Hi, I am new here. I have not read much here yet but from what I have seen I doubt my current approach will fit in well. Regardless, I am very interested in opinions and suggestions for my audio system.
My audio room is a hateful thing with mountainous frequency response, something like + or minus 15 db. My options were to treat every square inch of the room with acoustic treatments (mostly bass traps) or eq the response flat at a single spot. Since I only listen from one spot and I had been using the computer as transport for several years now the obvious choice is eq for now and a better room for the future.
Then I had to decide on internal or external eq. Software or hardware. Since I also needed (wanted) a nice crossover as well, my top choices were the behringer dcx (hardware), a pro style 8 channel xo with 4 bands of parametric eq per leg and other goodies for about $300 (+ xlr to rca custom cables for input and output) OR the thuneau pc xo (software) with also features 8 channels, also with 4+ bands of parametric eq for $60 (add $150 or so for the phase perfect version - thuneau.com). I chose the software option.
It took a couple of weeks at least to learn the audio routing procedures to get it all working clean with no dropouts or digital noise. I still get random pops and clicks but I am still working it out. The current setup uses a dedicated server pc with integrated sound and video that does NOTHING but play sound and video. 2.5 gig processor, 1 gig ram, windows xp. All sound is routed the software crossover and 6 channels of filtered audio are realized at the three 3.4 mil jacks. Here is the path.
First, ASIO4ALL is installed to allow the crossover to accept the inputs. All windows audio output is routed to cable 1 in a program called virtual audio cable (basically just internal software patchcords) and from there into the software crossover. DSP is applied, then the audio is sent via cable 2 (virtual audio cable) to audiorepeater (bundled with virtual audio cable), which as far as I can tell is just a way to insert working buffer, since dropouts and digital noise occur regardless of the ASIO4ALL buffer settings if used without virtual audio cable and audiorepeater. Between these two buffers, latency can still be set low enough for use with video. Cable 2 sends the (up to 8 channels of filtered) output to the integrated sound card, and then out to the individual speakers. Unfortunately this approach does not allow external dacs to be used, so the soundcard output is as good as it gets.
At that point, I followed this guide http://www.imageevent.com/cics (item #3, the art of building computer transports) to trim windows down a bit and make the computer a more audio friendly environment. It is a nice guide but does not specifically tell you WHY it wants you to make some of these changes.
Next up I measured the speakers in room from the listening spot with Room EQ Wizard and ARTA, 2 wonderful and free programs. Used SPLTracer (also free) to make individual .frd files for each pair of speakers and for each sub, all in room from the listening spot. Then imported the .frd files into the xo program and easily eq (kind of) flat.
I know that people that call themselves audiophiles do not like dsp much, even tone controls on amps can make an oldskool audiofool cringe. At the same time, they do not seem to mind listening in nasty rooms like mine with + or - 15 db range and minimal (if any) treatment. I am certainly not an audiophile but I am not stupid. The difference a flat(ish) frequency response makes is more dramatic than any component upgrade I can imagine (unless maybe your speakers are actually broken and do not make sound). This approach actually makes my combination of nasty room and very uncomplimentary speakers sound VERY enjoyable.
So I have 2 questions.
1. What do you think about extreme dsp. (My question mark key does not work)
2. Are there any difinitive guides like the one I posted that go way indepth into cutting windows down to the bone but explaining it along the way so I know what I am doing with each change.
And I guess while I am at it...
3. Do you know of any good preferably ASIO soundcards with full duplex capability. Cheap is a HUGE bonus. ASIO is not completely necessary but preferred. Must output at least 8 channels.