[Bob2]

Has anyone here have any experience with this.. Behringer DCX2496 Ultradrive Pro Digital Crossover http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=248-669
Any thoughts from those that have?

[this_is_vv]

Used worked like charm, used as a 3 way active crossover. worked perfectly for me. On fly i could change the settings. so that was good. Did some Eqing as well  which worked nice.

V

[jtwrace]

They work very well.  There is certainly better for hard to beat for the cost.

[andy_c]

If you want to try a "virtual test drive", you can download the Behringer remote control software for the DCX2496.  It allows for complete configuration of the unit, and you can explore its capabilities even with no DCX2496 hooked up.  The software (Windows-only) can be downloaded here:

http://behringerdownload.de/_software/DCX2496_remote_1_16a.zip

[Rocket_Ronny]

Roger Sanders uses it in his electrostatic speakers. He thinks it's great. It said it measures better than almost any piece of audio gear he has tested.

Rocket_Ronny

[jtwrace]

Roger Sanders uses it in his electrostatic speakers. He thinks it's great. It said it measures better than almost any piece of audio gear he has tested.

Rocket_Ronny

That's probably because he hasn't measured all better built units.  Considering the cost of his system I'm surprised that he doesn't use something of better quality that's built in the USA since he's big on that.

[sts9fan]

I thought it was ok. Does not seem Highend.

[launche]

Have to respect this little Swiss army knife, user friendly and very flexible tool.  I can't comment on it's relative sound quality.  The only legitimate complaint I can level at it given the modest cost is that it can be a bit noisy in certain system configurations.

[Bob in St. Louis]

If you want to try a "virtual test drive", you can download the Behringer remote control software for the DCX2496.  It allows for complete configuration of the unit, and you can explore its capabilities even with no DCX2496 hooked up.  The software (Windows-only) can be downloaded here:

http://behringerdownload.de/_software/DCX2496_remote_1_16a.zip

The DCX2496 with the remote PC user interface was the most awesome piece of equipment I've ever had in my system. (sorry if that sounds like hyperbole).
I thought I was smarter than I was, so I spent a bunch of money and moved away from what the experts told me was an cheap, inferior piece of equipment.
I am sorry to this day that I made that change. I might just chuck that money on the trash and go back to the DCX.

That being said, it was only good for frequencies lower than a few hundred. If you're in the single driver camp, then the DCX is useless to you.
If you're in the camp where multiple drivers are used for mulitple frequencies and the system is used for multiple purposes, then the DCX is "The Swiss Army Knife", like Launche said.

Bob

[TF1216]

There are numerous modifications folks have done to the DCX2496 in the past.  Many swear by altering the output stage to come directly from the DAC chip.  If you can  handle the additional cables and the volume control issues the Behringer is a sweet piece of equipment.

http://www.behringermods.com/dcx2496.html
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=52073.0
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze4c5pt/id14.html
http://www.asi-tek.com/behringer2.html
http://www.tweakaudio.com/EVS-2/Behringer_DCX2496_mods.html

[Davey]

As usual with much "audiophile tweaking," some/many of the modders have incorporated some silly (and very expensive) modifications to the DCX2496.

There are really only two good paths to take and both involve complete removal of the analog input/output section.  For a passive output section, the DAC's will couple directly to the outside world via some quality transformers.....albeit at a lowish voltage.  (This is how I've modified mine with some Cinemag transformers.)
For an active output (and volume control) section, I haven't seen anything anywhere close to Jan Didden's modification project.  Excellently conceived and implemented.....and not that expensive.

Cheers,

Dave.

[andy_c]

The DCX2496 with the remote PC user interface was the most awesome piece of equipment I've ever had in my system. (sorry if that sounds like hyperbole).
I thought I was smarter than I was, so I spent a bunch of money and moved away from what the experts told me was an cheap, inferior piece of equipment.
I am sorry to this day that I made that change. I might just chuck that money on the trash and go back to the DCX.

