[rhale64l7]

I have been considering a DSP crossover for my system. But ai am wondering if this would be overkill for my application. I have an Anthem AVM90 that I use that has a very good eq system. So I would mostly be using this for strictly the active crossover and time alignment of drivers. My system is s AVM90 going to a Sublime Acoustics kt235 into 6 Orchard Audio Ultra modules. 3 per speaker. My speakers are SB Acoustics Sasandu Textreme's. They are angled baffle speakers. I could use an OEM version of this I suppose. Anyway how would I get help with developing a good solution for these speakers when you don't have any to test? I see you did a great job on the Maggie's and CSS speakers. But you can and have bought them to test. These can be bought now. But how would I get help? And how much better would it be? If I were using my Anthem AVM90 for the DAC and equipment part. Thanks for any help.

[HAL]

When I sell the dspNexus 2/8 I do the customer DSP crossover design.  The customer makes measurements in his room for use in the new design.  If you can make REW measurements with your existing setup with REW, then those can be used as well.  I can discuss this process if needed.

Once the dspNexus 2/8 system is setup, you can use your phantom powered measurement mic, cable, stand and the dspNexus to make the needed frequency response measurements with REW for the new design.  Something like the Dayton Audio EMM-6 or Beyerdynamic MM-1 are fine for the measurements with REW as they have calibration data available after purchase.  There is a phantom powered mic XLR input on the front panel to make connection and with Measurement mode drives REW.

The dspNexus 2/8 would go between the AVM90 and Orchard Audio amps direct driving the speakers.  It would replace the Sublime Acoustics crossover.

The dspNexus 2/8 becomes the 8 channel DAC output to the Orchard Audio amps.   The AKM AK4499EX DAC's are excellent DAC's.

If multichannel decoding is needed, the AVM90 decoded stereo analog outputs can feed the inputs on the dspNexus 2/8.

Let me know if you need any other information.

[rhale64l7]

Yes this will be a dual use setup as you have probably figured out already. I use it for music and movies. Your system is the only DSP based that I could see using. Because of the 4499ex Dacs. I have said I am not going to use inferior Dacs after my processor. It just doesn't make sense.
Are you using the newer DSP engine yet? Or still working on it? Thank you for the quick reply.
How much of a sound change could I expect?. Would it be worth the expense?

[HAL]

The production dspNexus 2/8 with the AK4499EX DAC's uses the Analog Devices ADSP21569 DSP processor.   This was an included upgrade to the EA systems that came with the ADSP21469 DSP.

I am not familiar with the AVM90 sound.

In custom installs for each customer to date, the sound quality of the upgraded dspNexus 2/8 has been a sound quality improvement over the existing system.  That is in comparison to live orchestra hall concerts that one of the customers attends regularly over what he had previously.

[rhale64l7]

How would I leave the eq for my mains out of my ARC Genesis solution? It eq's all channels and balances the sound between 9 speakers for my home theater. So then it would be r- eq'd. If I could figure out a way it might work. I know the AKM 4499 Dacs are very good. I have the Sabre 9038pro in the Anthem. But it doesn't sound like a ESS DAC. I compared the 4499 to it and I liked both for different reasons. I could live with either. Thanks for all your help. I wish I could have talked at Axpona but unfortunately the partner in crime broke her foot. Maybe next year.

[HAL]

One method would be to use the USB or S/PDIF digital inputs on the dspNexus 2/8 for sources and bypass the ARC Genesis on the Analog inputs. 

A PC, MAC or streamer with compatible digital output could be used as input and the dspNexus Control center with remote can switch inputs and do the volume control with the AK4499EX DAC's.   The PC would be there to run Audio Weaver for the program with the XMOS driver for USB input for programming and USB Audio.

Glad to help.

[danvillesignal]

I would like to comment on the AK4499EX based DACs in the dspNexus.

The dspNexus was designed with the expectation that as technology improves, DACs, the ADC and DSP can be upgraded. 
During the dspNexus development, I made several modules based on TI DACs, a WM8741/42 DAC, and multiple AKM based DACs.

