dbx venu360

[bubbleboy76]

The successor of the dbx 260 is here, the dbx venu360.

Lower price ($699). 7 times the processing power. 3 in 6 out analog. Digital inputs. 8 PEQ per output and 12 PEQ per input. iPad control app.

Anyone tried it yet?

I hope the lower price is not reflected in its sound quality.

[1audiohack]

The shop has one but I don't think it has been tried out yet.

Being a Utah boy and DBX having been manufactured in Sandy Utah I was devastated but not surprised to see Made in China on the box. I decided not to take one home yet.

Barry.

[ivica]

The successor of the dbx 260 is here, the dbx venu360.

Lower price ($699). 7 times the processing power. 3 in 6 out analog. Digital inputs. 8 PEQ per output and 12 PEQ per input. iPad control app.

Anyone tried it yet?

I hope the lower price is not reflected in its sound quality.

Hi,

Interesting el.network, but I think for home listening STEREO 3-way speakers, half-priced (Amazon.com - 330$) DBX DriveRack PA2 can be satisfactory option.
regards
ivica

[bubbleboy76]

I have 3 speakers (L-C-R), so for me it is interesting.

[NWCgrad]

Resurrecting an old thread instead of starting a new one. Looking at building a pair of three way active speakers using all JBL Pro drivers and the DBX-V360 as the DSP. Three-way concept is a fusion of the VTX F12 and F18S into one cabinet for a full range speaker (70% 2-channel music, 10% multichannel SACD/Blu-ray, 5% Blu-ray concerts, and 15% movies in 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos).

Now that it has been out for awhile is there an opinion on its sound quality? I have tried miniDSP units for subs and am not wanting to go that route for mains.

Would go with the Xilica XD lineup but I like the pricing of the DBX unit.:bouncy: The ability to add the measurement microphone is also a plus. I am thinking that once the speakers are built I can take them outside and use the auto room correction feature to fine tune the response of the speakers without room influence, then transfer those settings into the output DSP filter bank. The input PEQ filters or autocorrection can then be used to fine tune the speakers in room. Seems to be a very useful feature.

[Mike Caldwell]

I have had six of them in my various sound system equipment racks since January. My system does sound better with using them for crossover, EQ, limiting and driver time alignment. The added bonuses are being able to walk around the event area and EQ the system with my iPad as well as having various system configuration presets stored in all the units.
The two things I attribute most to the improvement is using steeper crossover slopes and the driver time alignment.
Plan on spending some time to get them properly set up and "tweaked".

If you don't have any measurement equipment or software you can roughly set the driver time alignment by ear.
Say you need to delay the mid and low drivers to compensate for the high frequency driver being mounted on a horn that puts the high frequency driver's voice coil maybe 10 inches deep in the speaker cabinet.
- reverse the polarity of the mid driver.
- apply a sine wave tone to the system at the crossover frequency between mid to high, does not need to be very loud!
- match the output levels/volume between the mid and highs.
- start applying delay slowly to the mid out while on axis maybe 10 or so feet in front of the speaker.
- you will hear the level null out, or close to it when you get the delay of the mid driver to match the high frequency horn driver off set.
- if setting up a three way system start with mids and highs first and then do the same thing with the mids and lows, delaying the lows to match the mids.

Note that some speaker designs will have the mid and high drivers wired in reversed polarity from each other, in that case there is no need to reverse the polarity, remember to rewire the speaker correctly if you did need to reverse the polarity for testing.
Reversing the polarity will create a phase cancellation null when the drivers are in time alignment making it easy to hear.



The delay time will be fractions of a millisecond.
You will usually hit a couple of null points, it will normally be the one that the delay is closest to equaling the physical offset and creating the deepest null cancellation.
While not a high tech way of setting up driver alignment it's still better then trying to measure the drivers with a tape measure and input the needed delay times.


I never used the auto Eq function for any set up.

[NWCgrad]

Thanks for the response, always great to read from those with first hand experience with a product. Based on the spec sheet, this does seem like a really nice unit. With being a 3 in, 6 out device I would only need one for my LCR theater speakers. I like having DSP separate from amps.

