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How to use JRiver dsp crossover with multiple external DACs.

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South Carolina Dan:
This is my first post to JRiver.

I understand that JRiver can be used as a crossover and an equalizer.  I would like to create a 2 way crossover for left and right loudspeakers.  This would give me 4 channels.  Left high (400 Hz and Up) and low (400 Hz and lower).  Currently I use a two channel external DAC and send the signal from my laptop via a USB connection.  The least expensive option for me would be to buy another DAC (Wyred 4 sound) and use both dacs at the same time.  What I do not know is how to send one USB signal to two things and also how does each DAC know what channels it is receiving.

This is not just a JRiver question, but I would have the same question using any crossover program on my PC.

Thanks in advance to anybody that can help me.

Dan

mattkhan:
You need to create an aggregate device using something like https://vb-audio.com/Matrix/index.htm and you need a way to sync those two devices to the same clock (how to do that depends on the dac so it may or may not be possible)

South Carolina Dan:
Thank you for the response.

Using a pc as a loudspeaker crossover is looking complicated.  I'll keep reading and learning and maybe try it when I get enough knowledge.

Can anyone share their experience with a pc crossover?

Dan

JimH:
Try a Google search for JRiver crossover

mwillems:

--- Quote from: South Carolina Dan on August 29, 2024, 10:35:24 am ---Thank you for the response.

Using a pc as a loudspeaker crossover is looking complicated.  I'll keep reading and learning and maybe try it when I get enough knowledge.

Can anyone share their experience with a pc crossover?

Dan

--- End quote ---

So I've been using my computer as a crossover with JRiver for 10+ years.  I have had no luck whatsoever trying to sync multiple USB DACs, and I wouldn't encourage anyone to try to do that unless their DAC manufacturer specifically advertises support for that (like some Motu DACs do). 

So unless your existing DAC explicitly supports syncing to another DAC's clock, I would recommend that you get a hold of a single multichannel DAC that has enough channels for your system.  I'm currently using an eight channel Topping DM-7 and am very happy with it, but there are numerous other multichannel DAC offerings out there from Okto, Focusrite, Steinberg, etc..  Those interfaces will let you use JRiver's DSP to it's fullest extent.

Alternatively, MiniDSP will also sell you competitively priced programmable "crossovers in a box", like the MiniDSP Flex 8.  A MiniDSP does all the crossover work in the box so you wouldn't be using JRiver's DSP chain.  I currently use a MiniDSP in parallel with JRiver, but the DSP available in the MiniDSP is less robust than what JRiver offers (It's is fine if you only need a bit of DSP but doesn't have enough filters/taps for more complicated setups).  I keep the MiniDSP around as a fallback for web audio and other things I can't route through JRiver, but if you just need a crossover and a few tweaks you could use the MiniDSP as your main crossover/DAC

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