I made two different AK4499 based DACs, one with the pre foundry fire AK4499 version and later with the AK4499EX version. Both AK4499s are very similar sonically and the best DACs I have used.
I think the much lower priced AKM AK4493SEQ that we use in many of our products is also better than any of the ESS Sabre parts. I realize that this falls into opinion, but I can use whatever I want in the dspNexus.

The choice of the semiconductor DAC is the starting point. Just like fine cooking, the ingredients matter, but there is also more to it. Most playback DACs (the complete product that consumers buy) are typically the manufacturers' reference design implemented with a new PCB and a nice shiny box. I don't do this with the Danville products. I use alternative supporting circuits and also scale the levels to match well with the various sensitivities of amplifiers and loudspeakers.  Rich tells me my AK4499 based DACs perform better than other AK4499 based DACs and certainly better than other non-AKM based DACs. My goal is to provide best of class performance even if you weren't using DSP. This means that even though you are buying 8 channels of DACs instead of just 2 channels, you are not compromising.  If you were only using 2 channels of a dspNexus, it would be as good or better as any DAC you are likely to buy at any price.

Al Clark
Danville Signal

[rhale64l7]

It's funny as I was just coming here to ask another question about this. Say I do my measurements in my room and we get it dialed in nicely. What would happen if I moved into a much better room for the system? Could I then come back and start over in the new room? Or would it be better to take it all outside and test it in free air so that I could just run ARC on top of it to clean up the room?

 I know those DSP's are good. And better than most Sabre implementations. But Anthem really did a great job on this. And I for some reason am not bothered by the Sabre sound.

Actually I am so curious to see how much better my system could sound. From the sound of it,it would be endgame. The Dynaudio Confidence 20A really took Axpona by storm with the DSP and all in the stand. It looks cool too. But mine should sound even better than that. I have spared no expense except my crossover.

So what kind of improvement would it make is the question. It would be nice if it had a trial period. Lol.

 I do appreciate the explanation on the surrounding components. Would a computer have to be used full time with the filters? Or just when programming the Nexus?

[HAL]

If you move the system to a new room, new REW measurements at the listening position would be needed and input to the DSP crossover design,  This can be done with the PC and Audio Weaver at any time,

The system can be used in two different ways.  First is running Audio Weaver live with the dspNexus 2/8 for measurements and listening trials.  The second is if you are satisfied with the system sound, Audio Weaver can Generate the binary file for Flashing the dspBlok.  Then the system runs the DSP crossover every time at power-up.  As an example, the dspNexus 2/8 comes with a simple 3-way L-R crossover with extra sub channel Flashed to the dspBlok so the system is running at power-up.   That can always be replaced at anytime with the new DSP crossover design for your system.  The PC is no longer needed after Flashing the dspBlok. 

We have found that ROON based systems for digital need the PC as a ROON Bridge since it has the USB XMOS driver that works correctly for the dspNexus.

For my sales and support of US customer dspNexus systems, I offer a 2 week trial period.  This way an informed decision can be made.  The customer has to pay the s/h both ways in case they decide they do not want to keep it.  It would be drop shipped from Danville Signal and returned to me in that case.  I do not do export systems, for that Danville Signal would be the sales point and they have their own policies.

Hope that helps.

[danvillesignal]

Most of your questions are better answered by Rich.

The short answer is that dspNexus can be programmed for different targets and certainly different rooms. At Axpona, we had a basic crossover design and then optimized it to address low frequency bass management issues that are always room dependent. We are modifying that design in the internal Danville sound room for a different subwoofer integration. This is one of the advantages of DSP; crossovers are configured in software, no soldering required.

Concerning the Sabre DACs. I hope I didn't imply that they are bad. They are good and there are many good implementations of them. My view is that the various AKM devices are better. This should be taken as opinion, not absolute fact.

Al Clark
Danville Signal

[rhale64l7]

Definitely no offense taken about the Sabre Dacs. I am actually perplexed how I can stand them as I don't like a bright character. And most find the AKM smoother. And actually I do too when hearing them side by side. But there is something I like about the Sabre Dacs sound. I could live with either.

 Also how could I talk to Rich? I am not ready to pull the trigger just yet. But I am seriously considering the endgame.

[HAL]

I am Rich. 

Send me a PM here.