[Ed Zeppeli]

So did you buy this unit? How do you like it for hi-fi?

Warren

[NWCgrad]

So did you buy this unit? How do you like it for hi-fi?

Warren

Not yet, I am still in the process of building the speakers. At first I will use a Peavey VSX processor I already own. Looking to purchase the DBX unit in the Spring when my wife forgets how much I have already spent on this project.

[Ed Zeppeli]

Not yet, I am still in the process of building the speakers. At first I will use a Peavey VSX processor I already own. Looking to purchase the DBX unit in the Spring when my wife forgets how much I have already spent on this project.

Good thinking. I'll let you know how it sounds if I get it first.


Cheers,

Warren

[Mike Caldwell]

Good thinking. I'll let you know how it sounds if I get it first.


Cheers,

Warren


I have never used any of mine in my home system but in my PA production systems the systems sound very open with more separation of details than with my analog crossovers. I addition to the driver time alignment the steeper 48db crossover slopes I think is a big part of that with less driver frequency overlap at the crossover points. It's easy to make a comparison while listening as you select between the different the crossover cutoff slope choices.

For what it's a worth I now have seven of them!

[Ed Zeppeli]

I have never used any of mine in my home system but in my PA production systems the systems sound very open with more separation of details than with my analog crossovers. I addition to the driver time alignment the steeper 48db crossover slopes I think is a big part of that with less driver frequency overlap at the crossover points. It's easy to make a comparison while listening as you select between the different the crossover cutoff slope choices.

For what it's a worth I now have seven of them!

Thanks Mike. I especially like the 3in/6out configuration which would allow me to eq my sub as well.

Did you upgrade from previous Driverack units?


Warren

[Mike Caldwell]

Thanks Mike. I especially like the 3in/6out configuration which would allow me to eq my sub as well.

Did you upgrade from previous Driverack units?


Warren

Hello

I went straight from analog TDM crossovers to the DBX360's.

In some configurations I use the third input for what they in live sound "aux fed subs" where you mix to the subs only what you want/need to go to the subs.
In other configurations I use them for three bi-amped monitor mixes.

Mike C

[NWCgrad]

Good thinking. I'll let you know how it sounds if I get it first.


Cheers,

Warren

Will be following to see how you like it. I am making a three way build, so this unit is perfect (unless I ever get motivated to build a center to go with them then I need another unit).

Best
Steve

[bubbleboy76]

Anyone compared venu360 against dbx 4820 yet, regarding sound quality?

[Ed Zeppeli]

Anyone compared venu360 against dbx 4820 yet, regarding sound quality?

It doesn't sound like anyone around here has one yet and from what I've seen on Google there aren't many using it for hifi at this stage. Prosoundweb says it's a step up from the PA series but not in the same league as 48XX stuff but I haven't seen any side-by-side comparisons; all speculation.

[Ed Zeppeli]

I've had mine now since Friday. First impressions are pretty good. It feels like a pro piece of kit; good quality and quite intuitive controls. It introduces zero detectable sound on its own. This is only my second foray into DSP. My first being a Behringer DEQ and it's miles ahead in build quality and sound transparency.

If I have the time I'll put up a review.

Honestly my main worry is that they drop the product and stop updating even though it's early on in the cycle. I think they tried to fill a niche and perhaps it's not selling. There is scant information about it on the internet and it's been out for almost two years. I love it but am concerned that it may be the betamax in the VHS war.

We'll see what tomorrow brings but at this point in time I have no regrets.

Cheers,

Warren

[Mike Caldwell]

The 360 is waaaaaayyyyy above the PA series!!!

Did you connect yours to a router and control it with it's app, the 360 control app is available for PC's, Ipads, Macs and Android devices.

What firmware version are you running in yours.

[Ed Zeppeli]

The 360 is waaaaaayyyyy above the PA series!!!

Did you connect yours to a router and control it with it's app, the 360 control app is available for PC's, Ipads, Macs and Android devices.

What firmware version are you running in yours.

I have the latest firmware 2.0.5(?) which it came loaded with and yes I've used the app extensively from my PC which is great. The one thing I will say is that there is still quite a lot more functionality using the hardware controls than the software. That said, I was up and running my bi-amped 2.1 setup 100 percent from the app very quickly.

