One DAC to Rule it All


Sorry for the "click-bait" headline. The digital side of my system is an Auralic G1 sending to an OKTO DAC8 Stereo. I like the sound a lot, but I also use a DBX Venu360 digital crossover system to split the signal to my mains and subs. The DBX gets an analog signal from my preamp (Benchmark HP4), but to do its function the DBX unit converts to digital, then back to analog at 96Khz. My question is, since the DBX unit has the capability to receive a digital signal (AES/EBU), would it be better to use just one DAC (DBX) to do it all, or stick with the double converting and keep the OKTO in the system?

koestner

What is your budget ? My brother has the new DCS Rossini $35k 

land incredible ,but he says he may want their master oversampler 

which mo way I would spend more then a nice car on digital or anything 

my end game dac-preamp is the T+A 200 dac it is only $7200 minus discounts 

that’s one I am saving for ,and a new car. My wife thinks $1k power cord is nuts .

I have been comparing a bunch in our audio get together for digital 

the AQ Tornado -sourse is Very good and just brings the best out of your digital .

In my 2 nd system the Eversolo DMP-A8 is a excellent dac -streamer or under $2k built with judt top quality brand parts and latest AKM 4499EX dacs and matching receiver ,and gen 3 Xmas , the interface app is Excellent ,and is even a SS server up to 4 T , imo Best Buy out there. and with any decent upgrade power cord very good sounding , Anthony Perrotta Consultants , He. gives very good package deals $$ and great service.I will give a rundown on it after full runin ,my friend owns the 6 master edition , which is good but different chipset using Sabre , the top A8 has a true active resistive ladder to relay preamp ,not a digital preamp ishocking all thst for under $2k ,I have a separate freya+ pre with good NOS tubes  which is better but on its own no loss of resolution ,Anyway I just thought I would mention it.

Your setup is pretty unique @koestner

I wouldn’t expect many to have experience with this.
I think the biggest contributor to your listening experience is the DBX unit.
Ever entertained trying a good analog crossover like the Marchand Electronics?

Not saying it wouldn’t influence the sound at all, but pretty sure it would influence it less. Then you can actually get a nice dac and hear an improvement.

I use the DBX DriveRack PA2 to control my subs.  In my opinion you are doing it wrong.  Take one output from your preamp and send it full range to your amp.  Take the second output from the preamp and send that to the DBX and use the software on that to set the crossover and levels etc. etc..  Run the subs with the crossover set to the maximum and set the level to approximate what you want but fine tune with the DBX.  The absolute last thing you want to do is have the DBX in between your preamp and your power amp.  The cheap DA/AD converters in it will destroy the quality of your sound but it is completely irrelevant for the subs.  If you don't have two outputs from your preamp I suppose you could always get a y-splitter.

You system is so convoluted that I'm not sure upgrading a DAC is going to make a difference. When it comes to the audio chain, simpler usually is better. I've heard this proven more than once.

 

 

I’m with @soix ​​​​@ozzy62 .  Why so involved?  Now, to play Devils Advocate, I doubt that anyone here has actually heard a setup like yours, and your ears are the ultimate judge, but the conversion back and forth would be enough to drive me nuts