Advice Needed for 4-Channel Setup or more: Audio Interface, DSP, or Alternatives?

[Hechtschnitzel]

Hello everyone,

I’m looking for some advice regarding my setup and the best way to configure it. After watching DMS’s video on his self-made Dolby Atmos system, I’ve been inspired to create a more immersive sound experience myself.

Currently, I have 2 Swissonic A305s and 2 JBL 305P MKIIs, and I’d like to experiment with a 4-channel setup. Adding a dedicated channel for a subwoofer might be great in the future, but it’s not a priority right now.

The system will be connected to my PC, and I’m trying to figure out the best way to route and configure the audio. Ideally, I’d like to know:

1. Can I use something like the U2Audio7-1 DAC for this setup? Would I be able to connect all 4 speakers to it and configure them properly via software? Or are there advantages to going with a DSP like the MiniDSP 2x4 HD instead?
2. I already looked into the Behringer UMC404HD—could this work? Or is something like the MiniDSP 2x4 HD better for future upgrades to more channels?
3. I’m open to buying used hardware or new, but I’d like to keep the budget at around 200–250€, if possible.
4. I’m new to this topic, so any recommendations on hardware, software, or general tips for optimizing a 4-channel immersive setup would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[melomane13]

Use CamillaDSP and multichannels usb soudcard as Terratec aureoun 7.1 usb. 50€ new, you can easy get used. you get 8 channels out, headphone amp, toslink in and out, line and micro in.

 

[Hechtschnitzel]

Use CamillaDSP and multichannels usb soudcard as Terratec aureoun 7.1 usb. 50€ new, you can easy get used. you get 8 channels out, headphone amp, toslink in and out, line and micro in.

Exactly what I thought. The only thing I'm still unclear about is the advantage of a separate DSP. Is it primarily to avoid using a PC for corrections and to have an automatic system instead? Will give it a try. Thanks

 

[melomane13]

The only thing I'm still unclear about is the advantage of a separate DSP. Is it primarily to avoid using a PC for corrections and to have an automatic system instead?

CamillaDSP isn't a autonome DSP. digital signal processing is made in CPU. i use with raspberrypi 4 as streamer, dsp , headphone amp, 4 channels for loudspeakers . CamillaDSP work also on windows and mac.

Avantage of camillaDSP is flexibility and easy to change parameters.

 

[ppataki]

Hello everyone,

I’m looking for some advice regarding my setup and the best way to configure it. After watching DMS’s video on his self-made Dolby Atmos system, I’ve been inspired to create a more immersive sound experience myself.

Currently, I have 2 Swissonic A305s and 2 JBL 305P MKIIs, and I’d like to experiment with a 4-channel setup. Adding a dedicated channel for a subwoofer might be great in the future, but it’s not a priority right now.

The system will be connected to my PC, and I’m trying to figure out the best way to route and configure the audio. Ideally, I’d like to know:

1. Can I use something like the U2Audio7-1 DAC for this setup? Would I be able to connect all 4 speakers to it and configure them properly via software? Or are there advantages to going with a DSP like the MiniDSP 2x4 HD instead?
2. I already looked into the Behringer UMC404HD—could this work? Or is something like the MiniDSP 2x4 HD better for future upgrades to more channels?
3. I’m open to buying used hardware or new, but I’d like to keep the budget at around 200–250€, if possible.
4. I’m new to this topic, so any recommendations on hardware, software, or general tips for optimizing a 4-channel immersive setup would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for your help!

The simplest approach is to use a multichannel DAC and use your PC as your DSP

An example is a Focusrite 4i4 4th gen (see here a project example) and for DSP you can use Jriver
In Jriver you have state-of-the-art DSP capability and you can further enrich that with external VST plugins
In case you want your 4.0 setup for movies you can also do that in Jriver, it can not only play music but movies too and will perform the decoding/downmixing as well
It also has a WDM driver so all sounds in Windows (Tidal, Spotify, Chrome, etc.) can be routed through its DSP engine

I have been using this concept for almost 20 years now.....
No need for any AVR or external DSP hardware

 

[90sNintendoKid]

The simplest approach is to use a multichannel DAC and use your PC as your DSP

An example is a Focusrite 4i4 4th gen (see here a project example) and for DSP you can use Jriver
In Jriver you have state-of-the-art DSP capability and you can further enrich that with external VST plugins
In case you want your 4.0 setup for movies you can also do that in Jriver, it can not only play music but movies too and will perform the decoding/downmixing as well
It also has a WDM driver so all sounds in Windows (Tidal, Spotify, Chrome, etc.) can be routed through its DSP engine

I have been using this concept for almost 20 years now.....
No need for any AVR or external DSP hardware

I've been doing a lot of research recently about trying to use a raspberry pi and CamillaDSP or Pipewire for EQ for home theater and music, including virtual surround for headphones. I'm coming around to the same opinion, a windows pc with something like Jriver is a lot easier and cheaper.

In Jriver, the video can be delayed to handle any latency in the audio dsp chain and if I need Atmos I can always bitstream it to an AVR.

 

[90sNintendoKid]

I've been doing a lot of research recently about trying to use a raspberry pi and CamillaDSP or Pipewire for EQ for home theater and music, including virtual surround for headphones. I'm coming around to the same opinion, a windows pc with something like Jriver is a lot easier and cheaper.

In Jriver, the video can be delayed to handle any latency in the audio dsp chain and if I need Atmos I can always bitstream it to an AVR.

I've just ordered a Windows 11 Ryzen mini pc. I'm going to use Jriver for movies and apply EQ and dsp.

