TacT Audio RCS 2.2 XP User Manual

Owner’s Manual

RCS 2.2 XP

Preamplifi er /

Dynamic Room Correction System

WARNING

TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRIC

SHOCK DO NOT OPEN

CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRICAL SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER. NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.

The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying the product.

The lightning with arrowhead symbol within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of “Dangerous Voltage” within the product’s enclosure that may be of suffi cient magnitude to constitute a risk of electrical shock to a person.

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Important Safety	1.	Read these instructions entirely before installing or operating this equip-
Instructions		ment.
	2.	Keep these instructions.
	3.	Heed all warnings.
	4.	Do not use this equipment near water or allow it to become wet.
	5.	Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufac-
	6.	turer’s instructions.	CAUTION
		Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves,
		or other appliances (including amplifi ers) that produce heat; doing so may
		damage the unit and present a fi re hazard.

7.Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other. If the provided plug does not fi t into your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the outlet to one that is polarized. To protect against electrical shock, match the wide blade of the polarized plug to the wide slot in the outlet and fully insert the plug.

8.Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched, particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit the equipment. Do not use this unit with a damaged cord or plug.

9.Only use attachments/accessories specifi ed by the manufacturer.

10.Unplug this equipment during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.

11.Refer all servicing to qualifi ed service personnel.

Cleaning and	1.	Always unplug the unit from the electrical outlet before cleaning.
Maintenance	2.	Do not use abrasive cleaners. Simply wipe the exterior with a clean soft cloth.
		A small amount of nonabrasive cleaner may be used on the cloth to remove
		excessive dirt or fi ngerprints.

The >note< symbol indicates information very useful or essential to daily operation.

4Tact Audio

Acknowledgments

© 2006Tact Audio Corporation. All rights reserved.

No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or other wise, without the prior written consent of theTact Audio Corporation.

The information contained in this document is subject to change without

notice.

	Registration
IMPORTANT!	Please record your serial number here for future reference.You will need this for
	future upgrades or should you ever require service on your RCS 2.2 XP Pream-
	plifi er.
	RCS 2.2 XP serial number: _____________________
	Optional modules installed:
	DAC-1 analog output / main-channels:
	DAC-2 analog output / subwoofers:
	ADC analog input:

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Safety instructions	4
Acknowledgments/Registration	5
Unpacking the RCS 2.2X	7
Introduction	CAUTION 8
Dynamic Room Correction	10
Automatic Room Correction	12
Connecting the RCS 2.2X	20
Front Panel Controls	25
Remote Control	26
Front Panel Display	28
Main screen	28
MAIN menu	30
MODE menu	3
ADC menu	32
DOUT FS menu	33
POL menu	34
TEST menu	34
DISPLAY menu	35
COMM menu	36
AMP menu	37
OPTIONS menu	38
LOCK menu	39
MSR menu	40
INFO menu	40
Room Correction Menu	4
LEVELS menu	42
DELAYS menu	42
NAMES menu	43
CRO menu	43
MSR menu	44
Parametric EQ Menu	46
LINK option	47
TABLE menu	48

6Tact Audio

UNPACKINGTHE RCS 2.2 XP

Carefully remove the RCS 2.2 XP and accessory kit from the carton and visually check for shipping damage. Contact both the shipper and TacT Audio immediately if the unit shows any sign of damage from rough handling. All TacT Audio equipment is carefully inspected before leaving our factory.

KEEP SHIPPING CARTON AND PACKING MATERIALS for future use or in the unlikely event that the unit needs servicing. If this unit is shipped without the original packing, damage could occur and void the warranty.

Accessories

You should fi nd the following items in the accessory kit:

1 AC mains cord

1 RJ11 data cable

1RJ11-to-RS232 adapter

115’RS232 cable

CD-ROM with RCS software

Measurement microphone

Remote control

2 AAA batteries

This manual

Operating voltage	The RCS 2.2 XP is designed with an automatic switching power supply. It will oper-
	ate on 65-265 volts at 50-60 Hz. No external settings are required.
	The RCS 2.2X has three operating modes:
	OFF	AC mains power is cut o , either via the rear panel mains
		switch, or by unplugging it from the wall outlet.
	STANDBY	The unit is powered but all outputs are muted and the display
		is o .The unit uses very little current and is“idling”or“sleep-
		ing”. Use the remote or front panel“STANDBY”button to
		toggle between ON and STANDBY.
	ON Everything is powered and ready to go.

