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Balanced Dac/Pre-amp for Studio Monitors and Home Theater Subwoofers???

VilmFilm

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This is my first post and just created my account today to post this. Here's all I got to say....

DAC/PRE-AMP WITH BALANCED outputs and a SUB OUT with HIGH PASS for the MAINS.

Imagine a world where us simpletons with active studio monitors could integrate home theater subs without dodgy multi dacs with dsp windows software being stable or expensive miniDSP flexes.

SMSL and Topping have amazing looking compact DACS and some even have balanced outputs and are SO CLOSE TO A PERFECT PRODUCT for people like us.
For example the Topping D50 looks beautiful and sexy and has 1/4" balanced outputs.... one tiny little sub out port and internal crossovers would be almost endgame for integrating studio monitors without the fuss.

I don't understand why 2.1 systems are so difficult and rare. I see countless posts on countless forums, reddit and just everywhere of "how do I integrate my sub for a pc 2.1 system". its all the same responses,
"oh use a splitter or hook up through rca and you get to have NO bass management yayyyyy"
"buy a multichannel dac and use different types of software that could bug out or could be unstable with a windows update.... Also your volume knob on your interface doesn't work on channels 3 and 4 yayyyyyyyyyy"
"just buy a miniDSP Flex Balanced, its only $500"
"just buy a studio sub with internal crossover outs, good luck having 20hz bass at a good cost"

Should I just buy a miniDSP flex and call it a day.... is the dac better than my focusrite solo 3rd gen? Should I hook it up through usb or trs inputs to use my focusrite dac?
I love my JBL Monitors and I am scared the quality will decrease or something will go wrong.

I've been looking for a year straight honestly of ways to integrate and no luck except maybe minidsp flex. I'm stressed and tired of looking.

I know I can't be the only one who would buy a DAC with balanced outs and sub outs in a heartbeat.....
 
I am currently running a 2.2 system with my Output Frontier powered monitors (6"/1" coaxes designed with/by Barefoot) and 2 subwoofers, and I have pretty good bass management and PEQ thanks to my WiiM Ultra streamer/pre/dac/whatever you want to call it. The WiiM Ultra goes out via optical to my SMSL M500 DAC, which does balanced out XLR to the Frontiers, and my subs are fed by the sub out in the Ultra. So, pretty much what you're asking for. I cross the subs over at 85 Hz, and have like 10 PEQ filters applied, all below 500 Hz, to deal with room modes. It's pretty good.
 
I am currently running a 2.2 system with my Output Frontier powered monitors (6"/1" coaxes designed with/by Barefoot) and 2 subwoofers, and I have pretty good bass management and PEQ thanks to my WiiM Ultra streamer/pre/dac/whatever you want to call it. The WiiM Ultra goes out via optical to my SMSL M500 DAC, which does balanced out XLR to the Frontiers, and my subs are fed by the sub out in the Ultra. So, pretty much what you're asking for. I cross the subs over at 85 Hz, and have like 10 PEQ filters applied, all below 500 Hz, to deal with room modes. It's pretty good.
First off never heard of those Monitors but DAM THEY LOOK BEAUTIFUL. I'm jealous tbh of those monitors lol
But that's a $300 streamer, $500 DAC (could get a cheaper dac tho "Schiit Modius?"), do the mains get high passed?, also can the Wiim Ultra act as an audio output device in widnows? (all audio gets through speakers whether gaming or on chrome etc.)
I'm sure it sounds great and all for you but its just an abomination of jerry rigging different devices and it still comes out semi expensive. What im asking for it just an all in one dac to feed all the speakers and sub out with crossovers.
I do enjoy seeing what other peoples solutions are and how they work
idk... maybe the flex wouldn't be a bad option?
 
