[dsperber]

Also, don’t forget that you next have to set up your imported PRIR for Dolby Atmos, DTS and PCM, as needed(although DTS is currently unusable).

Sure, but I haven't gotten there yet in the writeup. And he hasn't gotten close to there yet if I read things correctly.

Let's help him find success with getting past the required few preliminary steps. First things first.

 

[VandyMan]

I can't seem to save HPEQ files to my SD Card. I know the SD Card is good, because I used it to update the firmware.

When I go to the Files/HPEQ it shows that the card 99 slots free. (When no card is in inserted, it shows zero slots free.) I select Copy To SD Card and shows a progress bar. However, when it is done, it still shows nothing on the card. When I put the card on my computer, it also shows no new files.

I also can not load PREQ files from the card. I can see them on my computer, but not on the Realizer. Any suggestions?

EDIT: Found the answer in an old postbox Sander99. Thanks!
"In the realiser folder there must be 2 folders 'PRIRS' and 'HPEQS' (this was not mentioned in the manual, but it was in one of the instruction video's on youtube)."

 

[esimms86]

Sure, but I haven't gotten there yet in the writeup. And he hasn't gotten close to there yet if I read things correctly.

Let's help him find success with getting past the required few preliminary steps. First things first.

I don’t disagree. However, I didn’t want him (or anyone else reading the thread) to think that an A8 PRIR, once successfully converted to the appropriate A16 format, would then be fully ready to use as a preset. There are still scores of people who have yet to receive their units and who may be looking to use their old A8 PRIRs(or those downloadable from the google drive). Anyway, no harm, no foul.

 

[esimms86]

I can't seem to save HPEQ files to my SD Card. I know the SD Card is good, because I used it to update the firmware.

When I go to the Files/HPEQ it shows that the card 99 slots free. (When no card is in inserted, it shows zero slots free.) I select Copy To SD Card and shows a progress bar. However, when it is done, it still shows nothing on the card. When I put the card on my computer, it also shows no new files.

I also can not load PREQ files from the card. I can see them on my computer, but not on the Realizer. Any suggestions?

Do you have a microSD card folder named HPEQS inside another folder named REALISER? Also, there should be another REALISER subfolder named PRIRS to be used for eventually storing PRIRs. So as not to confuse anybody, I should add that there is no such animal as a PREQ. There is a Smyth Research video available on YouTube explaining the whole process.

 

[You Gene]

Someone from HCFR said the other day :
…I have problems to adjust correctly the manLOUD from autoEQ. The more the frequencies increase when changing the “bands” (32 in total), the more I have problems to adjust them to the same level as “band” 1…
I might just have the same problems as well ? sander99 told me not long ago :
“did you already try some PRIRs from the google drive?
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1MWWb8KELPBbAC5WSHf82UXeV73v1O84W”
FACTS :
- I downloaded a “ready-made PRIR” from google drive and put it on the Realiser. Being curious, I did not bother with the manLOUD. I just listened to a Dolby 5.1 DVD series ("The Bureau" : mainly dialogues ) with only my autoEQ and was pleasantly surprised by the clarity of the dialogues (I love to hear people modulate their voices to express themselves like people on stage). This was the PRIR of somebody else.
- I compared the above dialogues (no manLOUD) of the same Dolby 5.1 DVD but using my
1) Surrey room (which is in manLOUD)
2) BBC room (which is in manLOUD)
- I noticed for the 1st time (since I never compared those 2 rooms with an "autoEQ only" room before) that the dialogues of my Surrey+BBC rooms were sort of slightly muffled as compared to the ready-made PRIR.
The music was +- the same, almost no change at all.
- I did the same comparison with the ready-made PRIR/Surrey room/BBC room, this time with the DVD Matrix in Atmos, same results : Atmos special effects +- the same in the 3 rooms but the dialogue is better in the ready-made PRIR, Surrey room slightly muffled and BBC room even slightly more muffled than Surrey.
- Everything was done with the upmix on in all cases.
CONCLUSION :
I have to admit that this is a highly subjective experience.
But I would very much like to do another comparison when I have more time, i.e. compare my existing manLOUDED Surrey/BBC rooms with those same Surrey/BBC rooms but in autoEQ mode only.
Should I conclude that manLOUD is not for me ; not a clue guys !!! Not enough data and not a specialist either.

Sorry to be so long !

 

[Mach10]

I finally got my A16 yesterday!