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	INTRODUCTION
	Congratulations on your purchase of your RCS 2.2 XP. You have now acquired the
	most advanced stereo Preamplifi er / Room Correction System ever developed!
	The RCS 2.2 XP has four times the processing power of the famous TacT RCS
	2.0 and even better AD and DA conversion. This now combined with new fea-
	tures and a more user-friendly interface takes TacT Audio’s room correction to
	new heights. The RCS 2.2 XP has no noise and extremely low distortion, yielding
	CAUTION
	amazingly transparent accurate sound. Every e ort has been made to make this
	preamplifi er the best that money can buy. Add to this the latest evolution of TacT
	Audio’s room correction technology and the result is absolutely staggering.
Room Correction	TacT room correction technology has been praised by the press all around the
System	world. Comments like “Wholesale improvement in sound quality” have become
	a standard phrase for reviewers describing the results that can be achieved with
	TacT’s room correction. Now we have taken room correction technology even
	further, not only in terms of processing power, but also in terms of the measure-
	ment and correction systems. The measurement is now done with a triple pulse
	for each acquisition. This increases the measurement resolution in both the time
	and frequency domains. Correction resolution is now four times higher than found
	in the original RCS 2.0.
Separate Subwoofer	One of the most exciting features of the RCS 2.2 XP is its separate subwoofer
Control	output. The RCS 2.2X P can be used with one or (preferably) two subwoofers. An
	electronic crossover can be set with a frequency between 60 and 400 Hz and a
	slope between 12 dB/octave and 60 dB/octave to split the audio signal between
	the main and subwoofer outputs. The correction software aligns the sub-woofer(s)
	with the main speakers in the time domain and in the frequency domain, for com-
	pletely seamless integration surpassing even the best single-box systems.
	With the RCS 2.2 XP, you can add subwoofers to an existing High End speaker
	system for substantial sonic improvements. Preferably, the subwoofers should be
	placed in the corners behind the main speakers. Corner placement of the sub-
	woofers will yield much higher e ciency with signifi cantly reduced low-frequency
	distortion. But more importantly, the transfer of energy from the sub to the listening
	position will be much more direct, resulting in vastly improved impulse response.
	The room correction system will easily compensate for the frequency response
	variations of the subs introduced by corner placement. It will delay the main
	speakers for perfect time alignment to within 1/8 of an inch.
	The RCS 2.2 XP o ers you the opportunity to add subwoofers to a system and
	improve the transient response tremendously at the same. This contrasts sharply
	with the normal result of adding subwoofers to a system: slow – undefi ned bass
	with lots of frequency and time behavior problems. If the separate subwoofer
	outputs are not used, then the RCS 2.2X will use all the processing power on the main
	speakers.

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	Introduction
Modular design	The internal layout of the RCS 2.2 XP is completely modular. All of the expensive
	components such as DSP’s, D/A and A/D converters are a plug-in type and are
	placed on a motherboard. This allows for easy and inexpensive future upgrades.
	Even the rear-panel, including the sockets, can be exchanged to accommodate
	future interfaces
True Upgradeability	The front-panel and DSP’s are 100% software driven, and improvements or new
	features can be loaded through the RS232 port with fi rmware upgrades. It is our
	policy to offer software upgrades at no cost, and we therefore encourage you to
	fi ll out and submit the enclosed registration card by fax or email (info@tactaudio
	com).

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DYNAMIC ROOM CORRECTION

Dynamic Room Correction (DRC) ® is new technology developed by Tact Audio Inc. over past two years. This groundbreaking brings the science and art of Room Correction, and specifi cally Tact room correction products, to yet another level.

When we introduced our fi rst RCS system (the Tact-2.2 in the late 90’s) we were fully aware that we were embarking on a long term research process in the new

exciting fi eld of room acoustics correction. As a result of this research effort we

CAUTION

brought to the market products such as Tact-2.0 S two channel RCS preamp, the Tact-2.2 X two channel preamp with RCS on two main and two subwoofer channels, and the TCS MKII ten channel theater correction system. All these systems offer RCS technology not found in any other product on the market. Our continued research combined with enormously valuable feedback from our customers has resulted in this new technology that we named Dynamic Room Correction (DRC)®.

Why do we call it Dynamic Room Correction (DRC)?

The reason we call it DRC is that the target curve used to compute correction fi l- ters dynamically changes with the master level control. In another words, for every 0.1 dB of level change the system uses a new target curve to compute room correction fi lters. What makes this dynamic is that all computations and adjustments are done on the fl y without any interruption to the music you listen to.

Why do we need Dynamic Room Correction (DRC)?

