Audison Bit One- A Most Worthwhile Addition to my Signal Path.

[Buzzman]

My Audison Bit One was installed on February 6 by my trusty guys at Auto Essentials in Thousand Oaks, CA. The main unit is mounted in my trunk, close to the amplifiers. The DRC controller is mounted in the center console of my dash, below my head unit. My excitement soon turned to anguish when I sat down that evening with my laptop to begin “tuning” my system for the drive from LA to Las Vegas where I was about to be married two days later. Well, I discovered that my “new” Bit One was not new after all as it did not have the updated software and firmware. Well, I grabbed my BlackBerry and called Larry Fredericks of Elettromedia USA. As always, he proceeded to give me the best possible customer service one can imagine. Larry, who is the ultimate techie (I think he would date a computer if he could) and a music lover, proceeded to give me a thorough primer on the Bit One, sent me by email all the software and firmware updates ( I thought my hard drive would collapse), and provided detailed instructions to get my Bit One working properly. The future Mrs. Buzzman was NOT happy that I would be sitting down in the car for several hours trying to get this thing working, and possibly delaying our departure to Vegas. Larry told me it would be a frustrating and lengthy experience, but he was being kind. It was a royal pain in the ASS!! Next morning I am on the way to Las Vegas with the future Mrs. Buzzman and the only music I had in my car was the sound of her voice. (Just Kidding.) No Miles Davis, no Donald Fagen. But that Larry, what a great guy; he called me about 6 times to see how things were going. Well, we returned from Vegas that Monday, still no tunes, but now married. The guys at Elettromedia USA felt really bad. Not as bad as I did, but really bad nonetheless. They were going to send me a new (newer?) unit, when my desire to conquer this technological nightmare finally was fulfilled. I am now rewarded with the ultimate in tuning flexibility, along with sonic bliss.

The System Front End: Clarion DRZ9255: While the DRZ offers a tremendous amount of tuning capability for a head unit, it is no match for the Bit One. The Bit One offers 8 output channels, each of which can be muted separately, allows you to EQ, set output levels and phase for EACH CHANNEL separately, allows you to set DSP choices for 4 different listening positions; offers choices between Linkwitz and Butterworth crossover filters, and offers crossover slopes from 6db to 48db! Holy tuning capability Batman. I was truly excited that the Bit One had a digital input and the DRZ had a digital output. I figured I could run a full optical digital signal between the DRZ and the Bit One, with the principal benefit being a dramatic reduction in noise, which was a problem when I had the DRZ connected to my ppi DCX730, which the Bit One replaced. Well, I learned that the DRZ has an optical digital output connector that is proprietary to Clarion, and would require modification on the input end (to the Bit One) with a Toslink connector in order to work properly. The Clarion cable had to be ordered from Clarion’s West Coast distributor and would take about three weeks to arrive, plus it wasn’t cheap ($90). I was also concerned about whether I would be sacrificing the sonic virtues of the DRZ by going digital out since I would be bypassing the onboard DAC of the DRZ and its high quality analog outputs. The decision was made easy when I also learned that I needed an analog input to the Bit One from the DRZ anyway in order to set up the Bit One. So, since I could not wait any longer to get the tunes going in my car, I went analog only out. NO noise issues, and a MUCH lower noise floor than the PPI processor.

Listening Impressions: Musically and sonically, the Bit One blows away the PPI processor. The PPI piece has a noticeably solid state edge in comparison with the Bit One. There is less glare and bite on voices and brass instruments with the Bit One. In comparison to the PPI processor, the Bit One sounds rather tube like in the midrange and treble, with a "roundness," depth and tonal quality which I prefer and would characterize as more "natural." The Bit One produces tight and punchy bass, but with body and real dimensionality; more like the real thing. The Bit One’s noise floor is so much lower than the PPI processor’s it’s almost eerie. I hear more low level detail and information. I like to listen for those low level details and ambience cues in the recording venue that come through in high resolution systems – the cork on the champagne bottle popping about 3 minutes into Bill Evans’s performance of “Waltz for Debby” from his “Live at The Village Vanguard” recording for example; the creaking of the pedal on the piano being played by Michel Petrucianni on his “Live in Tokyo” recording. These nuances are more noticeable with the Bit One. With the Bit One, I am able to hear for the first time the sonic differences between Butterworth and Linkwitz Riley filters. I can now better discern phase differences between speakers. The Bit One, to me, is a much more electronically precise and musical component.

