jRiver question...

[Boomzilla]

I'm currently running jRiver Media Center 22 on a late-model MacBook Pro. The Pro has two digital outputs available: An optical TOSLINK-compatible output (from the MacBook's headphone jack) and USB outputs to DAC of choice.

So here's my question - Can I configure one of these two digital MacBook Pro outputs as a high-pass and the other as a low-pass simultaneously (and from the same source)?

That way, the high-pass could be fed to its own DAC and drive the satellite speakers directly while the low-pass could go directly to the subwoofer inputs.

If this isn't feasible, does anyone know of an external and audiophile-quality analog electronic crossover (other than the $3,500 JL Audio CR-2)?

Thanks - Boom

[jackfish]

You could play around with a Behringer DEQ2496 Ultra-Curve Pro for $300. Quite an amazing little piece of audio equipment.

Or do it digitally with the FabFilter Pro-Q 2 and a multichannel DAC like the Apogee Ensemble.

[millst]

No, you can't assign two devices to the same zone. Multiple zones can be linked, but the sync isn't anywhere near tight enough for your purpose.

Even if you could get JRiver to cooperate, it wouldn't work. Different devices have different clocks, which will always drift, skewing the time alignment of the drivers. You need one device with a lot of outputs or a set of devices that support clock sync.

-tm

[Boomzilla]

Hi jackfish - Thank you - I'll look into those.

Hi millst - I think you are right. The "best" solution would be a dedicated processor.

So ultimately, I either do this externally, or don't do it at all. Multiple A/D-D/A conversions will make expensive gear sound like Bose, so that isn't a good plan either. The ONLY other solution that I see is to convert to analog - volume control with an analog preamp - split the full-range, volume-controlled signal in the analog domain - and then feed the sub & satellites their respective signals.

One option: Audioquest Dragonfly DAC with volume control - to Rane "pro" analog crossover - to power amps/subwoofer. The only potential issue with this is that almost all "pro" equipment uses XLR connectors only, and the other "consumer" equipment uses single-ended RCAs.

Anyone make a decent analog crossover for a reasonable price?

PS: An Emotiva BasX MC-700?

[millst]

Not sure what your ultimate goal is, but you can use JRiver. You just need to get a USB/firewire/thunderbolt computer audio interface with 4 channels. Since they are geared towards pro audio, they tend to use some form of XLR, but not always. I'm sure there is lots of discussion about specific models on the JRiver forums. I think one of the developers uses one from Focusrite.

Many people just pick up a receiver for what you're doing. You won't need all the bells and whistles, but it will handle everything you need in the digital domain. Not sure if any of that meets your needs quality wise. Outlaw, Emotiva, Marantz, etc. might. Something from MiniDSP might also suffice.

-tm

[Boomzilla]

Hi millst -

You are right on all counts. I could use an outboard audio device of four channels and accomplish what I want. But you're also right that a modest AVR would probably do fine. My Tekton Pendragons are efficient enough that the little AVR would drive them fine, and the ubiquitous 80-Hz @ 12 dB per octave bass management would work fine also. In fact, it's been my experience that the lower the power output of an AVR, the better its musical qualities. I suspect (although I don't know) that having simpler circuitry and a fewer number of output devices (normally "on the same chip" for small receivers) leads to better matching & purer sound. But of course, this is pure speculation on my part.

We'll see...