Oh wise ASR recommendation engine! (TM)
I have a 2ch power amp.
For a 2.1 system, I believe I might want processing on the mains. At minimum a HPF but up from that, PEQ or Dirac. My listening environment is non-critical listening at my desktop, with small home theater satellites as the mains. I won't mention what they are because the system shouldn't be overly specific to the speakers, but I am not afraid to spend money there and they are the best such speakers I could find based on subjective reviews. They measure well anyway. But they are small. I'm giving up on my KEF meta and putting them back in the listening room. I can't get the KEF positioned well for my desk setup, which I can't change. I'm considering KEF in-ceiling or in-wall speakers instead of the HT satellites, but I'd still need the sub.
OK, I mention all this because in the past I've only ever used subs with HT and with AVR (pre/pro) which even back in the day, always had processing of some sort for the mains. But said processing comes for free with HT, so I'm not convinced it's necessary for 2.1 and more so, is it necessary for my deskbound near field listening during the day? And why do we typically with 2.0 systems not have HPF if it's so helpful? And for such physically small speakers, is it even more helpful or is it more irrelevant?
It's important because there are so few product choices that hit all my requirements. If there is not really much advantage to bass management for a setup like this, I can just do a line level splitter from my DAC and be done.
So the device I'm looking for can be a preamp or an inline DSP. Because I have an amp anything integrated won't work here, well I wouldn't want to waste the money spent on the amplifier section. If there's a streamer part that's ok I would use that. The requirements are:
I eliminated the miniDSP due to poor performance per ASR. The SHD Power does rank better but I don't want the extra amp. I'm very confident I can eliminate the Dayton and DSpeaker as well if the miniDSP didn't make the performance cut.
The motu may or may not be feasible. If it would work then any of the other models would also, like the AVB, which I like for the all rear I/O. Apparently the PEQ is not straightforward, so I don't know I want to spend time on it. I already know how to operate the RME.
If it is acceptable to treat the combined mains+sub as a single full range active speaker (pre->splitter->2.1), with passive HPF on the main split, then also:
I'll update this post as I get more feedback on the "need" for advanced vs simple bass management.
I have a 2ch power amp.
For a 2.1 system, I believe I might want processing on the mains. At minimum a HPF but up from that, PEQ or Dirac. My listening environment is non-critical listening at my desktop, with small home theater satellites as the mains. I won't mention what they are because the system shouldn't be overly specific to the speakers, but I am not afraid to spend money there and they are the best such speakers I could find based on subjective reviews. They measure well anyway. But they are small. I'm giving up on my KEF meta and putting them back in the listening room. I can't get the KEF positioned well for my desk setup, which I can't change. I'm considering KEF in-ceiling or in-wall speakers instead of the HT satellites, but I'd still need the sub.
OK, I mention all this because in the past I've only ever used subs with HT and with AVR (pre/pro) which even back in the day, always had processing of some sort for the mains. But said processing comes for free with HT, so I'm not convinced it's necessary for 2.1 and more so, is it necessary for my deskbound near field listening during the day? And why do we typically with 2.0 systems not have HPF if it's so helpful? And for such physically small speakers, is it even more helpful or is it more irrelevant?
It's important because there are so few product choices that hit all my requirements. If there is not really much advantage to bass management for a setup like this, I can just do a line level splitter from my DAC and be done.
So the device I'm looking for can be a preamp or an inline DSP. Because I have an amp anything integrated won't work here, well I wouldn't want to waste the money spent on the amplifier section. If there's a streamer part that's ok I would use that. The requirements are:
- Desktop form factor: half-rack width or smaller, 8" preferred. This is the hardest one!
- Top quartile objective performance.
- If digital inputs only, then must have physical volume knob.
- Current production model.
- RME ADI-2 Pro FS R BE ($2000)
- Motu mk5 ($600)
miniDSP 2x4 HD ($225)- DSPeaker Anti-Mode 2.0 Dual Core ($900)
- Dayton DSP-408 ($250)
- miniDSP SHD Studio ($950)
- passive splitter with FMOD, Shure or DIY passive HPF ($40)
I eliminated the miniDSP due to poor performance per ASR. The SHD Power does rank better but I don't want the extra amp. I'm very confident I can eliminate the Dayton and DSpeaker as well if the miniDSP didn't make the performance cut.
The motu may or may not be feasible. If it would work then any of the other models would also, like the AVB, which I like for the all rear I/O. Apparently the PEQ is not straightforward, so I don't know I want to spend time on it. I already know how to operate the RME.
If it is acceptable to treat the combined mains+sub as a single full range active speaker (pre->splitter->2.1), with passive HPF on the main split, then also:
- RME ADI-2 DAC FS ($1300)
I'll update this post as I get more feedback on the "need" for advanced vs simple bass management.
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