After a week and a half of critical listening, I decided to reinstall my Tru Technology SSLD6 line driver between the DRZ and the Bit One. I had this unit between the DRZ and the PPI processor, and it only exacerbated the noise issues – louder turn on thumps, pops between tracks. You may ask why I need a line driver with the DRZ. Well, with music, the DRZ does not put out anywhere near its rated 4 volt output before clipping. It puts out about 1 volt! This has been confirmed by techs at two different amp manufacturers, and I confirmed this myself while using the PPI processor. I had its input sensitivity set for a maximum 1 volt input and with the most dynamic music I have, the PPI processor didn’t clip until the DRZ showed -10 on the volume display, which is about 90% of the way up. So, I put the Tru line driver back in (one pair of RCA’s from the DRZ to the Tru piece, and one pair of RCA’s out to the Bit One), and recalibrated the input sensitivity of the Bit One. The result: Sonic Bliss. No noise issues, greater dynamic range, more transparency and better low level resolution.

User Impressions: The Bit One is a classy looking piece. One might say that it’s befitting its Italian heritage. The DRC controller fits beautifully in the customized center console of my dash, and has a rich look to it which fits with a luxury vehicle. The Bit One, as noted, offers tremendous tuning flexibility. Its only drawback is the need to use a laptop every time you want to change DSP settings or output levels of individual channels. There have been a couple of occasions when the Bit One and my lap top did not synchronize immediately, but a quick reboot usually solves that. I haven’t yet mastered every nuance of the Bit One, but it’s not leaving my car anytime in the foreseeable future.

Highly Recommended.

[Coheednme13]

Very nice review, much appreciated. The only part I was unclear about was why you got married. J/K

[Buzzman]

Originally Posted by Coheednme13

Very nice review, much appreciated. The only part I was unclear about was why you got married. J/K

She is a hell of a woman, and let's me indulge in my car audio obsession.

[thbugman]

You have me buzzing even more!! I'm waiting on my BitOne as we speak! Should be here soon.......

[Buzzman]

Originally Posted by thbugman

You have me buzzing even more!! I'm waiting on my BitOne as we speak! Should be here soon.......

Glad to hear it. Give it a strong input signal (the Bit One does NOT act as a line driver), and you will be amply rewarded.

One thing I did not mention in my review is that although you can only choose from 4 memory settings at any one time through the DRC controller, the Bit One allows you to store innumerable settings which you can load into the 4 memory settings through your laptop at any time. It is CRITICAL that a setting be "saved" and then "finalized" to the Bit One. The memory setting options are labeled A, B, C, and D, and I recommend storing each setting you wish to keep and naming it as A 1, A2, B1, B2, etc. depending on which memory setting is engaged. The Bit One seems sensitive to this. When I have had Memory B engaged and tried loading a setting saved through Memory A, it defaults to the factory setting.

The Manual is very well written, and makes an otherwise complex process much easier.

Enjoy!

[ARCuhTEK]

My Bit one is sitting on the launching pad. I am going outside now to run the RCA's to the HU. Not sure if I will get sound today due to other mods I am doing to the HU before powering up....but its on the horizon at least.

Thanks for your review.

