Behringer, Magie, BG system

[lcjohnson]

This is my first posting on diyaudio and I’m looking for some basic help/suggestions.

I started with a pair of Magneplanar MGII speakers purchased new by me in 1978. I have dragged these speakers around the world with me over the years. I’ve replaced the tweeter wires twice and just finished a rebuild that left out the tweeter panel, but replaced the main panel wires.

I purchased a pair of used Bohlender-Grabener RD-50 vertical planar speakers and bolted them onto the side of the Maggies.

The pcm output of my CD player feeds a Behringer DEQ2496 digital equalizer and the digital output from that feeds a Behringer DCX2496 digital xover and DA converter. A home built 5 channel voltage controlled amplifier controls volume for the separate channels. The VCA plans were from an audioXpress article, February 2003 which uses the Analog Devices SSM2018T to control volume for each channel. The volume control output goes to two B&K 125 watt amps and a powered subwoofer. I also used a Behringer measurement microphone connected to the DEQ2496 which has a pink noise generator and RTA. I spent a lot of time measuring, listening to and adjusting the equalization and channel volumes. I don’t think this system would have been possible w/o active xover, as the BGs are about 10 db more efficient than the MGIIs. Also the MGIIs need a lot of equalization. They have a broad dropout from 100-200 Hz. Please see the attached system layout picture.

So, how does it sound? I dunno, I’m just a dumb geologist. If I listen to music too loud I get tinnitus. Having said that, on the plus side I think that there’s lots of detail, and musical instruments seem to sound like what they are. On the minus side, there is possibly a lack of bass punch and possibly some treble sibilance (?). Sometimes I hear some high treble harshness, but not on all recordings, and if I wonder if I’m just hearing source distortion that I never heard before.

My questions are:
- I’m looking to get a new inexpensive universal player as a digital source, something like the Pioneer DV-588A-S, perhaps. The ideal solution would be a unit that converts all high pcm sources to 96khz digital output, which is the highest rate that Behringer DEQ2496 accepts. I saw the thread thread by oehlrich ‘Hirez SACD and DVD-A digital output for Pioneer DV-575A and DV-578A (dsd to pcm)’ and it would be nice if there was mod available to convert dsd to pcm also. Suggestions anyone? This is my main question.
- I see that these devices for streaming audio from your PC and the internet via WiFi are getting cheaper too. A Philips unit I saw had a small desktop display and a remote control for streaming audio from the PC to the stereo. Unfortunately the output was analog only. Are there any of these devices that have digital output?
- Although I have a nostalgic affection for my Maggies, I’m thinking of replacing them with a stacked open vertical panel array of 10”’-12” cone drivers, but I’ll wait a while before I make that decision. Comments/suggestions?