Comparing Denon/Audesy, Onkyo/AccuEQ, and Dirac/miniDSP Auto-EQ Schemes ~ Mostly Subjective 25Mar26

I've used all the schemes mentioned in the title for automatic equalization of 2.0, 2.1, 5.1, 5.1.2, and 7.1.2 audio systems. I am an audio engineer and speaker designer/builder as well as music aficionado Acute Audio. Sure, I have pure balanced kits delivering stereo vinyl signals directly to my ear via no-feedback single ended triode amplification... I even enjoy attempting perfection within these constraints. But they are 'old school' constraints and I am completely fine with adding digital signal processing into systems to adjust sound pressure levels to 'flat' or 'house curves,' and to adjust time delays and  impulse responses to approximate perfection in widely varying systems and environments, to that which sounds best.

I've measured the before & after of many of the systems I've designed and built for a variety of rooms or arenas but I'm just gonna cut to the chase here and be subjective in presentation. I'll focus on consumer audio gear and rank the best to the worst in terms of automatic audio equalization schemes:

1. Manually-adjusted equalization of multiple channels discretely is the best scheme to dial in any audio system, by far. You must know what you're measuring and how to interpret the results and how to adjust if warranted. If one has a calibrated measurement mic and SPL sweep capture (as with REW), use it and understand your system. miniDSP often delivers DSP capability for the least expense.. I've used the keen miniDSP 2x4HD for adjusting 4 channels (say mains and 2 subs) to perfection. Of course conversion from analog to digital to analog is lossy, but often worth it.
   
2. AI-driven EQ systems, like Sonible pug-ins for DAWs or those with Cadence processors (cars), might be more capable and may well be better... I've not used them yet.
3. Dirac Live is the best auto-EQ system by far. I have not used it for adjusting channels beyond 2.1 but I know miniDSP is about to drop a 16 channel version. I've used the miniDSP DDRC 22D (digital to digital) to correct 2 channels (main L/R) and it's amazing.
   
4. Yamaha YPAO has a long standing as a better auto-EQ system built into receivers. It not only can handle normal PEQ, and phase correction but goes further in using FIR filters and handling reflected sounds, and it can do as Dirac does, support mulit-point measurements for a wider "sweet spot."
   
5. Denon Audessy is a capable auto-EQ system. It measures all channels and adjusts for not only time delays and gain but also frequency responses from all speakers in the setup.
   
6. Onkyo AccuEQ is the worst I've used. Don't get me wrong, in all other aspects (decodes, clean power, adjustments, etc.) Onkyo, Integra, and Integra Research gear is very good. Yet, their auto-EQ sucks and I need to over-ride it to flat/default and add my own adjustments when encountering it. It may do timing/distances and some gain OK but it's mostly detrimental.