Rolls SX45 Review (Analog Crossover)

[ROOSKIE]

I've been looking For Crossovers+ EQ options. You have the mini DSP? I read the MiniDSP 2X4 HD review here and it's lukewarm, close to bad. most of the comment section too, me I have to use it between an analog preamp and A Hypex Power amp crossed over to Subs. Many say it's not Ideal to use attenuation in the front and the High 29 dB Gain of a Power amp right after it. Analog in is my only option in my setup and I read that this kind of config is not ideal in term of the noise floor, audible hiss may occur with the margin needed for DSP, the attenuation + the soso performance of the ADC-DAC chain. I am still willing to try but what's your thought about it? I am also considering simply classic Pro audio reinforcement chain, like DBX Crossover and dual Klark Teknik DN410 Analog parametric EQ instead. With digital boards all across the pro audio world, these types of units are all over the used market for cheap. Currently I am using the natural roll off of my speakers and my sub crossed very low. It is not that bad really my room is quite decent, not fully optimal of course, but subjectively it's a great sounding system. Not willing to add some gear in the chain if there's payback on fidelity obviously. If returns are allowed mini DSP might be what I'll try first for the flexibility but unsure what's really best. Toughts?

edit:
Terms of Sales on the miniDSP WebStore
- All sales are final, No exchange, No refund, No return policy.

MiniDSP is excellent.
Easy to use and powerful.
I can not imagine not using one nor could I even begin to justify something like this Rolls device.
I can't imagine giving Minidsp a bad review. Ridiculous. The devices are amazing.
Don't over think it. Just buy one you will never look back.
I currently use a 4x10hd and have used/owned others.

Returns are easy with Amazon.com or Partsexpress if you are USA based.

Besides, I highly doubt you will be returning it.

 

[ROOSKIE]

Digital input would be fine. But something with DSP 4-way crossover & room correction, highest SINAD. balanced outputs would be awesome.

Minidsp 4x10hd or 10x10hd. No Dirac but plenty of manual control and compatability with REW.
I use the 4x10hd and it is wonderful.
This kind of adjustment and control destroys any specifications.

 

[JayGilb]

It's quite a simple design and with a bit tighter component matching, along with a few minor changes, it could be improved significantly.

Exactly. I see these low cost devices for sale and had always wondered how they measured and now I know.
I could see this being used for a small DJ service or simple home theater where every dollar is being counted, yes the Behringer performs better, but this is dirt cheap and has a tiny footprint.

 

[JohnnyNG]

I did actually come across that in my search, but due to size it just doesn't work for a desktop system.

The K231 3-way active crossover looked like a good high quality candidate, but it's $500 and made zero sense to me over a miniDSP Flex for my setup.

Would love to see the K231 tested but don’t want to be without mine for that long!

 

[Xyrium]

What's interesting is the shift in acceptance. Once, such a Made in USA device would have been preferred over imports, even with it's technical performance shortcomings.

That said, there's still a fondness in my heart for companies like Rolls, who have been providing realistic products for realistic prices compared to others in the "Pro" industry. They've simply been overshadowed by overseas tech at this point, unless they shift production just as d/b/x did over a decade ago.

Bottom line: companies like MiniDSP are now the ones doing a great job at providing that next level of realistic products for realistic prices.

 

[aschen]

This is for the guy that has a sweet 2x15" sub box from the 90s that he used in his hatchback, and now as a semi adult wants to try to hook it up to his garage Kenwood system. This dadcore hero has no idea what DSP is and doesnt really care to learn. A bit tongue in cheek, but not not that rare of a scenario.


Also if you put it in a fancy box and charged alot for it would be for the guy who wants a sub but refuses to digitize the analog sweetness of his LPs.

 

[Tangband]

Good digital crossovers dont come cheap. Mini dsp SHD costs more than 1000 dollars.
At the price range below 200 dollar, the rolls is not bad , better than a minidsp with only A/D inputs.

 

[ah-ra]

MiniDSP is excellent.
Easy to use and powerful.
I can not imagine not using one nor could I even begin to justify something like this Rolls device.
I can't imagine giving Minidsp a bad review. Ridiculous. The devices are amazing.
Don't over think it. Just buy one you will never look back.
I currently use a 4x10hd and have used/owned others.

Returns are easy with Amazon.com or Partsexpress if you are USA based.

Besides, I highly doubt you will be returning it.

Exactly! I have both, a 2x4 and a 2x4HD. Even the standard 2x4 is a great device. The 2x4HD (I use it with the Dirac upgrade) is a great device. Amir measured it as a DAC, but that's not the use case we're talking about here.
In my system I use it between pre and power amp/subs and it's dead silent. I don't see any problems with the sind figures whatsoever. I can't think of any device that is as flexible and easy to use at this price point with this performance. Same goes for the 2x4, which is currently sold for 99€ in Europe. I bought mine for 50 used on ebay. So where's the risk....?

 

[Tangband]

Exactly! I have both, a 2x4 and a 2x4HD. Even the standard 2x4 is a great device. The 2x4HD (I use it with the Dirac upgrade) is a great device. Amir measured it as a DAC, but that's not the use case we're talking about here.
In my system I use it between pre and power amp/subs and it's dead silent. I don't see any problems with the sind figures whatsoever. I can't think of any device that is as flexible and easy to use at this price point with this performance. Same goes for the 2x4, which is currently sold for 99€ in Europe. I bought mine for 50 used on ebay. So where's the risk....?

