Product Review

Secrets Benchmark Product Review

AudioControl Maestro M2 7.1 A/V Surround Sound Processor

Part V

March, 2006

John E. Johnson, Jr.

Secrets Benchmark Results

Function	Score	Notes
Time Alignment
Global A/V Delay	10 Points	Delay up to 220 ms, in 5 ms increments (must have at least 60 ms delay to get 10 points).
Speaker Delay	5 Points	Each channel is independent. Increment is 1 foot or 0.3 meter (0.5 foot increment is minimum for 10 points). Also can be set in 1 ms increments.
Volume
Muting	5 Points	Muting is available but only at one level.
Power-On Volume / Max Volume	10 Points	Power-On volume and maximum volume can be set.
Input Level Trim	10 Points	Each adjustable in four steps (0.5 volts, 1 volt, 1.5 volts, and 2 volts).
Volume Scale	0 Points	Scale is from 0 dB to 100 dB. What we are looking for is to have the scale state 0 dB at the reference level.
Speaker Calibration	5 Points	± 10 dB, adjustable in 1 dB increments (must have 0.5 dB increments to get the full 10 points).
Headphone	0 Points	No headphone jack.
Dolby Digital
Basic Functions	10 Points	Meets basic requirements for Dolby Digital.
DRC (Dynamic Range Control)	10 Points	Located under Main Menu, Screen 2.
Dialogue Normalization	0 Points	None.
Lock-on Time	10 Points	Fast.
640kbps AC-3	Not Tested
Dolby Digital EX
Basic Functions	10 Points	Meets basic requirements for Dolby Digital EX.
Flag Respect	10 Points	Detects flag.
Pro Logic
Basic Functions	10 Points	Meets basic requirements for Dolby Pro Logic.
SurrEnc Flag respect	Not Tested
Pro Logic II
Basic Functions	10 Points	Meets basic requirements for Dolby Pro Logic II.
Non-mandatory Music mode features	10 Points	Panorama, Dimension, Center Width.
DTS
Basic Functions	10 Points	Meets basic requirements for DTS.
Bass Management
Crossover frequency selection	10 Points	40 Hz to 130 Hz, in 10 Hz increments. 10 Hz increments is best.
Crossover Slope selection	0 Points	No slope selection.
LFE Trim	10 Points	Called DTS LFE Gain in the M2.
DVD-Audio
Bass Management for 5.1 Analog Input	10 Points	Allows digital bass management.
HDMI DVD-A Input	0 Points	HDMI inputs do not accept DVD-A or SACD digital signals at present.
Link DVD-A/SACD Input	0 Points	No Link connection.
THX
Certification	0 Points	Not THX-certified.
Re-Eq Defeat Option	NA
Audio Customization
Parametric Subwoofer Eq	0 Points	No EQ.
Surround Mode Pre-Set	10 Points	Default surround parameter for each input can be stored.
Multiple Surround Management	0 Points	Two amplifier channels can be re-assigned for bi-amping front left and right channels, but what we are looking for here is the ability to use the extra channels to duplicate the standard rear channels.
Academy Mono Filter	0 Points	None offered. It has a Mono Movie mode, but that is not the same thing as Academy Mono Filter.
Downmix	10 Points	Stereo Mode and 2-Channel Direct dowmix 5.1 to 2-channel.
Miscellaneous
Front Panel Dim	10 Points	Three levels - Bright, Dim, Off.
Settings Storage	10 Points	Settings are retained.
Preamplifier
Maximum RMS Output Voltage at Pre-Out	3.08 volts RMS at 1 kHz and 0.12% THD 10 Points	We prefer at least 1.0 volt RMS, and 2.0 volts RMS is best. The M2 voltage is at a coaxial unbalanced output. At the XLR outputs, this would double to 6 volts.
Power Amplifiers
2 Channel Maximum RMS Power Output	NA
7 Channel Maximum RMS Power Output	NA
Video
Up-Conversion of Composite Video, S-Video, and Component Video to DVI/HDMI	0 Points	Can be set to up-convert any analog video input to component video output, but not HDMI output.
DVI and/or HDMI Switching	10 Points	Has HDMI switching.
Component Video Switching Bandwidth	10 Points	150 MHz bandwidth. Must be at least 100 MHz.
Total Score	235 Points out of 360	Ratio = 0.653

Conclusions

The AudioControl Maestro M2 is an easy-to-use SSP that has most features that consumers want, including HDMI switching.

I found it a snap to set up, and the sound quality was pleasantly laid back, which is what I like with movie sound tracks that can tend to be a bit edgy.

Some of the things that it does not have, such as 0.5 foot increment delay, transcoding video inputs to HDMI, parametric subwoofer EQ, etc., may be added with software upgrades in the future. However, its basic performance is good, and includes true balanced outputs, which should make it an excellent choice for home theater installations where the power amplifier is at some distance from the SSP.

- John E. Johnson, Jr. -

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