I’m after advice on how to best incorporate a digital cross-over into a system that has a mixture of audio and video sources. The system comprises a range of A/V sources (CAPS | Apple TV | TiVo) with video sent to a TV and audio sent to a traditional DAC | Pre-Amp | Amp | Speaker chain. All this has evolved into a 2.4 set-up with subwoofers used to smooth room response with these fed with line-level signal from the pre-amp and on-board cross-over used. Over the past few months I’ve added room EQ for audio from the computer (CAPS / W8 / JRiver) source with FIR filters generated in Acourate but all other sources are untouched. The reason for the thread is that I’m using a digital cross-over to further optimise the integration of the subwoofers with the main speakers. I’m thinking that this means both time alignment (although I’m not sure if this is critical) as well as individual EQ of the subwoofers (in addition to the overall EQ via CAPS / JRiver). My two main questions are as follows:
It’d be great to get feedback on these two questions including thoughts on options for implementing a digital x/o.
Zydeco
1. What is meant by “time alignment of subwoofers”? Is it ensuring that the signal arrives at the main speakers at the same time as that from the main speakers? Or, alternatively, is it ensuring that all woofers fire at the same time? The latter makes more sense to me given that we’re taking about energising the room. And, if it's the case, then what's the benefit of a digital x/o assuming that all the subs are identical (and thus have same phase shift)?
2. And how is this best achieved in a multi-source A/V system? My preferred approach was to use a dedicated convolution computer with a multi-channel audio interface with either digital or analogue inputs as this would allow me to leverage strengths of Acourate. A quick trial with my current filters and AcourateConvolver found that the audio lag was much too long for this to work with A/V sources. Some options look to be:
2. And how is this best achieved in a multi-source A/V system? My preferred approach was to use a dedicated convolution computer with a multi-channel audio interface with either digital or analogue inputs as this would allow me to leverage strengths of Acourate. A quick trial with my current filters and AcourateConvolver found that the audio lag was much too long for this to work with A/V sources. Some options look to be:
a. Convolution computer with filters (FIR) with much fewer “taps”. I’m not that excited about this option as it is, effectively, degrading my main source (CAPS | JRiver) for the benefit of additional A/V sources.
b. Add a pro-audio digital x/o (e.g., Xicila XD-4080) after pre-amp. I’m not concerned about the A/D/D/A but am worried about audio / video sync and reliability in home set-up. Has anyone tried these units?
c. Add DEQX that replaces the DAC | Pre-Amp. This seems like a great solution but is at limit of budget.
b. Add a pro-audio digital x/o (e.g., Xicila XD-4080) after pre-amp. I’m not concerned about the A/D/D/A but am worried about audio / video sync and reliability in home set-up. Has anyone tried these units?
c. Add DEQX that replaces the DAC | Pre-Amp. This seems like a great solution but is at limit of budget.
It’d be great to get feedback on these two questions including thoughts on options for implementing a digital x/o.
Zydeco