DAC Overload

[Corporall_Clegg]

It appears I may have too many DAC/DSP's in my audio chain and I am wondering what to do to make the best of what I have.

Wiim Ultra-analog out > x3800h-pure direct mode-analog out >Mini DSP 2x4HD - analog out > Crown XLS1602 > 2 x Dayton Audio CBT24, 2 x SVS SB12 subs and a third 15 inch home built sub.

If my understanding of all the reading I have done here on the subject of DAC's is correct, the WiiM Ultra is the best in my setup, so I was trying to maintain it's DAC all the way to the speakers.
It appears that using sub out's in any context with the x3800h is going to involve the DAC being you have to set the speakers to small or use the LFE+Main setting,or set a crossover either or all settings would presumably use the DAC of the x3800h and therefor negate or effect the WiiM Ultra's DAC.
Beyond all of this is the issue of the Mini DSP 2x4HD, it also has a DAC/DSP so being the 2nd to last in the chain it would also be effecting/overriding the previous 2 (the combination of DAC's and how they interact or effect each other is a subject I have yet to completely come to understand) in case anyone was wondering why use the MiniDSP2x4HD in the chain it is for a special EQ curve the CBT24 speakers require due to some sort of fall off that I do not recall but can find out if anyone is interested.
The last and final DSP is in the Crown XLS1502 for crossovers (although I do not have it set to a crossover point but cannot confirm it is completely turned off).

Whew, so with all of that going on I really have no idea what the best way to proceed is? I just want the best sound from my system that can be achieved with the parts I have and I would greatly appreciate anyone's insight because at this point my head is spinning.

 

[staticV3]

Hi @Corporall_Clegg! Welcome to ASR.

If you're using the miniDSP for EQ/subwoofer integration, then you're inevitably using its internal DAC and would therefore be better off using the WiiM's digital output.

Instead of
WiiM DAC->2x4 ADC->2x4 DSP->2x4 DAC->Amp
you would then have
WiiM Digital->2x4 DSP->2x4 DAC->Amp

Ergo, one fewer D->A and one fewer A->D conversion.

Further, it sounds like your x3800h isn't actually contributing much, in which case I'd suggest the following, optimized signal chain:

Video sources->HDMI->(x3800h)->HDMI->TV->HDMI->WiiM->Toslink->miniDSP->RCA->Amp->Speakers

Further considerations:

• Remove the x3800h entirely and do Video sources->HDMI->TV, if there are enough HDMI inputs
• Migrate the 2x4HD's DSP configuration to the WiiM Ultra and skip the 2x4HD entirely, if your DSP config is simple enough.

 

[Corporall_Clegg]

Hi @Corporall_Clegg! Welcome to ASR.

If you're using the miniDSP for EQ/subwoofer integration, then you're inevitably using its internal DAC and would therefore be better off using the WiiM's digital output.

Instead of
WiiM DAC->2x4 ADC->2x4 DSP->2x4 DAC->Amp
you would then have
WiiM Digital->2x4 DSP->2x4 DAC->Amp

Ergo, one fewer D->A and one fewer A->D conversion.

Further, it sounds like your x3800h isn't actually contributing much, in which case I'd suggest the following, optimized signal chain:

Video sources->HDMI->(x3800h)->HDMI->TV->HDMI->WiiM->Toslink->miniDSP->RCA->Amp->Speakers

Further considerations:

• Remove the x3800h entirely and do Video sources->HDMI->TV, if there are enough HDMI inputs
• Migrate the 2x4HD's DSP configuration to the WiiM Ultra and skip the 2x4HD entirely, if your DSP config is simple enough.

Thanks for the brainstorming, I am thinking of dropping the minidsp and trying to EQ the cbt24's with the wiim ultra but I think I would encounter the loss of my subwoofers, unless I introducee another DAC/DSP. It sucks to lose the LFE from the x3800 for movies but it also sucks double converting with the wiim and x3800. Is there anyway to maintain the use of my subs for movies and not use the x3800 DAC when listening to music? The wiim ultra has a sub out, I guess I could connect all three subs to that somehow? I would still lose connection to the x3800 unless there is a way to switch the signal to the subs from the x3800 to the wiim ultra for music and them back to the x3800 for movies?

 

[voodooless]

Just use the x3800 features. It’s more than capable enough to handle bass management and room EQ. Don’t worry about DACs. I’d be more worried about the Crown amp, it’s not exactly a stellar performer and also digitizes the signal if we go by the review of it’s brother:

Review and Measurements of Crown XLS 1502 Amp

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Crown XLS 1502 "PA" Power Amplifier. It is on a kind loan from a member who bought it new and drop shipped it to me. It retails for USD $349 including free Prime shipping from Amazon. At that price, it seems like an incredible value. I have...

www.audiosciencereview.com

You may be able to model the EQ curve in Dirac Live or Audessey editor.