The risk is a sound quality thats not good enough - compared to the best sounding devices.
The SINAD with those cheaper minidsp:s is not good enough to be called really great.
In the price range below 300 dollars one can often gain a slightly better sound quality with an analog active crossover.
Ofcourse, the analog active crossover has not many other options than just doing the crossover thing, but sound- quality vise it might sometimes be better than a cheap dsp crossover, my experience.

A minidsp SHD or a Xilica , DEQX and such are a very different story - its often better sounding than the best analog active crossovers.

 

[hansik]

Exactly! I have both, a 2x4 and a 2x4HD. Even the standard 2x4 is a great device. The 2x4HD (I use it with the Dirac upgrade) is a great device. Amir measured it as a DAC, but that's not the use case we're talking about here.
In my system I use it between pre and power amp/subs and it's dead silent. I don't see any problems with the sind figures whatsoever. I can't think of any device that is as flexible and easy to use at this price point with this performance. Same goes for the 2x4, which is currently sold for 99€ in Europe. I bought mine for 50 used on ebay. So where's the risk....?

I’m using a simple 2x4 for connecting 4 subs to my receiver, it’s perfect for high pass and time alignment.

 

[ah-ra]

The risk is a sound quality thats not good enough - compared to the best sounding devices.
The SINAD with those cheaper minidsp:s is not good enough to be called really great.
In the price range below 300 dollars one can often gain a slightly better sound quality with an analog active crossover.
Ofcourse, the analog active crossover has not many other options than just doing the crossover thing, but sound- quality vise it might sometimes be better than a cheap dsp crossover, my experience.

A minidsp SHD or a Xilica , DEQX and such is a very different story - its often better sounding than the best analog active crossovers.

Have you tried it? I doubt it...
I did and I tell you SINAD is not a problem here. The benefits by far outweigh the measured (!) SINAD figures. X-over, presets, even FIR filtering on the HD version, possibility to time align speakers (e.g. mains and subs).... btw, where in any real world application do SINAD-figures like thise measured from these devices play any role?

 

[Tangband]

Have you tried it? I doubt it...
I did and I tell you SINAD is not a problem here. The benefits by far outweigh the measured (!) SINAD figures. X-over, presets, even FIR filtering on the HD version, possibility to time align speakers (e.g. mains and subs).... btw, where in any real world application do SINAD-figures like thise measured from these devices play any role?

I have heard mini dsp ( analog inputs ) many times and I have used a dbx pa2 for many years, in the belief that it was good enough for high end results. I was wrong.
Those cheaper dsp crossovers has less impact in the bass, slightly worse soundstage and are not as clean in the treble.
One should avoid that extra A/D conversion at all costs. But - ofcourse those cheap dsp crossovers is better than most passive loudspeakers.

 

[Deleted member 17267]

an external device that manages only the balance exists I would need it but I can not find anything

 

[rayms]

Love to see a pic of the internals. Can anyone provide? Thanks in advance.

 

[yllanos]

View attachment 182950

 

[dasdoing]

View attachment 203550

wtf? how?

 

[yllanos]

wtf? how?

There's a free trade agreement between US and Colombia: we don't pay taxes for purchases up to $200 USD. Amazon just takes advantage of this and offers cross-border e-commerce with free shipping, that's all.

After reading all previous posts, I do think there is a market for this SX45 device. It can be really useful to for a budget setup as a stepstone for a better integrated system. In that case, even the miniDSP is not always justified (price wise). I just wish there was a balanced version

 

[Midnight Audiophile]

I've had one of these for over a year now and have played around with it in a few setups. Right now I'm using in a little work bench system and it's high-passing to an A07 amp connected to the main speaker and tweeters, plus as an interface/low-pass for a small sub. This little system is actually dialed in (at about a 2-foot listening position) fairly flat down to 50Hz with a 6.5" sub.

I've used it with bookshelf speakers as a high-pass and then as low-pass for a bass shaker also (gamers take note), it worked well. I used it at one point as a high-pass on my main system with Dali Spektor 2s and it worked well with 2 subs running in either mono or stereo which is a nice option. I'm using the Rolls SX95 on those now. You definitely need to measure the crossover, the frequency dial is not accurate as noted but you can dial it precisely by measuring.

I like the analog nature of it and haven't noticed the channel balance issue in normal listening. I'm just not into the MiniDSP, I've read it can add a little noise. I do the DSP I need on my MacPro, once the signal hits the volume pot on my DAC it's analog from there and I like the old-school nature of these types of components.

 

[Loomynarty]

@amirm If I were to put this after my preamp so that I'm feeding it a much lower signal than line level would that reduce the distortion?

 

[Caesar_Naykid]

Now someone make a 4-way with DSP and balanced inputs & outputs. And minimum loss of resolution, SINAD.

This thread is old, but MiniDSP did make a balanced 2x4

https://www.minidsp.com/images/documents/Product%20Brief-MiniDSP%20balanced%202x4.pdf

I own one, I use for shows in auditoriums to my QSC amps from my SMSL DAC for a dance showcase i run the sound for.
Problem is they discontinued it, but mine still works great. I guess they just didn't sell enough of them.