Schiit Linkwitz fantasy active speakers

Just wanted to share an idea I had to build a kickass set of active speakers. Some parts may not be used as intended.

• Linkwitz LXMini Speaker kit - without miniDSP
• miniDSP nanodigi-2x8-b
• 2 x Schiit Modi MB
• 2 x Schiit Saga or maybe one Schiit Freya or a 4 channel preamp
• 4 x XLR to 2-RCA cables if using Freya.
• 2 x Schiit Vidar amps (or 4 x Schiit Vidar if you're nuts)

The LXMini is a pretty well regarded DIY build. However that doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement. The original build uses a miniDSP to output analog directly. Volume is digitally controlled through the miniDSP or from your digital source. Obviously this uses some sort of delta-sigma DAC. Fortunately miniDSP has a version that outputs SPDIF which means we can use whatever DACs we want. In this case the relatively affordable Modi MB seems ideal for this.

To get the best possible resolution you typically want to use analog volume control over digital. The downside of this is that you have to attenuate 4 channels simultaneously. Two Schiit Saga preamps would be needed to control all four channels. You may be wondering how to control both preamps? Well the key here is the remote control functionality. I am gambling that one remote is able to control both as long as the preamps are next to each other and receiving the same signal. A bit like how one remote can work on multiple TV sets. Another option but a bigger gamble is the Schiit Freya. True, it is also two channels but it's balanced. The gamble here is that they treat their balanced channels as two separate channels instead of the usual 'inherently balanced' schiit that they usually do. If it's the former then an XLR to RCA cable can be used to split it into separate RCA channels. No need to worry about synching two preamps up because it all goes through the same device.

After that we have 2 channels per speaker that need to be amplified. That means one Vidar per speaker. Each channel attached directly to the driver with no crossover to get in the way. The 100W per driver is far more then needed to power this setup.

This is an all digital setup but could work with an ASP to process an analog signal to feed the preamp section. Or you could just forget about purity and use an ADC to feed the nanodigi. Now if only Schiit would make a digital crossover and ADC.....

What is the total cost of this system?

$400+$170+$500+$700+$1400 =

$3170

Note that this is cheaper then the pre-built system Linkwitz has listed on his own site, and that's without the multibit goodness that this setup brings to the table.

 

Cool idea.

 

Definitely cool but I don't think the RCA to XLR will work. Remote controlling two should work though.

 

Of course we could push this idea much further.

• Linkwitz LX521 kit from Madisound - $1500
• LX521 flatpack - $580
• miniDSP nanodigi-2x8-b - $170
• 4 x Schiit Yggdrasil - $2300 each
• 4 x Schiit Freya - $700 each
• 7 x Schiit Vidar - $700 each

LX521 is a 4 way active design. This means a total of 8 channels with all of them balanced. Again we are banking on the preamp being able to all read then same wireless signal and act accordingly. The 4 large woofers need some serious power so we dedicate 4 Vidar's to mono duties while the upper drivers use stereo channels. Total cost?

$1500 + $580 + $170 + $9200 + $2800 + $4900 =

$19150!!

Not cheap, then again this is suppose to be an end game system and people easily pay $20k for speakers alone. Of course many of these items can be scaled down. Here is what a 'cheap' LX521 would look like and will probably be my endgame system

• Linkwitz LX521 kit from Madisound - $1500
• LX521 flatpack - $580
• miniDSP nanodigi-2x8-b - $170
• 4 x Schiit Modi MB - $250 each
• 4 x Schiit Saga - $350 each
• 5 x Schiit Vidar - $700 each

$1500 + $580 + $170 + $1000 + $1400 + $3500 =

$8150

This is much cheaper then some builds I have seen and those don't even use multibit DACs and they implement digital volume control. Heck, this is cheaper then a lot of headphone systems. Seriously, someone should do this as a one-off. All the items will probably have excellent resale value, even the LX521.

 

I'd probably be lazy and just get something like a Powersoft X8 which does all 8 channels and internal crossover/processing/dac/dsp voodoo in one box.

 

Anyone have experience with the lxmini? Very curious how it would work nearfield with a sub.