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Home office system upgrades

RHO

Major Contributor
Joined
Nov 20, 2020
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Location
Belgium
I'm making a plan to upgrade my home office setup.
Currently I'm running a 2.0 setup consisting of
Sources
- desktop PC (optical out)
- laptop (USB via docking station => USB switch / work)
- laptop (USB = > USB switch / private)
- Bluray (digital coax)
- Phone (BT LDAC)
DAC + Pre/HP amp: SMSL RAW-MDA1 (volume control is done here)
Amp: Aiyima A07
Speakers: DIY SB Acoustics Bromo

The desktop PC and the work laptop are using the same 2 screens. So it's not convenient to switch between these 2 when I'm working.
The desktop contains my music library. I can stream that library from the personal laptop while I'm working.
When I'm not working this inconvenience does not exist. The work laptop is not in use then.

My wishes:
(0) keep the budget within boundaries: this is not my main hobby)
1) I would like to add a subwoofer.
2) I would like to add ARC.
3) I would like to move the speakers to the living room and replace them with active nearfield monitors.
4) I would like to remove the private laptop from the equation and replace it with a very simple streamer.

The plan:
I don't want to replace everything at once. I like a gradual upgrade.
So the first thing I was thinking about is to add a subwoofer. Route the RCA out from the DAC to the Aiyima and the XLR to the sub. The sub needs XLR out (with X-over) to be able to complete the next step in the process.
Second step would be to replace the speakers and amp with active nearfield monitors. These would be connected to the XLR outputs on the sub.
I'm contemplating about reversing the order here: first replace the amp + speakers with active monitors and then adding the sub.
Next I would add ARC in the system. I would like it to be hardware based since I've got at least 2 sources where I can't run PC based ARC. (I know: DAC->ADC->DSP->DAC=>Amp is not optimal)
Lastly I would decommission the personal laptop and replace it with a very simple streamer.
The hope is that I don't need to replace components from the previous step. Just add to the system and replace what I currently have and want to replace.

I can already go into the specifics, but in general, does this look like a feasible plan?
What would be the best way to add ARC to this system? Would there be an audible difference between SMSL + ARC (IK Multimedia?) and a (for example) MiniDSP Flex?
 
I was eyeing the IK Multimedia iLoud Precision 5 speakers. They have ARC build in. But how does this work with subwoofer integration? The ARC would be done only on the main speakers.
Would there be a disadvantage if I would connect an ARC studio (also IK Multimedia) before the sub and route from the sub to the main speakers?
 
Replace the dac with a MiniDSP would be needed to have fullrange ARC i think, which is important as ARC mainly is a advantage in the bass and sub region. MiniDSP Flex is what is probally the best option now. You can also use it as preamp/dac and it's quality is beyond our hearing, so transparent. Using it in the IK Loud only won't help much.

The amp is good, no need to replace it if it has enough power. But if you use active speakers, you can use it elsewhere. This amp is maybe not top of the line, but the differences are so minimal that it's not the most influencial upgrade at all. But Ncore and Purifi (and some others) are better, that is true. But it should be the least of your worries.

For speakers, a lot depends on your budget and space. Idem with the sub. It could be a pair of Neumann KH80 or KH120 with an KH750 DSP sub. If you take the MA1 room correction, it could replace the MiniDSP (as all happens in the hardware of the subwoofer, also for the top). Like that you can keep your SMSL as dac/preamp. It's a good option but it's pricey (you did not set a budget).

For streamer, a Wiim Mini could be what you're after, and it's a good device (tested here).
 
Replace the dac with a MiniDSP would be needed to have fullrange ARC i think, which is important as ARC mainly is a advantage in the bass and sub region. MiniDSP Flex is what is probally the best option now. You can also use it as preamp/dac and it's quality is beyond our hearing, so transparent. Using it in the IK Loud only won't help much.
I was looking at the MiniDSP Flex digital yesterday. But the balanced version would make the whole thing much cleaner. You think results with the MiniDSP would be better then with the IK Multimedia system? The MiniDSP is quite a lot more expensive.
The amp is good, no need to replace it if it has enough power. But if you use active speakers, you can use it elsewhere. This amp is maybe not top of the line, but the differences are so minimal that it's not the most influencial upgrade at all. But Ncore and Purifi (and some others) are better, that is true. But it should be the least of your worries.
I know the amp I have is not bad. But I really want to go with active speakers.
For speakers, a lot depends on your budget and space. Idem with the sub. It could be a pair of Neumann KH80 or KH120 with an KH750 DSP sub. If you take the MA1 room correction, it could replace the MiniDSP (as all happens in the hardware of the subwoofer, also for the top). Like that you can keep your SMSL as dac/preamp. It's a good option but it's pricey (you did not set a budget).
This is the space I've got:
index.php

