Integra DRX-8.4 Owners & Discussion Thread

[a.dent]

I've had my 8.4 for a week now. Early impressions are very positive. Build quality is good but of course not up to the standard of my Denon AVP-A1HD.

It ticked most of the boxes on my wish list, especially the XLR outs for front LCR and built in Dirac Live. ATM I only have a 7.2 setup but the addition of 4 ceiling Atmos speakers is in the planning stage. I use a March Audio P422 to power my Front LR speakers. 

I have set up Dirac Live with 3 and 7 measurement positions for slots 1 and 2. I'm pleasantly surprised with the sound quality of 5.1 SACDs but I find, compared with my old Denon AVP-A1HD processor/Elektra HD2 power amplifier combo, there is a distinct lack of low bass with movies. Has anyone else noticed that?

Obviously it's early days and I'm new to Dirac but I'm tempted to purchase DLBC to see what that adds to the bass experience.

I'm streaming from Roon using Chromecast and looking forward to Roon support. I only get stereo using Chromecast. Is there no way of getting surround sound with Chromecast?

[AudioFool18]

I had one of these. Bought it to replace my RZ50.

It does everything which I wished my RZ50 would do

• Backlit remote
• 2 x independents subs
• XLR inputs and outputs

I have nothing bad to say about the unit other than the price.

In the end I sold it and kept my RZ50.

There were 2 independents subs, but to get DLBC would cost $499 USD. Add that to the already high price, and I just couldn't justify it. Especially while I'm not using the XLRs at the moment. 

 

[Snoopy8]

On 16/10/2023 at 9:04 PM, a.dent said:

 there is a distinct lack of low bass with movies. Has anyone else noticed that?

A common complaint. You can download a target curve to boost bass from here

https://mehlau.net/audio/dirac-live-2/

Am using +4dB but it does comes down to personal preference.

 

Note that you may want to adjust the tail end of the curve to follow your room response.  Alternately, play with curtains to limit upper limit of Dirac.

 

On 16/10/2023 at 9:04 PM, a.dent said:

Obviously it's early days and I'm new to Dirac but I'm tempted to purchase DLBC to see what that adds to the bass experience.

Highly recommend DLBC.  It is the reason why Dirac is now the leader of room correction software.

Edited October 18, 2023 by Snoopy8
Typo

[Snoopy8]

On 17/10/2023 at 12:40 PM, AudioFool18 said:

There were 2 independents subs, but to get DLBC would cost $499 USD. Add that to the already high price, and I just couldn't justify it. Especially while I'm not using the XLRs at the moment. 

I do understand the difficulty of adding another 15% to 20% to the cost of your AVR, especially if your room is well treated. 

 

However, with 2 or more subs in a shared room, DLBC provides the 2nd best (more later) solution to getting well defined, even bass across all seating positions. Bass is better integrated with all speakers. 

 

If you like bass, nothing beats DLBC other than DLART.  Dirac Live Active Room Treatment is the next  revolution, if you believe the rave feedback from Storm Audio owners.  DLBC owners are now hoping that their AVRs will be able to make the next jump, likely next year.

[AudioFool18]

1 hour ago, Snoopy8 said:

I do understand the difficulty of adding another 15% to 20% to the cost of your AVR, especially if your room is well treated. 

 

However, with 2 or more subs in a shared room, DLBC provides the 2nd best (more later) solution to getting well defined, even bass across all seating positions. Bass is better integrated with all speakers. 

 

If you like bass, nothing beats DLBC other than DLART.  Dirac Live Active Room Treatment is the next  revolution, if you believe the rave feedback from Storm Audio owners.  DLBC owners are now hoping that their AVRs will be able to make the next jump, likely next year.

 

I have no doubt that DLBC is great. My issue is the price which I need to pay to get 2 subs running DLBC.

The DRX8.4 is already 2.5 x the price of my RZ50. Add to that the DLBC license, and that makes it over 3 x the price, which I just can't justify.

I guess I'm just happy with my RZ50 with DL at this stage. Eventually I will be getting a 2nd sub and I'll be using a MiniDSP to make it work.

Who knows, maybe when that happens I'll decide to give up and just buy the DRX8.4 and DLBC.

