Which component to upgrade to improve bass control?

Perhaps you can explain why some DSP units include a DAC. What's the point? 

DAC = Digital to Analog Conversation
ADC = Analog to Digital Conversation
For example the miniDSP 2x4HD:
It has a analog input there you can connect the LP and it does a ADC and in the digital domain all the magic then back to analog with the DAC.

But it has several digital inputs there it does the all the magic and then to analog with DAC.

Here is some of the whys/points when this model has 4 analog outputs that you can use however you want.. 

One example is you can choose to use output 1 and 2 as left and right that goes to the power amplifier to your bookshelfs. The other two 3 and 4 can be left and right for your subwoofer power amplifier/s.

So as you see there is four outputs in this case if you "only" got a digital out from the DSP and then connected to your standard standalone DAC that usually only give you two analog outputs. What is the point with that? Rather useless in my opinion. ;)
Then you can "only" do room correction.

In the miniDSP case the two left and right 3 and 4 output is treated individual so if you have the right subwoofer on a different distances than the left one then you can time align them separately so they are aligned with the bookshelfs.

You can implement where the x-over should be for the subwoofers and bookshelves independently and offload the power amplifiers. 

And so on and on there is so many configuration and use cases..

@gosta:

"Saying no to dsp today is like saying no to cd's yesterday. It won't stop it's the future and gets better for each day. Just get on with it :-)"

Got it. Thanks. 

@optimize:

Thanks for the technical explanation. 

stuartk: Before you get involved in all the expense and to-do of all the good suggestions so far, are you using AC conditioning and upgraded AC cables? Both will really affect bass definition. Especially in multi-unit buildings. Even if you do all of the things suggested here, you’ll still need to upgrade cables to maximize the system.

@denverfred:

I live in a single family home in a rural area where each house has its own transformer. I've tried power conditioning and noticed no improvement. I do have upgraded power cables. I suppose I could upgrade them even further. 


Otherwise, this morning I toed speakers in considerably more than I'd tried before (approx 26 degrees total) and this definitely helped.