[Nuance]

Yes, but shipping will run $3000.

- Jim

 

[Saturn94]

Love the idea. 

[Kenneth Patchen]

Would this not also work for the SongBirds?

I really like this idea ...  a lot. Since I want you to add the RAAl tweeter to my the Ht2-TLs, I see no reason why I shouldn't do this mod as well. And I have questions/suggestions about other mods as well. I'll pm you.
Great, great great.

Yours truly,
KP

[Alexdad54]

Not sure I get the whole idea, if you have a PC feeding the speakers, do they have a built-in DAC? If so, what kind of DAC is it (SABRE, etc.)?
For $750  for the conversion. I could sell  my integrated amp and still have $ left over!

[jsalk]

Not sure I get the whole idea, if you have a PC feeding the speakers, do they have a built-in DAC? If so, what kind of DAC is it (SABRE, etc.)?
For $750  for the conversion. I could sell  my integrated amp and still have $ left over!

No DAC chip involved, but the system provides the same function.  The amplifier has two channels that can be used to create an active crossover with as many as twelve filters each.  The processing is done in the digital domain by DSP (digital signal processing) chips and then converted to analog at the output.  So the amps basically handle digital to analog (DAC functions) up to 24/192 in addition to other signal process if required.

I hope this clears things up for you.

- Jim 

[Don_S]

Jim,

Would it be considered a "power DAC" like some of Wadia equipment and TacT amplifiers? 

[jsalk]

Jim,

Would it be considered a "power DAC" like some of Wadia equipment and TacT amplifiers? 

I don't know exactly what the definition of a "power DAC" is, but I would not put it in the same category as TacT, DEQX or something similar.  Typically those systems include measurement mics and software to analyze test results and generate a crossover design.  This system supplies the capability to design filters much the same way, but does not include measurement capabilities and does not generate the crossover.  You can import measurements from other applications, but you have to define the crossover yourself (unless the speaker you are purchasing is shipped with the amp pre-configured as in this case).

- Jim

[Don_S]

Jim,

I was only referring as to how the digital input signal gets converted to an amplified analog output.  I understand that TacT and Lyngdorf  have  additional measurement and crossover creating functions.

[Alexdad54]

No DAC chip involved, but the system provides the same function.  The amplifier has two channels that can be used to create an active crossover with as many as twelve filters each.  The processing is done in the digital domain by DSP (digital signal processing) chips and then converted to analog at the output.  So the amps basically handle digital to analog (DAC functions) up to 24/192 in addition to other signal process if required.

I hope this clears things up for you.

- Jim

Thanks for the info Jim. I did some searching on DSP chips, etc. but I still have a question re sound quality. Can these chips in your application just provide a neutral sound, i.e. not affect the sound quality? I ask because I have a number of sources runing via my CA 752BD blu-ray player because of teh Wolfson Dacs in the player that provide a wonderful sound and I'm wondering if this sound quality would be affected in any way. Thanks.

[jsalk]

Can these chips in your application just provide a neutral sound, i.e. not affect the sound quality? I ask because I have a number of sources runing via my CA 752BD blu-ray player because of teh Wolfson Dacs in the player that provide a wonderful sound and I'm wondering if this sound quality would be affected in any way. Thanks.

This is a difficult question to answer.  Let's start by saying that Wolfson produces some wonderful sounding DAC chips. But you still need to send that output to a preamp and amp. And those impact sound quality as well.

In most set-ups, that amp will be a solid state design.  There are solid state amps that sound so-so and some that sound simply wonderful.  In this self-powered setup, the amps in question are produced by Hypex.  Hypex class D amps are considered by many to be among the best class D amps being made today.  In fact, I have talked to a number of very experienced audiophiles who feel that the Hypex nCore1200 modules are the best amps they have ever owned. Others will say that class D amps simply don't sound as good as a good solid state amp. People seem to feel strongly on both sides of the equation.

As with all class D amps, any analog signal sent to them must first be converted to digital at the input of the amps.  Once in the digital realm, the DSP chips can perform all kinds of functions on the signal applying a number of filters and adjusting for the phase and gain of the speaker drivers.

There will be those who say that all of this processing cannot have a positive effect on sound quality. I won't argue that there is potential for the signal to be degraded in the process.  But depending on what solid state preamp and amp you would be sending the signal to under a more traditional setup, the results can vary widely as well. So you would almost need to compare the output of this system to the output of a given preamp/amplifier combination to see which sounds better. 

Certainly the safest approach is to simply go to a good preamp and amp and be done with it. That said, for someone just starting out, having all these functions built into the speaker at a reasonable cost certainly has its advantages.  We will shortly finish up the design of a bookshelf speaker with built-in amplifiers for people who don't currently have a system and live in an apartment that is not large enough to accommodate floor-standing speakers.  All you would need in this situation is something like our StreamPlayer and a pair of these monitors and you are all set.  It is all you would need to have a very high quality system with a minimal investment of space or money.

We currently have a pair of self-powered SongTowers up and running and the sound quality is very high.  I would not hesitate to use this system in my home.  But I certainly would not argue with someone who said a better sounding system could be assembled with a separate preamp, amp and speakers. It all comes down to what you can afford to invest in a system.  Self-powered speakers are certainly a valid option to consider.  In addition, in the right hands, DSP allows you to do things you can't do with a standard set-up...things like creating filters to deal with room modes.  So there are positives and negatives to each approach.

I know this doesn't answer your question.  But hopefully it will provide some idea of the trade-offs involved with either direction.

- Jim

[Alexdad54]

Thanks for the comprehensive reply Jim, very kind of you to lay it out that way. I'm currently running the 752BD and an Apollo CDP through a Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum integrated amp and it sounds really great. I may soon have to downsize though as I'll be living abroad for a while and your powered bookshelf speakers with a salkstream player sound like a great option!
Thanks again!

[Charles Xavier]

I know the camp is still undecided about bluetooth and so am I but I wonder if adding that into the fold would be a good idea.

[ratso]

Yes, but shipping will run $3000.

- Jim

I can pick them up.

[yetis]

I don't know exactly what the definition of a "power DAC" is, but I would not put it in the same category as TacT, DEQX or something similar.  Typically those systems include measurement mics and software to analyze test results and generate a crossover design.  This system supplies the capability to design filters much the same way, but does not include measurement capabilities and does not generate the crossover.  You can import measurements from other applications, but you have to define the crossover yourself (unless the speaker you are purchasing is shipped with the amp pre-configured as in this case).

- Jim

I believe you could get this to work with Trinnov, as you can use a trinnov per channel and use active crossovers set by Trinnov.  So a three way powered speaker would likely use three channels per loudspeaker, with the crossovers set within the Trinnov, either in the digital domain, in front of the Dac or after in analog., assuming there layout allows

It was my long- term goal, then life and kids got in the way...