DSPeaker Anti-Mode X4 Review
DSPeaker Anti-Mode X4: The subwoofer equalizer boxes from DSPeaker have been known for many years. They are now an integral part of the scene, as they are the only ones that manage to achieve reliable bass equalization and “de-drumming” with simple automatic calibration.
The Anti-Mode products were always extremely simple to use, of top-quality workmanship, and inexpensive. Then the Finns brought out the DSPeaker Anti-Mode 2.0 Dual Core, a super-flexible and professional equalizer that has since become the universal weapon in the fight for good room equalization in the bass and is also suitable for full-range applications.
With the full-fledged, digital preamplifier DSPeaker Anti-Mode X4, the Finns have arrived at the high end – and as the name suggests, they are still busy battling with room modes.
“X4” indicates that this is a four-channel version, which offers the possibility of controlling several subwoofers from two stereo channels using an active crossover and bass management.
But the X4 is not just a blown-up dual-core. The completely new development is a full-fledged high-end digital preamplifier. It now offers every conceivable digital and analog connection, including four analog, balanced XLR outputs and a USB audio input. And it doesn’t just have one dual-core DSP, but five discrete DSP brains so that all functions are available even at a 192kHz sampling rate. The X4 is a completely different caliber.
The Finns have taken the already bombastic workmanship for the respective price range to the next level. Everything that could be subjected to mechanical stress is made of metal. The large knurling on the front and all symmetrical sockets come from the luxury manufacturer Neutrik.
The thick housing parts are locked with small carriage bolts and the entire surface of the lid is covered with heavy, multi-layered insulation. A simple knock test confirms its effectiveness.
If there was anything wrong with previous DSPeaker products, it was the peripherals. The remote control of the dual-core was more than simple and the microphone capsule, which was simply soldered to the end of the cable and secured with shrink tubing, was practical but more than, shall we say, simple.
The Anti-Mode X4 comes with a slim, all-metal remote control that works great even from a distance. The only thing you need is the right tool to change the battery.
The large, white packaging includes a small flight case with a full-size measurement microphone and a 5m XLR cable. A textile quiver contains a professional microphone stand. This creates perfect conditions for measuring.
A look inside the DSPeaker Anti-Mode X4 also reveals a new dimension in workmanship. The immaculate layout of the snow-white circuit boards speaks for itself. The comparatively huge power supply with encapsulated toroidal transformer and multi-stage stabilization is mechanically separated from the audio board.
A first summary: The hardware is ready and in production. As is often the case, and not only with DSPeaker, the firmware is not yet ready, not to say far from final.
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However, it is commendable that at the time of this test (end of Sep 2024), all basic functions especially room measurement and equalization had already been implemented and everything worked without crashes, which speaks for clean programming work.
There were still a lot of little things to do, such as switching the digital filters or enabling the digital inputs and the USB interface for frequencies beyond 96 kilohertz. The test device was now operational, but not finished.
DSPeaker Anti-Mode X4: Setup
The small but crystal-clear front display is very easy to use. You use either the remote control or the rotary/push-button for navigation. The measurement is started simply by plugging in the microphone or interrupted by unplugging it. Efficient.
The room is currently measured using a single-point measurement at the listening position. If a satellite/subwoofer combination is used, it is separated in simple mode at 80Hz and adjusted fully automatically in terms of frequency response, level, and phase.
In the test, the various automatic test tones worked well. There was nothing to adjust. Calibrating several times also produced perfectly reproducible results. The Finns have this under control.
The same thing works in expert mode, but here you can set filter frequencies and characteristics in detail and independently for speakers and subwoofers.
The good measurement results can also be quickly verified by ear. The calibration is great. If you want to tune further, there is a parametric equalizer available that can be adjusted very precisely. If you also want to protect your speakers from useless signals, you should use the subsonic filter.
It doesn’t seem to have a very steep slope, but it is super-sensitively adjustable in 2-Hertz steps and has an extremely wide range of frequencies between 2 (!) Hertz and 200Hz. It doesn’t seem to have such a steep slope, but because it hardly shifts the phase, it has no negative side effects in terms of sound – and you can get very precise with your settings.