[Ed Zeppeli]

It's really nice to do the RTA functions all in the box. I can view the 31 band graphing (real-time) on my laptop via the software and then manipulate the PEQs on the unit itself. In the next iteration of the software I'd like to see some finer resolution capability on the graph. It'd be nice to zoom in to the bass frequencies and tweak it from there. There are plenty of parametric options available. I can always open REW up for finer analysis in the meantime.

[Mike Caldwell]

I have the latest firmware 2.0.5(?) which it came loaded with and yes I've used the app extensively from my PC which is great. The one thing I will say is that there is still quite a lot more functionality using the hardware controls than the software. That said, I was up and running my bi-amped 2.1 setup 100 percent from the app very quickly.


Some of the utility set functions are only available on the unit it self. All of the audio control functions are available on the app, nothing can beat walking around and adjusting the system with an iPad!!!

[bubbleboy76]

The 360 is waaaaaayyyyy above the PA series!!!

Did you connect yours to a router and control it with it's app, the 360 control app is available for PC's, Ipads, Macs and Android devices.

What firmware version are you running in yours.

Have you compared against dbx 4820? Would it be a downgrade soundwise to swap 4820
to 360?

[Mike Caldwell]

Sorry, can't help much there, I have never had the chance to use a DBX 4820.

[Ed Zeppeli]

From what I've read by most counts (and price) the 48xx are superior. I haven't done a side by side either but can say that I have so far heard no artifacts from the Venu360. Maybe in ultra-high gain situations the difference becomes apparent or maybe the price difference can be explained by other feature sets; or maybe I'm going deaf.

[Mike Caldwell]

From what I've read by most counts (and price) the 48xx are superior. I haven't done a side by side either but can say that I have so far heard no artifacts from the Venu360. Maybe in ultra-high gain situations the difference becomes apparent or maybe the price difference can be explained by other feature sets; or maybe I'm going deaf.

For what it's worth when I got one 360 to try out one of things I wanted to see was how it sounded when being driven into clip on the inputs and outputs (not that I run my systems like that!!!) surprisingly it held together really well considering the signal level I was pushing through it. Sure it got a kind of warm and fuzzy sounding but it did not go off into harsh digital clipping.

[Ed Zeppeli]

Interesting to note that Sanders Audio sells their electrostatic speakers Model 10e with the Venu360 as the included active crossover system.

I'd never heard of them but stumbled across their site in my searches.


FYI.

[Ed Zeppeli]

Interesting to note that Sanders Audio sells their electrostatic speakers Model 10e with the Venu360 as the included active crossover system.

I'd never heard of them but stumbled across their site in my searches.


FYI.

I guess the above post was semi-redundant without the link.

http://www.sanderssoundsystems.com/downloads/Crossover_Programming_for_10C_Speaker.pdf


Very happy with the Venu360. I've had plenty of time to play with set-ups varying from sine wave sweeps to pink noise RTA. I now have it to a point where I am satisfied.

Again, using compression drivers, there is no discernible noise introduced from the system. Even with my C-grade amplification (gain-staging is everything) it's very quiet. I'm using a Crown XLS 1500 to power a 4645C clone, a Soundcraftsman 5002 for the 15s and a Samson Servo 120 to power the SAM1HFs. I'm going directly from the digital output of my Sonos Connect into the dbx and using the Sonos app for volume control.

On paper you could rip my front end to shreds but I assure, aside from some hiss out of the Soundcraftsman amp, there is no noise or detectable artifacts that I can hear.

Two thumbs up.

[NWCgrad]

Sounds like a hodge-podge of amplificarion, but with good results.

I am currently dialing in my three-way active design using a collection of amps. Unfortunately I am lacking enough pro amps and have to use a consumer grade amp (temporarily) for the CD. I am getting unacceptable hiss levels, no doubt due to gain structure issues (I have a Henry Engineering Matchbox HD, but will be buying another pro amp so I can ditch the consumer amp).

[Ed Zeppeli]

Yes, balanced is nice.