It is well known fact that humans do not here all frequencies at the same level. It is also known that our ears are more sensitive to frequencies between 2000 and 5000 Hz than to frequencies bellow 2000 Hz and above 5000 Hz. In addition to this our hearing sensitivity changes with sound pressure level (SPL). This human hearing property was fi rst discovered and experimentally confi rmed by Fletcher and Munson at Bell Laboratories in 1933 and later refi ned by Robinson and Dadson in 1956. Their work resulted in a family of equal loudness curves (contours), widely known as Fletcher-Munson equal loudness curves. A sample of Fletcher-Munson loudness curves is shown in the fi gure bellow.

On the graph there are 12 curves numbered from 0 to 110. These numbers represent the loudness level in phons. A Phon is a unit used to describe the loudness level of a given sound. The reason for introducing the loudness unit is that two sounds with the same SPL (dB) do not necessarily have the same perceived loudness. Phon is equal to SPL in decibels at 1000 Hz. For example, 80 phons means as loud as 80 dB, 1000 Hz tone.

Equal loudness curves represent the SPL that different frequencies need to have in order to be perceived as two tones of equal loudness. For example, a 200 Hz tone at SPL of 50 dB will have the same perceived loudness as a 1000 Hz tone at SPL of 40 dB. In this case both 200 Hz and 1000 Hz tones have a loudness of 40 phons, and they both belong to the 40 phons equal loudness curve.

As it can be seen from the graph, in comparison to frequencies between 2000 and 5000 Hz, it is intrinsically harder for us to hear very low frequencies (below a few hundred Hz) and to a lesser extent very high frequencies (above 7000 Hz). At higher listening levels this difference gradually becomes smaller and smaller and curves become fl atter.

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Traditional Tact room correction systems use one target curve that allows for full range 20-20,000 Hz room corrections. Once selected, the same target curve (same set of correction fi lters) was used at all listening levels. This approach did not take in account the fact that our sound perception, as described by FletcherMunson curves, is frequency and level dependent. Many of our customers have realized this fact and they have used the nine correction presets (available on all our RCS products) to program 2.0 S, 2.2 X and TCS MKII with nine different target curves each corresponding to a different listening level. In this way they were able to take into account the equal loudness curve effect by switching to new target curves as the master level changes.

Thus for a number of reasons it is clear that we need a room correction system that will perform room acoustics correction and at the same time dynamically change the target curve (correction fi lters) as the system listening level changes.

How does it work?

Dynamic Room Correction (DRC) offers a very sophisticated way of handling a multi target curve approach to solving equal loudness curve problem. The system is based on one reference target curve and eight additional target curves called dynamic target curves. The reference target curve is used to perform basic reference room correction. Dynamic target curves are labeled 0, -6, -12, -18, -24, -30, -36 and –42 dB and are combined with the reference target curve to obtain the fi nal target curve used to calculate correction fi lters.

For example, if the master level reads –10.3 dB (89.6 on the relative readout) the system will use the –6 dB and the –12 dB dynamic target curves and by interpolation will calculate a target curve corresponding to –10.3 dB. After that the system will combine the 10.3 dB target curve with the reference curve to obtain the fi nal target curve that is then used to calculate the correction fi lters. New correction fi lters are loaded into the signal path as the music is playing and the new correction takes effect in a split of a second. The same process repeats again for any new master level setting.

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AUTOMATIC ROOM CORRECTION

Tact-2.2 XP can now perform room correction automatically from the 2.2 XP front panel user interface, without the need for an PC software.

The automatic room correction feature is designed to perform the entire room correction process without using a PC interface. The Tact-2.2 XP has suffi cient DSP processing power to perform room measurement, crossover fi lter design, target

curve generation and correction fi lter calculation. The entire process is controlled

CAUTION

from the 2.2 XP front panel DRC-RCS menu. Target curve and crossover fi lter adjustments can be made on the fl y while the music is playing. Users can, for example, specify a boost at low frequencies or a roll-off at high frequencies. Values of the ‘low’ and ‘high’ frequencies can also be adjusted.

PC based room correction requires that the 2.2 XP is connected to the RS232 port of a PC. PC software is used just as a GUI (graphical user interface) to provide the user with a graphical presentation of the correction process. After the room response measurement is completed, the room frequency response for all measured channels can be displayed on the screen. Crossover fi lters and actual correction fi lters can be viewed. The displayed graphs provide valuable information that helps users design their own optimum target curve.

The Tact-2.2 XP memorizes two sets of target curves: computer generated and automatically generated target curves. When the automatic feature is turned OFF, the 2.2 XP will use a computer generated set of target curves. When the automatic feature is turned ON, the 2.2 XP uses target curves generated by the 2.2 XP front panel automatic correction feature.