[t3sn4f2]

Originally Posted by Buzzman

After a week and a half of critical listening, I decided to reinstall my Tru Technology SSLD6 line driver between the DRZ and the Bit One. I had this unit between the DRZ and the ppi processor, and it only exacerbated the noise issues – louder turn on thumps, pops between tracks. You may ask why I need a line driver with the DRZ. Well, with music, the DRZ does not put out anywhere near its rated 4 volt output before clipping. It puts out about 1 volt! This has been confirmed by techs at two different amp manufacturers, and I confirmed this myself while using the PPI processor. I had its input sensitivity set for a maximum 1 volt input and with the most dynamic music I have, the PPI processor didn’t clip until the DRZ showed -10 on the volume display, which is about 90% of the way up. So, I put the Tru line driver back in (one pair of RCA’s from the DRZ to the Tru piece, and one pair of RCA’s out to the Bit One), and recalibrated the input sensitivity of the Bit One. The result: Sonic Bliss. No noise issues, greater dynamic range, more transparency and better low level resolution.

. The jump in voltage from 90% to 0db (4 volt rating) can be 1 to 4 volts. I don't understand how you came to the conclusion that the techs where correct about the voltage being over rated by this experiment.

Volume scales are logarithmic so they are shallow for most of the range and then shoot up, easily 1-4 volts on the last 10%.

Like this or even more aggressive at the top of the range.



I find it hard to believe one of the best head units out there is that over rated on preamp output. It's likely that the 4 volt rating is MAX the way the 8 volt is instead of RMS and that there is some left over for EQ boosting and sub out but I can't see it being only 1 volt out at +8dB.

[Buzzman]

Originally Posted by t3sn4f2

. The jump in voltage from 90% to 0db (4 volt rating) can be 1 to 4 volts. I don't understand how you came to the conclusion that the techs where correct about the voltage being over rated by this experiment.

Volume scales are logarithmic so they are shallow for most of the range and then shoot up, easily 1-4 volts on the last 10%.

Like this or even more aggressive at the top of the range.



I find it hard to believe one of the best head units out there is that over rated on preamp output. It's likely that the 4 volt rating is MAX the way the 8 volt is instead of RMS and that there is some left over for EQ boosting and sub out but I can't see it being only 1 volt out at +8dB.

First, note that I said with "music," not with a test tone at a specified frequency, which is how these components get rated. However, we listen to music (which at any moment in time covers multiple frequencies with varying amplitude), not test tones. Clarion claims the 4Volt rating is before "clipping." In my case, yes it was an experiment, but the conclusions I reached were, in my opinion, valid. My ppi processor would show a clipped input signal from the DRZ at the same output level on the DRZ if I set the PPI's input sensitivity at less than 1 Volt. Also, I have turned the gain up on my Tru line driver all the way, with the DRZ set at -15, and the Tru multiplies the input voltage by a factor of 4, I believe. No indication of a clipped signal on the Bit One, which I would expect to be the case if the DRZ were putting out 4 Volts. Now, it's always possible I have a defective DRZ. But, I am not inclined to remove it from my install and send it off for testing. Finally, the techs I referred to (at Arc Audio and Tru Tech) put the DRZ and other high end head units (including the alpine F1 Status) on a bench for testing, and reached their conclusions, which in every case was less than the rated output voltage, according to them.

[t3sn4f2]

Originally Posted by Buzzman

First, note that I said with "music," not with a test tone at a specified frequency, which is how these components get rated. However, we listen to music (which at any moment in time covers multiple frequencies with varying amplitude), not test tones. Clarion claims the 4Volt rating is before "clipping." In my case, yes it was an experiment, but the conclusions I reached were, in my opinion, valid. My ppi processor would show a clipped input signal from the DRZ at the same output level on the DRZ if I set the PPI's input sensitivity at less than 1 Volt. Also, I have turned the gain up on my Tru line driver all the way, with the DRZ set at -15, and the Tru multiplies the input voltage by a factor of 4, I believe. No indication of a clipped signal on the Bit One, which I would expect to be the case if the DRZ were putting out 4 Volts. Now, it's always possible I have a defective DRZ. But, I am not inclined to remove it from my install and send it off for testing. Finally, the techs I referred to (at Arc Audio and Tru Tech) put the DRZ and other high end head units (including the Alpine F1 Status) on a bench for testing, and reached their conclusions, which in every case was less than the rated output voltage, according to them.

