What is DSP? How To Use REW to Tune Your Speaker System

What is DSP? How To Use REW to Tune Your Speaker System

UPDATE 1: Make sure when using autoEQ, to set the graph to Var smoothing (not Psychoacoustic) as this affects the correction profile. Also play around with Individual Max Boost, Overall Max Boost, and Flatness Target Levels. I currently like using (6, 6, 3) but experiment for yourself.

This is a beginner's tutorial about how to use DSP room correction for speakers using a MiniDSP UMIK-1, REW, & Dayton DSP-408 digital signal processor. An alternative to the Dayton Audio DSP 4x8 is the MiniDSP 2x4 or 2x4HD.

After applying this room correction, my speakers sound much better to me. I still applied tone control adjustments to suit my personal taste and the fact that I typically listen at low volumes here and adjusting the bass and treble accordingly helps intelligibility.

Here are affiliate links to the products mentioned.

Follow me on:

#DSP #RoomCorrection #Speakers #Audio #Audiophile #audioreview #desktopspeakers #hifi #homeaudio #minidsp #umik1

DISCLAIMER: Dayton Audio products were sent to me by Parts Express free for review. This does not influence my review process. Description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. This helps support the channel and allows us to continue to make videos like this. Thank you for your support!
Intro song: Friday
Music By The Passion HiFi

Disclaimer: The Affiliate links above earn me a commission if you purchase using those links. This is at no additional cost to you. AFFILIATE LINKS:

Disclosure: The Affiliate links above earn me a commission if you purchase using those links. This is at no additional cost to you. This product was sent free for the purpose of this review.

[joentell]

Update from present me: This is not exactly how I calibrate now. This is definitely not how Magic Beans True Target works. I've learned a lot after 5 years of calibrating systems.

[vilutikkanen]

Thanks for the great video! I have just started testing my new toys, minidsp 2x4 and umik-1 mic and so far after a few hours getting into it I just know already that this going to be amazing. I have not got all the details correctly and just learning the essentials but the first tests have showed me the revelation. The final missing link in a chain from the source to my ear. The room is the last link in the chain people! Room correction is essential!! It really makes the difference. You go from boomy and mudded to crystal clear, precise sound. This is it, Guys!! Ok take care, from Finland.

[ARKAVproduction]

Good job explaining something pretty complex in a simple way! I was planning to get these tools to setup & tune the system of a small event space I'm working on.

[coldcraze]

This video is amazing for the average Joe, good information. Will hopefully help a lot if people with the goal of achieving better sound clarity.

[keepingupwiththejones]

Just going through some of your DSP and REW videos. You have grown so much in just 3 years. Nothing but love for you.

[snoopyslr]

Thank you so much for posting this video. I'm very new to this world and you explained things so clearly. I just finished wiring my truck up and I'll be doing measuring, testing, and calibrations tomorrow. That REW software looks fantastic!

[hdmoviesource]

So, basically, what you could do is run these measurements, and put them into a processessor that will accept PEQ measurements, like the monolith HTP1. It has 16 PEQ, so you could choose a setting that allows for more EQ's on mini dsp. You can measure this way, manually, vs using any room correction software, because you have more control when using mini dsp. You can even create your own room curve.

One suggestion I have is to set your target curve to the lowest dip, then set that target curve for both speakers. That way they will play at the same volume, and REW will not need to boost, it will only cut which sounds very natural.

[NelsonYambo]

This was an awesome intro to the Dayton DSP, the free tool, which is ALWAYS great, and YOUR APPROACH, which is from an experienced Tech, which we can use, and then adjust as WE see fit to what we like and how we want to hear our music. I for one, like music to be balanced, but also like for songs with bass to hit rght, but also be clear - louder isn't always better.. but loud and CLEAR wins competitions... but for parking lot pimping, this is a good start to work on your own setup, and find what works for YOU. Appreciate the intro... not to look for some more advanced stuff to fine tune even MORE... thanks brother

[sphaera]

Excellent tutorial, thank you! I just started playing with REW and that’s exactly what I needed.

[nazrizala.tajuddin]

Hi Joe, ive been listening to this video, you were saying if you doing ok and might not work for some people... in my opinion, in sound tuning, there is no right or wrong, or what so ever... ive been tuning for more a decades, on this video... i give you a thumbs up!!!! please do keep posting on great work! tools is to get your tuning rite on track fast, but in detail on tuning the sound, always trust your ears as machine dont tells you it is right sound or it is a great sound too!

[geraldmosley]

Hey Popa!! The little guy want to setup his speaker's dude 😎

[OldTooly]

I am surprised you have to manually enter the REW data into the DSP and not just copy the data file over. I've been working out all my system parameters mechanically as in speaker type, positions and, being triamped, individual levels, seating positions and getting it to sound good to me as well as being practical. My music room is a multi use room, not dedicated to sound only. I use no eq at this point. I will literally change to a different speaker before adding eq up front. I save eq for absolute last and hopefully just as a fine tuning. I've been sitting on my miniDSP for almost a year getting all the rest correct first. This video was a big help seeing it actually done. Thanks.

[yamman]

Great video! DSP always seemed so challenging but now I feel like I can take it on. Thank you

[wiseoracle]

That was way more useful. I've watched a few videos and it just shows people making changes, but not explaining why they are making the change.

[Kaxlon]

Great review!
I have been out of HiFi and Audio for many years now. I ran a very large 3-way system with 6 mono blocks managed by a 1st gen DCX2496. It was like magic to sit with a laptop and measure and adjust the filters over the RS232 serial port. I still have the DCX2496 but have sold all components of the large system long ago.
Getting back into Audio is a brave new world. =)
I love how easy it is today to get into audio without it costing a fortune.
Keep making great videos brother! =)
Greetings from a sunny summer in Sweden.

[johnsoprych]

OUCH! How Barbaric! A Lens with back element facing up & uncapped :O

[kevc]

Thank you for this, very clear! I intend to buy the UMIK-1 and take measurements of the room, then apply the EQ to my raspberryPi running Volumino with bruteFIR. From what I understand, I can do this in software so I won't have to worry about a separate DSP.

[scottlowell]

This is EXPONENTIALLY better than old school analog eq's. I cringed when I saw a cheap eq in a system set up to "Smiley face" . The cheap eq, is a series of cheap resistors and junk components that pollute the sound by themselves. I had one for a time due to dorm room life. I found the only way to get them in the ballpark was pink noise analysis, not by some "U" shape on the controls. EQ in the digital realm doesn't mangle the sound like the analog versions did. After all that? people tend to boost treble and bass anyway.

[zqsd]

I have used EqualizerAPO on PC. Latency and CPU usage are negligible in normal usage. But it does not support exclusive mode like ASIO, so for music compositing you better get an external DSP.
I have got the MiniDSP DDRC-24. Not cheap, but really worth it. Not sure the phase correction change a lot of things in a small room, but Dirac correction made a bigger sweet spot. Plus I have presets depending on my location : in front of the desk, couch or dining table.
Also bonus with an external dsp, is that I can use it both for my PC and my console.

[lamixxman]

Thanks bro, by far the best explanation of REW. Awesome