 

[Hi-Fi Whipped]

On 16/10/2023 at 8:04 PM, a.dent said:

I've had my 8.4 for a week now. Early impressions are very positive. Build quality is good but of course not up to the standard of my Denon AVP-A1HD.

It ticked most of the boxes on my wish list, especially the XLR outs for front LCR and built in Dirac Live. ATM I only have a 7.2 setup but the addition of 4 ceiling Atmos speakers is in the planning stage. I use a March Audio P422 to power my Front LR speakers. 

I have set up Dirac Live with 3 and 7 measurement positions for slots 1 and 2. I'm pleasantly surprised with the sound quality of 5.1 SACDs but I find, compared with my old Denon AVP-A1HD processor/Elektra HD2 power amplifier combo, there is a distinct lack of low bass with movies. Has anyone else noticed that?

Obviously it's early days and I'm new to Dirac but I'm tempted to purchase DLBC to see what that adds to the bass experience.

I'm streaming from Roon using Chromecast and looking forward to Roon support. I only get stereo using Chromecast. Is there no way of getting surround sound with Chromecast?

Congrats on the purchase, Dirac is a steep learning curve in the beginning but just know that as Snoop said once you get the target curve right you will wonder how you lived without it.

 

best thing you can do is share some screenshots of your target curves in Dirac and get some feedback, even after 3 years of use I did that recently and learnt even more.

 

Theres a Dirac thread here too, have a read asap and you’ll learn quickly and have your system sounding great sooner than you think.

 

enjoy

[Snoopy8]

1 hour ago, AudioFool18 said:

The DRX8.4 is already 2.5 x the price of my RZ50. Add to that the DLBC license, and that makes it over 3 x the price, which I just can't justify.

I guess I'm just happy with my RZ50 with DL at this stage. 

I fully appreciate where you are coming from.  I have been helping someone go through the same process, with very similar multiples on pricing. While he was very satisfied with DL only, he made the mistake of listening to my DLBC setup.    Maybe a lesson for you? 

 

1 hour ago, AudioFool18 said:

 Eventually I will be getting a 2nd sub and I'll be using a MiniDSP to make it work.

Who knows, maybe when that happens I'll decide to give up and just buy the DRX8.4 and DLBC.

Did not realise you had only 1 sub, so makes it harder to get DLBC.

 

I was using this to integrate my subs.

It did an excellent job of getting an even bass response for the room.  To use MSO, you must be able to do REW measurements with a timing reference signal.  

 

DLBC takes it further than MSO by optimising the integration of the subs with the speakers.  While DLBC is ahead of MSO,  MSO beats hand down manual integration.  Best of all, it is free, but requires time and effort to learn.

Edited October 18, 2023 by Snoopy8
Typo

[a.dent]

6 hours ago, Snoopy8 said:

A common complaint. You can download a target curve to boost bass from here

https://mehlau.net/audio/dirac-live-2/

Am using +4dB but it does comes down to personal preference.

 

Note that you may want to adjust the tail end of the curve to follow your room response.  Alternately, play with curtains to limit upper limit of Dirac.

 

Highly recommend DLBC.  It is the reason why Dirac is now the leader of room correction software.

 

Thanks @Snoopy8. I've downloaded the Harman Curves and will try them as soon as I get a chance.

I'm still baulking at the US$499 for DLBC but I know I'll eventually purchase it. Maybe after a little more experience with Dirac Live.

 

I'm amazed how great the standard curve sounds with surround music though. I have a fairly high end stereo setup that I am avoiding now as I go through my SACD library from front to back. My modest Usher S520 centre, surround and surround back speakers are blending in beautifully with my Magico S5 front speakers. It seems Dirac is changing a few factors to get the sound to meld so well.

 

Happy days!

[Snoopy8]

8 hours ago, a.dent said:

I'm amazed how great the standard curve sounds with surround music though. I have a fairly high end stereo setup that I am avoiding now as I go through my SACD library from front to back. 

The new standard curve is very good, was meant to improve bass, but not enough for some.  And multi channel SACDs do sound good, with some really good quad ones recently from Japan.

 

8 hours ago, a.dent said:

My modest Usher S520 centre, surround and surround back speakers are blending in beautifully with my Magico S5 front speakers. It seems Dirac is changing a few factors to get the sound to meld so well.