I'll upgrade over time as things become available. I have a K1 upstairs I could hijack but it seems unnecessary at the moment.

Not much info on amplification for the SAM1HFs out there but I'd like to find something in the 150 wpc range that's smooth and sweet.

In the meanwhile, no complaints.

[NWCgrad]

I will finally be ordering a Venu360 in a few days.....cannot wait!

[Ed Zeppeli]

I will finally be ordering a Venu360 in a few days.....cannot wait!

Nice. Let us know how you like it!

[NWCgrad]

I received the Venu360 today, unfortunately I am sick and cannot find the will to install it. I guess it will have to wait. Sucks being sick on my last day of vacation.:banghead:

[NWCgrad]

I installed the venu360 (replacing a Peavey VSX-26) to provide the XO/DSP for my DIY three-way speakers (detailed in the DIY forum). Did not have the measurement microphone as I stupidly didn't order one with the purchase (I have rectified this oversight and it arrived shortly after I was finished for the day). Set arbitrary XO values: LF: 25 Hz, BW-18/200 Hz, LR-48; MF: 200 Hz, LR-48/1500 Hz, LR-48; HF: 1500 Hz, LR-48/Flat. Using Pink Noise from an old Stereophile test CD I set each driver to within 0.5 dB (required tweaking the amplifier input gain knobs and adding a 1.5 dB boost to the LF and MF in the venu360). I did not set any DFSP filters or a HF Horn setting and have not ran any measurements as yet.

However, as is the system sounds significantly better than the Peavey VSX-26 (even though I had used measurements and DSP to adjust the response to a +/- 3 dB window at the primary listening position). The Peavey unit seemed to add HF hash that was irritating and had resulted in me only using the system for home theater where it was less noticeable. The dbx unit is clearly the superior product, although the Peavey unit seems fine for managing my dual subwoofers. However, I cannot be 100% positive it is all the dbx unit, as I also added a new Crown CT4150 amp for the HF/MF drivers and a Crown XLS-1500 amp for the LF drivers. Santa was very good to me this year!!!!:applaud:

I am not used to products not having an on/off button (my old Behringer :barf: products had them so its not merely a pro audio quirk). What are you guys doing? I assume just leaving them on 24/7 but wanted to ask.

Once I get the measurement rig setup (purchased a new laptop, my old windows computer was tied to the basement theater and I rarely want to work on a computer down there to post data to the forums) I will get crackin' an dialing in my speakers (will post the dial-in effort on my build thread here on LH).

Overall, I am quite pleased with this unit. Lots of fun times to be had.

[Ed Zeppeli]

Why not use the internal pink noise generator?

I left mine on for the first month and recently got a power conditioner which I use to switch off the 360.

Congrats on the purchase. I'm sure you'll have fun experimenting.​Warren

[NWCgrad]

Why not use the internal pink noise generator?

I left mine on for the first month and recently got a power conditioner which I use to switch off the 360.

Congrats on the purchase. I'm sure you'll have fun experimenting.​Warren

Because that would have been to easy..... I was actually thinking that I needed the microphone hooked up to use the internal pink noise, not sure why I thought that.

I have a remote controlled power strip I can use for the DSP units, I need to find it in my old equipment closet.

I also need to print the manual, I hate reading them on my phone.

[Ed Zeppeli]

Having fun playing with the venu?

[NWCgrad]

Having fun playing with the venu?

I am! It is a very powerful piece of gear. I am waiting to really dig into the feature set once I get my WiFi router --> Ethernet adaptor online so I can run the setup/controls via my Android app.

[grumpy]

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
I saw "WiFi router" after seeing construction progress pics and was thinking WTF? (woodworking tool fetish?)
Carry on.

[NWCgrad]

The WiFi router arrived, forgot to order an ethernet cable and do not have one laying around. Will have to go get one.:banghead:

[Ed Zeppeli]

The WiFi router arrived, forgot to order an ethernet cable and do not have one laying around. Will have to go get one.:banghead:

Can't you interface with the software via USB as well?

[NWCgrad]

Yes..but I prefer to use the app so I can stay sitting on my fat butt during setup. Epitome of laziness I know.