active crossover from a pc soundcard?

bser · 10th August 2005, 11:23 PM

with my new HT system I'd like to setup I would like to go pretty high end and use a multimedia pc, a while back I was viewing a forum that suggested a 5.1 sound card for a computer could be programed to function as an active crossover. Does anyone have any experience with this or could someone link me to where I could find more info out about this? I know I'm not being very specific but I don't have much to go on. Thanks for any help.

theAnonymous1 · 10th August 2005, 11:46 PM

http://kxproject.lugosoft.com/index.php?skip=1

bser · 11th August 2005, 12:38 AM

wow thanks man

bser · 11th August 2005, 01:04 PM

so would multiple sound cards be needed if I wanted to run a 5.1 system with 2 way speakers all active?

bjackson · 11th August 2005, 01:23 PM

Well you are going to need 11 outputs (2 x 5, plus 1 for the sub), so you'd probably want a couple 5.1 cards.

bser · 14th August 2005, 01:24 AM

can someone reccomend a card that will provide superior performance and is supported by the kx project? Will any flavor of audigy 2 fit my needs?

bser · 16th August 2005, 01:17 AM

One other thing I need to ask is what kind of solution do most use as an economical way to provide 11 channels of amplification to an active 5.1 setup, I am happy with the pro amp I have now but the idea of first of all having to purchase 5 of these and put up with the fan noise doesn't suit me. What kind of amplifier solution is popular amoung those with all active 5.1 channel systems?

bjackson · 16th August 2005, 04:53 AM

Look at the kx project website to check what boards are supported. I think the Emu boards are, and are rather high quality, but are quite expensive.

I'd look into the various amp kits from 41hz.com or chipamps from BrianGT, at www.chipamp.com

I personally have never tried either, but I really like the design of the 41hz boards (Tripath extremely efficent and good sounding amplifiers), but BrianGT's gainclones are highly regarded to say the LEAST, and either one would do you well.

bser · 17th August 2005, 02:16 PM

I spent quite some time reading over the chipamp.com site. The information posted on there is kind of over my head as I have never even thought about building my own amplifier, however the construction of the amp doesn't appear to be all that difficult, is it possible to build and opperate an amp kit such as this without fully understanding how it works? And also what is the rated power output on such amplifiers be as compared to a stereo amp from onkyo rated at 100x2?

bjackson · 17th August 2005, 02:24 PM

You can build a whole lot of things in DIY audio without understanding them when you start, but I almost always end up understanding them when I'm done

The rated output of the different gainclones are determined a lot by the power supply you feed them with. I'd look at the individual sheets application guide from the manufacturer and it should have what power supply you need for specified power.

Also most mass market manufacturers rate the power of their amplifiers at 10% THD, wheras most DIY projects rate at <1% THD, so it's hard to compare exactly power rating

10th August 2005, 11:23 PM	#1
bser diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2004	active crossover from a pc soundcard? with my new HT system I'd like to setup I would like to go pretty high end and use a multimedia pc, a while back I was viewing a forum that suggested a 5.1 sound card for a computer could be programed to function as an active crossover. Does anyone have any experience with this or could someone link me to where I could find more info out about this? I know I'm not being very specific but I don't have much to go on. Thanks for any help.

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10th August 2005, 11:46 PM	#2
theAnonymous1 diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Anonymityville	http://kxproject.lugosoft.com/index.php?skip=1

11th August 2005, 12:38 AM	#3
bser diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2004	wow thanks man

11th August 2005, 01:04 PM	#4
bser diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2004	so would multiple sound cards be needed if I wanted to run a 5.1 system with 2 way speakers all active?

11th August 2005, 01:23 PM	#5
bjackson diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Illinois	Well you are going to need 11 outputs (2 x 5, plus 1 for the sub), so you'd probably want a couple 5.1 cards.

14th August 2005, 01:24 AM	#6
bser diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2004	can someone reccomend a card that will provide superior performance and is supported by the kx project? Will any flavor of audigy 2 fit my needs?

16th August 2005, 01:17 AM	#7
bser diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2004	One other thing I need to ask is what kind of solution do most use as an economical way to provide 11 channels of amplification to an active 5.1 setup, I am happy with the pro amp I have now but the idea of first of all having to purchase 5 of these and put up with the fan noise doesn't suit me. What kind of amplifier solution is popular amoung those with all active 5.1 channel systems?

16th August 2005, 04:53 AM	#8
bjackson diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Illinois	Look at the kx project website to check what boards are supported. I think the Emu boards are, and are rather high quality, but are quite expensive. I'd look into the various amp kits from 41hz.com or chipamps from BrianGT, at www.chipamp.com I personally have never tried either, but I really like the design of the 41hz boards (Tripath extremely efficent and good sounding amplifiers), but BrianGT's gainclones are highly regarded to say the LEAST, and either one would do you well.

17th August 2005, 02:16 PM	#9
bser diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2004	I spent quite some time reading over the chipamp.com site. The information posted on there is kind of over my head as I have never even thought about building my own amplifier, however the construction of the amp doesn't appear to be all that difficult, is it possible to build and opperate an amp kit such as this without fully understanding how it works? And also what is the rated power output on such amplifiers be as compared to a stereo amp from onkyo rated at 100x2?

17th August 2005, 02:24 PM	#10
bjackson diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Illinois	You can build a whole lot of things in DIY audio without understanding them when you start, but I almost always end up understanding them when I'm done The rated output of the different gainclones are determined a lot by the power supply you feed them with. I'd look at the individual sheets application guide from the manufacturer and it should have what power supply you need for specified power. Also most mass market manufacturers rate the power of their amplifiers at 10% THD, wheras most DIY projects rate at <1% THD, so it's hard to compare exactly power rating

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