StormAudio AV Immersive Sound Processors and Multi-Channel Amplifiers Preview

[gene]

StormAudio was recently bought out by the Immersive Audio Technologies Group. The StormAudio lineup is much different than normal consumer products. There is NO OSD, no remote control. Everything is controlled via the web interface and/or an iOS App. But with all this flexibility and power comes a cost, in this case to your wallet. On the other hand, at this point in time, StormAudio has the most flexible bass management system we've seen in any AV preamp/processor and for those needing this level of sophistication, price may be no object.

Read: StormAudio AV Immersive Sound Processors and Multi-Channel Amplifiers Preview

 

[lovinthehd]

Are you going this route, Gene?

 

[slipperybidness]

Generally, you would call this type of setup (no OSD, no local control) a "headless system".

There are certainly advantages to this setup, but it also comes with its own set of disadvantages! Your Wi-Fi better be rock-solid and you better have little interference, etc. Also, you always MUST have a device to connect to the interface, and batteries in your device that need charging are the biggest headache here.

I currently have a headless music streamer in the form of a Raspberry Pi. It is great! I can connect to it with any device that has Wi-Fi access and a browser.

But, then I get into a situation where I forgot to bring my phone or laptop upstairs where the streamer resides, so I have to go back downstairs to get some device to control my music streaming. On the other hand, if I'm downstairs and want to kill my music upstairs, I can quickly do that from any device.

With all of that being said.....one of my next projects will be to install a touch-screen for local control. The bottom line is that Wi-Fi access and control is great, but I personally would not recommend a complete lack of local control--It will eventually become a hassle!

EDIT: I suppose that the target market would likely just pay the $ to have a dedicated device that is always powered up to control this setup. Likely, same goes for the Wi-Fi, the target market would have enough $ to make a call and say "get it done". For the other 99% of us, my comments above still carry weight. I have not seen much info on this forum for anyone else that has any experience with a headless unit.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

No OSD, no Remote?

No way.

Makes no sense to me.

Why limit and exclude yourself?

I use my iPad to control most of my system. But as already mentioned, there are disadvantages.

Why not just have everything and allow consumers to use whichever method they feel like using?

Is it that difficult to incorporate OSD and remotes in addition to Apps and Web Interface?

 

[slipperybidness]

No OSD, no Remote?

No way.

Makes no sense to me.

Why limit and exclude yourself?

I use my iPad to control most of my system. But as already mentioned, there are disadvantages.

Why not just have everything and allow consumers to use whichever method they feel like using?

Is it that difficult to incorporate OSD and remotes in addition to Apps and Web Interface?

Gimmick.

The customer says "this is so cool, welcome to the future!".

Until you actually use it and run into the issues that I already mentioned. Like I mentioned above, it certainly seems that I am ahead of the curve on the headless AV systems, so I have a head-start to also point out the flaws in such a system.

I was also way ahead of the curve with HTPC, I've had a tower PC as a mainstay in my L/R for the last 15 years.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Their flagship AVR HDMI site's spec is 2.0/hdcp 2.2. No mention of HDMI 2.0a nor HDR.
With HDMI 2.1 is practically here - https://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/hdmi-explained-everything-you-need-to-know-news-specs/
To quote TomV - "hard pass"

 

[gene]

Are you going this route, Gene?

Currently I'm using a Yamaha CX-A5100 but the fact that it doesn't route LFE to the mains with a sub channel present, like most consumer gear is very restrictive for my needs. So, I'm contemplating something like this.

 

[gene]

No OSD, no Remote?

No way.

Makes no sense to me.

Why limit and exclude yourself?

I use my iPad to control most of my system. But as already mentioned, there are disadvantages.

Why not just have everything and allow consumers to use whichever method they feel like using?

Is it that difficult to incorporate OSD and remotes in addition to Apps and Web Interface?

Most CE gear is like this (ie. DataSAT and I believe Trinnov). I am not happy about the lack of OSD but it's probably a resource issue. The advantage of speaker configurability of these type of products is something that really makes it worthwhile though.

 

[slipperybidness]

Currently I'm using a Yamaha CX-A5100 but the fact that it doesn't route LFE to the mains with a sub channel present, like most consumer gear is very restrictive for my needs. So, I'm contemplating something like this.

My AVR has a setting called "sub+" or something like that, it allows me to run the LFE to the mains + sub.

I thought that this was a fairly common setting?

Has it gone out of fashion? Am I missing something here?

 

[gene]

My AVR has a setting called "sub+" or something like that, it allows me to run the LFE to the mains + sub.

I thought that this was a fairly common setting?

Has it gone out of fashion? Am I missing something here?

That setting only copies bass from large mains to the sub. It does NOT pass LFE to the mains if a sub channel is active.

No AV receiver or Japanese processor that I know of will route LFE to the mains unless you turn the sub channel off.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

That setting only copies bass from large mains to the sub. It does NOT pass LFE to the mains if a sub channel is active.

No AV receiver or Japanese processor that I know of will route LFE to the mains unless you turn the sub channel off.

Your Status Acoustics 8T has a separate subwoofer cabinet for the bass (modular). I assume you don't have external active crossover to connect the top and lower cabinet. What's the advantage of passing LFE to the Main?

Which speakers would benefit from passing LFE to the Mains?

If I had Salon2 or B&W 800D, I don't think I would want to pass LFE to them.

 

[gene]

Your Status Acoustics 8T has a separate subwoofer cabinet for the bass (modular). I assume you don't have external active crossover to connect the top and lower cabinet. What's the advantage of passing LFE to the Main?

Which speakers would benefit from passing LFE to the Mains?

If I had Salon2 or B&W 800D, I don't think I would want to pass LFE to them.

I have Emotiva XPR-1 monobloc amps. I prefer to run my 8T's full range off them rather than bi-amping with a less powerful amp to the satellite portion of the speaker. I've done that in my prior system but I really enjoy the single massive amp connection and it let's me flip a switch to my 2CH rig for vinyl more easily without having to switch cables.