[JeffB]

I am thinking about buying a Behringer DCX2496 for the purpose of building a 3way speaker actively driven with 3 stereo amplifiers.
I have questions regarding connections from the source unit to the DCX.
I desire to be able to play CDs and DVDs.
The ability to ultimately drive a 5.1 system might be nice, but I am mainly concerned with 2 channel reproduction.
I am only expecting the DCX to handle the the main left and right channels.
I fear the DCX may lock me into a 2 channel system though.

The DCX has 1 digital AES/EBU XLR connector.

I think my desired connection type would be the digital AES/EBU connection.
My current DVD player outputs coaxial SPDIF.
1) How do I connect a coaxial SPDIF to an AES/EBU connection.
2) If I can't do number 1) or if number 1) is not an optimal hookup, what choices do I have.  I don't know any sources that output AES/EBU.
3) Can I use the DCX to control the volume?  I can't very well adjust the volume after the Behringer as I will have six analog outputs whose volume will need be set.
4) If the DCX can control volume, then is it easily controllable?  Does 1 setting affect the 6 outputs?  Is there a remote control?  Is it easy to do from the unit itself?
5) How does one deal with 5.1 surround?  I think I will be out of luck with this.  Is there any method to digitally split the 5.1 signal?

Or should I just go with an analog connection?
1) How do I connect RCA phone plugs to XLR connections?
2) Should I get a preamp that takes the RCA input and outputs XLR connections.
3) Are there any inexpensive DVD players that output analog 5.1 signals.  My player only provides 5.1 over SPDIF.
4) Are there any sournd cards that output analog 5.1 signals?  I think they might only allow SPDIF for 5.1.

I guess I would just like to know what others have done.

[JeffB]

From further reading it appears that when using the Behringer unit one should supply a full strength signal to the unit to maximize the number of bits used in digital processing.  So the volume control is best placed after the unit.  However, there are 6 analog outs XLR that need volume control.
There doesn't appear to be much on the market that meets this need.
Here is one example though.

http://www.sle.se/products/v8pro/

[JeffB]

It turns out that SPDIF and AES/EBU are not so different.
They are just a different Ohms and Voltage rating.
Here is a list of some converters on the market.

http://www.sweetwater.com/c741--Misc_Digital_Converters

[richidoo]

Hi Jeff

DCX is a cool tool, I think you will enjoy playing with it. On mine, I replaced the XLR digital input with RCA and connected the two lead input wire (from ribbon cable) to the RCA. If there is anything fancy about AES/EBU the DCX has it in name only. The parts quality is low end (amateur) "pro audio."  But the DSP aspect is a miracle for the price.

I installed the Jan Didden Active upgrade in my DCX and can recommend it highly. It incorporates a IC 8 channel analog volume control, and IR remote control system. The output stages are removed and replaced with far suprior parts on a totally new PCB. The build was easy and fun. Jan helped me find a mistake I made and I was off and running. The difference in sound is night and day.   There are other modifications to get even more out of it, like power supply, clock, and internal wiring for digital input, analog inputs, etc.

Without the mods I think you could make an adapter to bring SpDIF in through the XLR connector. The volume control was the big driver behind the project.

It is designed to be a PA crossover so volume control is not one of its functions. You can adjust gain of each driver, but it is intended to be used with a mixing board. The big knob on the front is for menu navigation, not volume.

Since you;re listening to digital source anyway, no reason to bring audio in by analog, might as well stay digital. The DCX ADC is not audiophile grade.

The DCX does have some kind of daisy chain functionality to link multiple DCX's together, but I have not read about this or what it is used for, whether it is intended for multiple loudspeakers or just stereo loudspeakers with more drivers. Worth finding out..

http://www.linearaudio.nl/   (mod kit details here - but website is down now, I hope it comes back up soon)
http://www.pilghamaudio.com/index.asp?pgid=51  (buy it here)

Rich

[Haoleb]

I use my DCX to crossover and eq my main speakers and stereo subwoofers, The way I have it hooked up is that my preamp handles all the source switching and volume control then from there I have an RCA to XLR cable (you can make, or buy these) going into the DCX analog inputs then I have a pair of XLR to XLR to my two bridged sub amps and XLR to RCA to my monoblocks for my main speakers.

You could sort of control the volume on the DCX, Its very un practical to do so, but you can adjust + or - 15db on both the inputs or each output independently.

If you wanted to get more than a 2 channel system, you can just get more DCX's I know of people who run their entire theater system off of them.

[mgalusha]

I suggest to avoid using the digital level controls in the dcx any more than you have to as it reduce the number of effective bits of resolution. Using something like Jan Didden's analog replacement board is a much better way to go or use an external level control after the DCX. It has a low enough output impedance that you can use a passive volume control between the dcx and your amps, provided the amp input impedance isn't too low. Goldpoint makes a 6 channel level control, it's not cheap but is very nicely made. Scott Endler also make individual attenuators that can placed right at each amp. He also offers mods for the DCX for less cost than Linear Audio, though the Linear Audio/Pilgham Audio mods are more comprehensive with the exception of the DACS. Scott does offer a dac replacement to replace the AK4393 chips with the much improved AK4395 chips. Even better are the AK4396 DAC's but they are very difficult to obtain.

Scott Endler site: http://mysite.verizon.net/vze4c5pt/

mike