In the past I've used MS Windows-based crossovers working through multi-way DACs to analogue amps. Since then I've moved to Linux, and the PC has become my only source. I also find myself considering class-D amplifiers. Which might logically suggest forgetting about DACs and instead going with FDA Fully Digital Amps. But these are fairly new and Linux sometimes takes a while to natively/widely support new hardware. Also, I'm relatively new to linux, as far as technical expertise goes anyway.
So my question is, how challenging is it to set up a linux-based crossover to multi-way Fully Digital Amps? Can this just work as if the amps are bog-standard/generic USB audio devices, and could something like Camilla-DSP just use these as normal, or is it more complicated to achieve?
Apologies if this is all very obvious, but I'm new to FDA and many of the people using it seem already quite expert.
Thanks,
Kev
So my question is, how challenging is it to set up a linux-based crossover to multi-way Fully Digital Amps? Can this just work as if the amps are bog-standard/generic USB audio devices, and could something like Camilla-DSP just use these as normal, or is it more complicated to achieve?
Apologies if this is all very obvious, but I'm new to FDA and many of the people using it seem already quite expert.
Thanks,
Kev
I'm guessing that this isn't really a thing yet then, or at least not very mature. Some internet searches have found linux users having success with FDA amps, but others having problems. So it may be a slight lottery, at this stage. I haven't found much about using them with software crossovers either.
Though things are muddy at times, due to people confusing fully digital amps and those which can just have a built in DAC. The choice does seem to be a bit limiting at the moment however, most amps within what I might theoretically afford are small (usually budget chinese) desktop types. Some appear to be quite good for low-ish power applications, sometimes with question marks over reliability. But if one wanted a big amp as part of the system (e.g. for large woofers or subwoofers) it looks harder or more costly to do so without mixing FDA and DAC type components.
Though things are muddy at times, due to people confusing fully digital amps and those which can just have a built in DAC. The choice does seem to be a bit limiting at the moment however, most amps within what I might theoretically afford are small (usually budget chinese) desktop types. Some appear to be quite good for low-ish power applications, sometimes with question marks over reliability. But if one wanted a big amp as part of the system (e.g. for large woofers or subwoofers) it looks harder or more costly to do so without mixing FDA and DAC type components.
The key will be finding a suitable digital output interface for the computer that works under Linux and is recognized by ALSA. Otherwise I do not see how this is any different from other Linux audio applications.
Thank you Charlie. Yes, that would make sense.
I've personally so far only used multi-way DACs and soundcards for crossovers. But I recall people trying to use separate stereo DACs (via separate digital PC outputs) facing challenges getting them to act truly in unison. So it could simply be that same kind of situation here, assuming the FDA amp complies with a standard type of PC output.
Perhaps staying with a multi-way DAC is (currently) a simpler and likely cheaper solution; especially as I already own a couple.
Thanks,
Kev
I've personally so far only used multi-way DACs and soundcards for crossovers. But I recall people trying to use separate stereo DACs (via separate digital PC outputs) facing challenges getting them to act truly in unison. So it could simply be that same kind of situation here, assuming the FDA amp complies with a standard type of PC output.
Perhaps staying with a multi-way DAC is (currently) a simpler and likely cheaper solution; especially as I already own a couple.
Thanks,
Kev
I don't have that particular one, but the model probably doesn't matter very much wrt this thread. The key message seems to be that outputting to an integrated multi-way dac will be quite different to coping with separate multiple FDAs.
Can this be interesting for you?
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/...-x-over-with-hdmi-and-av-receiver-pdf.795229/
Best Regards
Guenter
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/...-x-over-with-hdmi-and-av-receiver-pdf.795229/
Best Regards
Guenter
Thank you, I had not heard of calf before but it seems to have been around for many years.
Since the last post I looked around a bit more and agree that this would be a good approach; to use a single but multi-way digital output like HDMI. I might well (try to) do this in future, perhaps for my next room-sized speaker project. My source is purely digital these days, and everything is digital until the last stage; it seems somewhat inelegant to make a D-to-A conversion purely in order to connect to the power amp.
Though for the current project, which is for small desktop speakers, I got seduced by some of the modern class-D desktop amps with normal analogue input. They are cheap and yet perform very well, plus I already have a good multi-way DAC. Conversely Fully Digital Amplifiers are not yet so common or modestly priced. So I'll leave them for a bigger and future project.
Since the last post I looked around a bit more and agree that this would be a good approach; to use a single but multi-way digital output like HDMI. I might well (try to) do this in future, perhaps for my next room-sized speaker project. My source is purely digital these days, and everything is digital until the last stage; it seems somewhat inelegant to make a D-to-A conversion purely in order to connect to the power amp.
Though for the current project, which is for small desktop speakers, I got seduced by some of the modern class-D desktop amps with normal analogue input. They are cheap and yet perform very well, plus I already have a good multi-way DAC. Conversely Fully Digital Amplifiers are not yet so common or modestly priced. So I'll leave them for a bigger and future project.
For the last stage I take the AVR. And I think the most AVR have a relative good quality DAC, My last AVR was an Onkyo TX-SR876. I bought 2 of them from Ebay for arround 100,-- Euro each.
I have changed my X-Over setup to pipewire
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/...studio-pipewire-and-calf.404960/#post-7494792
BR
Guenter
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/...studio-pipewire-and-calf.404960/#post-7494792
BR
Guenter
I've had good experience with Infineon's MA12070P as far as digital input amplifiers go. Very happy with the sound: crisp with a nice soundstage. There are a few threads in the Class D forum regarding this chip/existing boards. Currently only have a stereo setup from Raspberry Pi I2S/GPIO output but bought a MiniDSP USB Streamer (up to 8 channel I2S output) with the intention of eventually doing a multichannel system.