Smyth Research Realiser A16

[SergioPOE]

It was a Kickstarter. After the Kickstarter campaign concluded, Smyth Unrealized sold hundreds, if not thousands, of preorders by misrepresenting its product as market ready.

Moreover, even though this IS the forum for Smyth Unrealized, why hasn’t Smyth Unrealized posted ANYTHING? Do you like being CanJammed?

I bought one after the Kickstarter campaign ended and it was clear to me that the product was not market ready (otherwise, why would the delivery date have been several months in the future?) Aside from that, your constant use of what you no doubt think are witty little insults tell me you're just an angry person who's probably watching too much reality TV where everyone is always at each other's throats and you think that's normal behavior. It's not. Your disappointment is duly noted. Now please give it a rest.

 

[106099]

Did not realized it had been this long. I was backer #13 and it will soon be 2 years since I paid $1037 (£774) for my unit.
At this point, I don't think my credit card company can issue a refund if Smyth Research failed to deliver.

 

[JohnEW]

Everyone who has used Kickstarter will have realized of these updates, but other may not.
There has been many modifications since the original Kickstarter campaign like those below and although many delays have occurred during the development I applaud Smyth for sticking in there and updating their product to a higher specification than originally specified, even although many of us have become disgruntled with the delays. I presume that they have a genuine reason for the delays which may well be caused by problems technically or outwith their control.

I like many others are disappointed by the delays, but the physical photographs and updates (when they do come) still gives me confidence that the Realiser A16 will arrive.

https://www.kickstarter.com/project...al-3d-audio-headphone-processor/posts/2044207

14 Dec 2017
Recent visit to suppliers in China
Physical Photographs of PCB boards and HS housings etc

https://www.kickstarter.com/project...al-3d-audio-headphone-processor/posts/1950017

29 July 2017
Balanced Headphones
We will be including a differential headphone output mode for driving balanced headphones using both User A and User B headphone output jacks together

https://www.kickstarter.com/project...al-3d-audio-headphone-processor/posts/1917399

20 June 2017
Updated All HDMI Inputs/Output
We can confirm that the A16 will ship with HDMI 2.0b HDCP2.2 functionality on all HDMI inputs and output. The 2.0b provides support for Ultra HD @4kx2k 50/60Hz as well as all three HDR variants HDR10, HLG and Dolby Vision

Just think about this: If Smyth had given you your Realiser A16 a year ago without these modifications because you shouted about the delays. How many would be complaining now to Smyth that they have received a old version and wanted to return it?. I don't mind waiting for the modifications to be included in mine.

 

[MichaelJames99]

New topic! So I did the VUDU conversion where you scan your Bluray, DVD and actually some of my HD-DVD's and Vudu converts them to HDX format for $3-5/each. At some point I may pay to covert again to 4K + Dobly Atmos that at least VUDU offers for another $10 each. But until then: Question, how does the A16 handle an HDX surround signal? What about the others that iTunes, MoviesAnywhere, Disney and some of the other online streaming movie services that are not using ATMOS or the other mainstream codecs? Is HDX actually DD+? Im not sure

 

[Sanctuary]

I like many others are disappointed by the delays, but the physical photographs and updates (when they do come) still gives me confidence that the Realiser A16 will arrive.

I was not expecting them to release it last fall like they had initially stated, and was hoping that it would at least be out before the end of 2017 at some point. With barely any updates at all, and no pictures of the production units (or even parts) instead of just mock ups/prototype designs started to make me more indignant than before. Once they actually showed the PCB boards though, even though it still didn't really signify that it would be released soon, it was a sign of progress. With the updates that followed, I just resigned to a late May - July window. Which is personally fine in terms of money. Once I actually get the unit, I planned on going crazy with UHDs, and I still have a few months left to pay off my credit card.

New topic! So I did the VUDU conversion where you scan your Bluray, DVD and actually some of my HD-DVD's and Vudu converts them to HDX format for $3-5/each. At some point I may pay to covert again to 4K + Dobly Atmos that at least VUDU offers for another $10 each. But until then: Question, how does the A16 handle an HDX surround signal? What about the others that iTunes, MoviesAnywhere, Disney and some of the other online streaming movie services that are not using ATMOS or the other mainstream codecs? Is HDX actually DD+? Im not sure

HDX is just DD+ 5.1.

Also, what do you mean converting again to 4K and Atmos? You meant using a UHD, right? Just curious: why do this at all instead of simply playing the disc? Are you wanting to run all of your movies off of a flash drive connected directly to your TV? Would that even work with most TVs and ARC?

 

[MichaelJames99]

I was not expecting them to release it last fall like they had initially stated, and was hoping that it would at least be out before the end of 2017 at some point. With barely any updates at all, and no pictures of the production units (or even parts) instead of just mock ups/prototype designs started to make me more indignant than before. Once they actually showed the PCB boards though, even though it still didn't really signify that it would be released soon, it was a sign of progress. With the updates that followed, I just resigned to a late May - July window. Which is personally fine in terms of money. Once I actually get the unit, I planned on going crazy with UHDs, and I still have a few months left to pay off my credit card.