Yes, DL does help meld. I had SGR LCR fronts and much cheaper Monitor Audio Apex as rears. The SGRs were used for stereo and HT on a rather complex setup. 

 

Have since split out stereo. HT with all MA Apex speakers  paradoxically sounds more coherent! Not suggesting you go all Magico's for HTs, but multichannel music sounds better when all speakers are tonally matched.  

[Hi-Fi Whipped]

12 hours ago, a.dent said:

 

Thanks @Snoopy8. I've downloaded the Harman Curves and will try them as soon as I get a chance.

I'm still baulking at the US$499 for DLBC but I know I'll eventually purchase it. Maybe after a little more experience with Dirac Live.

 

I'm amazed how great the standard curve sounds with surround music though. I have a fairly high end stereo setup that I am avoiding now as I go through my SACD library from front to back. My modest Usher S520 centre, surround and surround back speakers are blending in beautifully with my Magico S5 front speakers. It seems Dirac is changing a few factors to get the sound to meld so well.

 

Happy days!

Downloading the Harman target curves gives you an idea of what boosting lower frequencies can do, and you needed to rely on them in the earlier days of Dirac. 
 

But a lot of the hard work is done now with the auto target curves in Dirac, basically take the default curve and slide up the LHS to find the boost you like. Plus it keeps the highs exactly where Dirac has determined they need to be in your room as apposed to over riding them which a lot of the time is best left alone.

example below 

 

[a.dent]

I've just rewatched Oblivion on standard Bluray tonight. WOW. I've watched it a few times before but it was like a new movie with such astounding sound quality. I can finally hear and understand the dialogue without having to boost the centre channel by 5dB!

 

I downloaded the Harman curves and the 4dB bass boost seems pretty ideal but the 10dB boost rocks as well.

 

All I can say is I'm glad I went with this receiver with Dirac Live as standard. It seems to have huge power reserves and I've been able to turn the volume up to ear bleeding levels without any sign of strain. And it runs so cool compared to the Denon AVR and AVP I've had in the past.

 

All good experiences so far.

[Snoopy8]

7 hours ago, a.dent said:

I can finally hear and understand the dialogue without having to boost the centre channel by 5dB!

That is one of the many benefits of DL.  

 

7 hours ago, a.dent said:

I downloaded the Harman curves and the 4dB bass boost seems pretty ideal but the 10dB boost rocks as well.

+10 dB !!!!     

 

It comes down to personal preference and your room, but for me, throws the balance off.

 

You should also try playing with right side curtain, which is the maximum limit where DL does it's work.  Mine is set at 4 kHz because I wanted to retain the room response from that point.  Again, personal preference. Where you set yours does depend on what your curve looks like.

 

Enjoy...

[a.dent]

New firmware just installed.

The Integra is Roon Ready now. It works a treat!

 

There is also a Pre amp mode now. If you use a power amp you can choose to turn off all power amplifiers or just the fronts.

 

I purchased DLBC multi sub upgrade on the Black Friday sale. It has improved an already exceptional sound quality to amazing.

 

I just love this AVR.

[powerav]

On 8/12/2023 at 9:49 PM, a.dent said:

The Integra is Roon Ready now. It works a treat!

This is big! Does this mean multichannel DSD straight from the 8.4?

[a.dent]

44 minutes ago, powerav said:

This is big! Does this mean multichannel DSD straight from the 8.4?

I haven't tried multichannel DSD via Roon because I don't have any multichannel files on my NUC core. It works perfectly for stereo DSD files though. And multichannel PCM works.

 

If you can point me to a streaming source for 5.1 DSD files I'll give them a go.

[powerav]

Just now, a.dent said:

And multichannel PCM works.

I’d be happy with that so very positive.

[Snoopy8]

On 08/12/2023 at 9:49 PM, a.dent said:

I purchased DLBC multi sub upgrade on the Black Friday sale. It has improved an already exceptional sound quality to amazing.

I agree DLBC is worth the additional cost.  Shame that some Marantz users are baulking at the additional cost.

[Snoopy8]

1 hour ago, a.dent said:

I haven't tried multichannel DSD via Roon because I don't have any multichannel files on my NUC core. It works perfectly for stereo DSD files though. And multichannel PCM works.

