I’ll be getting on it in a moment or two. Have to put the 2nd coat of Kilz 2 on in the master bath. It’s time to repaint it. ![]()
My apologies for the delay in getting to this. I have some REW views which show that the C214 does in fact do something, but as to whether what REW shows is enough to support what is being heard - that I can’t speculate on.
The first pic is of all four sweeps FR view. The curve in Red is with no C214. The Green, Blue, and Brown correspond to C214 at 0dB, +3dB, and +4.5dB. It is clear that even with the C214 in at 0dB, it is having some effect at 34Hz, again from about 42Hz to 50Hz, 88Hz, and oddly from about 4.1KHz to 5.9Khz. That last bit I can’t explain. But interestingly, the various settings of the C214 show (comparatively) next to no change relative to just having the C214 on. I’m actually quite curious to see a sweep at C214 +6dB, where Mark has some issues at 700Hz.
Here’s an expanded view of the FR curves
The Waterfall plots show a bit more going on with the increasing settings of the C214. These four are again in the same order, with no C214 being the first and 0, +3, and +4.5 following. You all should be able to see with the C214 in place and sequencing through the setting a gradual reduction in room resonances in the lower frequencies.
Bottom line? Yes the C214 is doing something! Does it go beyond what could be done with room treatment? Does it add to already effective room treatment? Can it be used in place of room treatment? Questions that I think are user and room dependent. But what it’s doing is certainly not imaginary. My thanks to Mark for providing these. I didn’t yet look at things like Impulse Response or RT60 Decay in any detail. Have to get back to home renovations. ![]()
Thank you. I have used the analogy that the 214 reduces the audio bass humidity in the room.
Thanks Tony. Very interesting.
I will expand on the C214 merits after I have more days playing with it. But, in answer to Tony’s questions, I can attest that it provides considerable improvement, with and without, conventional traps.
Its effect is revealing more of the music without a hangover. With fewer standing waves standing around…things open up, get tighter, position better.
For me it is a must have. The proof is if I take it out,
I don’t want to listen long. I’m too old to be under pressure of any kind, and I like this release.
Your room and mileage may vary but this is a keeper.
Oh, and the effects go beyond the under 160 cycle range it is controlling. Mids and highs benefit. Kewl.
It just goes to show that the ear truly is a sensitive instrument. Much more sensitive than the relatively small curve changes would suggest from REW.
I will REW the room later. But, the ears tell the same story, like you said. No downside, except cost, and maybe two would make it even better
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Thanks Tony for the review!
Very well put @straightwire.
It seems to correct the room’s mistiming of the low bass, brings it closer to where it should be (instead of lagging and muddy) without loosing any of the punch. At the same time, since it’s DSP controlled, it plays nice at low levels and the bass does not need a loudness boost even at very low volume levels.
I do have passive room treatments in my room. I did rearrange the room treatments after I got the C214 but found I prefer having a C214, room treatments and an SR Black Box.
Or, in the relevant frequencies, the measured differences are significant enough to be clearly perceptible.
When it comes to LF and low-midrange frequencies, I think attenuating the impact of “bass” peaks and troughs in the listening room is one of the most important/impactful acoustical improvements we can make.
FWIW
@straightwire I totally agree with your synopsis. The highs and mids are more clear when the bass is better controlled in the room. I have an enormous room relative to most folks (35 x 32 x 11 ft) …so I should have less bass issues than a smaller room…but I still hear an impact using 2 C214s (one in each front corner). My guess is the smaller the room the bigger the impact of the 214.
Sigh. Is my jealousy visible through the Internet? ![]()
When you have an old converted church the great room ends up taking up around 1/2 of the 2400 square feet on the first floor. The rest of the rooms are relatively tiny. Grateful I found the place and get to spend time in it.
Now that the PSI C214 has settled in, I must conclude with the Absolute Sound, that “you really need one of these”. I’m probably going to place another order for one soon.
Simply place one in a corner that low bass likes to hang around in, and turn it on. There is also an app that you can use to vary its effectiveness.
Four huge GIK soffit bass traps fall well short of what the C214 does. I would probably need 8 to 12 more to suck as much bad bass and this is a no-go with the esthetics committee. These passive traps also do little for upper frequencies. This is where the C214 surprised me the most. Mids and highs opened up, became less edgy, and don’t feature any nasty tails that can hang on voices and instruments. This thing is also built like a tank and costs less than a premier power cord (which it does not need).
The SR Black box helps in this extended region, as well as tightens the bass, but not to the extent the C214 does. I still prefer it and the GIK traps in the system, but the C214 puts the benefits on steroids.
Not all room anomalies are gone, but I am so much closer to not hearing them at all.
I have had discussions with PSI’s US distributor about its merits and under representation in the HiFi market. For anyone who is interested in this unit, please PM me. More favorable pricing, especially with a group purchase, could be in the offering.
Group thing again? Oh no!
If there will be an actual group, put me in it anyway since I am a sucker in group thing.
Group Thing! Group Thing! Group Thing! Group Thing!
Will do. Have already received interest. Operators are standing by.
Better news; even if you wanted to put a premier power cord on it, it wouldn’t fit without significant modifications to the PC or the C214.
Well shucks. If I can’t spend three times its cost on a power cable it harshes the buzz.
The C214 shipped to the US has the standard US 3-prong cord and receptacle.
True, but the problem is the way the C15 plug is positioned on the C214 there is no space for anything other than a “courtesy cord” sized C15 connector.
I tried some other “audiophile” PCs I have and none of them fit.