That being said, it was only good for frequencies lower than a few hundred. If you're in the single driver camp, then the DCX is useless to you.
If you're in the camp where multiple drivers are used for mulitple frequencies and the system is used for multiple purposes, then the DCX is "The Swiss Army Knife", like Launche said.

Glad to hear the Behringer worked out well for you, but sorry to hear the alternative didn't work out.  I plan on getting a DCX2496 to drive the sub amps in a multiple-sub setup.

[JeffB]

This product never really made sense to me seeing as how it lacked a global volume control.  Adjusting the input volume before digitization seems so wrong to me.

[Bob in St. Louis]

Jeff, It has a master volume that controls all eight output channels. It can even "tie" multiple channels together so as you move the slider, the "tied" channels all move together accordingly.

Bob

[JeffB]

Ok, so I looked up the manual for 2496 and section 8 has a nice block diagram.
There is a separate gain control for each channel immediately after the input section.
So I guess if there is a way to tie multiple channels together and then change the volume that would work.
However, it still seems to me that adjusting gain so early in the pipe line would lose resolution.  If you are at 1 quarter volume then 3/4 of your bits are zeroed.  I can see that being ok as the final stage, but before all the other DSP functions seems questionable to me.
Plus, isn't it awkward to adjust volume in this manner.  Wouldn't you just want a volume knob.

Or is the one round knob listed as the data wheel, also a global volume knob?

[Bob in St. Louis]

To my knowledge, the big round knob is not a volume knob (although it should be if it isn't).
I used the remote functions, exclusively, while sitting at my PC. The PC desk is what you'd call "Second row, center" to the sweet spot, just behind the main chairs.
I would use the DCX remote software to adjust the settings (choose the saved file) for what I was about to do....music....tv....home theater...gaming..etc... then I would sit in the main, front row.
So it wasn't too big a deal for me, in my situation, to grab the mouse and move the slider. But in all honesty, when I told the chose the file that set the settings, I never had to touch the sliders again.

Not sure I'm wording that clearly, so I'll just say this...
For example; When it was time for music, I would go to the PC, open the DCX software, click the 'music' file, turn on my audio system, and "voila", the pre-set settings are right there.

Regarding the bits being thrown away, yea, they probably are. I'm not the right guy to ask about that one. But for frequencies below a couple hundred hertz, I doubt most folks tell a difference.

Bob

[jtwrace]

Big knob is to go through the settings.  Yes, for multiple subs it's fine.  I do look forward to trying the Hypex DLCP though.  Just got the DXF done so I can water-jet the holes in the chassis I'm going to use.   

[Davey]

Jeff, It has a master volume that controls all eight output channels.

Bob

No, I'm afraid not.    The DCX2496 does not have a master volume control.....and it has six outputs not eight.

If you're interested in getting up to speed on the DCX, there's an incredibly long thread on DIYaudio.com, and you can also check out the Yahoo discussion group I started back in 2004.  All questions are answered/explored in one/both of those resources.

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/DCX2496/

Cheers,

Dave.

[Bob in St. Louis]

No, I'm afraid not.    The DCX2496 does not have a master volume control.....and it has six outputs not eight.

Thanks Dave, you are very correct. It's been so long since I looked at my DCX, I forgot the amount of jacks.

But I'll beg to disagree on the master volume.
Here's a screenshot of the software I took a long time ago. On the right window, the leftmost slider controlled ALL volume that exits the machine.
It controlled the second and third sliders, which were tied together and were the right and left channels.

On a side note;
The left window are the files for music, movie, infinite baffle subs, "regular" subs, etc....depending on mood and input source.

[Davey]

Only with a +/-15db range.....which might not all be usable considering which input is used (digital or analog) and the applied voltage levels.
It's a long way from being a usable master volume control.

All of the sliders on the DCX2496 were designed for relative adjustments and/or optimizing the system gain structure.
The system volume control (if one exists) would always be elsewhere in a professional setup......which is where this unit was designed to be used.

Cheers,

Dave.