Denon AVR-A1H

“I’ve taken a deep dive into the graphs and here’s my analysis of interesting patterns and implications : 1. Modal behaviour and null distribution: Dirac ART (Magenta): the standout feature is no significant nulls between 25–70 Hz, which is where my room exhibits strong axial modes. This suggests ART is actively managing modal energy decay, not just static EQ. Bass sounds more tight and uniform across seats, not just at the MLP. Dirac Live & Bass Control (Cyan & Blue): both show two distinct nulls: ~30–35 Hz (likely first axial mode along the longest room dimension). ~60–70 Hz (second harmonic or width mode). These nulls are deep enough to cause audible “holes” in bass energy for certain notes or effects. A1 EVO AcoustiX (Green): same null pattern but shallower dips, meaning better modal averaging or less aggressive correction that avoids overcompensation. It sounds more natural than Live/BC in my room. Audyssey XT32 (Red): deep null at ~30 Hz and another at ~90–100 Hz → worst modal handling. Likely due to static EQ approach without phase/time-domain optimization. 2. Transition region (80–150 Hz) All systems show some ripple here, but Dirac ART, Live, and AcoustiX are relatively smooth. This region is critical for integration with mains: ripple here can cause localization issues or “muddy” bass. ART’s smoothness suggests better phase alignment with mains compared to others. 3. Low-end extension (below 20-25 Hz) All curves roll off below 20 Hz, but Dirac ART and Live maintain slightly better extension than Audyssey. For movies with heavy LFE (e.g., explosions), ART and Live deliver more tactile bass. 4. EQ philosophy differences Dirac ART: seems to prioritize modal smoothing and time-domain correction → explains why nulls are minimized without introducing peaks. Dirac Live & BC: Focus on frequency-domain correction → nulls remain because EQ cannot fully fix destructive interference. AcoustiX: seems to apply gentler correction, avoiding aggressive boosts → shallower nulls but slightly less precision. Audyssey XT32: static EQ only → cannot address time-domain issues → deep nulls persist. 5. Listening Impact Movies: ART sounds tight, powerful, and consistent across seats. Live and BC sound good but have occasional “missing notes” in bass-heavy scenes. AcoustiX sounds natural but slightly less impactful. XT32 sounds uneven and weak in deep bass. Music: ART’s smoothness makes it excellent for music too. Live remains strong for neutrality, but nulls affect bass notes. AcoustiX sounds slightly warmer due to less aggressive correction. BC similar to Live, XT32 weakest. 6. My rankings (movies + music listening): Movies: ART > AcoustiX > Live ≈ BC > XT32 Dirac ART: best modal control, smoothest bass, great integration. A1 EVO AcoustiX: shallower nulls than Live/BC, natural sound. Dirac Live: smooth overall, but nulls reduce consistency. Dirac Bass Control: very close to Live, slightly less refined. Audyssey XT32 – Deep nulls, least consisten”