looking for a digital crossover and digital switching

JeffB · « **on:** 2 Mar 2005, 06:52 pm »

I had an idea today of a product that I think I would be interested in. After searching Google for a while I failed to find an exact match.

I want a device that takes only digital inputs and can switch between them. The device should contain a digital crossover. The device should have two digital outputs. The digital crossover would divide the input frequency and send the high frequencies to one output and the low frequencies to the other output. A bonus would be to provide support for room equalization via a digital eq and a microphone input. The Behringer DCX2496 is close, but it performs the A/D and D/A conversions and has only analog outputs. I would like to do the D/A conversion with a separate battery powered DAC.

Anybody know of such a product?
The thing is the Behringer is only $250. I basically want the Behringer with the final DAC stripped out. I would hate to need to spend thousands to achieve this.

konut · « **Reply #1 on:** 2 Mar 2005, 08:10 pm »

I am pretty sure there is no dedicated device with the functionality you suggest. It would have to be dedicated computer type setup costing mucho dinero. At some point the digital high and lows would be converted to a signal an amp can amplify. Are there any power amps that accept a digital signal?

dwk · « **Reply #2 on:** 2 Mar 2005, 09:21 pm »

The DEXQ PDC is the closest thing to what you're looking for, although I'm not sure whether it has digital switching. It's a 3-way digital xover with room correction, and you can choose between analog or digital outputs. $3500 US.

A computer setup using the Lynx AES-16 card would be viable, although not entirely trivial to do. It would certainly be cheaper in $$$ than the DEXQ,though - maybe $1500 for the hardware.

AphileEarlyAdopter · « **Reply #3 on:** 4 Mar 2005, 03:59 am »

Yes, the DEQX has a digital out option. One highend speaker (remember reading a review on 6moons) manufacturer is using the DEQX with Benchmark DACs as the crossover.
But I think one can use two DEQ2496 for a two way crossover. One high pass equalized and other low pass equalized.
Even I wanted a digital output crossover, but I think the two DEQ2496 options is the only reasonably priced alternative. It should also be possible to mod a DEQ2496 to get the digital output, as the crossover functionality is implemented in software (digital). It is probably being DAC'ed at the output. Just tap into the digital ins to the DACs and there 75ohm transfomer terminations should provide the output.

John Ashman · « **Reply #4 on:** 4 Mar 2005, 04:17 am »

And, you could combine the DEQX with a Meridian G91 which is a DVD-A player with digital and analog switching with all outputs available through the digital output including the tuner. But you might have to use a preamp like a McCormack and use the multi-channel analog in/out as the volume control for all these channels.

It would be nice to see a 6-channel DAC for this idea too for simplicity. You could get into a LOT of boxes to make it all happen, but it would be interesting.

ryno · « **Reply #5 on:** 4 Mar 2005, 04:58 am »

E.A.A.
A couple of your ideas with the behringer stuff has me confused. When you say mod the DEQ2496 to get digital outs, do you mean the DEC2496? This has the crossover and digital in but only analog outs. Ever heard of anyone who does this? Also, when you mentioned using two DEQ2496's, which has dig in/out but no xovers, do you mean using the shelving eq feature so one has a high pass and one a lowpass? I don't know what kind of slope or control you would have at the xover point, but it's a neat idea.
Thanks, Ryan

AphileEarlyAdopter · « **Reply #6 on:** 4 Mar 2005, 10:21 pm »

Quote from: ryno

E.A.A.
A couple of your ideas with the behringer stuff has me confused. When you say mod the DEQ2496 to get digital outs, do you mean the DEC2496? This has the crossover and digital in but only analog outs. Ever heard of anyone who does this? Also, when you mentioned using two DEQ2496's, which has dig in/out but no xovers, do you mean using the shelving eq feature so one has a high pass and one a lowpass? I don't know what kind of slope or control you would have at the xover point, but it's a neat idea.
Thanks, Ryan

Sorry Ryan, I meant modding the DCX2496. I have not used the DEQ2496, nor know much of the terminologies. Yes, I think, one would want to use the 'shelving eq feature'. I too have doubts about how much control one would have over the slope. It would be interested in knowing this. Should be there, because, people might want to used DEQ2496 with a subwoofer. Even I was thinking I came up with a good idea, but was not sure about the specifics..
I quickly checked the manual today and here is what I found. So do you think it will work ?
BTW, found this in the Virtual Paragraphic EQ seciton..
----------------------
Turn the wheel to select HIGH or LOW shelving filter. In this case, the GAIN parameter changes to db/OCT. Use the large data wheel to adjust the filter slope from -15 to +15dB/OCT. In the HIGH mode, all frequency bands above the selected frequency are raised or lowered ....
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tubesguy · « **Reply #7 on:** 11 Mar 2005, 07:34 pm »

Hi -

I've been looking for the same thing for a while, to use multiple Panny receivers as amps, with a digital signal in to each Panny, one for highs, one for mids, one for bass. Volume control by one Panny remote. Seems ideal, doesn't it?

Here is one DIY version:

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=36252&highlight=

My problem is that the DIY work is beyond my capabilities. If you ever find anyone that's willing to do the mod, let me know. I'd be in, absolutely.

- Pat