Every home theater system has a sound processor of some type to manage the inputs and outputs as well as the sound processing. On low end systems you would have a receiver that would handle those chores, and as you move up you might have a dedicated preamp that handles the same task. as you know, there are many different types of sound formats in use and they all require decoding in order to send the sound to the correct speaker. Some receivers/preamps even have their own automated calibration setup that utilizes a calibrated mic to adjust the time delay, frequency response, etc of your speakers. My Onkyo receiver has such a thing built into it and it came with a calibrated mic.

But the fun doesn't stop there, and there is a whole other level of processing power that can be had, and this is the one piece of equipment where I will spare no money. This time around I'm going to be using a Trinnov Altitude 16 processor. This is the ultimate home theater/media room processor you can get right now (other than the 32 channel version which does all the same things, just with more channels). And know that this processor is not a bunch of hardware, it is a sophisticated computer with hardware attached to it and everything is done in the software.   

The tuning capabilities of this device are phenomenal and I can't even begin to describe what it is capable of in my own words, so lots of copying pasting here. 🙂  There is a link to the manual toward the end of the post in case you are interested. During the installation process, a gentleman named Adam Pelz will be handling the calibration of the system. Adam is the best in the country with the Trinnov calibrations and is also very familiar with the Wisdom Audio speakers that I want to use, so I couldn't be more excited to know that I get to use his services. Combine all three for an audio match made in heaven. 🙂 I'll have lots of videos along the way but I'll certainly have some videos of Adam doing the calibration. 

-----------------------

NO COMPROMISE
The groundbreaking Altitude32 processor set the bar high -- and we didn’t lower it for the Altitude16. Delivering the same processing capabilities and sound quality as the Altitude32 processor, the Altitude16 makes Trinnov’s best-in-class performance accessible to a wider audience whose immersive audio system requirements will not exceed 16 channels.

Equipped with Dolby Atmos, Auro-3D, and DTS:X Pro immersive audio decoders, the Altitude16 renders up to 16 discrete channels of information, natively processes high-resolution 24 bit / 96K audio, enables up to four-way active crossovers and presents no limitations in terms of Atmos and DTS:X channel assignments or subwoofer outputs.

TRINNOV OPTIMIZER
Our world-renowned Loudspeaker/Room Optimizer is recognized as best-in-class by users and reviewers across the professional, commercial cinema and high-end home audio worlds. Introduced to the pro audio market in 2006, its revolutionary solution was quickly embraced by many of the most demanding music, broadcast and post-production sound engineers.

Optimizer technology is now used in nearly 2,000 studios across the globe with nearly 10,000 high-performance installations worldwide.

This same technology, enhanced and refined over the years, is at the heart of the Altitude. To this day, the Optimizer remains the most powerful and flexible calibration system available.

UNIQUE DECODING AND RENDERING

• Dolby Atmos
  • The Altitude16 joins the Altitude32 as the only AV Processors on the market capable of decoding and rendering Dolby Atmos Home content with any 16-channel speaker layout. When it comes to channel count, the devil is in the details when it matters which channels are supported. Within its 16-channel capability, the Altitude16 supports any speaker layout, including multiple side surround speakers and high numbers of subwoofers.
• DTS:X Pro
  • In 2019, Trinnov worked closely with DTS to introduce DTS:X Pro to the consumer market. Altitude owners enjoyed this major upgrade a year before our competitors could offer it. It benefits not only native DTS:X playback, but also the Neural:X upmixer, which greatly improves immersive playback of traditional soundtracks, maximizing speaker usage and listening envelopment.
• Auro-3D
  • The founders of Trinnov and Auro Technologies know each other well, having been at the forefront of immersive sound research and development dating back to the early 2000's. Auro-3D, up to 13.1 channel configuration has been available on the Altitude32 since 2015. The Auro-Matic upmixer, highly popular among Altitude owners for music playback is also supported for all inputs.

UNIQUE BASS MANAGEMENT

The Bass Management solution in the Altitude gives users the most sophisticated tool available for managing low frequencies.

Complete flexibility regarding high and low pass frequencies, filter types, and filter slopes is just the beginning. The low-frequency content of any channel can be fed to any combination of subwoofers, and there is no limitation to the number of subwoofer channels other than the number of available outputs.

Going further, our unique intermediate bass management system is ideal for immersive systems using smaller height channel speakers. It can redirect low frequencies not just to subwoofers, but from a speaker with limited bass capability to the closest, more-capable speaker, before sending the lowest frequencies to the subs.

EXCLUSIVE 3D REMAPPING TECHNOLOGY

In real-world rooms, we can’t always place speakers where we should. And in any case, Dolby, DTS, and Auro each have a different idea of where they should go. Trinnov’s exclusive, patented Remapping is the only solution.

During calibration, Trinnov’s unique 3D microphone precisely maps the location of each loudspeaker in the room regarding distance, azimuth, and elevation. 

When decoding a particular soundtrack, we know the intended placement of each of the various sound elements. Then Remapping, taking the reality of the room into account, ‘remaps’ errant sounds to the proper locations by using adjacent speakers and the principle of stereo imaging.

----------------------

I can talk all day about this, but take a look at these case studies from people heavily involved in the music and home theater world as well as awards.

• Awards

• Case Studies

• Technical Paper

• Webinars

• Manual

• Loudspeaker Placement Guide

I can't even begin to talk about everything this processor can do but there is plenty of information on the Trinnov website if you are interested. 

Here's a short video of the object oriented viewer showing the visualization of the sound going to the different speakers in this Trinnov trailer video. Just amazing stuff. 

I'll obviously have more about this product when the time comes.