Panasonic CY-AC300 DSP

3onDubs · 11-21-2005, 12:24 PM

I am planning on upgrading my current setup by throwing this in the mix...I have read up on all of the posts shedding light on the digital route and I feel that this is the way to go...I just had a question that I couldn't find an answer to...

It has been implied by most of the people that are using this DSP, but never mentioned....can this DSP be used with non-digital amps? If so, does this defeat the purpose, or will I still get an improvement over a soundcard?

Also, If I use the Panasonic DSP, will I need a line driver since my soundcard has very low outputs, or will the Panasonic amplify the signal on its own?

peterh · 11-21-2005, 03:48 PM

When u say "can this DSP be used with non-digital amps?" u mean amps that take analog input? if thats the Question then yes. This DSP outputs 6 (5.1) separate analog channels (RCA) ONLY so u use amps with analog input.

Quote:

Also, If I use the Panasonic DSP, will I need a line driver since my soundcard has very low outputs, or will the Panasonic amplify the signal on its own?

No need for a line driver if u use the Optical SPDIF (TOSLINK). I don't know if u need one if u are going to use the Analog input(2 channel).
I have this DSP and i plan on using it's Optical input and connecting it to the Turtle Beach Audio Advantage Micro 5.1 . I don't want to use bigger sound cards or an Digital RCA to Optical converter

3onDubs · 11-21-2005, 04:39 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by peterh

No need for a line driver if u use the Optical SPDIF (TOSLINK). I don't know if u need one if u are going to use the Analog input(2 channel).
I have this DSP and i plan on using it's Optical input and connecting it to the Turtle Beach Audio Advantage Micro 5.1 . I don't want to use bigger sound cards or an Digital RCA to Optical converter

Ok, so if I have the soundblaster live usb soundcard (with an optical out), then I can use this to input into the DSP. Otherwise, if I went directly from via's onboard digital RCA out, I would have to buy the converter....i see.

Do you know if there would be any sound quality difference if I used either of the following:

1. Onboard sound connected to a digital to optical converter to a DSP

2. USB soundcard connected optically to the DSP

3. USB soundcard connected to 6 channel line driver connected to amps

jcdillin · 11-21-2005, 04:47 PM

I would advise against the converter as most i've seen require a power adapter that is 9volts,

in my previous setup I had a Soundblaster MP3+ connected via optical to a AC300, it was an awesome setup. Very very clean sounding. The only downside to that setup is you will lose volume control from the computer, you have to control it via the AC300.

fonseca · 11-21-2005, 05:24 PM

I'm using a converter. See this thread for more info. Once I fed it the voltage it wanted, it worked great, and I've had no problems using it these past weeks.

Since you have an M10k, I think the converter is the best choice, unless you find a DSP that will work with the M10k's coax out. Your USB soundcard is hogging at least 20% of your processor, probably more. And there's little difference in sound outputting through the M10k's coax out instead of the USB card's optical out. I compared extensively with a PCI Audigy and could discern little difference, both in my car and connected to my respectable home theatre setup.

Running a six channel line driver to the amps would be a noticeable downgrade from the first two options. The only reason I would do that was if I already had an expensive analog EQ I wanted to use, and many models will boost the signal themselves, so line drivers probably wouldn't be needed.

You will still have volume control on your pc with digital out, however only the wave slider will function. At least with VIA's sound chipset. I have my master slider mapped to wave in Road Runner, so I can still control volume if need be. Although I usually leave it on 50%.

3onDubs · 11-21-2005, 05:25 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by jcdillin

I would advise against the converter as most i've seen require a power adapter that is 9volts,

in my previous setup I had a Soundblaster MP3+ connected via optical to a AC300, it was an awesome setup. Very very clean sounding. The only downside to that setup is you will lose volume control from the computer, you have to control it via the AC300.

Hmm...I just got my Ibus working so that I can use my steering wheel controls for everything...there is no way for roadrunner to control the volume?

EDIT: Sorry, just read this...that makes a huge difference

Quote: Originally Posted by fonseca

You will still have volume control on your pc with digital out, however only the wave slider will function

canopy · 12-11-2005, 09:31 PM

Hi all,
I wonder if you could help me in this...
I have my audio system conected via spdif from an epia sp to the panasonic cy ac300 dsp, which goes to a Pyramid amp... the thing is that I'm getting ALOT of noise... from the weeeeeening of the car's alternator, to the spinning of the hard drive... all its nicely grounded and very well connected.
I thought that with this DSP I would have no problem with noise as the audio source is SPDIF...

Can you help?

thanks!

3onDubs · 12-12-2005, 01:19 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by canopy

Hi all,
I wonder if you could help me in this...
I have my audio system conected via spdif from an epia sp to the panasonic cy ac300 dsp, which goes to a Pyramid amp... the thing is that I'm getting ALOT of noise... from the weeeeeening of the car's alternator, to the spinning of the hard drive... all its nicely grounded and very well connected.
I thought that with this DSP I would have no problem with noise as the audio source is SPDIF...

Can you help?

thanks!

That's strange...that's the main reason I wanted to go the ditigal route in the first place, to eliminate noise...hmmm. You should try and isolate the problem by pinpointing possible sound inducing factors in your setup. I don't know how everything in your car is setup to help you list the factors. How long are your RCA runs between your DSP and your amp? Are you using a crossover that is close to another power wire? Does your DSP share the same ground with your amp and PC?

Also, are you using a converter to go from coaxial to optical?

canopy · 12-12-2005, 03:10 PM

Hi,
sorry I didn't say much about my setup...
So yes, I have a coaxial to optical converter between the mobo and the dsp and the RCA cables are no longer than 1/2 meter. All are connected to the same grounding point (which, I think, helps reducing the ground loop issue...). And I have no crossovers near the power lines...

I'm starting to think that there is something wrong with de DSP, as I bought it used from ebay....

Thanks!

3onDubs · 12-12-2005, 04:24 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by canopy

Hi,
sorry I didn't say much about my setup...
So yes, I have a coaxial to optical converter between the mobo and the dsp and the RCA cables are no longer than 1/2 meter. All are connected to the same grounding point (which, I think, helps reducing the ground loop issue...). And I have no crossovers near the power lines...

I'm starting to think that there is something wrong with de DSP, as I bought it used from ebay....

Thanks!

That seems like its an ideal setup...did you have an analog setup before this setup? If so, was there noise there? You could try and use a soundcard (without the DSP) to experiment on wether or not the DSP is really the culprit or not...I dont think it would be, but if the noise still exists when you go directly from a soundcard, then the noise is probably being introduced at the amp level...

...another thing that you could do is use an external soundcard's optical out to go directly into the DSP and see if that solves it...

canopy · 12-12-2005, 05:16 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by 3onDubs

That seems like its an ideal setup...did you have an analog setup before this setup? If so, was there noise there? You could try and use a soundcard (without the DSP) to experiment on wether or not the DSP is really the culprit or not...I dont think it would be, but if the noise still exists when you go directly from a soundcard, then the noise is probably being introduced at the amp level...

...another thing that you could do is use an external soundcard's optical out to go directly into the DSP and see if that solves it...

I can't see what's the difference between the optical out of the converter with the one of the external soundcard... As it is a pure modulated digital signal! Anyway, I don't have the possibility to test that.
I went directly to the DSP solution without testing the sound on my car with the analog from the mobo...althought it should have been the first thing to do

canopy · 12-12-2005, 05:21 PM

...aren't the amp's input audio grounds "fisically" separated from the power one?
BTW... I would almost bet that if I use the analog out from the mobo the noise will be probably the same issue...

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