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[Robbby76]

Hi,

I would like to move to digital xover but I am fairly unfamiliar with most of the topics...
Would you be so kind to direct me to resources on the following:

- Theory: all I need to know on active crossover and multichannel ampli
- Hardware needed
  I have a PC (Windows), I will buy JRiver, I am building a 3-ways speaker (but might get some experience using my current 2-ways).
  I would need something in between (sound card? DAC); I am already looking for a multi channel amplifier
  Any recommendation as "starter kit"? :-)
  I might spend $500 or so for the card and DAC: is there something on this price range?

Thanks in advance for your support!

R

[kr4]

Yes, you will need a DAC (or sound card) with at least 6 channels.  The ideal starter kit would be either an Essence Evolve II-4K HDMI D/A processor or a miniDSP U-DAC8.  These are cheap and reliable and any setup you construct using them would be easily transferable if you chose to move to a more ambitious DAC.

[Robbby76]

Thanks!
So is either a DAC or an audio card?

R

[kr4]

So is either a DAC or an audio card?

?
Whoops.   The miniDSP is an 8-channel USB DAC but the Essence is not.  It is HDMI input only.  Sorry.
I do not know much about audio cards.

[Robbby76]

Sorry if I was not clear: from the PC, how will I send the input to the miniDSP?
Do I need a dedicaded sound card? Anything special?

R

[kr4]

Sorry if I was not clear: from the PC, how will I send the input to the miniDSP?

USB

Do I need a dedicaded sound card? Anything special?

Nope.

[Robbby76]

Thanks!

As some of the reviews of the MiniDSP I read are not exceptional, is there any other option?

Regards,

[pschelbert]

Hi


there are plenty of audio-interfaces with USB connection to the computer and analog output to you multichannel amp.

RME, Focusrite, Motu, Lynx, Steinberg etc. Look at Thomann.de or sweetwater.com

Look for minimum 6 channels (2x3).

Peter

[Robbby76]

Thanks Peter,

I apologise if is a stupid question, but I cannot fnid "cheap" DACs but there are plenty of "audio interfaces".
They should still have a DAC somewhere?

I found this as an example: will it work?

https://www.2ememain.be/a/tv-hi-fi-video/appareils-professionnels/m1678321584-interface.html?previousPage=lr

[JimH]

Try a Google search for "USB DAC" and "price".  Schiit is a good source.

But you need multichannel.

[pschelbert]

Thanks Peter,

I apologise if is a stupid question, but I cannot fnid "cheap" DACs but there are plenty of "audio interfaces".
They should still have a DAC somewhere?

I found this as an example: will it work?

https://www.2ememain.be/a/tv-hi-fi-video/appareils-professionnels/m1678321584-interface.html?previousPage=lr

All these Audio-Interface have ADC and DAC, multichannel form 2...32 or more.

How cheap must it be? I assume you need at minimum 6 DAC?


For example:
Steinberg UR44, ca $300

The cheapest way is to use an old AVR with HDMI. Then you have multichannel DAC and multichannel amp. If you buy second hand it will be very cheap. Needs an AVR 7.1.

Peter

[Robbby76]

How would it work with a 7.1?
If the input is 1 digital signal, how will the 7.1 AVR separate the frequencies x channel for the multichannel amplifier?

e.g. how to drive the AVR channels 1 and 2 to output only the frequencies for the woofers?

The normal work of the AVR would be to send to channel 1 and 2 the whole frequency range for the front speakers...

I am a bit lost...