The Two Channel Advice Thread

Just about every AVR receiver or integrated amp w/sub out has a stereo crossover for the sub. But then they sum the 2 channels below the crossover to mono. Even if there are 2 separate sub outputs, (getting more common) it's almost always summed mono to both except in some really high-end AV processors. The expectation is most customers will have one sub. Audyssey room correction can only EQ a single sub until you get to Audyssey XT32, I think. Below that, it will EQ the summed SPL from multiple subs. XT32 will EQ separate subs, but it is still expecting them to be mono.

You got very good results from a summed-mono output from a MiniDSP, so that shouldn't be a concern. What is important is how the tube pre manages the crossover. MiniDSP lets you select crossover frequency, I think that's a must-have from the tube pre. Level isn't as important, because you can probably also set that on the subs. You can probably set low pass on the subs as well, but if you can't set high pass on the tube pre, you could really struggle to integrate subs to mains unless the default crossover frequency suits your system.

 

Maybe ask that in the DAC thread.

https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/sbaf-dac-talk-ii.6964/page-33

A number of possibilities, but you might need to get into things you’ve already heard/owned that you do or don’t like etc. And are you looking used or new, what do you need for features, etc. Assume since you asked in 2 channel thread this will be for a speaker setup. Put that in your question.

 

so using minidps Iset the cross over point to 65hz. also minidsp has the option of sending the summed mono to both subs or send to each the signal from their own channel and as i said thr summed mono works way better to my ears. so the problem is that the subwoofers are active so the main outputs fo to my pre and i have volume control but the subs go straight to the plate amp on the sb so that the output level on the subs are fixed. i want to be able to have all 4 chanels come out of the pre so that when i change the volume all 4 channel go up and down in volume. does that make sense?

 

I gotta believe the plate amp has a volume control. I can't think of seeing a sub review that didn't mention a volume knob, typically will have phase control and low pass crossover adjustment as well. You want phase = 0 since they're co-located with your mains. If you have a CSP3, there is no internal crossover, just a summed mono output that to me looks to be full-range. So to integrate subs and mains, I would just use the MiniDSP that you have. Forget about the mono output from the CSP3, just feed the stereo line level outputs to the MiniDSP, set your 65 Hz crossover, output to your stereo amp and plate amps like you do now. You can either use the MiniDSP or the sub plate amp to set the correct volume level for the subs. If the sub has a built-in low pass filter, just set it as high as possible so that only the MiniDSP is affecting high and low pass frequencies.

 

of course the plate amps have volume pots, but I want to control the volume with a remote control. right now when I increase volume, it only increases on the speakers not the subs. wasn't this clear in my previous post?

 

No, sorry. What device in your chain has the ability to be remote-controlled?

 

so this is the chain:

the minidsp has 4 outputs: 2 are the main signal and two are for the subwoofers.
the 2 that are carrying the main signal go to my preamp and then go to my monoblocks.
the other 2 that are low pass go drectly to the subwoofers
so when i increase the volume through the preamp (be it remore controlled or not) the output level of the sub woofers dont change and vice versa when I decrease the volume.

so it is common that i mute my preamp and the speakers are quiet but the subwoofers are slamming

how come it feels like no one else has this problem?

 

great job repeating exactly what I said, stating the problem, back to me. The question was what would be a preamp that does that? 4 channel input and 4 channel output. that's what i asked in my first post. I said that this decware preamp that im thinking about has one subwoofer out in addition to the normal RCA outputs, I was asking to make sure that this subwoofer out is in fact the mono, summed, output that I want and it was confirmed that it is and I can in fact use it with a splitter to send the signal to both subs but the problem remains that it doesnt use all 4 outputs of the minidsp and the fact that this sub out is not crossed over.

 

sounds like I gotta stay away. iI'm not into psaudio gear to begin with, this looked like a lot of electronics for the asking price but not what I need.

I believe this is a true MKII. gonna pass on it.I think I'll try one of these Chinese 9038 dacs to scratch the DAC itch.

 

Seems like the easierst and most painless is to buy a remote control from minidsp. I was of course aware that the 2XHD unit has volume control but it would be more or less the same as changing the volume through jriver. I can do it, but I prefer my preamp. but I didnt know that they can be remote controlled (so that is a big plus for convenience) so that would be an immediate remedy.

in this way I can take the preamp completely out of the equation when I use the minidsp.

 

@purr1n is right - put MiniDSP you already have between preamp and monoblocks and subs. Preamp volume control now controls all 4 outputs of MiniDSP so one knob to rule them all. And no $ needed.

There's a jumper inside the MiniDSP to accept 2V line level input from preamp. Output will be 0.9V, so volume knob on preamp will be slightly higher.

 

One knob to rule them all.

That's incredible

 

no that means I will have a DAC that does D to A conversion then I control volume through the pre, then this analog signal goes to minidsp is converted to digital again and dsp does its thing and then it is converted to analog again. out of the question.

 

How is that different from D > A in the DAC, A > D > A in the moar better MiniDSP HD, then all analog through preamp and amps? Same number of conversions.

Edit: although MiniDSP HD would allow you to skip the front end DAC altogether

 

lol ... dude, are you ok? there is no DAC before minidsp. minidsp is the DAC.


it is this:
Computer or streamer => optical cable or USB => minidsp => amplifer => speaker.