Both the NADAC+ and the exaSound have their own volume controls. If you can get a 5.1/7.1 2in/1out switch, it can switch output to your power amp(s) between the DAC and the SP3.
Kal: Understood and I have been looking at some of those switches. My question is really whether inserting the switch into the audio stream will degrade it in the same way as even a full analog pass-through pre-amp is believed to slightly degrade the sound over direct connection ā hence the reason people use the volume control in the NADAC and exaSound to allow them to direct connect to amplifiers and avoid the need for a pre-amp.
I suppose that with a really good switch, Iād be taking the SP3 out of the DAC-to-amplifier signal path and inserting a switch instead and the video path would be blu-ray player to SP3 to switch to amp.
[quote=āsdolezalek, post:42, topic:10474ā]
My question is really whether inserting the switch into the audio stream will degrade it in the same way as even a full analog pass-through pre-amp is believed to slightly degrade the sound over direct connectionā¦
[/quote]Of course, it is dependent on the bypassing device but I do not buy this as an issue with good equipment.
[quote=āsdolezalek, post:42, topic:10474ā]
I suppose that with a really good switch, Iād be taking the SP3 out of the DAC-to-amplifier signal path and inserting a switch instead and the video path would be blu-ray player to SP3 to switch to amp.
[/quote]Yes
Zektor used to make this type of switch (now discontinued). There are pro audio versions but not with traditional XLR connectors. Do you have any suggestions as to an available high quality 6 or ideally 8-channel xlr switch? (sorry, didnāt mean to derail the thread)
The Broadcast Devices 8C should do the job. http://www.broadcast-devices.com/images/8-16BrocREVA.pdf
Another relevant device is http://www.sonifex.co.uk/redbox/rbdsd8_ld.shtml,
If I were doing this, Iād build it.
Yes ā Microsoft confronted this tension recently with DVD playback, which was removed from recent versions of Windows. The stories in the press was that the DVD consortium charged $10 per device, while Windows licenses are frequently less than that and $0 for devices smaller than 7".
Getting to this topic several days lateā¦
We pretty much never get around to audio-only multichannel listening; most listening we do is stereo. There are a few stereo setups (with varying levels of quality) in different rooms, but thereās just the one room set up for surround, and itās generally used for TV and movies. Sources are physical spinny disks in an Oppo and whatever networked thing can plug in via HDMI (currently mostly using an Amazon Fire TV box and an original Chromecast gizmo).
But if more audio-only surround content became readily available, I could play it via any device which can get an appropriate signal into an 861v8 - I have some HDMI ports free on the HD621, or maybe thereās another multichannel-over-Speakerlink opportunity (not sure), or who knows, itād be swell if a future ID-xx card supported multichannel (especially multichannel in a RoonReady sort of way!)
Spinning disks (Blu-ray, DVD, those five or six multichannel SACDs) and streaming video boxes.
The question has never even come up, soā¦ no.
Sometimes, when Trifield or a Pro Logic flavor sounds good with the material being played.
Canāt think of anything. Iād expect room correction, for instance, to happen somewhere else in the chain.
1 Like
What software and audio gear are you currently using for multi-channel playback?
Synology NAS(MCH files) -(ethernet)- JRiver (MacMini) -(ethernet)- Oppo 105D -(RCA x6)- Mcintosh MX136 -(XLR)- Mcintosh MC207 - Speakers. Controlled by JRemote from my iPad
Considering an exasound PP/e28 combination to take the MacMini/JRiver out of the loop if ROON could control playback of my MCH files.
Separate 2CH system controlled by ROON using an Auralic Aries
Where does your content come from, what formats, and how much do you have?
Digital files from ripped SACD, DVD-A and BRD.
Files are a mix of .dsf and .aiff
Currently 120 albums (rock and jazz)
Do you down-mix multi-channel content for 2-channel systems?
No.
Do you up-mix 2-channel content for multi-channel systems?
No.
What DSP features do you require in a software player in order to make multi-channel playback practical?
Probably none. Channel mapping might be useful.
Is there anything special that software needs to do to make your setup work that we might not know about?
iso support.
What software and audio gear are you currently using for multi-channel playback?
Iām not, but Iād like to on my Meridian HD621 --> 861v4 system. The input would have to be HDMI from something; not sure what at this point.
Where does your content come from, what formats, and how much do you have?
A whole load of DVD-A FLACs.