All in all seems to work pretty well so far; couple of initial points:

- Didn't need to upgrade the firmware, the latest one (1.81) was already installed.
- Copying my A8 PRIRs via SD card and translating them to A16 format worked as advertised. However, copying my A8 HPEQ files did NOT work. I did get the "004" error during conversion. Possibly they only fixed this for PRIRs in the latest update. Not a big deal as I'm using HD800s which are both the preset anyway and I can make an A16 HPEQ easy enough, just not at the same location anymore as the PRIRs were made (which was recommended in the manual). It does seem to sound slightly different from when listening to the A8 preset. Could be a difference in HP amps and/or different bass management though.
- They did include both a second head tracker and the 2U rack mount ears, although I didn't pledge/order the latter. Anyone else had the same thing happen to them? I don't mind having them lying around in the box until I may possibly need them but wouldn't have bought them, so I guess I'm gonna ask Smyth whether they want them back.
- Maybe I'm missing some technical point, but I don't really understand why the minimum (not maximum) volume level is 27 (for all three gain levels, I've tried them)... seems to be a rather arbitrary number plus you can't really mute the A16 by turning the volume all the way down. Not a huge point but slightly confusing.

Will post more later once I got more time playing around.

 

[sander99]

Not a big deal as I'm using HD800s which are both the preset anyway and I can make an A16 HPEQ easy enough, just not at the same location anymore as the PRIRs were made (which was recommended in the manual).

HPEQ is also personal, a headphone sounds different on different people's heads, so definetely measure a new HPEQ!
The recommendation isn't really about being in the same room, that doesn't make any difference (except that you can directly compare the real with the virtual speakers using that HPEQ/PRIR combination). It is about using the same microphones in the exact same position in your ears, that can be achieved by doing the PRIR and HPEQ in one go without moving the mics. But either way, both is now impossible of course (being in the same room or having the same microphones in the exact same position).

It does seem to sound slightly different from when listening to the A8 preset. Could be a difference in HP amps and/or different bass management though.

Could also be the different HPEQ if you are using the preset and not your own. Even if you did measure a new one personally it could sound a little different.
Different bass management settings could surely make a big difference. But I would expect the difference in HP amps to be the least likely factor, compared to all other things.

 

[gevorg]

A Smyth Realiser A16 is for sale.

Price $2995 includes free shipping.

I believe seller has listed this A16 or another before. So some questions on the
subject would be appropriate.

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649592561-smyth-research-realiser-a16/

That's my listing and I have no affiliation with the previous A16 that was on sale. Maybe "opened only to take photos" comment made it look similar. Anyway, feel free to PM with any questions.

 

[ajax1]

That's my listing and I have no affiliation with the previous A16 that was on sale. Maybe "opened only to take photos" comment made it look similar. Anyway, feel free to PM with any questions.

Sorry. I was mistaken.

 

[Eich1eeF]

This is a picture of what I believe is the location of a replaceable battery in the A16. Battery is on lower left.

Which is the right side in the front of the A16. The device is a MS Lithium Rechargeable Battery MS621FE, probably from Seiko. Note the micro SD card directly on the right of it.

 

[Camano]

The device is a MS Lithium Rechargeable Battery MS621FE, probably from Seiko. Note the micro SD card directly on the right of it.

Which doesn’t appear to be user replaceable since it has surface mount leads. It’s rechargeable, and is probably intended to last the lifetime of the A16.

Kim

 

[JonFo]

Hi everyone, recent A16 user here. I seem to have misplaced my remote

I'm in the USA, any options to quickly source a compatible remote unit?

I'll contact Smyth tomorrow about a replacement, but it would be good to know if there are options. As it is a paperweight now.

 

[Eich1eeF]

Which doesn’t appear to be user replaceable since it has surface mount leads. It’s rechargeable, and is probably intended to last the lifetime of the A16.

The leads are 1mm apart, 0.5mm wide and not buried under the cell. As far as SMD soldering goes, that one's a walk in the park. I'm somewhat concerned about the relatively limited number of cycles the device is rated for, so lets hope that the Smyths have correctly implemented a gentle charging/discharging algorithm. Maybe someone should inquire how long the cell takes to discharge "completely" when the A16 is not connected to power, so we can all add a recurring event in our calendars to power it on once in a while for a quick recharge...

 

[Fox1977]

I wrote to James a few days ago to ask for an update since it doesn't seem to be moving much lately. Of course, i didn't get an answer (i would honestly have been surprised to get one).
Yet, they seem to have a great sense of humour at Smyth Research because on the About page on their website, the short description they give about James say :

[...] Most will know James through his constant stream of emails and progress updates about the Realiser A16 [...]

 

[Eich1eeF]

Hi everyone, recent A16 user here. I seem to have misplaced my remote

I'm in the USA, any options to quickly source a compatible remote unit?

I'll contact Smyth tomorrow about a replacement, but it would be good to know if there are options. As it is a paperweight now.

A "good" universal remote should do, if you're willing to put in some work. I can provide a Philips Pronto NG configuration file (.pcf) with all the IR codes. You may have to download the Philips Pronto NG editor program click on every button and copy-and-paste the IR code out of there. For example, Harmony support should be able to add those to your personal configuration if you provide them with a list of button names and the associated codes. Some apps for phones or tablets, together with a WiFi to IR device could work as well. Rene Lou may have a configuration file that works with pronto pro remotes https://www.head-fi.org/threads/smyth-research-realiser-a16.807459/post-15247829

edit: Pronto NG config uploaded on remotecentral