The latest system setup of my DSP-based multichannel multi-SP-driver multi-amplifier fully active audio rig as of August 3, 2023
Edit on November 2, 2023: Please also refer to my post here #851
- VB-Audio MATRIX (VASIO64A setup) as system-wide ASIO and other audio I/O routing center: Replacement for ASIO4ALL and VB-Audio Virtual/HiFi Cables: #851
Abbreviations in this post;
- L&R sub-woofers (SWs),
- L&R woofers (WOs),
- L&R Beryllium-midrange-squawkers (SQs),
(I know nowadays very few people use the word "squawkers", but please let me continue using "SQs" for midrange "MD" drivers.)
- L&R Beryllium-tweeters (TWs),
- L&R metal-horn-super-tweeters (STs),
Each of these is driven directly (with no LCR-network nor attenuator) by dedicated HiFi amplifier; SW has powerful built-in amplifier, and I use four stereo HiFi integrated amplifiers for others.
Hello ASR friends,
I shared the total system configuration/setup last time in my post
#540 on June 3 2022 just after my completion and installation of DIY IEC 60268-17 compatible large glass-face 12-VU-Meter-Array.
Since then, I intensively shared "my reference/sampler music playlist" (ref. summary post
#669), revived my treasure analog LP player (turn table, TT) in my digital multichannel setup for on-the-fly listening to vinyl LP (ref.
#688), and I also implemented an active HiFi-grade pro-use XLR line-level splitter-distributor (BEHRINGER DS2800) enabling fully independent relative gain controls for
TWs and
STs (ref.
#769). In addition to these, during the past one year, I incorporated several minor refinements in my audio rig.
I assume it would be worthwhile, therefore, not only for your reference but also as memorandum for myself, summarizing the latest system configuration as of August 3 2023 together with various setup information on my DSP-based multichannel multi-SP-driver multi-amplifier fully active stereo audio project.
Let me start with the total physical system diagram as of August 3 2023:
View attachment 303930
The configuration of 12 VU meters by the newly installed DIY 12-VU-Meter Array (ref.
#535):
View attachment 303931
I shared video clips of "dancing" 12-VU-Meter Array in my posts
#750,
#751,
#752 and
#753.
As for the revival of vinyl LP player (TT) DENON DP-57L in my DSP-based digital multichannel audio rig for on-the-fly listening to vinyl LP, please refer to my post
#688 and
#697.
The latest total signal path with JRiver MC as master volume controller:
View attachment 303932
Please refer to posts
#248 and
#251 for the fine tuning 22 Ohm resistors in SQ, TW, ST speaker-high-level signals.
My DAC8PRO's firmware is ver.1.32, and the DIYINHK ASIO USB driver is ver.4.59.0 provided by OKTO when I got DAC8PRO in May 2020; working perfectly fine on Windows 11 Pro.
The safe and flexible relative gain (tone) control (ref.
#438 and
#643) remains unchanged.
View attachment 303934
The details of incorporation of BEHRINGER DS2800, HiFi-grade active XLR balanced line-level signal splitter/distributor (ref.
#769):
View attachment 303936
Note: You would please be reminded that Even Greg Timbers uses "reasonable and budget" small integrated amplifier Pioneer Elite A-20 (low THD, high S/N, RCA unbalanced input, 30W+30W [20Hz-20kHz, THD0.05%, 8 ohms]) for ultra-high Fq compression drivers (super tweeters) in his extraordinary expensive multichannel stereo system with JBL EVEREST DD67000 which he himself designed and developed: please refer to my post here #435.
DSP EKIO's I/O routing settings with 0.1 msec precision group delay configuration:
View attachment 303937
As for the 0.1 msec precision "group delay settings" or "time alignment" over all the SP drivers, please refer to posts
#493,
#494,
#504,
#507.
And the details of EKIO's XO configuration:
View attachment 303938
As for the -48 dB high-cut (low-pass) LR filters at 25 kHz for cutting-off possible UHF (ultra-high Fq) noises, please refer to my posts
#362-
#386,
#518 and
#532.
As summarized in my post
#404, I have intensively measured the Fq responses at various "stages" of my DSP-based digital multichannel multi-SP-driver multi-amplifier audio setup as shown in this diagram:
View attachment 303940
And the standard (best tuned, my default) Fq responses remain unchanged (summary ref.
#404):
View attachment 303942
Then, the latest "standard and default" best tuned total Fq response of room air sound measured at my listening position by the "cumulative white noise averaging method" (ref.
#392,
#404):
View attachment 303943
Physical layout of PCs, DACs, amplifiers, 12-VU-Meter Array, players,
etc.
View attachment 304423
The positioning height (140 cm above the floor) of DENON DP-57L TT is really nice for my occasional (not-so-often) "vinyl LP listening ceremony", as you may easily guess.
As for my recent comparative listening sessions for vinyl LP
vs. its CD digital release, please refer to my posts
#687,
#722 and
#740.
My motivations (and limitations) for the recent revival of TT in my DSP digital multichannel audio rig can be found here
#758.
The actual view of PCs, DACs, amplifiers, 12-VU-Meter Array, players,
etc.
View attachment 304424
The actual view with identifications:
View attachment 304425
My L&R SP system:
View attachment 303950
Please refer to post
#84 and
#497 for the cabinet and drivers of YAMAHA NS-1000 (not NS-1000M). Also here in
#497 you can find spec info on
SW YST-SW1000. Please refer to
#485 for overhaul maintenance of
ST T925A.