HDX is just DD+ 5.1.

Also, what do you mean converting again to 4K and Atmos? You meant using a UHD, right? Just curious: why do this at all instead of simply playing the disc? Are you wanting to run all of your movies off of a flash drive connected directly to your TV? Would that even work with most TVs and ARC?

OK.. here is the story. Its a matte of convenience. I am trying to get to the point where I can have everything on a "cloud like" storage and use centralized interfaces to play movies across multiple devices. So that if I am on a trip, I can use local WIFI and play movies, or download the movie to the laptop to watch on the plane. Getting rid of disks is a nice convenience. Now that my disks are gone and they are on VUDU in HDX format, for an additional $9 I can upgrade them again online to 4k UHD w/Dolby Atmos. None of the disks I had were UHD/4k/Atmos disks. Going forward, I will never buy another disk I think as long as the quality of video and audio is close.

Nice article on HDX from VUDU (not sure how old this is but it does give differences):

https://www.diffen.com/difference/HD-vs-HDX

 

[Sanctuary]

Now that my disks are gone and they are on VUDU in HDX format, for an additional $9 I can upgrade them again online to 4k UHD w/Dolby Atmos. None of the disks I had were UHD/4k/Atmos disks. Going forward, I will never buy another disk I think as long as the quality of video and audio is close.

Nice article on HDX from VUDU (not sure how old this is but it does give differences):

https://www.diffen.com/difference/HD-vs-HDX

Does Vudu just see that you already own a specific movie, and for a fee they give you a copy of the same film if they have it in their selection already for you to download? I read your initial post as though they are actually converting the Blu-ray files/rip, but that didn't make any sense when you were talking about having them converted again to 4K.

Also, I'm sure they've improved the encodes since 2014, but:

If one can't tell the difference between HDX streaming on VUDU and the equivalent Blu-ray, something is direly wrong in your video chain. HDX streaming looks slightly better than upscaled DVD on larger displays, but the number of serious compression issues alone make it a far poorer picture than Blu-ray. As others have mentioned, almost all shadow delineation is crushed under banding. It's a major detriment in horror movies and darkened interiors.

I don't think the worse picture quality of streaming will really sway lazy consumers in the long run. We learned that consumers dropped CDs the minute they could move everything to MP3 with far inferior sound.

 

[MichaelJames99]

Vudu has an android app you download. You use that app to scan the back of the Blu-ray, DVD or HDDVD box for the code. It reads the code and tells you if it is eligible to be "bought" for a new copy that gets stored on VUDU under your personal collection. You can also download a program for Windows 10 and you insert the original disk too. Have not tried that but assume it works.

https://www.vudu.com/content/in_home_disc_to_digital.html

I think VUDU has gotten a lot better since 2014.

 

[musicday]

Is anyone on this thread going to attend CanJam Socal next month? Looking forward to your impressions of the final commercial version of A16.
Take some photos if possible, please.

 

[blenheim]

Is anyone on this thread going to attend CanJam Socal next month? Looking forward to your impressions of the final commercial version of A16.
Take some photos if possible, please.

I am going to go to CanJam in LA and booked a demo with Smyth on Sunday. I ordered the A16 last December but have not listened to it yet, I thought I would take the opportunity to do that and at least get a set of basic measurements done. I will try to take some photos and can post them afterwards.

My plan is to use the A16 mostly for listening to 2 channel music, I do most of it through headphones anyway to not disturb the family. The hope is that it will get close to the listening experience through speakers. Maybe I can work out a way to record some high-end 2 channel setups in the future and if the A16 is able to recreate that experience, that would be really thrilling.

 

[AppleheadMay]

Is Smyth going to CJ London by any chance?
Would be a great motivation for me to go.

 

[esimms86]

I am going to go to CanJam in LA and booked a demo with Smyth on Sunday. I ordered the A16 last December but have not listened to it yet, I thought I would take the opportunity to do that and at least get a set of basic measurements done. I will try to take some photos and can post them afterwards.

My plan is to use the A16 mostly for listening to 2 channel music, I do most of it through headphones anyway to not disturb the family. The hope is that it will get close to the listening experience through speakers. Maybe I can work out a way to record some high-end 2 channel setups in the future and if the A16 is able to recreate that experience, that would be really thrilling.

I had my first and only encounter with the A16 at CanJam NYC 2017. The Smyths were using Yamaha powered speakers in a Dolby Atmos 7.1.4 setup. Great sound that utterly convinced me that I was listening to loudspeakers, even when I wasn’t. If your experience is anything like mine, you will be wowed. Like most people on this forum, I hav3 a ton of 2 channel music in my personal digital library, plus I have purchased a prodigious amount of 5.1 recordings in anticipation of receiving the A16. I also have a small handful of movies to watch and listen(though I, admittedly, am limited to 1080p for video).

