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Let's share diagrams (and photos) of our total physical audio system and the whole signal path, with a few words and/or links

I did this one a few years back just so I wouldn't get too lost when going into the back of the gear cab. Tri-amping has a ton of wire involved and I really needed a map back there.. I am since decommissioning the 50 year old Kenwood gear and the old MiniDSP which is getting replaced by a MiniDSP Flex/Digital which I will use for the preamp and room correction. modi 3 will remain until I figure out what if anything I want to replace it with.
Stereo Cab Schematic.JPG


Speakers are L200 JBL triamped with 2216Nd1 woofers.
 

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I did this one a few years back just so I wouldn't get too lost when going into the back of the gear cab. Tri-amping has a ton of wire involved and I really needed a map back there.. I am since decommissioning the 50 year old Kenwood gear and the old MiniDSP which is getting replaced by a MiniDSP Flex/Digital which I will use for the preamp and room correction. modi 3 will remain until I figure out what if anything I want to replace it with.
View attachment 419756

Speakers are L200 JBL triamped with 2216Nd1 woofers.

Thank you and welcome to this exciting thread!

At least I myself am a little bit confused by the signal path in/out on your "K231 3 way active crossover"; from where the total signal comes into K231 for 3-way XO? Furthermore, it would be better for my (our) understandings if you would show each of the SP drivers in the diagram.:D
 
I didn't know where else to put this, so I thought I would chuck it here. For those of you who want a @dualazmak style VU meter, you can consider this product:

1736391871727.png


Streacom VU1. Input is via USB-C from your PC, so you need driver software. The screen is E-Ink and can be changed to display anything you like. It was designed to show PC status (CPU temp, fan speed, network speed, etc) but I am sure it can be set to display volume. A number of these VU meters can be ganged together.

I don't know if it will work with multichannel audio or not. I don't own this product so I can't try it.
 
Thank you and welcome to this exciting thread!

At least I myself am a little bit confused by the signal path in/out on your "K231 3 way active crossover"; from where the total signal comes into K231 for 3-way XO? Furthermore, it would be better for my (our) understandings if you would show each of the SP drivers in the diagram.:D
So this is just a rough drawing, I will be updating it as my new equipment comes in. Also your intricate diagrams have given me some ideas to try out on my CAD software.
Note, the input signal to the active crossover comes from the Kenwood preamp. That will all change in a month or so!
ksnip_20250108-183609.png
 
I didn't know where else to put this, so I thought I would chuck it here. For those of you who want a @dualazmak style VU meter, you can consider this product:

View attachment 419789

Streacom VU1. Input is via USB-C from your PC, so you need driver software. The screen is E-Ink and can be changed to display anything you like. It was designed to show PC status (CPU temp, fan speed, network speed, etc) but I am sure it can be set to display volume. A number of these VU meters can be ganged together.

I don't know if it will work with multichannel audio or not. I don't own this product so I can't try it.

Hello @Keith_W,

Thank you for the info.
The details of my large glass-face 12-VU-Meter array can be found here post #535 on my project thread.
Furthermore,,,

- New video clips of dancing 12-VU-Meter Array (IEC60268-17 compatible) together with all the on-screen Peak Meters of audio software tools while playing reference/sampler music tracks by JRiver MC, ADOBE Audition 3.0.1 and MusicScope 2.1.0:
____Part-1: using a typical reference/sampler music track suitable for high-Fq (treble) transient music sound: #974
____
Part-2: using a typical reference/sampler music track suitable for mainly checking and tuning of low Fq (bass) transient music sound as well as total tonality Fq-SPL balance all over 15 Hz to 22 kHz: #975

I assume you would be better to share this specific info on one of the other threads which you may hit with keyword "VU meter" for "Search titles only" option; the suitable threads would be;

VU Meters: Let's See 'Em!!

or

Do software VU meters react the same as hardware versions?

or

Can anyone explain the VU Meter renaissance?


By the way, as you may guess and agree, at least I myself still love and stick to real/physical large glass-face IEC 60268-17 (ref. here) compatible VU meter especially the ballistic behavior specification.

