Looking for a 2.1 DAC

[crashtech]

I gave my old Yamaha A/V receiver that was distributing sound to my speakers and sub to my son who needed it for his first entertainment system. It was too big for my computer room and was a bit of a power hog anyway. I have an old Sonance amp that can power my left and right speakers, and the homebrew sub was already powered by a bridged Russound. Ideally what I would like to get is a reasonably priced compact DAC that has a 2-way crossover built-in, but it doesn't look like there is a market for such a thing. Failing that, I will probably look for a crossover to go with the DAC. Just to be clear, the sub has no crossover, just the old bridged amp. I could probably use some Harrison FMODs, but I think I would prefer to have some adjustability if it's feasible. I'd be interested in some suggestions.

 

[JeffMD]

sooo... you want a sound card? Something like a Xonar U5 that you can have discrete l/r/sub channels?

 

[crashtech]

Recent attempts to utilize the onboard sound (ALC1150) has shown it to be inadequate even by my fairly low standards, so I don't have any reason to believe that an add-on card would be much better. If I'm going to buy something, I'd like to spend the money on an outboard DAC, the ones that come to mind are Fiio and Schiit.

It might be that I'll just end up with another surround processor because those have the capabilities I'm looking for, but also drag in a bunch of other undesirable qualities like size, power consumption and heat, plus all I want is nice sounding 2.1.

Actually, what might be needed is a DAC and a preamp that will do 2.1.

 

[crashtech]

I'm looking, and looking, but there is a lack of expertise on the subject that is likely crippling my Google-fu. Here is the closest thing I have found yet:

http://www.teac.com/product/ai-301da/

See the sub out? All I need is line-level outs instead of the integrated amp and binding posts.

 

[sdifox]

What is your source?

 

[crashtech]

For this, WAVs, FLACs, and Blu-rays, but other more junky stuff as well.

 

[sdifox]

For this, WAVs, FLACs, and Blu-rays, but other more junky stuff as well.

So from your computer?

 

[MongGrel]

Hmm...

Sounds like you all ready have power for everything.

Not sure a small mixing board type of thing might work.

 

[MongGrel]

Checking a few things out here for ya myself.

http://www.sweetwater.com/

 

[MongGrel]

Hmm...

Have never tried what you're doing out but...

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/802

Would take getting some adapters I guess.

Still thinking.

 

[crashtech]

So from your computer?

I thought that was evident by now, but yes. I like the idea of freeing myself from having to consider the quality of the audio section of the mobo, also I believe it is hard to get clean audio in the noisy environment of a PC case.

 

[crashtech]

Hmm...

Have never tried what you're doing out but...

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/802

Would take getting some adapters I guess.

Still thinking.

Thanks for thinking about it, but that's pretty far from what I want. Maybe a regular DAC with a homebrew crossover would work.

 

[MongGrel]

Not even sure if this one might do what you're looking at.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/502

 

[MongGrel]

Thanks for thinking about it, but that's pretty far from what I want. Maybe a regular DAC with a homebrew crossover would work.

KK

:thumbsup:

I tried.

 

[MongGrel]

Have never posted anything about this, but I use an older Auzentech X-Fi Prelude 7.1 here that is PCI.

My MOBO has no PCI slots they are all PCIE, so I even had to buy an adapter to use it.

It was here in the house and I liked the card, so one day I bothered to get it working again.

I sticks out farther than normal, and had to tie wrap it in a bit, but is also dead silent on idle so it seems it is a bit more isolated than it used to be originally.

Not sure if the adapter separates it from the board a bit or what, I seem to recall it having an ambient noise that just isn't there from years ago.

 

[MongGrel]

Sorry just rambling now.

 

[crashtech]

I wanted the onboard sound to be "good enough," and maybe it would be; it's the software that sucks the most, imo, though there's also some audible noise. I didn't think it would be this difficult to find a simple and elegant solution! The easiest thing for me to do would be to build a passive xover inside my sub box (I think I even have the parts), but it wouldn't really be properly integrated into the mains that way.

 

[sdifox]

I thought that was evident by now, but yes. I like the idea of freeing myself from having to consider the quality of the audio section of the mobo, also I believe it is hard to get clean audio in the noisy environment of a PC case.

so usb soundcard is not good enough?

 

[nsafreak]

After much google-fu'ing I have found a total of one USB DAC that has an active 2 way crossover. The downside? It runs $2,700 and I have personally never heard of the company myself. My go to manufacturers tend to be ADL, Peachtree Audio & Schiit. None of their products unfortunately seem to have a crossover of any type. I think in this case your best bet is going to be to get a DAC that you like and go with a homebrew solution for the crossover.

Edit I thought you would still need a crossover even with line level outs and you wanted it integrated? Perhaps I'm wrong on this account though as my lone subwoofer is hooked into my home theater setup which has a subwoofer output and I adjust the crossover on the subwoofer itself. The PeachTree Audio Nova 65SE does have line level outputs if that helps you at all.

 

[crashtech]

so usb soundcard is not good enough?

It might be, I don't know.

 

[crashtech]

After much google-fu'ing I have found a total of one USB DAC that has an active 2 way crossover. The downside? It runs $2,700 and I have personally never heard of the company myself. My go to manufacturers tend to be ADL, Peachtree Audio & Schiit. None of their products unfortunately seem to have a crossover of any type. I think in this case your best bet is going to be to get a DAC that you like and go with a homebrew solution for the crossover.

That's been my conclusion as well, though at first I attributed my lack of positive results to lack of knowledge on the subject.

There are many DIY crossover kits, but few that include low frequency mixing or summing.

 

[sdifox]

humm, maybe just two diy crossover and a mixer then.


or this

http://www.minidsp.com/products/minidsp-in-a-box/minidsp-2x4

 

[crashtech]

humm, maybe just two diy crossover and a mixer then.


or this

http://www.minidsp.com/products/minidsp-in-a-box/minidsp-2x4

I think I had run across that product before, and dismissed it because I had no idea what it could do (too complicated for my puny brain). But according to one of the app notes, it might be exactly what I need...?

 

[sdifox]

I think I had run across that product before, and dismissed it because I had no idea what it could do (too complicated for my puny brain). But according to one of the app notes, it might be exactly what I need...?

that is precisely what you are trying to do.

 

[crashtech]

It'd be perfect if it accepted digital audio.