The best way would depend on your experience and skill level with DSPs and hardware. Ideally roll your own solution because then you can avoid all the compromises of the commercially available choices. But few people have enough knowledge to do that.
If you have almost unlimited software skills then going the PC route is an option, otherwise I'd avoid that route. It will be hard to get sounding good unless your EMC abilities are above average too.
MiniDSP is a good route for a beginner I feel.
If you have almost unlimited software skills then going the PC route is an option, otherwise I'd avoid that route. It will be hard to get sounding good unless your EMC abilities are above average too.
MiniDSP is a good route for a beginner I feel.
EMC issues should be pretty much negligible with a good audio interface for the PC. The catch is the interface costs as much as a MiniDSP plus one has additional cost and complexity in maintaing the PC and running some sort of VST host or DAW on it. However, a PC + audio interface is kind of mandatory if one's doing much in the way of measurements (unless you want to throw even more money at it) and you have to sort out the same software loop to do the measurements as you need for playback. So it can be handy to let the PC do double duty and save the cost of a MiniDSP. If the budget permits in the end it's kind of nice to have both solutions.
you need a sound card with 6 outputs
(a cheap onboard 5.1 one? Or an expensive professional part)
And software to do the xover
There are even basic plugins for foobar
There is support under linux for brutefir for room correction etc.
There are vst plugins for professional software
In the end … it depends on what you want to do
What you can do
And your budget, e.g. woyld you put 6 different dacs - one for each channel ?
(a cheap onboard 5.1 one? Or an expensive professional part)
And software to do the xover
There are even basic plugins for foobar
There is support under linux for brutefir for room correction etc.
There are vst plugins for professional software
In the end … it depends on what you want to do
What you can do
And your budget, e.g. woyld you put 6 different dacs - one for each channel ?
Audio interfaces at MiniDSP's price points can have better DACs than the ADAU1701 used in the MiniDSP 2x4. The parts used on the interfaces aren't usually speced, but MiniDSP doesn't do that either (though I did see one mention here on DIYA that the 2x8 might use a CS42528). Third party performance measurements exist but are pretty limited so mostly one's looking at buying something, cracking the case, and doing some characterizing whichever way one goes. Either way, it's more cost effective to set the power amp gain for good bit depth utilization in a decent DAC than to throw money at DACs with somewhat better headline specs.
I have a couple of different MiniDSP crossover products, and the nice thing about them is that you do not need to have the computer running when you want to listen to music. Not sure if a computer is integrated into your system or not...
+1 on the need for a computer based measurement system.
Also, I have crated a free active crossover design tool suite using Excel that exports the "advanced biquads" to the MiniDSP. I have had great success designing and implementing crossovers for several systems using these tools. They are somewhat advanced, however, but there is lots of documentation and I am happy to answer user's questions.
-Charlie
+1 on the need for a computer based measurement system.
Also, I have crated a free active crossover design tool suite using Excel that exports the "advanced biquads" to the MiniDSP. I have had great success designing and implementing crossovers for several systems using these tools. They are somewhat advanced, however, but there is lots of documentation and I am happy to answer user's questions.
-Charlie
Last edited:
I want to do measurements in room so i have been looking at audio interfaces - onboard analog audio in pcs is crap. I want the audio interface to be with balanced outputs.
My computer is my source of music. Its always on and doubles as a server.
Can i have systemwide XO with my audio interface? What software can i use ? Will Allocator work ?
Spending up to $500 is ok. Buying used on eBay seems a good idea..
My computer is my source of music. Its always on and doubles as a server.
Can i have systemwide XO with my audio interface? What software can i use ? Will Allocator work ?
Spending up to $500 is ok. Buying used on eBay seems a good idea..
I use J River Media Center for the xo and eq of my 4-way speakers, and it handles all of my pc sources (hd, netflix, spotify etc) without any problems. Smooth sailing. I've been running this way the last 5 months on a Walmart Acer and I'm satisfied. Best part is the JR team is constantly upgrading based on user feedback. Only $50 plus the interface......and no I don't work for them.
There's a few things in its DSP section that are lacking but can be worked around. I have no doubt that they will get to that though.
There's a few things in its DSP section that are lacking but can be worked around. I have no doubt that they will get to that though.
I've looked at it, but have not tired it. Seems that you like it. Which version of JRiver MC are you on?I'm on 17, with 18 due out any day. Supposed to be a lot of upgrades to the DSP section. I used to use miniDSPs, but looked into using my pc to keep my stereo functional when I had to send my boards back for repair earlier this year. I used the 7.1 analog out on my mobo, and while the sq was ugly the software and possibilities were great. I ordered a firewire interface and the mini's went on the shelf when I got them back. MiniDSPs are great and I'll keep them for something but for my main system pc is the way to go.
Yes and yes, though some restrictions and conditions apply when using time reversed IIR in real time. Feel free to check out the discussion starting here and follow up on that thread if you've specific questions around Allocator or Cross Time DSP.
Mileage varies considerably; many of the PC hassles can be avoided by doing one's homework before buying. For what it's worth, my experience with Focusrite Saffires is they're pretty much turnkey and the VST stack I run in Plogue Bidule's been bombproof. USB 2.0 support's been trickling in to audio interfaces for a while and it's starting to look like most of the kinks have been ironed out of the drivers---I've been thinking of maybe picking up a Scarlett.
Echo AudioFire 12. It's been solid, I'm super happy with it. No frills. No extra mic pres, headphone outs, MIDI, ADAT etc just 12 channel ad/da for less than 6 bills.
2sick2pray, dont hijack my thread please.
I definitely want to do pc-based measurements.
Natehansen, I was looking at this unit: Firewire audio recording interface 16 IN 16 OUT | Audio Interfaces - what do you think ?
That way i can also have a headphone amp and SP/DIF IO. I also want to connect my tv to the setup later - i can do that via the SP/DIF. The thing is i want my setup to play movies, youtube videos etc too..not just music. Can i do that with a PC-based XOver?
I definitely want to do pc-based measurements.
Natehansen, I was looking at this unit: Firewire audio recording interface 16 IN 16 OUT | Audio Interfaces - what do you think ?
That way i can also have a headphone amp and SP/DIF IO. I also want to connect my tv to the setup later - i can do that via the SP/DIF. The thing is i want my setup to play movies, youtube videos etc too..not just music. Can i do that with a PC-based XOver?
muskel - I don't know anything about any of the other Echo products. I do know that mine has been trouble free and I'm quite happy with the sound.
My current pc xo setup with J River handles the audio for ALL pc sources. DVD, hard drive, youtube, netflix, spotify etc etc no problem. With external sources (anything not sourced by JR from the hd) there is a bit of a pop, or drop out, from time to time. This is due to the way the software "grabs" the audio from the default Windows sound device which JR uses as a sort of virtual sound card. These pops could be fixed if I took the time to get everything sorted properly. I don't notice any issues with delay at all, but maybe it's something I'm not sensitive to.
My current pc xo setup with J River handles the audio for ALL pc sources. DVD, hard drive, youtube, netflix, spotify etc etc no problem. With external sources (anything not sourced by JR from the hd) there is a bit of a pop, or drop out, from time to time. This is due to the way the software "grabs" the audio from the default Windows sound device which JR uses as a sort of virtual sound card. These pops could be fixed if I took the time to get everything sorted properly. I don't notice any issues with delay at all, but maybe it's something I'm not sensitive to.
