One DAC to Rule it All

That's what I was thinking. Why use the OKTO at all if the DBX can accept an AES/EBU signal from my streamer. That way I will only have one conversion, but I will have to use the 32 bit volume control in my Auralic G1 instead of my Benchmark HP4 preamp. It seems like I will be getting rid of a few pieces of equipment if this works out.

That’s is an interesting question.

the double digital part, I’m guessing could go either way, but I have found for the most part, the simpler the system, the fewer cables, the fewer power supplies the better the sound.

 In the end, your ears will always determine what the best sound is for you.

All the best.

@koestner

I agree that only you will be able to tell if you prefer the sound of the DBX (as a DAC) or your OKTO. I’d try it without the OKTO and perhaps live with that for a few weeks or months.

As I recall, @mijostyn has posted about this in the past and he is a long time user of DSP “preamps” for crossover and bass/room correction. He’s even supporting a very nice turntable with this solution, perhaps he’ll weigh in on this.

I’m still using an analog crossover for subs, however, I am intrigued by the capabilities of digital solutions. And I think they are only going to get better.

I am currently running a similar setup where I high-pass the signal from my DAC to my amp/main loudspeakers, and separately send a signal to my subwoofer. I am also using a DBX solution--however, unlike your setup, mine does not perform additional ADC/DAC to the signal. I am using the balanced XLR output from my DAC to the DBX 223xs active balanced crossover to split the signal at an analogue level, which is then delivered via balanced XLR to my power amp on the high level. You may want to consider this option if you're looking to avoid excessive DAC/ADC conversions in your chain. It sounds great for me, and I agree, relieving the main loudspeakers of the lower frequencies and letting the subwoofer pick them up is a great setup (although in my case, I needed to do it to fix a huge room gain at 43hz--I high-pass the main loudspeakers starting around 70hz and then set the low-pass in my subwoofer's DSP at 30hz plus a -12db curve at 43hz in the DSP's parametric EQ), both are 24db/octave roll-off, and it manages to give me a flat response without excess phase shift since it is a 4th order crossover on both ends. the DBX 223 comes in single-ended version as well.

-Ed

Aqua LaScala