Phase Technology dcb-1.0-lr Reference Guide
gistically as I listened to the
Oue/Minnesota performance
of the finale of Respighi’s
Pines of Rome [30th Anni-
versary Sampler, Reference
Recordings]. This passage
is famous for the way its
orchestration and dynam-
ics build in intensity toward
Oue/Minnesota performance
of the finale of Respighi’s
Pines of Rome [30th Anni-
versary Sampler, Reference
Recordings]. This passage
is famous for the way its
orchestration and dynam-
ics build in intensity toward
a thunderous crescendo—a
crescendo the DARTS sys-
tem captured beautifully.
crescendo the DARTS sys-
tem captured beautifully.
My only criticisms of the
system are minor. First, the
DARTS system is not the last
word in 3D imaging because
its main speakers occasion-
ally draw too much attention
to themselves on hard,
upper midrange/treble
transients. Second, the sys-
tem can on some material
sound a little too bright,
though I know it measures
very well. This issue could
easily be addressed, I
think, if Phase Technol-
ogy adopts the new upper
midrange “contour control”
that Audyssey Laborato-
ries recently developed
for use in its standalone
room EQ products.
DARTS system is not the last
word in 3D imaging because
its main speakers occasion-
ally draw too much attention
to themselves on hard,
upper midrange/treble
transients. Second, the sys-
tem can on some material
sound a little too bright,
though I know it measures
very well. This issue could
easily be addressed, I
think, if Phase Technol-
ogy adopts the new upper
midrange “contour control”
that Audyssey Laborato-
ries recently developed
for use in its standalone
room EQ products.
Phase Technology’s
DARTS system is a superb
performer that offers good
value for the money and
provides an eye-opening
glimpse at what I think will
prove to be the future of
loudspeaker system de-
performer that offers good
value for the money and
provides an eye-opening
glimpse at what I think will
prove to be the future of
loudspeaker system de-
sign. The greatest beauty of
the system, though, is that
it works for multiple listen-
ers at once, creating—as
one Absolute Multimedia
staff member put, “a gi-
ant sweet-spot that seems
to be everywhere.”
the system, though, is that
it works for multiple listen-
ers at once, creating—as
one Absolute Multimedia
staff member put, “a gi-
ant sweet-spot that seems
to be everywhere.”
TPV
www.theperfectvision.com March 2007
Phase Technology
|
(888) 742-7385
|
www.phasetech.com
When DARTS 525 systems
are sold, the dealer sends a
DARTS-qualified installer to the
user’s home to calibrate the
system (the dealer may or may
not charge for this service). The
installer brings a calibration
system consisting of a laptop
equipped with test/calibra-
tion software, a calibrated
microphone, and a special
“umbilical” cord that connects
the laptop to the DARTS 525
system amplifier. The installer
runs a series of laptop-driven
tests (pulsed sweep tones that
are sold, the dealer sends a
DARTS-qualified installer to the
user’s home to calibrate the
system (the dealer may or may
not charge for this service). The
installer brings a calibration
system consisting of a laptop
equipped with test/calibra-
tion software, a calibrated
microphone, and a special
“umbilical” cord that connects
the laptop to the DARTS 525
system amplifier. The installer
runs a series of laptop-driven
tests (pulsed sweep tones that
are played through each speaker
in succession), taking multiple
measurements from locations in
and near every seat in the room.
in succession), taking multiple
measurements from locations in
and near every seat in the room.
Once data gathering is
complete, the installer runs a
computation-intensive, Audyssey
Laboratories-developed com-
puter program that calculates
frequency and time response
correction filters for each speaker
in the system. Phase Technol-
ogy offers users four possible
EQ tuning curves to allow for
rooms that are large or small
and whose acoustics may be
computation-intensive, Audyssey
Laboratories-developed com-
puter program that calculates
frequency and time response
correction filters for each speaker
in the system. Phase Technol-
ogy offers users four possible
EQ tuning curves to allow for
rooms that are large or small
and whose acoustics may be
reverberant or dead. For rever-
berant spaces, the system rolls
off upper midrange and treble
response a bit to compensate for
the fact that “live” rooms tend
to make speakers sound overly
bright. Once a preferred EQ tun-
ing curve is selected, the install-
er downloads filter settings to
the amplifier’s DSP engines via
a faceplate-mounted USB port.
berant spaces, the system rolls
off upper midrange and treble
response a bit to compensate for
the fact that “live” rooms tend
to make speakers sound overly
bright. Once a preferred EQ tun-
ing curve is selected, the install-
er downloads filter settings to
the amplifier’s DSP engines via
a faceplate-mounted USB port.
As the last step in the set-up
process, the installer discon-
nects the calibration system
and configures the system’s
preamp/multichannel control-
nects the calibration system
and configures the system’s
preamp/multichannel control-
ler to drive the DARTS 525
amplifier. During the data
analysis process, DARTS
calibration software calculates
recommended speaker distance
settings (accurate to with a
tenth of a foot) and channel
level settings (accurate to with a
tenth of a dB). The installer then
connects the controller to the
DARTS amplifier and loads the
recommended settings, at which
point the system is ready to play
music or movie soundtracks
in a way most people have
not experienced before.
amplifier. During the data
analysis process, DARTS
calibration software calculates
recommended speaker distance
settings (accurate to with a
tenth of a foot) and channel
level settings (accurate to with a
tenth of a dB). The installer then
connects the controller to the
DARTS amplifier and loads the
recommended settings, at which
point the system is ready to play
music or movie soundtracks
in a way most people have
not experienced before.
DARTS 525 System Setup
Poor
Good
Excellent
1
0
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Bass Dynamics
Bass Pitch Definition
Bass Extension
Self-Amplified Subwoofers
Poor
Good
Excellent
1
0
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Dynamics
Tonal Balance
Phase Technology DARTS 525
Self-Amplified 5.1-Channel Speaker System
(compared with sub-$13k speaker/amplifier packages)
Imaging and Soundstaging
Transparency and Focus
Self-Amplified Main, Center, and Surround
Speakers
Poor
Good
Excellent
1
0
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Value
216-1033
DCB-SURR surround speaker
System as a Whole