Can I connect four DACs to the same source and expect them to play in phase?

[goldistan]

why use 4 DACs anyways? get a 8 channel interface

I can't find a device that accepts 4 stereo SPDIF/AES as input (Okto is not available).

 

[Trell]

I can't find a device that accepts 4 stereo SPDIF/AES as input (Okto is not available).

They gets expensive but here is one but has features you probably don’t need:

ADI-8 QS - RME Audio Interfaces | Format Converters | Preamps | Network Audio & MADI Solutions

RME Audio Professional Live, Studio, Recording and Broadcast Solutions. Unrivalled Quality, Performance & Stability MADI Interfaces, Converters & Preamps.

rme-audio.com

An AES to/from ADAT, which you then can connect an audio interface like MOTU UltraLite-mk5. Much cheaper combined than the RME above. The Mutec also accepts SPDIF.

MUTEC – Digital Audio Equipment – High End | Professional Audio - MC4

MUTEC Germany - Manufacturer of Digital Audio and Video Studio Equipment

www.mutec-net.com

 

[goldistan]

Update: got myself a DDRC-88D and 4x Topping E50 DACs.
They play in phase and the system latency is low enough for movies and even gaming. this is with dirac turned off.

 

[MCH]

Hi, i will take the chance to ask what you guys think of using a raspberry for xovers and then a multichannel interface (ie xonar u7) to do the dac task? Is the difference in quality worth the huge difference in price? (Provided you don't mind doing the research to put the raspberry/camilla to work with the xonar...)

 

[CedarX]

It will be fine provided the DACs are identical. With different DACs, their latencies can vary, though the relative offsets will if course remain constant. Whether this is a problem depends on the application.

Don’t all DACs have ‘some’ DSP-type features, e.g. digital filter, THD comp…. Even if the DACs are identical, can different setting/config lead to different latencies? Granted we are talking about fraction of ms, so probably in the theoretical camp…

 

[ClassicalDJ]

it would if it had multichannel USB input...

So the MiniDSP DDRC-88D cannot be used with multiple DACs for multichannel audio, whereas the MiniDSP U-DIO8 can do this?

 

[KSTR]

So the MiniDSP DDRC-88D cannot be used with multiple DACs for multichannel audio, whereas the MiniDSP U-DIO8 can do this?

That would be my take.

 

[Marko_SpielbergAudioLabs]

I'm a happy user of Minidsp 4x10HD, and Tom Christiansen thinks it OK as well. As well recommended by late SL himself.

Review: MiniDSP 4x10HD

In-depth review and performance measurements of the MiniDSP 4x10HD.

neurochrome.com

Yes this lacks Dirac, but is it really needed? My guess is that user is capable of making room measurements and EQ settings "manually"
DDRC-88A with BM plug-in would be my choice if I wanted Dirac.

I am currently using the MiniDSP 4x10HD, actually I have two of them, one for our Livingroom system, and the other for the monitoring system in our Studio. I love the unit, we use the Digital output feeding a Gustard DAC on the topend, and the internal analog outputs for Midbass, and subwoofer. The new DDRC-88Am, measures far worse, and is not able to operate at 24bit 96KHZ, as the older 4X10HD does. When I buy a new one in the future it most likely be a different brand, I guess MiniDSP has a new audience.