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Analog or digital crossover for subwoofer integration?

I'm not sure where this goes, but I have a 2-channel system and want to integrate a subwoofer (or two).  I'm looking at the JL F113 since I've had one before and really liked it.  My pre-amp is an NAD M51.  I run this directly into my amps (Wyred4Sound mAmps).  I want to put a crossover between these to pass high signals (probably 40-60hz) to the speakers/amps, and low frequencies to the subs.  I'm looking at either an analog crossover (Ashly, Rane, etc) or a digital solution (miniDSP, behringer DCX2496).  Since I don't really need/want the room correction or DSP stuff, does it make sense to just go with an analog crossover and keep things simple?
128x128cowanrg
martykl
3,578 posts
 
IME, successful integration of a sub is vastly easier to achieve in the digital domain. If you use strictly digital source material, I'd say it's a no-brainer, go digital.  If you use analog source material, there may be  a philosophical issue with ADC and DAC in your signal path, so it's up to you and your philosophy.

By the way, IME room correction will help with the integration process  immensely.  Once you eliminate all of the FR ireegularities in the x-over region, getting a seamless hand-off is so much easier.  

As always, YMMV.
cowanrg's avatar
cowanrg OP
7 posts
 
I use strictly digital source material, but the crossover would have to happen after the DAC, because the NAD M51 is my volume control and switcher (digital preamp).  If I kept everything digital, I would do the processing before the NAD, but I would need to do so for all of my digital sources, making things a bit complicated. 

The JL has room correction built in, but I assume you're referring to room correction for the speakers, correct? 

One of the reasons I was looking at a strictly analog crossover was because I wanted to avoid ADC>DAC in the chain.  Adding any of the digital/DSP solutions would add this conversion. 
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