Review of StormAudio ISP Core 16

Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity is a leading online publication about home theater and high-end audio. Their staff recently published an enthusiastic review of the StormAudio ISP Core 16 Preamp-Processor, which features Dirac Live, and PA 16 MK2 16-channel power amplifier.

The reviewer used the calibration service for installation and explains the setup process of the Dirac Live in detail. He describes the results as well worth the effort, not least the possibility to personalize the setup, and the flexibility it offers.

“As long as you stick to the Core 16’s 16-channel speaker limit, you can do pretty much anything you want. For multi-sub maniacs, this is the only solution on the market that I’m aware of with this level of flexibility.”

The reviewer then put the setup through its paces by playing some selected music and movies, such as Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits and the blockbuster films No Time to Die and Gladiator. And he came away highly impressed, stating that the two components delivered the best theater and multi-channel music playback experience he has ever heard in his media room!

“Whether it was a movie soundtrack or music source, everything was presented with tons of detail and was incredibly immersive. Bass response and integration were simply revolutionary with Dirac Live Bass Control, making each individual speaker sound like it was full range. The exceptional clarity of the ISP Core 16 had the added benefit of improving the sense of imaging and sound-staging, which further drew me into the source material. While the core sound signature of the ISP Core 16 was completely neutral, you could easily tailor the sound to your liking by adjusting the target curve via Dirac Live”

Read the full review here.