When the 2.2 XP is connected to a PC and the automatic feature is enabled, automatically generated target curves will be uploaded into the RCS/DRC screen. The curves can than be saved or modifi ed. Modifi ed curves can than be loaded back into the 2.2 XP. However, the uploaded curves will not take effect until the automatic feature is disabled. Any target curve uploaded to 2.2 XP is saved as a PC generated target curve and takes effect only when the automatic feature is disabled. In another words, if a target curve is to be modifi ed by the PC software, the automatic correction feature has to be disabled.

This following describes the automatic room correction process for all 2.2 XP operating modes.

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2.2 Mode This operating mode assumes a stereo system consisting of two main channels and two subwoofers. To select 2.2 mode from the main screen, click on the MENU button, and then select the MODE menu. In MODE menu, click on the STEREO 2.2 option. This will select 2.2 mode and will display it on top of the screen (1) Fig.1.

Fig. 1. Mode menu. 2.2 mode selection is displayed in the upper left corner (1).

To perform 2.2 mode automatic room correction go through the following steps:

1. Correction Bypass. Place 2.2 XP in correction bypass mode. You can place 2.2 XP in bypass mode by pressing on the BP remote control button or by using the front panel controls.

Fig. 2. Tact-2.2 XP main screen. Note a ‘*’ next to BP. It indicates that BP – bypass mode is selected.

2. Crossover Filters Off. Make sure that crossover fi lter option is set to OFF. It is important that all measurements are performed without any crossover fi ltering. If your loudspeakers have built in electronic crossover fi lters, make sure that they are disabled. If crossover fi lters could not be disabled, set the subwoofer crossover fi lter to its highest frequency and main channel to its lowest cut off frequency.

To disable crossover fi lters enter the RCS-DRC menu and select the CROON(OFF) option in Fig.3 to enter Crossover screen Fig. 4.

Fig. 3. RCS-DRC screen.

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CAUTION

Fig. 4. Crossover menu. CRO: OFF indicates that crossover fi lters are disabled

Crossover fi lters can be turned OFF from the front panel crossover menu (Fig. 4). Place the screen cursor over the CRO: ON menu option and then press the enter button (click) until it displays CRO: OFF, and then click on SET option.. Please note that any change made on this screen does not take effect until you click on the SET option.

Click on the MENU button to go back to the DRC-RCS screen, Fig. 3.

3. Measurements. To perform room response measurements, select the MSR menu option to display the measurement screen (Fig. 5).

Fig. 5. Measurement screen.

The 2.2 XP is factory confi gured to measurement parameters as displayed in Fig. 5. The MSR MIC CAL option should be turned ON and the MIC FILE fi eld should display the microphone serial number as printed on your microphone

MSR MIC CAL. When this option is set to ON, the room correction algorithm will apply the microphone calibration fi le to the measurement data. When this option is set to OFF, the microphone calibration fi le is ignored.

MIC FILE. This fi eld displays the microphone fi le name used to perform microphone calibration. The microphone calibration fi le data is saved in 2.2 XP internal memory. For more details on how to transfer microphone calibrations fi le to 2.2 XP memory, please refer to the Microphone section of the PC software manual.

AVG This is a very important measurement parameter. It equals the number of measurements that are averaged prior to being saved. The averaging process reduces the effects of random environmental noise. Typical Average values go from 10 to 30.

14 Tact Audio

DELAY. If you do not want to be in the room while measurement is in progress, set this parameter to a few seconds to allow you to exit the room. For example, if DELAY = 10 the system will wait for 10 seconds before it starts pulsing.

PULSE. This parameter sets the relative level of the output measurement pulse. Minimum level is 1% and maximum level is 100%.

FILE. Use this option to assign a File number to the measurement you are just about to perform. At the end of the measurement process, the measurement data for all four channels will be saved in the selected File number. Tact-2.2 XP supports up to seven measurement fi les. In another words you can save up to seven different measurements in 2.2 XP internal memory.

Use L, R, SL and SR options to select (enable) a channel for measurement. Channels are labeled as L for left, R for right, SL for subwoofer left and SR for subwoofer right channel. Selected (enabled) channels are marked by a rectangle. To select or deselect a channel place the cursor over desired channel and press ENTER button.

In most cases, factory presets are optimum and users can proceed directly with peforming actual measurements. To initiate the room measurement process, click on the START button. The following screen will be displayed:

Fig. 6. Microphone calibration and measurement screen

After the measurements are completed, click on the EXIT option and then click on the MENU button to go back to the DRC-RCS screen (Fig. 3). At any time during the measurement process you can click on the CANCEL option to cancel the process. After the measurement is completed or the measurement was canceled, the CANCEL option changes its name to EXIT.

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