First off never heard of those Monitors but DAM THEY LOOK BEAUTIFUL. I'm jealous tbh of those monitors lol
But that's a $300 streamer, $500 DAC (could get a cheaper dac tho "Schiit Modius?"), do the mains get high passed?, also can the Wiim Ultra act as an audio output device in widnows? (all audio gets through speakers whether gaming or on chrome etc.)
I'm sure it sounds great and all for you but its just an abomination of jerry rigging different devices and it still comes out semi expensive. What im asking for it just an all in one dac to feed all the speakers and sub out with crossovers.
I do enjoy seeing what other peoples solutions are and how they work
idk... maybe the flex wouldn't be a bad option?
Yeah, the Frontiers are lookers for sure. I got them for recording work, but in the meantime my hifi speakers are getting rebuilt by the guy who made them, so these do the job until I get the refreshed speakers back.

As far as cost, I bought the WiiM on Black Friday sale, so that was $270, and the SMSL DAC was bought used, so my cost was closer to $600+ something I think for those two things.

I agree there's room in the market for a DAC with room correction, bass management, a good amp and/or balanced outputs; sort of one device to create a good modern system. WiiM is close, but probably there could be a Chinese competitor if they can get the software/app part right.
 
I kind of agree ... hopefully pre/DACs with DSP and the option to high pass the mains will become common.

Meantime;

Do you really need balanced output, or is that more to do with habit? If you don't have a ground issue then single ended will be fine: WiiM Ultra becomes an option.

Some subs have built in DSP and can HP the signal to your mains: DAC to Sub to Mains.

I'm sure there is a clever option using a PC, or raspberry Pi, but that's something you can research :)

The miniDSP Flex is pretty impressive, and not all that expensive in the grand scheme of things. It may be the path of least resistance!
 
I kind of agree ... hopefully pre/DACs with DSP and the option to high pass the mains will become common.

Meantime;

Do you really need balanced output, or is that more to do with habit? If you don't have a ground issue then single ended will be fine: WiiM Ultra becomes an option.

Some subs have built in DSP and can HP the signal to your mains: DAC to Sub to Mains.

I'm sure there is a clever option using a PC, or raspberry Pi, but that's something you can research :)

The miniDSP Flex is pretty impressive, and not all that expensive in the grand scheme of things. It may be the path of least resistance!
There definitely is a decent market with the countless forum's I see. The JBL's only have balanced inputs and I've never tested using adapters but I just love TRS cables and think is the most superior than XLR and RCA lol. Just worried about hiss mainly tho.

Recently I discovered the Buchardt Sub10. It's a slim profile sub that claims to go to 16hz. XLR in/out with high pass. A hefty 400w RMS rating. It's kind of on the expensive side which turns me off but it COULD be an option...

I've emailed almost all different dac companies and different subwoofer companies (studio and home theater companies) about support for high passes balanced. Sadly they just say "sorry, screw your market and buzzer fly offers". Like yeah I get the market as a business but it's still frustrating
 
The JBL LSR 310s sub takes your main input, rolls it off for the sub inside, and then puts out a rolled off signal for your main speakers. Has XLR and TRS. It isn't the greatest sub in the world, but decent. I wish many more had this feature for just the reasons you detail. It moves the function to the sub itself. So any stereo pre out with a pair of speakers plus this sub and you are in business just plugging it up.

 
The JBL LSR 310s sub takes your main input, rolls it off for the sub inside, and then puts out a rolled off signal for your main speakers. Has XLR and TRS. It isn't the greatest sub in the world, but decent. I wish many more had this feature for just the reasons you detail. It moves the function to the sub itself. So any stereo pre out with a pair of speakers plus this sub and you are in business just plugging it up.

Yes I'm aware of that sub. I currently have a krk 8.4S paired with my JBL and honestly I still love it. Hits hard at 40hz but at 30hz is the limit before it drops off hard. The jbl sub might go a bit lower but is it worth it for just a few Hz? Plus they're all ported.... I just want a steady beefy sealed sub at a decent price. Nothing crazy but nothing too weak.

Home theater subs are the only subs that are capable at that at decent price to performance. But yet non of them have passthroughs

I might just stick with my krk sub or shill out 1k for a minidsp plus sub I haven't bought yet.

I emailed krk cuz they're 12.4s looks amazing spec wise but just make it sealed and you got a winner right there that I would buy. Og price is around 900, I can't imagine making it sealed would raise it up or if anything maybe a bit cheaper?
 
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