1. Music will hit the max output of the head unit that same way a 0dB tone would, unless you are listening to a 1970's track.

2. I think you are confusing a clipped output with a input that is clipping. Your PPI and Bit One does not show a clipped input signal. It only tells you when a signal clips its inputs. Clean, dirty, since wave music beat, anything. As long as its strong enough.

The only reason you would need a line driver in your case is to have available volume gain on the headunit for low recordings.

[t3sn4f2]

They also claim 8 volt max (peak) which should be 2.8 volts rms when the head unit is set to +8db.

That means the 4 volt claim is peak also since if you subtract 6 db from the 8 volts peak figure you get 4 volts peak or 1.4 volts rms at 0db head unit setting.

So you can say that the DRZ has a maximum clean preamp output of 2.8 volts rms.

[H-Audio - AKA - Here-I-Come]

Congrats on the Marriage.

My Bit One will be in my hands next week also.

So you must first have a Analog input to do the initial setup Hmmm. I'm undecided about which head I will be using with the Bit One. I have a DRZ also, A Eclipse ECD416, Eclipse 8053 (coax), and soon to have a ECD-510. Love the looks of the DRZ and the ECD units, but more then likely it will be the ECD-416 or 510.

[m3gunner]

Thanks for the review... I'm chomping at the bit to get a BitOne, but I think it's going to have to wait for the next car.

One question: did you do all of your setup by ear or did you use any test equipment to "get it in the neighborhood" then do the final tweek by ear?

[Buzzman]

Originally Posted by m3gunner

Thanks for the review... I'm chomping at the bit to get a BitOne, but I think it's going to have to wait for the next car.

One question: did you do all of your setup by ear or did you use any test equipment to "get it in the neighborhood" then do the final tweek by ear?

It's an awesome piece, and using it gets easier each day as I play around with it. My initial set up was done entirely by ear. The Bit One is fabulous in that it automatically determines its input sensitivity using a sine wave on the set up disk played through your source component. A few days ago I purchased a Radio Shack SPL meter to see what kind of in-car response I was getting. While it's not as accurate as an RTA, the SPL meter, and the flexibility afforded by the Bit One, allowed me to correct some output differences between my left and right channels at 3 frequencies in the treble range and in the upper bass, and reduce a peak in the lower bass. Otherwise, my trusty ears did a good job. Overall, imaging and tonal balance improved.

[Buzzman]

Originally Posted by Here-I-Come

Congrats on the Marriage.

My Bit One will be in my hands next week also.

So you must first have a Analog input to do the initial setup Hmmm. I'm undecided about which head I will be using with the Bit One. I have a DRZ also, A Eclipse ECD416, Eclipse 8053 (coax), and soon to have a ECD-510. Love the looks of the DRZ and the ECD units, but more then likely it will be the ECD-416 or 510.

Mark, thanks for the kind words about my nuptials. You will be very pleased with the Bit One. Yes, you need an analog signal from your head unit to the Bit One to do the initial set-up. I also assume you will need the analog signal if you want to make any changes in the set-up down the road; e.g., if you add a line driver upstream, or change your head unit. I plan to add an optical digital cable to my set-up to assess the pros and cons of going full digital from the Bit One. The DRZ is great in that you can select and deselect the digital output. I am not familiar with the Eclipse units.

[H-Audio - AKA - Here-I-Come]

Originally Posted by Buzzman

Mark, thanks for the kind words about my nuptials. You will be very pleased with the Bit One. Yes, you need an analog signal from your head unit to the Bit One to do the initial set-up. I also assume you will need the analog signal if you want to make any changes in the set-up down the road; e.g., if you add a line driver upstream, or change your head unit. I plan to add an optical digital cable to my set-up to assess the pros and cons of going full digital from the Bit One. The DRZ is great in that you can select and deselect the digital output. I am not familiar with the Eclipse units.

The Eclipse ECD units are consider by many as having one of, if not the best transports ever built for car audio. The 416 and 510 are two of the three units I of that digitalizes the radio radio and sends it out the digital output. The other is the DEX-P9. There may be more, but don't know of them and the DEX-P9 is the only one that does digital volume controll.

