Sloped baffle

There is also some chatter on DEQX on computeraudiophile.com. Actually, I've been looking into it as well, along the lines of my posts above (waay above).

The DEQX HDP-4, the most expensive unit, has good DAC inside, 3-way crossovers, and digital volume control. And room/driver correction. What I researched was for use instead of my DAC and preamp, so getting the signal from my computer server and running 3 amps per side to drive speaker drivers directly, avoiding passive crossovers. I found a guy in Texas with very nice and expensive system, such as YG speakers, say he replaced a $30k DAC with it, so the DAC section must be good. He's using it in the same fashion I'm interested, so can't speak to the ADC section - but that has been clarified by Psag above.
He's only caveat was the unit only allowed for one subwoofer out and he's using two in mono but needed different time delays on each to address a room mode so he uses a Xilica unit for that.
BTW, he also uses Dirac room correction software on his server. That piece I don't fully understand why as the HDP-4 does room correction too...

The HDP-4 is very interesting to me. Where I start wondering if it is the best path is for people like me who only use a computer as server. In that case you could use a Lynx Hilo plus Acourate software to achieve the same, but for $3k instead of 5, or use an exaSound e28 plus Acourate for $4k and have 8 channels available (hi/mid/bass for L&R, plus 2 subs) and be able to time/phase align all of them.

But I realize the majority of users here aren't running servers as their main source. Yet the HDP-4 can take 2 analogue inputs and several digital inputs, so you could still connect a phono section and a CD transport.

BTW, Psag, how good is the HDP-4 volume control? When bypassing your preamp, what changes do you notice?

I think a call to the US Distributor may be in order. Lew... I agree that the DEQX is likely NOT plug and play. From what I picked up from the DEQX web site, one can pay extra for a remote professional set up. To me ... that is just part of the cost.

Honestly, I am a frustrated scientist. This stuff is very interesting to me. Problem is my IQ isn't high enough to get the math and science. My math skills are just a little north of the "Jethro Bodeine double-knot head cyphering" level.

Here's a guess ... I surmise that if the DEQX's hype is fairly stated, it may do more for my rig than stepping up to $25+ Magicos S speakers. There is nothing wrong with the drivers in my Paradigm S8s. We're talking about a low distortion beryllium tweeter, an aluminum/cobalt mid and polypropylene/mineral infused woofers. I have a sub to augment bass roll-off. The basics are all there.

I'll report back.

Cheers.

P.S. I have a better chance of sneaking the DEQX into my house than new speakers. That factor alone weighs heavily in favor of the DEQX. :)

Al -- you are always the voice of reason. What are your thoughts? Could this be transformational or is that un likely?

Al -- you are always the voice of reason. What are your thoughts? Could this be transformational or is that un likely?

Thanks, Bruce. I would certainly expect it to make a very major difference, and hence be "transformational." Having no experience with it or comparable products, I of course can't say how the pluses and minuses (if any) would be likely to net out. But given Psag's comments (and I know from other threads that he is into very high quality equipment), and the writeups at the website, which strike me as confidence inspiring, as I indicated earlier it's certainly something I'll be considering whenever I next look into making a major change to my system.

Best regards,
-- Al

The Holm site has an interesting, albeit monotone, video tutorial how these things work. Specifically his, but generally for all.

Al's last post is what I needed to take the next step. A call into DEQX is in order. For some reason, my gut tells me I might get more bang for the buck going in this direction than by dropping a wad of cash into expensive speakers. I'll be back.

Al -- off topic, but there's another speaker cable thread running. I asked a serious question. If you catch the thread, please share your thoughts there. If not, my question is why wouldn't heavy gauge romex (say 10 or 12 gauge) make for good speaker cables?? What electrical properties would expensive designer cables have that heavy romex lacks. Isn't this all about resistance, inductance and capacitance?? Is there some other electrical voodoo or snake oil I am missing???