The answer to that depends on a lot of things...
And some of them, like the "internal signal path" in apps like Roon, may be impossible to ever know in detail.
When it comes to separate devices - like analog equalizers - the short answer is that:
- any device where the signal passes through any active components will add some noise and distortion...
- any device where active processing is done will probably have more of an effect...
- IN GENERAL, a buffer will have the least effect, a filter will have more, and an EQ will be the worst
Here are a few VERY broad generalizations...
With analog devices, the more complex the device is, the more active parts it will need, and the more noise and distortion it will introduce.
So, for example, the sharper the filter is, or the more bands of EQ that equalizer has, the worse the audio side effects will be.
With DIGITAL devices, the overall audio quality will be limited by the quality of the A/D and D/A converters.
It will also be limited by the sample rate and bit depth used.
But, beyond that, the processing itself should be essentially noiseless and distortionless.
And that will be true regardless and independent of the complexity of the processing.
(As long as the hardware has enough processing power to run properly.)
With something like Roon, since the signal is already digital, no additional conversions should be necessary.
Therefore, assuming that they chose good algorithms, and implemented them properly, the impact should be minimal.
(There is no specific reason to assume that using those options would have any effect other than what it's intended to do...)
Although, if you use external "plugins", or when you "check a box to enable DSP processing", the overall signal handling may change.
This is also true if you have to use additional software to "route channels to other programs" or anything like that.
In that case the answer is going to depend solely on the quality of their programming and how they accomplish what they do.
(The impact should be minimal unless they screwed something up, chose poor quality algorithms, or your computer isn't powerful enough.)
(Whether "enabling DSP" INSIDE ROON places more of a load on the computer will depend ENTIRELY on how they programmed their software.)
My sub (a sealed 15" model) claims the ability to reach 20 Hz. But in my room, it's a bit short. Equalization (mild) may be called for. I have two options for applying EQ. I can use a DSP filter in Roon to control gain, frequency, and filter width, or I can plug the sub feed into an analog equalizer and use that. My thoughts on the subject (that may or may not be valid) are that using the DSP option may affect the entire audio spectrum (not from frequency response changes, but from complicating the computer's functioning in transferring the audio signal to the output port). The analog equalizer may add distortion, but at such low frequencies, it's not likely to matter. So I think that the analog EQ is the better choice.
Am I mistaken on this?
Thanks - Boom