I would absolutely love to sample a high end 2 channel system (AND a high end 5.1 or 7.1 system, given my current multichannel library). As I have the good fortune of having in-laws living just outside of Los Angeles (I live in Massachusetts), I have my heart set on visiting a pro recording and/or mastering studio to have a PRIR done, hopefully sometime in late June. The ideal would be to connect with Darin Fong or Lorr Kramer to get one or two(2.0/2.1 and 5.1/7.1) PRIRs done for well under $1000 total (money very well spent).

The take home message here is that you will go in with a goal of ensuring a rewarding 2 channel experience but you will leave equally impressed with multichannel. And that’s on a mid-fi system in a hotel room.

 

[blenheim]

I had my first and only encounter with the A16 at CanJam NYC 2017. The Smyths were using Yamaha powered speakers in a Dolby Atmos 7.1.4 setup. Great sound that utterly convinced me that I was listening to loudspeakers, even when I wasn’t. If your experience is anything like mine, you will be wowed. Like most people on this forum, I hav3 a ton of 2 channel music in my personal digital library, plus I have purchased a prodigious amount of 5.1 recordings in anticipation of receiving the A16. I also have a small handful of movies to watch and listen(though I, admittedly, am limited to 1080p for video).

I would absolutely love to sample a high end 2 channel system (AND a high end 5.1 or 7.1 system, given my current multichannel library). As I have the good fortune of having in-laws living just outside of Los Angeles (I live in Massachusetts), I have my heart set on visiting a pro recording and/or mastering studio to have a PRIR done, hopefully sometime in late June. The ideal would be to connect with Darin Fong or Lorr Kramer to get one or two(2.0/2.1 and 5.1/7.1) PRIRs done for well under $1000 total (money very well spent).

The take home message here is that you will go in with a goal of ensuring a rewarding 2 channel experience but you will leave equally impressed with multichannel. And that’s on a mid-fi system in a hotel room.

Thank you for your insights, now I am looking forward even more to hearing the A16. Can you elaborate on your ides to connect with Daren Fong? My understanding is that he cretaed teh OOYH software, would he be able to get you access into a recording studio for a fee? I might try to fandangle my way into Bryan Adams recording studio here in Vancouver, the architectural firm I am working for did the design for the studio renovation many years ago. As far as 2 channel goes I would really like to do measurements of the Living Vox Olympian and the Pnoe Horn. Not likely to happen, but you never know ...

 

[SergioPOE]

I had my first and only encounter with the A16 at CanJam NYC 2017. The Smyths were using Yamaha powered speakers in a Dolby Atmos 7.1.4 setup. Great sound that utterly convinced me that I was listening to loudspeakers, even when I wasn’t. If your experience is anything like mine, you will be wowed. Like most people on this forum, I hav3 a ton of 2 channel music in my personal digital library, plus I have purchased a prodigious amount of 5.1 recordings in anticipation of receiving the A16. I also have a small handful of movies to watch and listen(though I, admittedly, am limited to 1080p for video).

I would absolutely love to sample a high end 2 channel system (AND a high end 5.1 or 7.1 system, given my current multichannel library). As I have the good fortune of having in-laws living just outside of Los Angeles (I live in Massachusetts), I have my heart set on visiting a pro recording and/or mastering studio to have a PRIR done, hopefully sometime in late June. The ideal would be to connect with Darin Fong or Lorr Kramer to get one or two(2.0/2.1 and 5.1/7.1) PRIRs done for well under $1000 total (money very well spent).

The take home message here is that you will go in with a goal of ensuring a rewarding 2 channel experience but you will leave equally impressed with multichannel. And that’s on a mid-fi system in a hotel room.

Before shelling out any money to get a PRIR done, you might want to wait and see what the Realiser Exchange has to offer. There are also publicly available PRIRs that people made (some using very expensive equipment) and posted for the A8 that if you're going to listen to stereo, should work just as well. Someone put them in a Dropbox folder. There was a post about it a few weeks ago.

 

[esimms86]

Thank you for your insights, now I am looking forward even more to hearing the A16. Can you elaborate on your ides to connect with Daren Fong? My understanding is that he cretaed teh OOYH software, would he be able to get you access into a recording studio for a fee? I might try to fandangle my way into Bryan Adams recording studio here in Vancouver, the architectural firm I am working for did the design for the studio renovation many years ago. As far as 2 channel goes I would really like to do measurements of the Living Vox Olympian and the Pnoe Horn. Not likely to happen, but you never know ...

I previously owned the Smyth Realiser A8 and I am also a satisfied customer of Darin's having purchased OOYH software. I have had PM contact in the past with Darin and he has kindly offered to accompany me to studios in Los Angeles to have PRIRs done. Regarding the A16, OOYH is not set up run that many channels and Darin, as far as I know, has no plans to update OOYH software to be compatible with PRIRs made for it. Of course, if one were to have PRIRs made using A8 technology, Darin would be able to use that PRIR to make a custom OOYH preset.

Regarding making PRIRs in your dream locations, you have nothing to lose by asking (and negotiating) with the folks in charge there. While there are definitely limits to how much money any given individual views as being reasonable to spend, I would argue that investing, say, $1000 in having a PRIR made in the right space would allow you to take home an incredibly satisfying and endlessly repeatable listening experience.