Do you down-mix multi-channel content for 2-channel systems?
No, as I also ripped the two-channel content.
Do you up-mix 2-channel content for multi-channel systems?
Tend to use Trifield DSP in the 861 for two channel material. I have no requirement to do this in software.
What DSP features do you require in a software player in order to make multi-channel playback practical?
Possibly volume normalization (eventually).
Is there anything special that software needs to do to make your setup work that we might not know about?
Channel mapping might be important.
Oh, just rememberedā¦ The BBC have been playing periodically with multi-channel broadcasts. Support for these streams would be great if and when they become a reality.
Good questions. My thoughts:
What software and audio gear are you currently using for multi-channel playback?
Software: JRiver Media Center 21 (primary), HQ Player 3.13 (occasionally)
Audio Gear: EMM Labs Switchman II Multichannel Preamp/Switcher, exaSound e28 Multichannel DAC, Merging Technologies MC-8 NADAC Multichannel DAC
Where does your content come from, what formats, and how much do you have?
Sources: Music Downloads and Copies from Disc
Formats: DSD (.DSF files, some .DFF file), FLAC & WAV (Downloads, Copies, DTS, BD Audio & Dolby conversions)
Do you down-mix multi-channel content for 2-channel systems?
No
Do you up-mix 2-channel content for multi-channel systems?
No
What DSP features do you require in a software player in order to make multi-channel playback practical?
None.
Would like the ability to bypass or turn off any DSP Multichannel features Roon may add
Is there anything special that software needs to do to make your setup work that we might not know about?
Would like the ability to upsample DSD, FLAC and WAV files to DSD 256 with Roon + HQ Player Multichannel integration
Iāve just a couple of DSD 5.0 albums I bought to play around with. To that end AirPlay support would allow me to do some testing for free. :-))
That would get my vote.
Iād agree, and suggest that maybe you only support multichannel PCM and DSD. Most of those other formats are really movie formats, not music.
[quote=ābrian, post:1, topic:10474ā]
What software and audio gear are you currently using for multi-channel playback?[/quote]
Iām not really using software at all, because all the multi-channel listening I do is via optical disk. I have a fairly complicated multichannel setup that is about 12 years old (and hasnāt been updated because I canāt get anything comparable or better, though I wish there was). The heart is a Lexicon MC-12HD pre/pro with a Sony DVP-CX777ES 400 disk SACD changer and a Kenwood Sovereign DV-5900M 400 disk DVD changer both going unbalanced analog into a Zektor mas7.1 3x1 switch into the lexiconās analog inputs and an Oppo BDP105D connected via HDMI. Frankly, the sound out of the Oppo is so much better that I only use the changers for convenience and I use the Oppo for serious listening. To test the waters I bought a MiniDSP U-DAC8 which exploits the same technology as the Exesound at a fraction of the price (and if it works, Iām probably buying the Exasound).
Between SACD and DVD-A I have nearly 500 multichannel disks and the capability to rip all of them (but I havenāt bothered yet due to the lack of decent playback software).
No.
I use the Logic7 feature of my pre/pro on a lot of 2-channel content, though for serious listening, I do 2-channel analog bypass.
None.
Only this: on a 7.1 system there needs to be bass management and time alignment for the system to work properly. If one is going into a multi-channel pre/pro or receiver, this gets handled, but if one is going directly into a multichannel DAC with a volume control and then directly into the power amps, then the bass management and time alignment must be hangled first by the playback software. I donāt know if anyone is really thinking about this.
On your last point, the time management features built into HQ Player allow you to correctly set speaker distance and delay. I expect that using Roon with these types of plug-ins will be the easiest way to avoid complicating Roon or needing to increase its cost.
Iām taking a break from multichannel, but will describe the situation when I left. I expect to be back in the next few years.
[quote=ābrian, post:1, topic:10474ā]
What software and audio gear are you currently using for multi-channel playback?[/quote]
SACD and DVD-Audio discs from Oppo into Meridian HD621/861.
[quote=ābrian, post:1, topic:10474ā]
Where does your content come from, what formats, and how much do you have?[/quote]
Several hundred discs and a handful of download purchases. I have ripped many and always ripped in multichannel even though I couldnāt play them back yet.
[quote=ābrian, post:1, topic:10474ā]
Do you down-mix multi-channel content for 2-channel systems?[/quote]
No. Although your āall media playable to all endpointsā might clearly make it necessary.