As for the unique positioning of
ST T925A (beneath the
WO), please refer to
my post #27.
I still keep the currently-not-in-use "LCR passive network in outer-box " (ref.
#5) for easy and smooth role back of the whole audio system into my reference single-amplifier (ACCUPHASE E-460) passive configuration together with the connection changes on the "SP cabling boards" shown below.
Again, as for the 0.1 msec precision perfect time alignment between all of the SP drivers, please refer to my posts
#493,
#494,
#504,
#507 and
#520.
You would please find
transient characteristics objective measurement data of 30 cm
WO JA-3058 and
SW YST-SW1000 in posts
#495,
#503 and
#507.
Several of my ASR friends repeatedly requested sharing the backside wiring views:
View attachment 303951
And the backside wiring/cabling views of L&R SP system:
View attachment 303952
Please refer to my posts
#028 and
#137 for the multi-core color-coded Vinyl Cabtyre (VCT) SP cables and the Y-lugs/R-lugs. I use rather long (about 8 m) AWG10 VCT for
WOs and
SQs, and AWG12 for
TWs and
STs, also about 8 m long.
For protection capacitors (68 microF for
SQs, 10 microF for
TWs and
STs), as well as 3 microF (1.5 +1.5 microF) high-pass (low-cut) capacitors for
STs, I use Jantzen Audio Standard Z-caps (400VDC) as shared
here #245.
Also please refer to my post
#250,
#013(remote thread) for the elimination of magnetic susceptible metals in SP signal handling.
View of SPs from my listening position with the
12-VU-Meter Array placed in front of me:
View attachment 303953
Please note that the SPs are
not aligned "toe-in" but in parallel with the room walls; please refer to my post
#687.
- Not only the precision (0.1 msec level) time alignment over all the SP drivers but also SP facing directions and sound-deadening space behind the SPs plus behind our listening position would be critically important for effective (perfect?) disappearance of speakers: #687
And, showing the distances;
View attachment 303954
The 55-inch Panasonic OLED TV TH-55HZ1800 at our dining room can be easily turned-around (DIY-ed large rubber wheel casters with stopper in the legs of the TV cabinet) can serve as
"second PC monitor of 4K resolution" connected with a slim HDMI cable from the PC-1 or PC-2 in multichannel audio rig (ref.
here #509 on remote thread).
View attachment 303955
The two small subwoofers YAMAHA YST-MSW10 underneath the TV are
not in use in this case, but they are usually active for casual TV viewing/listening at our dining room.
Behind my listening position,
i.e. behind my ears and head, I have acoustically “dead” Japanese style
tatami mattress room which is one of the important and nice factors in my room acoustics (ref.
#687).
View attachment 303956
- Not only the precision (0.1 msec level) time alignment over all the SP drivers but also SP facing directions and sound-deadening space behind the SPs plus behind our listening position would be critically important for effective (perfect?) disappearance of speakers: #687
This post
#502 too is relating to my preferences in room acoustics.
As shared here
#311, the ceiling of our listening/living room is covered by microporous diatom panels carefully selected with proper sound absorption performance. On the wooden floor, we have the large carpet also selected with suitable sound absorption properties.
I have been rather frequently inquired about the
"all in ASIO I/O routing configuration" within PC for software DSP XO/EQ "EKIO"; let me share here again, therefore, the following four diagrams:
View attachment 303958
View attachment 303959
View attachment 303960
View attachment 303961
The signal path for on-the-fly listening to vinyl LP (ref.
#535):
View attachment 303962
Again, as for "not-so-often vinyl LP listening", please refer to my post
#758:
- Summary of my motivations reviving vinyl TT (turntable) in DSP-based multichannel time-aligned multi-SP-driver multi-amplifier fully active stereo audio setup: #758
Several of my ASR friends also have inquired me about the completely silent audio dedicated PCs I have been using in this project. This is the updated info of my post
#225; now both of the PCs run Windows 11 Pro and JRiver MC 31 as well as the DSP "EKIO".
View attachment 303963
I can use either of the two silent PCs for my audio listening; they are, therefore, "backup" PC with each other. In case of my intensive microphone measurement sessions, one PC plays sound/music, and another independent one records with the measurement microphone ECM8000.
You would please also refer to my summary posts
#669 and
#670 for the intensively discussed and shared
"reference/sampler music playlist" during September to October 2022.
If you would be interested in lute music and other early classical music, I will highly appreciate your visits and participation on
my separate thread entitled "Lute Music and Other Early Music: Stunning Recordings We Love".
BTW, I will soon also update the
"startup/ignition sequences" and
"shutdown sequences" in my audio rig (ref.
#426).
(Edit: done in my next post #776)
To close this post of
"Latest System Setup as of August 3, 2023", please let me remind you that you can find
here (#444) (on this thread) and
here (#1) (remote independent thread post) the
Hyperlink Index of this project and some of my related posts on other threads.
Edit on November 2, 2023: Please also refer to my post here #851
- VB-Audio MATRIX (VASIO64A setup) as system-wide ASIO and other audio I/O routing center: Replacement for ASIO4ALL and VB-Audio Virtual/HiFi Cables: #851