2. digital
  3. 1356541288

DEQX - TACT - QOL - Thoughts on these?

My two main setup both involve bi-amping with external active crossovers. My first set is for a Sander sound 10b electro static speaker and my second speaker is a pair of celestion SL6000. Both use different active crossovers, the Sander sound 10b uses the Behringer 2496 processor for this task.

Since both my setup already goes through this digital crossover layer, I'm exploring if I can optimize the sound more in this process.

I've been hearing/seeing good things around digital processors such as DEQX, TACT and QOL. They seem to have different focus and different approach to optimizing the sound, but I am unclear as to where these overlap with each other and my existing active cross over and preamp even.

If anyone has insights on these, please share your experience.

Inquiring minds want to know...

Gerald
geraldedison
geraldedison OP
36 posts
 
Thanks for the input folks.

I'm curious about the comment that TACT is dead, has it been leapfrog by others? If so, who?

To Bill's comments, I'm currently doing computer music server mostly going directly to my PS PWD MKII DAC. The dac is going into the active crossovers right now. So when you say I can add external DAC, I'm not clear on how the equipment chain would look. Would I have the DAC after the crossover?
bhobba's avatar
bhobba
303 posts
 
Hi Gerald

First if you are using active crossovers I am very confident a DEQX will outperform the crossovers you have. The only crossovers I have heard that can better a DEQX is a special crossover a speaker maker I know hit upon called the PRC crossover. Before that it easily bested any crossover he used previously.

The way it works with the new DEQX is it has inbuilt DAC's but also includes outputs to connect your own DAC's if you want. The internal ones are OK but better quality audiophile grade DAC's are better - but of course at a significant cost.

My suggestion is to use the internal DAC's to start with and experiment with external DAC's a bit later.

Thanks
Bill
catastrofe
90 posts
 
I have the Sanders 10C system and have been considering something other than the Behringer also. The new DEQXMate looks like a good solution if you have a preamp you already like.

TACT seems to be out of business. Their website is down, and the principal of the company is supposedly doing work for Emotiva.

Nyal at Acoustic Frontiers is a DEQX dealer...he knows his stuff!
geraldedison OP
36 posts
 
Catastrofe,

I too had thought the DEQXMate may be what I needed, but When I was speaking with one of the DEQX reps, he indicated the DEQXMate does not perform the crossover function, so the option would be the HDP-4 or the express. However, if you want to avoid the switching power supply and lower quality caps of the express, the 4 would be the option.

When I was researching this, the HDP-3 seem like a very good alternative compare to the newer Express. The folks who had both the HDP3 and HDP 4 cited only minor gains between the two.
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
I used DEQX at shows in the past and I modded it for customers. They actually adopted many of my mods in the latest unit. What I found is the best way to use it is with the internal DACs. Going external was problematic for me. I used it once with 2 external DACs at a show. Things got crazy when I tried this. The automated speaker and room correction failed to work and the programming got changed magically by itself. I dont think many customers actually use it like this.

DEQX is still the best crossover box out there IMO.

I use EQ with Amarra on my Mac. Now this is totally transparent and transforms even the most expensive systems. Unfortunately, crossover using a server is still very difficult and expensive.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
More to discover