DSP monitors in analog domains

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thelion, modified 12 Years ago.

DSP monitors in analog domains

Youngling Posts: 12 Join Date: 4/4/09 Recent Posts

I have a question regarding the application of Genelec DSP monitors while dealing with analog input signals.

Right now I use 1037Cs, feeding them analog XLR signals. Over the next couple of months I am thinking about upgrading those to a MDC equipped mid-field monitor (Genelec hopefully introduces by then).

What will remain is the all analog XLR input signal. I am also using a quite sophisticated EQ solution right in the processor/pre-amp - therefor the parametric EQ in the DSP will not be used.

Now my specific question - the trend I witness with Genelec is that new monitors are all DSP based (like 8260). Therefor using digital AES/EBU inputs would be the natural thing to do. If existing infrastructure and/or application in a HT setup (there is hardly any HT processor with AES/EBU outputs available...) prevents the possibility of digital input signals this results in an additional A/D D/A step inside the DSP monitor.

Given analog signals (and EQ in the processor) is it best to still choose a DSP monitor, or should an analog monitor avoiding the additional A/D D/A step be preffered (eg. 8250 versus 8050) - do the DSP advantages (like digital crossover) outwheigh the SQ impact due to the necessary A/D D/A steps?

ilkka-rissanen, modified 12 Years ago.

Re: DSP monitors in analog domains

Yoda Posts: 2564 Join Date: 3/23/09 Recent Posts

Hi,

During the design phase of our DSP series speakers, we concluded extensive objective measurements and subjective listening tests in order to find out whether the additional conversion steps would degrade the audio quality. In our research the high quality converters found in the speakers proved out to be transparent in terms of quality, meaning that there is no audible difference in using the analog AD conversion input compared to the digital audio AES/EBU input. So there is no reason to buy pure analog speakers even though you don't have a digital signal source.

I'm not sure what kind of EQ solution you have in the pre/pro at the moment, but I would still recommend trying out the AutoCal calibration before you make up your mind.