[quote=ābrian, post:1, topic:10474ā]
Do you up-mix 2-channel content for multi-channel systems?[/quote]
I leave that to the 861.
[quote=ābrian, post:1, topic:10474ā]
What DSP features do you require in a software player in order to make multi-channel playback practical? Is there anything special that software needs to do to make your setup work that we might not know about?[/quote]
The only thing I can think of under this category is channel mapping. But I think thatās already been discussed.
I abandoned multi-channel music after minor experimentation.
I set up a system with three Avantgarde horns in the front, bipolars in the back. It was awesome: the first time I played it for my wife, the Harnoncourt Mozart Requiem SACD, it was sublime. Then I put on a well-respected Telarc CD, in regular stereo, and went out in the kitchen to get a glass of wine, and my wife came and said, āyour horns arenāt workingā. So that was her view of stereo after hearing multi-channel: ābrokenā.
But I abandoned it anyway because of the limited music availability. No jazz, avant-garde chamber, blues. How many times can I listen to the Requiem?
I have even removed the rear channels for movies ā how many times can I watch space explosions? More subtle movies donāt need surround.
1 Like
What software and audio gear are you currently using for multi-channel playback?
Media-Server:
Windows 10, 20 TB Media content on SSD and Sata discs
Player-Software:
Merging Emotion for music
JRiver for Video.
HQPlayer: Used somtimes for testing PCM to DSD and upsampling.
Hardware:
Merging NADAC 8ch-Version,
Electrocompaniet EC 4.9 6ch Preamp
Where does your content come from, what formats, and how much do you have?
- About 1500 ripped SACDs
- About 250 ripped DVDs and BRs
- about 100 HiRes Downloads from commercial vendors
Formats: DSD, Flac, DXD.
Do you down-mix multi-channel content for 2ch systems?
No, my system is 5.1 multichannel and then I hear music 70% is done per multichannel
Do you up-mix 2ch content for multi-channel systems?
No, stereo-content is always played as stereo with FL and FR
What DSP features do you require in a software player in order to make multi-channel playback practical?
Nothing. Channel mapping and channel level is done by my Merging NADAC
Is there anything special that software needs to do to make your setup work that we might not know about?
File Browsing is a feature āSine qua nonā !
What software and audio gear are you currently using for multi-channel playback?
Mac mini to my home theatre connected via HDMI. No other software than Roon. (I donāt play multichannel right now)
Where does your content come from, what formats, and how much do you have?
Pirated SACD discs in DSD format. Iāve got a few albums only.
Do you down-mix multi-channel content for 2-channel systems?
No, I usually have 2-channel versions, but it would be helpful not having to think about what version I play, so Iād like downmixing in Roon.
Do you up-mix 2-channel content for multi-channel systems?
Yes, with some content and for some events like parties.
What DSP features do you require in a software player in order to make multi-channel playback practical?
Donāt know.
Is there anything special that software needs to do to make your setup work that we might not know about?
I donāt think so. I send everything over HDMI so multichannel works just fine with video. Now I just need a music player that can play SACD rips.
What software and audio gear are you currently using for multi-channel playback?
HomeTheaterPC with HDMI output
Yamaha RX-A1000 used as a preamp that ouputs to dedicated Rotel RB-1070 swhitched monoblocks
Klipsch RF-7 fronts, RC-7 Center, RF-3II rears and two RW-12D subs.
Where does your content come from, what formats, and how much do you have?
- Mainly Bluray played on my PC, thru Media Player Classic 64bits
- Retail DTS-CDās ripped to USB HDās as wavās played thru Foobar2000 with the proper component (dll)
- Downloaded (purchases) HDTracks stored on USB HDās as flac played on Albumplayer 5.3 using ASIO setting for bitperfect
- All of my CDās ripped to external HDāS to flac played also on Albumplayer 5,3 using ASIO setting for bitperfect
Do you down-mix multi-channel content for 2-channel systems?
- No I donāt.
Do you up-mix 2-channel content for multi-channel systems?
- What purpose would that serve?
What DSP features do you require in a software player in order to make multi-channel playback practical?
- Room size (delay time), wall texture (damping), and height (pre-delay)
Is there anything special that software needs to do to make your setup work that we might not know about?
- All-in-one, all formats in one program, send video content to secondary screen, keep all settings from previous use and memory setups