[H-Audio - AKA - Here-I-Come]

Originally Posted by Buzzman

It's an awesome piece, and using it gets easier each day as I play around with it. My initial set up was done entirely by ear. The Bit One is fabulous in that it automatically determines its input sensitivity using a sine wave on the set up disk played through your source component. A few days ago I purchased a Radio Shack SPL meter to see what kind of in-car response I was getting. While it's not as accurate as an RTA, the SPL meter, and the flexibility afforded by the Bit One, allowed me to correct some output differences between my left and right channels at 3 frequencies in the treble range and in the upper bass, and reduce a peak in the lower bass. Otherwise, my trusty ears did a good job. Overall, imaging and tonal balance improved.

Buzzman I have an excel program when used with you Radio Shack SPL meter will give you a mock RTA reading. Measure with the SPL meter input the info into the spread sheet in show you a curve. The can see right and left difference in the spread sheet also. If you would like PM me your email address and I will send you the file. Its work pretty darn good!

[linuxpro]

Mine is on the way from Audison and I should have it by Thursday next week. Can hardly wait to get it in the vehicle and start playing with it.

One of my favorite features about the BitOne is the ability to save multiple settings and access them from the controller. The BitOne will be going into my SLK-350 (a convertible) so I will be tuning the car with the roof up and with the roof down, and will be able to easily switch between the two when I put the roof up/down while driving. A very nice feature indeed.

Like Arcuhtek, I'm doing a ton of stuff to the vehicle (sound dampening/proofing, new speakers, new amp, new BitOne, new cabling, etc) so it's going to be a few weeks before I'll have a review up on the unit.

Reading these reviews is just making me antsy though. I can't wait to get my BitOne. It's going to sound incredible, I'm sure, with the Hertz Audio components.

[Buzzman]

Originally Posted by Here-I-Come

The Eclipse ECD units are consider by many as having one of, if not the best transports ever built for car audio. The 416 and 510 are two of the three units I of that digitalizes the radio radio and sends it out the digital output. The other is the DEX-P9. There may be more, but don't know of them and the DEX-P9 is the only one that does digital volume controll.

Wow, I wasn't aware that there were any head units that could convert a radio signal to digital. I don't listen to radio in the car anymore, as I prefer satellite radio, but I will have to check out these ECD head units. One thing I should also mention about the Bit One is that you can use its auxiliary input (analog in) for your satellite radio, for example, and EQ that separately from your cd source! Cool stuff.

[Buzzman]

Originally Posted by Here-I-Come

Buzzman I have an excel program when used with you Radio Shack SPL meter will give you a mock RTA reading. Measure with the SPL meter input the info into the spread sheet in show you a curve. The can see right and left difference in the spread sheet also. If you would like PM me your email address and I will send you the file. Its work pretty darn good!

Awesome, and thanks! PM on the way.

[Buzzman]

Originally Posted by linuxpro

Mine is on the way from Audison and I should have it by Thursday next week. Can hardly wait to get it in the vehicle and start playing with it.

One of my favorite features about the BitOne is the ability to save multiple settings and access them from the controller. The BitOne will be going into my SLK-350 (a convertible) so I will be tuning the car with the roof up and with the roof down, and will be able to easily switch between the two when I put the roof up/down while driving. A very nice feature indeed.

Like Arcuhtek, I'm doing a ton of stuff to the vehicle (sound dampening/proofing, new speakers, new amp, new BitOne, new cabling, etc) so it's going to be a few weeks before I'll have a review up on the unit.

Reading these reviews is just making me antsy though. I can't wait to get my BitOne. It's going to sound incredible, I'm sure, with the Hertz Audio components.

Actually, although you can store numerous settings, the DRC controller allows you to recall only up to 4 presets at a time. You have to load other ones and recall them.

[veloze]

Hey Don, I think I probably said congrats in past on your recent nuptials. I'm glad that Mrs. Gibson is just as much car audio hobbyist than some of us, she's a great person & stupendous gourmet cook. I'm glad she's my friend too.

