ROON Core/Endpoint TRINAURAL Setup

Roon Software Discussion
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Hello Community,

first of all – please excuse me, this is my first initiated post here. I’m not a native English speaker and certainly not a software expert – just a user and music nerd :wink: with a little experience in using REW and generating room correction filters. (Biquads, Dirac Live, Genelec GLM…)

I’d like to share my current ROON setup with you and get some feedback from the real experts on where the design/setup might not be optimal yet, and where improvements could be made. Of course, in the end it all comes down to musicality and personal taste, but I’ve already tried out a lot of different options – sometimes even had too many – so I’d be happy to hear your thoughts.

And – this might be a bit unusual – I’m running a TRINAURAL chain for my stereo. :open_mouth: recently I’ve used an Bongiorno Trinaural analogue Processor. The issue with that unit was always that it takes the analogue stereo signal and converts it into three channels. It generates a real center and subtracts the phantom center information from the Left/Right channels. A brilliant concept, especially if the listening room isn’t perfect, and it creates a fantastic soundstage – even though it may feel unfamiliar at first.

However, this becomes a real challenge when using FIR filters and convolution.
The center channel cannot be corrected with its own FIR filters – only indirectly via the Left/Right channels. I was not willing to accept that. The center must also be properly equalized and room-corrected.

It actually took me quite some time to realize – and to understand Roon’s full functionality – that Trinaural processing can also be implemented inside ROON.
Key was to use “Procedural EQ / Mix”, with a Mix I was able to recreate Bongiorno’s math. The calculation is straightforward.

  • L = L + 0.5*R (inverted) =>-6dB
  • R = R + 0.5*L (inverted) =>-6dB
  • C = 0.5L + 0.5R

This can be implemented as a little custom mix in Roon. The soundstage really opens up when the relative levels are properly balanced. But with 3 Dynaudio subs, I need to realize a 6-channel Convolution/FIR. Finally I decided to buy a OKTO DAC8 Pro, which fits the bill perfectly.
Playback is fed from a Mac mini via USB exclusively into the OKTO.
The XO’s are baked into the FIR’s as well, generated in RePhase - a really annoying process with 6 channels and 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176 and 192 kHz. :wink: than generating .cfg files… but you know! :stuck_out_tongue:

Finally I got things running, and the result convinced me that this was a worthwhile job to finish properly.

ChatGPT made a little scheme to help myself and you to get a quick overview of the setup.

And if you have a proper center speaker and 4ch-DAC to play around with - try it out, stereo music in TRINAURAL is worth a little listening session.

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I have to make an update… maybe you recognize me as an idiot afterwards, but it’s worth to share with others, that NOBODY will EVER run into such a very stupid embarrassing trap like I did… it’s really ridiculous!!!
Yes, my first results were promising for me (because it was a lot of work…) - after I realized what a stupid mistake I made it’s even MORE embarrassing.
I’ve learned a very painful lesson - almost 10 days of b u l l s h i t t i n g myself - The filter ORDER in ROON MUSE is crucial and I did it the wrong way!!! At least if you are using an upmixing, like I do, or just using multi-subwoofer setups.
I thought it’s a good idea to start with the FIR/Convolution from above and doing the multi-channel “procedural-mix” below - IT’S NOT!

Loading a 6-channel FIR into Convolution when it has only 2 channel until the upmix in procedural leads 4 filters (including sub and room mode compensation FIR filtering) into NIRVANA!
FIRST you need to upmix channels to get a multl-convolution work - quiet clear - but not for me during the whole process. For me it was clear to put Convolution ON TOP of the list. What a GREAT idea. :joy:

Now, when 6 FIR filters (and Convolution BELOW the MIX) are working at the RIGHT speaker, with crossovers at the RIGHT frequencies - but now I finally know what FIR filter can archive! :smiling_face_with_three_hearts: This is a complete new experience!

In specific setups you have to pay attention to the FILTERS ORDER in ROON MUSE!

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Make certain that you are applying a healthy dose of digital attenuation at the head of this signal manipulation. Otherwise, your individual L and R channel summation calculations will introduce digital clipping in some instances. The digital headroom will serve double duty, as you probably will need it for your FIR convolution, too.

AJ