Less and less people use analog crossovers, including me, so I was wondering about the best crossover devices when wanting to use only AES connections, which are more common in professional equipment. In other words, lets make list of Digital Audio System Processors or Digital Loudspeaker Management Systems that match this description. I will then purchase the most suitable one and then we will see how it performs compared to the traditional Minidsp devices that I have had many over the years. Minidsp of course does not have such AES equipped 4-way product available, otherwise I just might buy that one. 2-way they do have though.
Depending on your budget (they are expensive) I can personally recommend the Linea Research ASC48 and System Engineer their tool for configuring this and other devices in their product line. Danley in the U.S. at least also sells a rebranded version as the DNA SC48 (the version I actually own). I am using it as a crossover configured for AES input and two stereo 4 way analog output.
https://linea-research.co.uk/asc48/
I am very pleased with the overall performance, well suited for demanding high quality sound applications.
It is an interesting device.
https://linea-research.co.uk/asc48/
I am very pleased with the overall performance, well suited for demanding high quality sound applications.
It is an interesting device.
As you mention, AES is used a lot in the pro audio world (where I worked for almost 50 years). These days many pro audio amplifiers have DSP and crossover built right in, so the need for stand alone digital crossovers is fading fast.
Too bad, because as Kevin says, some of them are of excellent quality.
Too bad, because as Kevin says, some of them are of excellent quality.
Well I can say, it's not an end of an era, for example I bought a Powersoft X8, pretty high end amp, and to my surprise, while it is a great amp, it's filters are not 48db steep! They were between 18 and 36 depending if you set high pass or low pass settings. I tried using the amplifiers internal ones non the less, but like you can guess, there was too much overlap and the sound became muddy compared to 48db. Also stand alone crossovers that cost the same as an amp most likely are also better in sound quality, since there are many ways to mathematically calculate and different processing power needs also. There can be also differences in latency, try live mixing music with too much latency and you know it's not good. So be very careful if you plan to use only any amplifiers internal filters. On top of that configuring just one crossover device is usually easier than many amplifiers and also the user interface might be more "ergonomic" since it's the devices main function and not just some side gimmick.
kevinkr said:
Thanks for the link, even I searched for hours, I did not find that one. This is exactly why I created this topic, to make a good list of different options, so nobody else has to spend so much time on the same matter.
Linea Research ASC48 indeed looks like business.
Here are some other ones I have found. "Better Music Builder M-2" seems to be some kind of karaoke device brand but I think it might work also. It's also the cheapest one.
https://www.bettermusicbuilder.com/products/m-2-digital-audio-management/
Martin audio DX4.0, Apparently released 2018, so probably it is oldest of the four? That's a minus for me, but could be still of course very good.
https://martin-audio.com/products/electronics/dx4.0
Last but not least, recently released and probably the most expensive of the bunch.
Lab Gruppen Lake LMX 48
https://www.labgruppen.com/product.html?modelCode=0825-AAN
I noticed this line on the LMX specifications:
"Raised Cosine Equalization plus linear phase, classic, FIR crossover and Lake XP capability including dedicated FIR for array optimization and multiband/ limiter compressor for ultimate sound-shaping abilities"
How advanced is this raised cosine, is there any benefit? I am not familiar with that at all.
I think the Ultimate Preamp from Analog Precision will do what you want and then some.
https://analog-precision.com/home/pcg/
https://analog-precision.com/home/pcg/
It does not appear to have AES digital outputs like the others do. But perhaps it does have really good analog outputs though. Internal processing frequency is higher than others, 192 khz if I am not mistaken. Hard to say how big difference that is in sound quality though.
For connecting to amplifiers with analog inputs I already have this
https://www.oktoresearch.com/dac8pro.htm
So basically I think I get no extra benefit if the device has analog outputs...
Can any of those three versions of the preamp run Dirac without any external devices? I mean after calibrating with a computer of course.
None of the others can run Dirac so that would be a plus. Right now I am using Minidsp for it.
For connecting to amplifiers with analog inputs I already have this
https://www.oktoresearch.com/dac8pro.htm
So basically I think I get no extra benefit if the device has analog outputs...
Can any of those three versions of the preamp run Dirac without any external devices? I mean after calibrating with a computer of course.
None of the others can run Dirac so that would be a plus. Right now I am using Minidsp for it.