The sub je see in the right bottom corner is a passive one. I sold the amp for it some time ago and I haven't used it since. I'm actually not planning on using it again. The driver is not really suited to work in this size box and it needs a lot of active compensation and a ton of power to generate any deep bass. (it can handle it) So that needs to be replaced by something much more efficient.
I was looking at the IK iLoud Precision 5, Genelec 8030CP, Focal Alpha 50 Evo, Kali Audio In-5... even the KRK Rokit RP5 G5 (the G4 measures quite well here on the site). Having the ARC integrated in the speakers is an interesting option. But I noticed that would make the sub a whole lot more expensive and I don't know if I want to go that far. The Neumann products you suggest is a bit expensive for me. I was already contemplating the Genelec GLM system but that's in about the same price-range as the Neumann system.

The budget is nothing fixed. This can be a pretty long term deal. But I also don't want to over-spend. It's not a recording studio. It's a system I enjoy while working at home or for a short listening session in the the evening after I come home from work. The less I have to spend to make it a whole lot better, the more budget I have for my main hobby. ;)
 
Room correction must be in the sub frequencies also to be effective, it's just in the 300-20Hz that they make the biggest difference. So you need a device that gives at least ARC there and those are epxnsive, whatever system you use. ARC only in the tops is useless.

I don't know cheaper systems than GLM or MA1 who do that in the speakers itself. MiniDSP does it fullrange in the preamp/Dac with the Flex with DIRAC, but that is not cheap neighter, and then you don't have speakers or amps yet.

So you will have to adjust your budget or wishes, as it seems your initial budget won't make it for all your wishes. Or i should have missed an option that oters can show you...
 
For streamer, a Wiim Mini could be what you're after, and it's a good device (tested here).
I'll check it out. Wiim seems to make some nice quality products.
 
Room correction must be in the sub frequencies also to be effective, it's just in the 300-20Hz that they make the biggest difference. So you need a device that gives at least ARC there and those are epxnsive, whatever system you use. ARC only in the tops is useless.

I don't know cheaper systems than GLM or MA1 who do that in the speakers itself. MiniDSP does it fullrange in the preamp/Dac with the Flex with DIRAC, but that is not cheap neighter, and then you don't have speakers or amps yet.

So you will have to adjust your budget or wishes, as it seems your initial budget won't make it for all your wishes. Or i should have missed an option that oters can show you...
So you don't think the IK Multimedia ARC will correct the sub when I route from the DAC to the ARC Studio box. From there to the sub and from the sub to the speakers. The sub should be in the signal path that way. Or does the software not correct for that frequency range?

BTW: I keep mentioning the IK Multimedia product. But if there are very similar products out there I'm very interested. It's that the one I'm mentioning is the only one of it's kind that I found and is easily available to me.

Edit: From what I see in reviews and promotional videos it (ARC Studio) should correct for room issues in the lower frequencies. It's even possible to limit the upper and lower frequency limit of the correction. (more accurate within the limited frequency bandwidth?)
 
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I'm done with the analysis paralysis.
I made a plan and made the fist purchases. I've informed myself and it should work as I intend it to. If it doesn't give me the results I was after, at least I hope I learned something and had fun in the process.
First purchase: KRK S10.4 and some cable and connectors to build some DIY XLR cables. (initially I will run it SE)
 
The sub arrived. I've now connected it via (SE) RCA out on the DAC. From there via RCA to the Aiyima A07 amp. There's a little hum going on but bearly audible when there's no music playing. Not noticeable at all when music is playing.
I get the impression (also from the manual) that RCA outputs are not influenced by the x-over setting. Only balanced/symmetrical outputs get a HP x-over according the LP x-over setting on the sub. Is that right?
I've put the x-over now at 90Hz. I think I get a dip between sub and main speakers. The punch is missing. Lowest octave is much better. I've switched the polarity on the sub which improved it a bit. Could lowering the x-over setting improve the situation? This would mean the sub is playing less of the punchy bass and the main speakers take over there. And if the x-over is not working for the mains on RCA out, it could cause less cancelation?
 
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