Marchand XM44 Analog Active Crossover Review

[birkbott]

Yes I’m aware of the signal chain I was just letting you know that you can’t bypass the ADC on the PA2.

I’m not a fan of MQA either but if you have a MQA DAC before going into the DSP unit the it should work, as long as you don’t mind a 2nd ADC/DAC conversion in your chain.

I posted in another thread about how I like the PA2 overall but is has introduced mild hiss into my system that wasn’t there before. Not sure if there are any systems like this that are noiseless though without spending $$$$

 

[Qwin]

Yes I’m aware of the signal chain I was just letting you know that you can’t bypass the ADC on the PA2.

I’m not a fan of MQA either but if you have a MQA DAC before going into the DSP unit the it should work, as long as you don’t mind a 2nd ADC/DAC conversion in your chain.

I posted in another thread about how I like the PA2 overall but is has introduced mild hiss into my system that wasn’t there before. Not sure if there are any systems like this that are noiseless though without spending $$$$

Can you not just use a better external ADC and feed its digital output into the PA2's digital input?
Using a high quality ADC like the Burl B2 Bomber is what I was considering. DSP has many obvious advantages, its just for me, having a vinyl front end meant ready packaged hardware like the MiniDSP and Hypex offerings, were major downgrades, due to their poor internal ADC's.
With MQA, doubling the ADC/DAC's in the path is only likely to increase noise, so not ideal. I just wish MQA would go away (that's the polite version).
The mild hiss would be unacceptable to me, I'm sure there are silent DSP units, but you are probably right, they will be expensive. As I indicated previously, using the Marchand XM44EMB, my set up is totally silent between tracks, even when close up to the speakers. I use a 700w class D amp after it, to power my bass drivers.
A friend uses a dedicated PC and Acourate software for DSP duties and an OKTO multi channel DAC, this works very well on his LX521 speakers.

 

[birkbott]

The PA 2 doesn’t have digital inputs. It’s really a live sound tool which is probably why it isn’t working out in my setup.

I’m considering simplifying to a SHD since you can stream right from the unit itself.

 

[Jon L]

The PA 2 doesn’t have digital inputs. It’s really a live sound tool which is probably why it isn’t working out in my setup.

I’m considering simplifying to a SHD since you can stream right from the unit itself.

Not sure how I got to this old thread, but I would be interested to know how SHD turned out or other products. I do have Driverack PA2, which sounds pretty non-transparent, so I end up using my analogue crossovers (Bryston and Custom discrete Marchand without any volume controls or switches) with DSP in front of DAC on audio server.

 

[Sokel]

Custom discrete Marchand without any volume controls or switches) with DSP in front of DAC on audio server.

Nice Marchands are not affected by VC or switches.
Don't know what happened to the reviewed one here but they measure pretty good in general, even the old ones after all this time:

Marchand XM9 analog electronic crossover (short of) review

This is short of a review for the very old Marchand XM9 2-way crossover boards. It's a 30 years old design,probably discontinued and I got the unpopulated boards from a friend that kept them in a drawer with no use of them. Board looks like this: I used some different components,as LME...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Jon L]

Nice Marchands are not affected by VC or switches.
Don't know what happened to the reviewed one here but they measure pretty good in general, even the old ones after all this time:

Marchand XM9 analog electronic crossover (short of) review

This is short of a review for the very old Marchand XM9 2-way crossover boards. It's a 30 years old design,probably discontinued and I got the unpopulated boards from a friend that kept them in a drawer with no use of them. Board looks like this: I used some different components,as LME...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Interesting. I do feel LME 49720 op-amps are underrated..

 

[Sokel]

Interesting. I do feel LME 49720 op-amps are underrated..

At the specific application does not makes a difference from the OPA2134 that usually come with it.
And taking into account that LME49720 are fragile, to the contrary with the OPA2134 workhorses I think it's a good idea to stick with original.

The one I linked uses a cascaded inverted series of them for lows, levels, damping control, etc. They work like a charm this way.

 

[birkbott]

Not sure how I got to this old thread, but I would be interested to know how SHD turned out or other products. I do have Driverack PA2, which sounds pretty non-transparent, so I end up using my analogue crossovers (Bryston and Custom discrete Marchand without any volume controls or switches) with DSP in front of DAC on audio server.

The SHD is a great piece of gear. I eventually ended up with a Wiim Ultra though, similar functionality but much more user friendly. But lately I’ve been going the DIY tube route so maybe not the best person to ask.

 

[Jon L]

The SHD is a great piece of gear. I eventually ended up with a Wiim Ultra though, similar functionality but much more user friendly.

Were you using the digital input on Minidsp SHD? (not available for Driverack). Did it have this sound coloration I heard from analogue input of Driverack, i.e. changing the TV controls to increase the saturation level a bit too much while decreasing the sharpness level?

 

[birkbott]

If I remember correctly I was streaming directly to it using Roon and using the digital input for my tv and the analog for phono. Essentially using it as a preamp. I didn’t notice anything weird with the analog input but I’ve never been much of a vinyl enthusiast anyway.

 

[Rewind]

Marchand were sold as kits, so these results are applicable to the hobbyist who assembled it. Marchand stopped selling kits because experiences like this.
So anyone being dissappointed in the results should be dissappointed in the hifi-journalism taking place in this review.

 

[maltesercross]

I would be careful when ordering from Marchand Electronics Inc. make sure you get the test results for your specific ordered product before taking any delivery.