It may be possible for the Integra to play DSD files IF Dirac Live was switched off, but I have my doubts that the Integra would be designed this way.  Dirac Live must run on PCM...

[a.dent]

1 hour ago, Snoopy8 said:

It may be possible for the Integra to play DSD files IF Dirac Live was switched off, but I have my doubts that the Integra would be designed this way.  Dirac Live must run on PCM...

Wouldn't it convert DSD to PCM for processing?

 

I think if Direct mode was selected, which avoids all processing, streamed multichannel DSD should work. I can confirm that SACD multichannel works but again would convert to PCM to process the signal. 

 

[powerav]

Just got this reply on Roon community regarding multi channel playback on AVRs that are roon ready, this one is concerning the Pioneer LX805, it’s so hard and frustrating being a fan of multichannel audio.

 

Most streaming boards have been developed for stereo and these are then used across ranges, most manufacturers use off the shelf boards from other companies and don’t develop their own as it’s very costly, Bluesound, Heos are all two channel only, Denon/Marantz sell tons of AVRs. They said in a video this week it would require a whole new board, they use the same Heos board in all their products so a big untaking.

OEM Boards from stream unlimited do mulitchannel but I imagine add significant cost. Eversolo dropped multichannel from their latest A8 streamer as the take up if this side is very small.

If this new phase for Atmos and immersive music stuff catches on to the masses maybe you will see more of a proliferation of multichannel streaming boards across many more products but until that time it will be on the top end of things where costs are less of an obstruction

[a.dent]

On 24/12/2023 at 12:33 PM, a.dent said:

I haven't tried multichannel DSD via Roon because I don't have any multichannel files on my NUC core. It works perfectly for stereo DSD files though. And multichannel PCM works.

 

If you can point me to a streaming source for 5.1 DSD files I'll give them a go.

 

It looks like I was probably wrong here. It looks like streamed Roon multichannel PCM files are being down mixed to stereo and then up mixed to pseudo multichannel depending on the listening mode setting!

 

SACDs from my Oppo seem to play in native multichannel via HDMI. 

Edited December 26, 2023 by a.dent

[a.dent]

I finally had some more time to experiment with multichannel music playback.

Definitely Roon streaming direct to the Integra can only be done in stereo, as has been discussed previously.

Luckily I have an ancient Mac Mini that I have attached to the Integra via HDMI to use as an alternative  Roon endpoint. With this as the source I get multichannel PCM and I assume DSD (I don't have any multichannel DSD albums on my Roon core). The limitation for me is Qobuz has very few multichannel albums and they are all classical. Maybe I'll have to try Apple Music or Tidal for a wider range of multichannel albums.

With AURO-3D selected, multichannel sound is quite enveloping. Probably not better but certainly different from the native 5.1 sound.

[Hi-Fi Whipped]

19 minutes ago, a.dent said:

I finally had some more time to experiment with multichannel music playback.

Definitely Roon streaming direct to the Integra can only be done in stereo, as has been discussed previously.

Luckily I have an ancient Mac Mini that I have attached to the Integra via HDMI to use as an alternative  Roon endpoint. With this as the source I get multichannel PCM and I assume DSD (I don't have any multichannel DSD albums on my Roon core). The limitation for me is Qobuz has very few multichannel albums and they are all classical. Maybe I'll have to try Apple Music or Tidal for a wider range of multichannel albums.

With AURO-3D selected, multichannel sound is quite enveloping. Probably not better but certainly different from the native 5.1 sound.

Yeh Apple Music Spatial Audio/Atmos/Surround tracks are fun to listen too even downsampled to 5.1, think a 4k Apple TV is the only way to access this.

[a.dent]

6 minutes ago, Hi-Fi Whipped said:

Yeh Apple Music Spatial Audio/Atmos/Surround tracks are fun to listen too even downsampled to 5.1, think a 4k Apple TV is the only way to access this.

Yes. I have one. I'm just baulking at paying another subscription!

[Hi-Fi Whipped]

16 minutes ago, a.dent said:

Yes. I have one. I'm just baulking at paying another subscription!

Yeh get that, Apple Music on the big screen is great, their interface is very good, music videos, songs with lyrics etc are great to enjoy with friends and family, it’s a different way to listen so it’s just a matter of what’s important to you.