Choosing a 7.1 Soundcard for Active Crossovers

[b_force]

Does someone know how to get Allocator working with Windows Media Centre (MCE 2005) or otherwise with ffdshow?

I'm planning to use my HTPC as DSP/crossover.
Unfortunately I can't find any solution that works with MCE 2005 (or Win7 instead)
I don't want to use foobar/winamp etc.

[AR2]

Originally Posted by _henry_

how about apogee ensemble? its a complete package.

but its $2000

cheers
henry

Henry,

Thank you for the suggestion. So far I made my choice with the following set up: MacMini running Pure Audio. Pure Audio has included very good crossover and host AU filters as well. From there I am using USB to I2S converter and from there to dual Acko DACs. Passive I/V - Twisted Pair Legato, than to balanced jFet buffer with Lundahl transformer between I/V and buffer. This whole contraption from USB to amp is still under construction, but when is finished it will be IT.

[_henry_]

AR2,

wow, thats alot of gear. is it Pure Audio or Pure Music?
i have so much interest with this 6moons audio reviews: Spatial
i can only think of the ultimate solution will be the signal from the computer treat as pure digital, and process it with ensemble or prism then goes to the amp.

but i could be wrong, since i only understand half of your setup )

cheers
henry

[AR2]

Originally Posted by _henry_

AR2,

wow, thats alot of gear. is it Pure Audio or Pure Music?
i have so much interest with this 6moons audio reviews: Spatial
i can only think of the ultimate solution will be the signal from the computer treat as pure digital, and process it with ensemble or prism then goes to the amp.

but i could be wrong, since i only understand half of your setup )

cheers
henry

Yes you are correct, it is Pure Music. I checked on Spatial. It is essentially the same thing I am doing just packaged together with some other features. I use different programs to achieve the same - measurement.
Here is the link about my project still under construction.
Babelfishing by Mighty AR2

[_henry_]

wow,

thats impressive. i hope u updated the progress, i think your system qualified as the
ULTIMATE DIGITAL STEREO SYSTEM. :d

cheers
henry

[Finnogangela]

Originally Posted by Radian

If you can find one, Bluegears B-enspirer is the card to have for this purpose.
24/196. 4X AKM 4396. An external dac below $2000 will not work any better if
the signal is tapped after the dacs. Just a good coupling cap and all is fine.
I know this sounds like ** but thats what I experienced with that card. Modded
of course.A few TeddyRegs will work wonders.

Greets,
Klaus

Hi Klaus

Checking if the Bluegears B-enspirer = Club 3D Theatron (Agrippa?) DTS 7.1 = Auzentech X-Plosion 7.1 DTS Connect.

Saw your pics of mods, looks great.

And saw your posts on the Thuneau Forum a while back; did you get the Allocator to work or are you using (if any) different crossover software?

Regards, Finn

[Radian]

Originally Posted by Finnogangela

Hi Klaus

Checking if the Bluegears B-enspirer = Club 3D Theatron (Agrippa?) DTS 7.1 = Auzentech X-Plosion 7.1 DTS Connect.

Saw your pics of mods, looks great.

And saw your posts on the Thuneau Forum a while back; did you get the Allocator to work or are you using (if any) different crossover software?

Regards, Finn

Sorry Finn for the late reply. I actually saw your post just by chance.
The b-enspirer and the equivilent Club3D card is not sold anymore.
If you find one used you need to look for Club3D Theatron DTS not the Agrippa.
I have killed my card a while back and that was it with the software crossover project.
The one thing with these cards was the AK4396 Dacs they used.
An extrnal Dac will not work any better if the signals are just
tapped after the dac chip.
What bothered me was the fact that these cards had just one simple passive
clock for the CMI chip. All the clocking was done internally.
At the moment I am revisiting the PC Crossover thing again.
This time by an Envy24HT card. I just tap the I2S signals after the Envy chip
on the resistors. From there I will use LVDS transmission to my three AK4396
Dac boards. I will report back once I got it completed.
Theoretically, there should not be a sonic disadvantage using a PCI card over a USB like the Exa device.
Cheap too, as I only payed 16 Euro for a used Hercules Fortissimo4

Greets,
Klaus

[Finnogangela]

Hi Klaus - no problem; with regards to dac-chips and data transfer I believe time is working for us :-)

Yeah, think I sorted out the different AK4396 cards; though not modable the Agrippa should be worth a try (over i.e onboard audio).

Would love to hear more specially about your I2S extraction and transfer to the the Dac boards; saw your participation on the DAC 2496 (AK4393) DAC KIT With CS8416+AK4393+5532 thread . I hope you´ll reveal hov you make the dac boards, omitting the unnecessary extra´s found in the available kits.

Do you still plan on using the Allocator?

Regards, Finn