Side by side
Room EQ Wizard vs A1 Evo Acoustica
Room EQ Wizard
64 positive (82%) · 14 mixed (18%) · 0 negative (0%)
Trust + time weighted: +87%
AI summary — not a quote
Room EQ Wizard (REW) is the community-standard free software for measuring and analyzing room acoustics. It is highly regarded by audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts for its ability to identify room modes, optimize subwoofer placement, and generate precise EQ filters. While it is praised for being exceptionally powerful and cost-free, users frequently describe it as having a steep learning curve that requires a significant time investment to master.
Pros
- Completely free to use for advanced room analysis
- Highly effective for identifying room modes and optimizing subwoofer placement
- Integrates seamlessly with MiniDSP hardware and various AVR manual EQ settings
- Provides professional-grade measurement data for fine-tuning DSP and crossovers
Cons
- Significant learning curve often described as a 'black hole' of time
- Initial software and hardware setup can be tedious and frustrating
- Requires the purchase of a separate calibrated microphone (like the UMIK-1) to be useful
Top excerpts
Measurements were done from a nearfield listening position, about 2.5 to 3 feet away from each speaker (normal seated position at the desk). Measurements were done from a UMIK-2 mic, using REW software.
A powerful class D amp is all you will ever need, first focus on fixing room issues with a Umik1 and REW, and apply DSP for finetuning.
The time alignment tool in REW makes it easy.
At minimum grab a UMIK1 and use REW to figure out what's what.
Grab a calibrated mic and run REW.
A1 Evo Acoustica
16 positive (84%) · 3 mixed (16%) · 0 negative (0%)
Trust + time weighted: +83%
AI summary — not a quote
A1 Evo Acoustica is a free, third-party calibration tool designed for Denon and Marantz receivers that works by loading custom filters through Audyssey. It is highly regarded in the home theater community for providing a significant audio upgrade over stock Audyssey calibration, with users frequently noting improved subwoofer performance and better overall system integration.
Pros
- Free alternative to paid room correction software like Dirac
- Significant improvements to subwoofer integration and bass impact
- Highly customizable, allowing users to easily select and apply their own target curves
- Generally considered superior to stock Audyssey XT32 by experienced users
Cons
- Video tutorials are reported to be disorganized and difficult to follow
- Audible differences may be negligible when compared to Audyssey using flat target curves
Top excerpts
I have not done a direct comparison, because in my setup, I have found very little audible difference between Audyssey, and A1 Evo Acoustica when using flat target curves.
got Acoustica dialed in with the last version
A1 Evo Acoustica is a fantastic tool and if you can follow the instructions, is simple enough to use without technically understanding what it does.
Try A1 Evo Acoustica first. It’s free and made an improvement to me over stock Audyssey.
I used to eq everything myself but switched over to A1 Evo Acoustica recently and love it. It really makes it slap.