Furthermore, (at least) my VU meters need to monitor actual SP high-level output gain (L & R) of each of the amplifiers directly dedicatedly driving SP drivers. Please note that I use four integrated HiFi amplifiers (plus L&R active sub-woofers); the output gains (volume) of these amplifiers, therefore, are independent from in-PC digital gains which may be monitored by "this product".
 
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So this is just a rough drawing, I will be updating it as my new equipment comes in. Also your intricate diagrams have given me some ideas to try out on my CAD software.
Note, the input signal to the active crossover comes from the Kenwood preamp. That will all change in a month or so!
View attachment 419803
Hey there - can you explain what the “ sys, magni and modi” up in the right corner is all about?
 
Hey there - can you explain what the “ sys, magni and modi” up in the right corner is all about?
The Modi is just a 2ch DAC which sends its output to a Schiit Sys which is simply an unbalanced A/B switch. From there it either sends the analog signal down to the preamp and on to the active electronic crossover and amplifiers, or over to the Magni which is a Schiit headphone amp. I rarely use this as I most enjoy music over the speakers.
 
Updating my setup. The DSP chain has changed since my previous post. Mission accomplished. Today I formally archive the foobar 32bit installation. Migration journey to foobar 64bit completed.

KH310 DXO with Topping 2025-01-26.png



For the 64bit setup, sound quality of my 50ktap FIR crossover+room_correction filter is really good. Not likely to touch it unless some new idea comes along.

2025-01-25_1444 Audacity 2025-01-12_REW_ECM50_80LR4_50ktap_6ch_0ms_88k.png


Now spending my time enhancing the playback display screen by writing HTML/Javascript code for foo_uie_webview. This is my current 27-inch "streamer playback screen" :)

2025-01-26-1203-foobar2000-W270-VUPanel-2025.gif
 
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Hello @boxerfan88,
Thank you for your wonderful updates! Really impressive progress and accomplishment.

BTW, in your screen video shot I can find VU meters of ACCUPHASE A-46; are they real video capture of A-46 or just virtual simulation?

In case if you are actually using ACCUPHASE A-46, could you please show us the signal path diagram including A-46?
 
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Here's my swiss army knife of a main listening setup. It packs in a 7.1 channel surround system, and a turntable into a small space.

Everything could just run through the AVR, but I wanted to experiment with alternate signal paths and see if I could hear the difference, so I've got the ability to run a stereo system through the Schiit Freya+ (fed either from the turntable or the SMSL DO100 Pro fed via airplay). The Bobwire switcher combined with the auto-sensing of the Fosi amps makes the source-selection downstream of the AVR/Preamp totally hands-free.

The bass is always extracted from the L+R channels by a MiniDSP DDRC24 which also provides Dirac room correction. The Loki Max is always able to EQ the LR channels for preference (not room correction). It's really nice to be able to quickly tweak it with the remote (eg. to drag down the 20Hz region late at night with the lowest EQ band).

The Musical Fidelity phono stage is also good for experimentation because it's got easy buttons for adjusting MM/MC loading on the fly. The best thing about it has been the massive headroom for absorbing pops/clicks - they've almost disappeared when compared to the built-in phono stage in the turntable. I haven't bothered experimenting with the AVR's phono stage.

I can run an ASR-approved provably-transparent minimal-SINAD chain from the the SMSL DAC through the Freya preamp in passive mode with MiniDSP Dirac room correction, or go in the opposite direction and run an end-to-end analog fully balanced stereo signal path from the turntable by feeding the XLR output of the Loki Max directly to the Fosi V3 Mono XLR inputs (controlled by the XLR/RCA switch on the Fosi's) which bypasses the MiniDSP for the L+R channels (but keeps the LFE extraction because the Loki outputs both XLR and RCA signals simultaneously). I don't often use the fully-analog chain because the sub integration is noticeably worse without the ability to line up the delays via DSP.

Mixing and correction for the surround channels is done by Audyssey on the AVR. Audyssey also does its own processing on the L/R channels when using the AVR, but the effects are fairly minimal (aside from lowing the bass a bit as Audyssey likes to do) because the DDRC24 is already providing a flat response. That means that instead of a fully analog signal path I can also run 2/3 different DSP layers simultaneously (2 for the mains, 3 for the sub counting the built-in SVS DSP)! I've not noticed any audible ill effects from the double DSP handling via the MiniDSP - the Dirac correction is worth it.