The high frequencies can also be selected, meaning that even smaller speakers with weaker bass can be precisely limited. This not only provides security but also dynamics and reduces coloration caused by the Doppler effect, especially in two-way speakers. Finally, several profiles can be saved, and copied from one another, and the first three memory banks can be selected directly using the remote control.
The clever socket on the front can accommodate not only the XLR plug of the microphone but also the 6.3mm jack plug of a headphone. If you plug one in, the X4 switches to headphone mode. This runs – of course – without the room correction, switches off the rear outputs, and offers its independent volume control.
DSPeaker Anti-Mode X4 listening test
So how does it all sound? The best thing first: The room correction filters of the X4 sound great and do not sacrifice any noticeable dynamics or detail. The tonal tuning seemed neutral with a good portion of fundamental tone and crystal clear transients.
Perhaps there might be a little more gold dust at the top end for some audiophiles. But I have rarely heard more controlled bass.
A minor downside: When using analog inputs, it smooths out a touch of fine dynamics compared to digital signals, but only a tiny bit. The spatial image is rather close but almost relief-like. The spatial depth, on the other hand, seemed a little short, but not cut off.
Nevertheless, if you prefer a distant and deep image, you’re in the wrong place here, but if you prefer to have the musicians standing directly in front of you, you’ll love the Finn with his three-dimensional representation.
I know from experience that components in this process state almost always improve. Even though the firmware is not yet final, we are confident that we can make an assessment. And it is already outstanding.
Price DSPeaker Anti-Mode X4:
DSPeaker Anti-Mode X4 Price: US$4,250.00
Conclusion:
With the DSPeaker Anti-Mode X4, the Finns are building a processor preamplifier that can handle virtually any speaker setup and will probably always lead to a more balanced sound than just linear amplification.
It is also perfect for otherwise tricky subwoofer connections and you don’t have to be a sound engineer to use the sensationally functioning auto-calibration. The sound result is of a high standard, just as you would expect from a good studio device: precise and three-dimensional reproduction without any taste and quite musical.
Technical Specifications DSPeaker Anti-Mode X4
DSP Cores
- 1 x VS1205 (GUI & Firmware update USB)
- 6 x VS1205 (Audio Inputs, processing)
- 3 x High-Quality DAC (pre-selected), 3 x High-Quality ADC
Firmware Highlights
- Anti-Mode 3.0 room calibration algorithm
- Automatic cross-over frequency optimization (US Pat. 9,955,261)
- Extensive tone controls and user-defined parametric equalizers: Anti-Mode 3.0 Multi-Rate (FIR & IIR), House Curve, Linear-Phase Tilt, Parametric EQs,
- Adjustable Infrasonic, Adjustable cross-over Interfaces
- 2x stereo RCA, 1x stereo XLR input
- 3x optical and 3x coaxial inputs (up to stereo 192kHz with coaxial)
- USB Audio 2.0 input (192kHz PCM, DSD64 and DSD128 by DSD over PCM)
- Primary Output: stereo RCA, stereo XLR, Optical Toslink, and Coaxial S/PDIF
- Auxiliary Output: stereo RCA and stereo XLR
- Microphone input, Headphone output
- Control wheel with a button, IR Remote
Analogue specifications (typical)
- Primary XLR: Dynamic Range: 126 dB, Total Harmonic Distortion: < 0.0008%
- Analogue Input, XLR, SNR+THD: -104dB
- Frequency Response: 20…20000Hz ±0.07dB
- Input Voltage max RCA: 2.5 / 4.4 / 6.2 Vrms, XLR: 2.6 / 5.2 / 12.4 Vrms
- Output Voltage max RCA: 3.2 / 6.4 Vrms, XLR: 6.4 / 14.0 Vrms
- Power consumption: 25W, stand-by: < 0.5W
Mechanical
- Unit dimensions: 436mm x 70mm x 295mm
- Unit weight: 4.5kg
- Color options: Black or Silver front plate