 

[gene_stl]

There are a lot of multichannel enthusiasts at ;

New posts

www.quadraphonicquad.com

 

[mhardy6647]

David Hafler.
Dynaquad.

It's even Brian Eno-approved.

Brian Eno 3 speaker setup, Hafler circuit, etc.

I just watched a new video from Paul/PS Audio () regarding Brian Eno's suggestion to use a 3rd speaker connected to the positive terminals of your amp, placed behind, to play the uncommon audio from both channels, potentially playing audio not heard with a standard 2-speaker setup. Does anyone...

www.audiosciencereview.com

If you really want to spend money, though, there's always Schiit.

Schiit Audio: Audio Products Made in USA

www.schiit.com

 

[ppataki]

David Hafler.
Dynaquad.

It's even Brian Eno-approved.

Brian Eno 3 speaker setup, Hafler circuit, etc.

I just watched a new video from Paul/PS Audio () regarding Brian Eno's suggestion to use a 3rd speaker connected to the positive terminals of your amp, placed behind, to play the uncommon audio from both channels, potentially playing audio not heard with a standard 2-speaker setup. Does anyone...

www.audiosciencereview.com

If you really want to spend money, though, there's always Schiit.

Schiit Audio: Audio Products Made in USA

www.schiit.com

View attachment 423722

I have never heard of this but it seems to be a great solution if one has stereo source(s) only

 

[mhardy6647]

I have never heard of this but it seems to be a great solution if one has stereo source(s) only

Interestingly, it "works" with old-fashioned matrix multichannel source material as well.
The approach dates back to the late 1960s, give or take, with a heyday in the first half of the 1970s.
see, e.g., https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Everyday-Electronics/70s/Everyday-Electronics-1975-04.pdf pg. 208

 

[Hechtschnitzel]

CamillaDSP isn't a autonome DSP. digital signal processing is made in CPU. i use with raspberrypi 4 as streamer, dsp , headphone amp, 4 channels for loudspeakers . CamillaDSP work also on windows and mac.

Avantage of camillaDSP is flexibility and easy to change parameters.

To be completely honest, I’m not inexperienced, and I’m into computer stuff, but I’m struggling with the configuration. Is there a tutorial or video that walks through the entire process? On GitHub, there are so many command prompts, and I’m unsure which ones are necessary. How and where can I start this journey in the simplest way possible?

 

[Hechtschnitzel]

David Hafler.
Dynaquad.

It's even Brian Eno-approved.

Brian Eno 3 speaker setup, Hafler circuit, etc.

I just watched a new video from Paul/PS Audio () regarding Brian Eno's suggestion to use a 3rd speaker connected to the positive terminals of your amp, placed behind, to play the uncommon audio from both channels, potentially playing audio not heard with a standard 2-speaker setup. Does anyone...

www.audiosciencereview.com

If you really want to spend money, though, there's always Schiit.

Schiit Audio: Audio Products Made in USA

www.schiit.com

View attachment 423722

Thanks for the tip, but I think for now I'll stick with an external USB soundcard and try out DSP software like CamilleDSP or JRiver. It seems like it better suits my needs.

 

[ZolaIII]

You can use EQ-APO for free for starters also trough WDM Windows driver and you can play with integrated audio card also. Good old internal PCI-E X1 card will do the job if you don't have particularly noisi (EMI) power supply as cheap combination as A-E 5+ or even Sound Blaster Z Se (-2 dB max output).

 

[Hechtschnitzel]

You can use EQ-APO for free for starters also trough WDM Windows driver and you can play with integrated audio card also. Good old internal PCI-E X1 card will do the job if you don't have particularly noisi (EMI) power supply as cheap combination as A-E 5+ or even Sound Blaster Z Se (-2 dB max output).

I thought about that as well, since I'm already familiar with how to handle Equalizer APO. But what about the upscaling part if my source is just stereo? Should I simply adjust the rear channels’ volume to a lower level? I assumed DSP software typically has upscaling algorithms that, for example, separate voices from other instruments and direct them to come from the front speakers.

 

[ZolaIII]

I thought about that as well, since I'm already familiar with how to handle Equalizer APO. But what about the upscaling part if my source is just stereo? Should I simply adjust the rear channels’ volume to a lower level? I assumed DSP software typically has upscaling algorithms that, for example, separate voices from other instruments and direct them to come from the front speakers.

I am not in a spartial audio boot camp nor have any interest in it. Future more I don't get what you want to achieve with quad setup in that regard. I do 2.2 that way. It's simple you copy the chenel you want to another one and do what you want to do there. Future more down/up mixing software or hardware is still for standard chenel mapping and configuration. As such are property Dolby's you have to pay for it. JRiver has basic Dolby support and internal mixer but that's about it. For movie's and movies only I use old direct show filter Sonitus FX surround (and compressor) and it's still very good of bringing that in stereo.

 

[melomane13]

To be completely honest, I’m not inexperienced, and I’m into computer stuff, but I’m struggling with the configuration. Is there a tutorial or video that walks through the entire process? On GitHub, there are so many command prompts, and I’m unsure which ones are necessary. How and where can I start this journey in the simplest way possible?

on raspberrypi or pc-linux ( with debian based distrib) , you can use this:

GitHub - mdsimon2/RPi-CamillaDSP: Guidance on implementing CamillaDSP on a Raspberry Pi

Guidance on implementing CamillaDSP on a Raspberry Pi - mdsimon2/RPi-CamillaDSP

github.com

on windows, i don't know because i don't use anymore windows.