BRIR is well done, it can sound very, very good. Even Smyth Research agrees.
Ultimately, I believe Smyth makes a quality product, and OOYH while not perfect (but vastly improved from where it was even a year ago) provides many of its functions at a much lower price.
I also believe that the only two features on Smyth that demand hardware are the head tracker and the measurement microphones. There's no reason everything else the Realizer does can not be accomplished more cost effectively with software.
.
I've used this program for well over a year now, and I've found it to be excellent, and worth every penny.
I also believe that ultimately it's unnecessary to have a separate box (even it's using Field Programmable Gate Arrays) to do this job. Consider, for example, that a separate blue ray player isn't needed to play blue ray files--something like JRiver works just fine. Also consider that room and speaker correction can be done from any number of software solutions. Back when I had a big rig I used a Tact RCS to correct my Ariel 10t's. Today I use Dirac Live running on my HP to correct my KEF LS50's.
Is speaker emulation any more processor intensive than replaying a blue ray file with 7.1 channel sound? Or doing room and speaker correction, while replaying a 7.1 channel blue ray file? Somehow, I don't think so.
As for a specific set of headphone being needed, that's just ignorant. This is what Smyh says:
"We judge headphones in a number of ways. How comfortable are they to wear for an extended period of time, can they faithfully reproduce virtualised loudspeakers and how cost effective they are. For example the entire range of Stax headphones are comfortable and can reproduce virtual loudspeakers with stunning accuracy. Hence we continue to use the Stax 2170 for our own internal use due to its cost effectiveness. Sennheiser HD800s on the other hand have the same performance, are almost as comfortable, but are physically more robust, don’t require an external amplifier and they go louder. Hence we have moved over to using these headphones for demonstrations. These are two headphones we use every day and can vouch for their performance and comfort."
It seems that more than one headphone can perform with the equalizer. Myself, with OOYH I'm using Hd800's and Audeze LCD X;s. A number of users get excellent results with less expensive phones, if the feedback on this forum can be believed.
As for whether OOYH files can come close to Realizer results, consider DF offers personalized measurements (no doubt made using his Realizer). Perhaps someone who has made use of this service would like to review that service.
As for the default speaker selections that come with OOYH, just listen to each individual one on the trial version. Myself, I found several that I thought dramatically improved the performance of my LCD X's and HD 800's. YMMV.
BTW, even Smyth sees the value of using non personalized measurement on their product. Consider the following quote from their PRIR exchange site:
"For clarity, the term PRIR means a measurement file made using the member’s own head. A BRIR means a measurement file made using some other head...A BRIR of a high fidelity sound room can be personalised using information from a member’s PRIR. The algorithm comprises a three step process and has the capability to dramatically improve the localisation of the loudspeakers and suppress unnatural room colouration. It does not alter the nature of the room acoustics nor the reverberation. While personalising a BRIR is unlikely to ever sound superior to a PRIR made by the member in the same room, the improvement can be very useful where this is not an option and will often result in a better sounding room than a PRIR made in a regular room. As a result, this option should give members access to a much wider selection of decent sounding files"
In other words, if a BRIR is well done, it can sound very, very good. Even Smyth Research agrees.
Ultimately, I believe Smyth makes a quality product, and OOYH while not perfect (but vastly improved from where it was even a year ago) provides many of its functions at a much lower price.
I also believe that the only two features on Smyth that demand hardware are the head tracker and the measurement microphones. There's no reason everything else the Realizer does can not be accomplished more cost effectively with software.
.