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Colinear Acoustics - new 8 channel DSP preamplifier

J

J_S

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Oct 11, 2023
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Just seen this advertised - the day after I ordered an Okto Dac 8 pro to replace my miniDSP flex8. Looks promising and possibly simpler to use. Not quite sure how the measurements stack up - the website is a bit vague.

THD + N -127 dB 0.000045% unweighted
DNR 131 dB unweighted

Colinear Acoustics
 
8 channel DSP with XLR for $1k looks competitive... Will definitely be interested to see measurements.

edit: nevermind, see below
 
Last edited:
J_S said:
Just seen this advertised - the day after I ordered an Okto Dac 8 pro to replace my miniDSP flex8. Looks promising and possibly simpler to use. Not quite sure how the measurements stack up - the website is a bit vague.
Click to expand...

In the interest of clarity, it should be called a stereo-to-8 channel DSP preamplifier.​

 
Didn't realise it was a stereo only input (although that's what I wanted) so not suitable for multi channel/surround sound.
 
Hmm, so really only useful for DIY 4-way speakers or something? Agree not that interesting with only 2ch input, I missed that.
 
Even worse, it's just an ugly Minidsp:

A 1 GHz SHARC+ processor with inbuilt IIR and FIR accelerators delivers high-speed, low-latency digital signal processing. The internal DSP sampling rate can be set to either 96 kHz or 192 kHz, allowing up to 300 IIR biquads and over 50,000 combined FIR taps for detailed crossover design, correction, and time alignment across all channels.
Click to expand...
 
Kal Rubinson said:

In the interest of clarity, it should be called a stereo-to-8 channel DSP preamplifier.​

Click to expand...

Indeed so is squarely a [cheap] competitor to DEQX for example.

No user guide (coming soon despite a launch date in three weeks) so that's not encouraging. How can a potential punter have any idea of features/functions without a user guide...not very professional nor the basis for a decent product launch from a startup.

Also reading the company profile there is no touting of one or more industry veterans so no clue what DAC/DSP "chops" they have.

If the founders had some pedigree they would be using that as a hook on the website. Could be a group of snotty nosed kids for all we know.

Well colour me stupid..... instead of placing the founders background under "about us" (as you would!!!) it's under "news"... who would have thought!!! (but no surnames provided and no detailed industry names/background provided...so could still be snotty nosed kids):

Michael brings analytical precision from his medical background, now fully focused on embedded firmware development and digital signal processing. His expertise in microcontroller programming and GUI development ensures the DSP-8C delivers both powerful functionality and intuitive operation. His methodical approach to software architecture guarantees reliable, professional-grade performance.


Oliver contributes years of dedicated audio engineering experience and a deep understanding of acoustics. His knowledge of component selection, signal pathways, and system optimization has shaped every aspect of the DSP-8C's hardware design. His focus on real-world audio performance ensures the technical specifications translate into exceptional listening experiences.

So Michael was a GP but now fancies himself as an embedded controller software developer?...rather imprecise language.

Oliver has years of experience... like two?... again rather imprecise language...and a bit of bet hedging (i.e. it's not decades)

Let's hope their development skills are better than the logic/look and feel of their website.

Cynical old man yells at clouds and all that

Recognizing of course that young people can be brilliant at what they do and old farts can be too stuck in their ways to innovate so hopefully a happy balance between youngish ideas and old skool experience/attention to detail.

Peter
 
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Even worse, it's just an ugly Minidsp
Click to expand...
It's using a ES9039SPro DAC, isn't that better than the DAC in the miniDSP?
 
J_S said:
It's using a ES9039SPro DAC, isn't that better than the DAC in the miniDSP?
Click to expand...

If you think you can hear the difference, maybe.... It's really about the feature set and usability, nothing new here.
 
I can't imagine who their target market is. There must be close to a dozen products already targeting the pro (live concert and studio) market. That leaves a very miniscule home market for mostly DIY active speakers. I'm in that latter market and I'm happy with my Ashly Protea 4.8SPs that I bought used for $600 each.
 
Kal Rubinson said:

In the interest of clarity, it should be called a stereo-to-8 channel DSP preamplifier.​

Click to expand...
I'm disappointed as I was thinking this might be an alternative to my Topping DM7 which I use for 5.1 multichannel music.
 
Is the SHARC processor the limiting factor in these? Would the ARM processor in the latest DEQX units measure better?
 
The very nice feature of the CoLinear DSP-8C is the encoder handle that can work as the master volume for all channels. Almost no one does it. I had to drill a hole in my MiniDSP 4 x 10 front panel to install a potentiometer, to have the same control
 
I might be wrong, but isn’t the ability to run FIR filters with more than 50,000 taps a significant advantage over most external DSP solutions like miniDSP?

One of the key takeaways from @Keith_W 's excellent summary of the current DSP landscape seems to be that complex FIR filters—especially those needed for linear-phase crossovers or room correction—are typically only practical on software-based platforms like CamillaDSP, where you can leverage the computing power of a PC and route the output to a multichannel interface.

So if a robust external hardware device could reliably handle high-tap FIR filters without being tied to a full PC setup—and the instability that comes with OS updates—that could carve out a valuable niche in the market.
 
I think the flex8 is limited to 4096 taps.
 
J_S said:
I think the flex8 is limited to 4096 taps.
Click to expand...
The Flex8 and FlexHTx, and the entire Flex family, are limited in the numbers of taps and/or filters you can implement. Each model allocates the filters differently. That being said, they work really well for many applications. I have complete JBL M2 filters implemented with a Flex. The performance differences between various DAC chips is totally unimportant, I can't hear that inaudible stuff. It really comes down to the features, which the MiniDSP implements well - within it's limitations.

I've done software crossovers on a Windows PC with an external interface, it was great but the PC OS sometimes interfered. People get great results if they manage the software and hardware carefully.

Pro-audio solved this long ago, even if the equipment isn't always convenient for home use.
 
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