Transporter Digital-In with DEQ2496 in loop

[MediaCenter]

You may not be able to use this SPDIF switchbox in the manner you expect. For it to do what you want, you'd need to have the TP and the airport express connected in to it, have its output connected to the input of the DEQ, and the the DEQ's output connected to the TP's digital input. BUT: it's not clear to me whether you can have the TP's digital loop set up on a certain input (say, the RCA COAX) *and* be able to use the same digital input for an external source when using the TP as a DAC.

Before you go spending money on more hardware, make sure you've researched exactly what your current devices can do. As I said earlier, I've never used the TP's digital loop or a DEQ, so all of what follows is supposition....

1. From looking at the options in the settings page of LMS, I get the impression that if you enable the digital loop in the TP, it will automatically get engaged whenever you switch the TP from an external digital input (ie. working as a DAC) to using it as the source (ie. working as a streamer). But of course you need to experiment and verify this is actually the case.

2. I looks as if you have not yet actually bought the DEQ, so perhaps you should look for a suitable model that allows you to easily switch inputs. I had a quick look at the manual for the Behringer DEQ2496 (assuming this is the one you're thinking about), and it appears that to change digital inputs you have to press the I/O menu button then use the big wheel to select the configuration you want. Not as convenient as a remote control, but it would probably only take a few seconds.

It strikes me that you're after a remote controllable digital preamp with room correction capabilities available on all inputs. Perhaps the TP is not the approriate starting point? Seems to me you'd be better of with some kind of TACT preamp or similar (assuming you can get one with remote control).

It seems we are somehow mentally aligned. This is exactly what I want, but the problem is that Transporter connected directly to an Amp is amazing. I cannot audition TACT and have no clue how they compare. Other solutions I am looking into are HK-990, NAD C390DD, Dspeaker Dual Core, DEQX, PC Based Software solution etc.

What I was hoping for is if someone can connect their DEQ2496 in a digital loop and connect any digital source to TP to see if switching digital input keeps the loop intact. You have clarified quite a few things, but as you said they are not factual. Do you see any hope here? may be a firmware update request?

[cliveb]

What I was hoping for is if someone can connect their DEQ2496 in a digital loop and connect any digital source to TP to see if switching digital input keeps the loop intact. You have clarified quite a few things, but as you said they are not factual. Do you see any hope here? may be a firmware update request?

I'm afraid I am out of ideas. You clearly understand the issues involved. Now it's a matter of finding the device(s) that will do the job for you - and as I said earlier, I haven't tried doing any of this.

One thing I am 99.9% certain of is that you won't see a TP firmware upgrade to support this. The TP is end-of-life and I doubt there will be any more firmware versions unless someone discovers a serious bug that has to be fixed.

[Mnyb]

If you plan to use the NAD C390DD why do you need the loop ?the DEQ2496 does it not have digital in and out .

Then , transporter -digital- DEQ -digital -NAD would be the obvius connection . can the DEC be input switch ? or you could place one there .
(in this config a transporter may be overkill as it's dac is no longer needed,but yoy already have one )

[adamdea]

If you plan to use the NAD C390DD why do you need the loop ?the DEQ2496 does it not have digital in and out .

Then , transporter -digital- DEQ -digital -NAD would be the obvius connection . can the DEC be input switch ? or you could place one there .
(in this config a transporter may be overkill as it's dac is no longer needed,but yoy already have one )

Actually i think the NAD may have its own DRC (at least in the bass) so the DEQ may not be necessary (as well as the loop)

[MediaCenter]

If you plan to use the NAD C390DD why do you need the loop ?the DEQ2496 does it not have digital in and out .

Then , transporter -digital- DEQ -digital -NAD would be the obvius connection . can the DEC be input switch ? or you could place one there .
(in this config a transporter may be overkill as it's dac is no longer needed,but yoy already have one )

If am using NAD C390DD, I'll just go TP > NAD and wouldn't buy DEQ. I'll use the parametric in NAD to fix the room modes.

[cliveb]

If am using NAD C390DD, I'll just go TP > NAD and wouldn't buy DEQ. I'll use the parametric in NAD to fix the room modes.

And you can also go Airport Express > NAD, and use the NAD's remote to select the appropriate digital input - job done.

It strikes me that if you do go this route, you can think about selling the Transporter (whose DAC and I/O flexibility you won't be using) and replace it with a Touch. Of course, you need to audition the NAD before you do this, to make sure you like the sound of its DAC and power amp.

[Mnyb]

And you can also go Airport Express > NAD, and use the NAD's remote to select the appropriate digital input - job done.

It strikes me that if you do go this route, you can think about selling the Transporter (whose DAC and I/O flexibility you won't be using) and replace it with a Touch. Of course, you need to audition the NAD before you do this, to make sure you like the sound of its DAC and power amp.

That would be the winner if the NAD C390DD is as good as it is claimed to be , it has unusually good spec for a switchmode amp and for an amp of any kind ,it has highish output impedance in the treble (sine reconstruction filter ) but counter that with a setting for speaker impedance that rectifies some of the deviation because of that.

[MediaCenter]

And you can also go Airport Express > NAD, and use the NAD's remote to select the appropriate digital input - job done.

It strikes me that if you do go this route, you can think about selling the Transporter (whose DAC and I/O flexibility you won't be using) and replace it with a Touch. Of course, you need to audition the NAD before you do this, to make sure you like the sound of its DAC and power amp.

Some argue that better choice would be HK-990 better features but class A/B. I don't know if C390DD would be able to drive Magnepans 1.7. My current NAD C272 struggles on lower frequencies. They are extremely inefficient speakers. I have two C272 and had them bridged, which sounds much better but they are not 4 ohm stable when bridged. NAD is also overpriced, I can get DEQX-E with Emotiva XPA-2 and still beat NAD on price, feature and performance.

[Soulkeeper]

I just ordered a DEQ2496 to use between my Touch (and my TV set), and my (fully analog) amp. (Maybe I'll use it on gigs too.)

I'm curious about input switching though. If the DEQ doesn't support it elegantly, I'll probably run Touch RCA -> Preamp -> DEQ2496 -> Power amp. Which means two DA conversions and one AD conversion when using the Touch or other digital sources, and one of each when using an analog source. Hm. I have a feeling there'll be some experimenting.

Edit to add: I just received the DEQ, and have started playing with it. The interface is OK and somewhat intuitive, but there are so many features, it'll take many hours to learn how to use this thing properly.

For starters, I'm going to run Touch -> Toslink -> DEC -> Analog XLR->RCA -> Preamp.
I'll probably look for a cheap but nice Toslink switch too, as I have at least two digital sources.

[michael123]

DEQ is (relatively) good if using its digital I/O. Unless you don't care about final sound, do not use its DAC section.

DEQ/Transporter will work together if you have some (small) peaks/energy you want to reduce...
DEQ is not correcting phase or timing issues, it is merely EQ.

Before going with this active treatment or another, I would do some analysis of the room.
I suggest to start here:
http://www.hometheatershack.com/roomeq/

E.g. if you have a peak on 45hz, DEQ will do its job wonderfully (given that you connect it with digital loop)