Acourate Version 2 is Fantastic

[Ecwl]

TL;DR
The short version is that Version 2 of Acourate is great because:
1) User interface improvements (which means it’s much faster to get new filters created)
2) Better sonic results (as I got it up and running and created a better sounding filter in no time)

The long version is more convoluted. First, the user interface improvements mean I take much less time going through different settings to do the same things. Individually, these changes feel minor, e.g. you can just duplicate a folder to start a new convolution filter and have Acourate map to it, instead of copying outside in Windows and then remapping all the file names in Macros 0-3 to this new folder. Another “minor” change is that in Macro 2, you can zoom into certain sections of the target curve vs measured frequency response. I usually set subsonic filter to cut off right before my speakers do. So being able to zoom in allows me to more easily set to a precise subsonic filter frequency accurate to 0.1Hz. But with every change, and fewer bugs, the program is more stable so workflow is much faster.

Second, it took me a while to figure out why a quick filter I created sound better. It turns out in Version 1, I didn’t realize my Virtual Bass Array prefilter actually raises the gain at certain frequencies by 4dB. I guess they were just clipped in Roon. Version 2 automatically adjusts for the gain of the pre-filters too so my filter now has a -8dB gain instead of -4dB gain to avoid clipping. And then, Macro 3 handles the inversion slightly differently in version 2 than version 1. My target curve intersects my measured frequency response at 12kHz with the target curve having an amplitude higher than the measured response. The Inversion curve in version 1 would slowly drift back from -4dB to 0dB between 12kHz to 20kHz whereas the Inversion curve in version 2 would be 0dB starting at 12kHz and extend above. As a result, I’m getting back more treble response so music sounds a lot more dynamic.

Finally, Macro 6 is the real star here for people with asymmetric speaker setup. To mimick Macro 6 previously can easily take me an hour and I was still doing a bunch of things wrong sometimes. Version 2 comes with short cuts to do the same thing in less than 1 minute and yields better sonic results. For anyone who has an asymmetric setup, I would argue that Macro 6’s InterChannel Phase Alignment functionality alone is worth the price of the upgrade.

Obviously, we all have different feelings about paying for software. I think Uli has provided 15 years of free upgrades for everyone (even though I’ve only had Acourate for a year). Given most software developers have moved to a subscription model, I think this one-off upgrade to version 2 is worth the price of admission, especially when I’m learning new things about digital room correction and getting better sonic results and saving time. Obviously, your mileage may vary.

[dsnyder]

Thanks for sharing your impressions, @Ecwl. I agree 100%. I just started playing with V2 yesterday afternoon, and there's still so much more to explore. As soon as I saw Mitch's demo on YouTube, I wrote Uli, telling him I could not wait to send my money for the upgrade, and that was before I knew what it would cost.

Like you, I'm puzzled that so many audiophiles think nothing of spending $500 on a power cable or pair of interconnects but push back on spending a few hundred dollars for Acourate. The value of this solution and impact on sound is orders of magnitude greater. They are missing out…big time.

When I first purchased Acourate v1 five years ago, my only struggle was thinking that I was paying hundreds of dollars for software that I would only use once. Boy was I wrong. I've made a bunch of system changes since then, and I keep getting better at the process and results each time I run through it. I've downsized my system significantly since I started using Acourate because the experience has taught me more about what matters and what doesn't. The solution has paid for itself many times over (in savings from avoiding pointless upgrades), and of course, my room has never sounded better.

Acourate v2 begins the next chapter, and I'm incredibly grateful to Uli and Mitch for all of the work they have put into these tools and patiently teaching all of us how to become and stay well tuned!

[Dahlberg]

Is this an upgrade or will version1 still be available on the same computer ?
Have to ask but, will it be possible to import earlier projects ?

[UliBru]

You may install V2 in another folder in the program directory. So the two versions can exist in parallel.
But they cannot run at the same time and they also share the same ini-files. This may possibly lead to a config.
I'm pretty sure you will forget V1 quickly.

[Dahlberg]

Ok. So if I just run the installer it will overwrite version1 ?
Are there any new tricks to time alignment by sine wave convolution or will this basically be done the same way as before ?
If I will use the pulse response from my sinewave convolved project and do a new room/macro with the same settings, will I then get a "better" result then before ? It sounds amazing as is but I will of cource order the new version as soon as I clear the funds for it. Had this bright idea that I should build a CNC mill/router so it has been sort of a tornado at the bankaccount for a while

[UliBru]

The installer will install to C:\Program Files\AudioVero\AcourateV2 instead of C:\Program Files\AudioVero\Acourate

The time alignment by sinewave convolution is as before.
Macro3 gives a different result. And then of course macro6 will do something for you if the setup is not perfect symmetric

[Dahlberg]

Fantastic, looking forward to it

[dasdoing]

is it possible to purchase V1 at a discount now? I live in Brazil and due to exchange rate Acourate costs more than a monthly minimum wage.

[UliBru]

I'm very sorry, there is no discount. V1 has stopped.
BTW what about audio equipment in Brazil? Is it so much cheaper then here?

[dasdoing]

BTW what about audio equipment in Brazil? Is it so much cheaper then here?

If you buy nacional, yes