My favourite signal path for active stereo listening has turned out to be either the turntable or the SMSL DAC into the Freya+ in tube mode for some subjectively-pleasing distortion before feeding to the MiniDSP.

If I want to listen at low volumes (eg. for background with guests), then I'll use the AVR for it's built-in dynamic loudness correction.

The R3's are bolted onto some very simple DIY Messmate stands so the tweeters are exactly at ear height for our couch.

IMG_5944.jpeg

The Mac mini is hidden behind the TV. The Bobwire, MiniDSP, SMSL DAC and Wiim Mini are all attached to the back of the cabinet out of sight.
2025-01-26 Audio System.png

The diagram doesn't show the alternate (fully analog) Loki Max -> Fosi V3 Mono path to bypass the MiniDSP.

Also not shown is an Apple TV, since it seems to be the only reliable way to get Dolby Vision + ATMOS output to the AVR. I'd love to ditch it and just use the more flexible Mac mini if Apple ever fully fix the output formats of the Mac.
 
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Hello @drodgers,
Thank you for your participation and impressive post!
Your system is really wonderful and "beautiful/charming" to my (our) eyes.

Do you have any plan of adding one more subwoofer SVS SB3000 for dual (L & R) channel subwoofer configuration?
Only if possible, would you please share photo(s) of your surround SP systems?
 
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Hello @boxerfan88,
Thank you for your wonderful updates! Really impressive progress and accomplishment.

BTW, in your screen video shot I can find VU meters of ACCUPHASE A-46; are they real video capture of A-46 or just virtual simulation?

In case if you are actually using ACCUPHASE A-46, could you please show us the signal path diagram including A-46?

It's the new 64bit analog VU simulation component, not the real amp.
 
Do you have any plan of adding one more subwoofer SVS SB3000 for dual (L & R) channel subwoofer configuration?
I don't have room for another SB3000. I've considered adding another (smaller) sub, but I'm not sure what I'd get out of it, since I've been able to get pretty flat response in the sub's range and I've got SPL to spare. I may borrow another sub to experiment eventually.

Only if possible, would you please share photo(s) of your surround SP systems?
The back of the room is currently a mess while I rearrange some things, but here are the Ci200RS height speakers in the ceiling (although there's not a lot to see because they blend in pretty well). I'll add a photo of the back of the room next week.
 

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It's the new 64bit analog VU simulation component, not the real amp.
That display screen is very impressive, but it would drive me completely nuts looking at that :) I find even VU meters on their own a bit annoying !
 
That display screen is very impressive, but it would drive me completely nuts looking at that I find even VU meters on their own a bit annoying !:)

I too have similar impression.

I still like/love real physical large-glass-face IEC_60268-17_ballistic-behavior compatible VU meters simply monitoring real SP-high-level output gain of each of the amplifiers in my audio chain; in my case, DIY built 12-VU-Meter Array (ref. here #535 and #931 on my project thread).
WS003747 (2).JPG


Fig02_WS00007534.JPG


- Dancing video of my IEC 60268-17 compatible large glass-face DIY 12-VU-Meter Array
_____Part-1: with "High Frequency Linearity Check Track" of Sony Super Audio Check CD: #750
_____Part-2: with typical "Full Orchestra Music"-1: #751
_____Part-3: with typical "Full Orchestra Music"-2: #752
_____Part-4: with typical "Jazz Piano Trio Music": #753

- New video clips of dancing 12-VU-Meter Array (IEC60268-17 compatible) together with all the on-screen Peak Meters of audio software tools while playing reference/sampler music tracks by JRiver MC, ADOBE Audition 3.0.1 and MusicScope 2.1.0:
Part-1
: using a typical reference/sampler music track suitable for high-Fq (treble) transient music sound: #974
Part-2: using a typical reference/sampler music track suitable for mainly checking and tuning of low Fq (bass) transient music sound as well as total tonality Fq-SPL balance all over 15 Hz to 22 kHz: #975
 
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in the process of updating my system. Replaced the EVERSOLO DMP-A6ME and MiniDSP FLEX with the MiniDSP SHD. Replaced VTV/Purifi 7040 and ICEPower ASP1000 Mono Blocks with a pair of AUDIOPHONICS HPA-S500ET. Added additional GIK diffusers.
 

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