I'm getting the bug to try the Bit-Uno down in the future, but I'm going to have to wait for a little while Audison works the bugs out a new product. I have to listen your MBZ soon enough, so my ears can appreciate the good things I've been hearing about the Audison Bit-One.

Keep us posted of your experiences, and hopefully you get your drivers from Japan soon, so we can listen some tunes cruising down Hollywood Blvd. with a bunch of "Rucas"

BTW, great review!!

Jose

[H-Audio - AKA - Here-I-Come]

I think the latest firmware 1.3 or 1.03 has worked out all the earlier bugs. With this firmware installed everyone is happy. I is a new one and suppose the to have the updated firmware, this was straight from the horse's month, so I'm very happy.

[Buzzman]

Originally Posted by veloze

Hey Don, I think I probably said congrats in past on your recent nuptials. I'm glad that Mrs. Gibson is just as much car audio hobbyist than some of us, she's a great person & stupendous gourmet cook. I'm glad she's my friend too.

I'm getting the bug to try the Bit-Uno down in the future, but I'm going to have to wait for a little while Audison works the bugs out a new product. I have to listen your MBZ soon enough, so my ears can appreciate the good things I've been hearing about the Audison Bit-One.

Keep us posted of your experiences, and hopefully you get your drivers from Japan soon, so we can listen some tunes cruising down Hollywood Blvd. with a bunch of "Rucas"

BTW, great review!!

Jose

Jose, thanks man for all your kind words. If you can swing for the Bit One, I would go for it. The "bugs" have been worked out. In my case I didn't get a new unit as we had thought, so I had to deal with the software and firmware updates. I am hoping to make the IASCA meet this weekend, even if only for a short while. So you will be able to get a listen then. However, my main tweets and mids are in Japan being repaired, so you might have to listen to the second string set-up, which is sounding pretty good. When I get my speakers back from Japan, Hollywood Blvd. here we come.

[Need-sq]

Originally Posted by t3sn4f2

. The jump in voltage from 90% to 0db (4 volt rating) can be 1 to 4 volts. I don't understand how you came to the conclusion that the techs where correct about the voltage being over rated by this experiment.

Volume scales are logarithmic so they are shallow for most of the range and then shoot up, easily 1-4 volts on the last 10%.

Like this or even more aggressive at the top of the range.



I find it hard to believe one of the best head units out there is that over rated on preamp output. It's likely that the 4 volt rating is MAX the way the 8 volt is instead of RMS and that there is some left over for EQ boosting and sub out but I can't see it being only 1 volt out at +8dB.

Buzzman, Thanks so much for an excellent review and semi-tutorial . It will no doubt help me, should I ever have the money to buy one. I don't really like my DCX730 and have been looking for different options........

Now, at the risk of falling into the trap of negativity I gotta say to t3sn4f2, Chill out. What you bring up is really not necessary in this great review thread. Your opinions and "Facts" are superfluous and, in this setting, distract from the point of the whole thread.

Buzzman has been an outstanding resource both when reviewing and lending set up help for the DCX (which by the way is the only in depth and, IMO the best way to go about setting up the DCX), and now again with the Bit-One. I've had the pleasure of listening to his system last year at Marv's BBQ, when he had the DCX installed, and it sounded outstanding. I can only imagine what it sounds like now.......BTW Congrats on the marriage.


Please post distracting unproductive comments to a different spot. Thank you.

[Buzzman]

Originally Posted by Here-I-Come

I think the latest firmware 1.3 or 1.03 has worked out all the earlier bugs. With this firmware installed everyone is happy. I is a new one and suppose the to have the updated firmware, this was straight from the horse's month, so I'm very happy.

Hey Mark, just to clarify, the latest FIRMWARE is edition 1.0.7.1. The latest SOFTWARE is 1.3. If the CD Rom that comes with your Bit One indicates this, then you are good as gold. You only need to put the CD into your CD Player and begin set up.