DSP in UK

ZeroT · 11-19-2006, 08:14 AM

I am just about to purchase a MII 12000 & Audigy 2 ZS Notebook PCMCIA card, from that I wanted to have run the optical out on the Audigy with one of these http://www.tvcables.co.uk/cgi-bin/tvcables/108-100.html to an Audiobahn ADD51T, BUT this is where the problem lies...

I cannot for love nor money find an ADD51T in the UK and im looking at $400 to get one from the US which is a bit much, are there any other options with an optical in that I am going to be able to find over here in the UK?

durwood · 11-19-2006, 06:02 PM

I don't know if this will help you but it's a list of amps with optical inputs. Whether you can find any in the UK is another story.

ZeroT · 11-20-2006, 06:58 AM

I was thinking of having optical -> dsp -> 3 amps, one for front, rear and subs.

Do you think its better to go straight to a single amp with an optical in then and ignore the dsp?

durwood · 11-20-2006, 08:00 AM

Oh I thought you wanted to run the optical out directly into the amp. Using the DSP would be a much better sounding system IMO. I am running optical out from my SB Live into an Alpine PXA-H701 and its great but the Alpine DSP is somewhat expensive for some. What DSP were you thinking of using? There is a thread stickied for processors but there is also a thread discussing software/hardware options to do the processing as well. Do you have a set budget? What did you need the DSP to do?

ZeroT · 11-20-2006, 08:54 AM

I would like to keep the price to around £200 UKP, and specifically the DSP should have a standard toslink optical in (nothing proprietary) and not require a separate controller, and more specifically should be available in the UK!

Tony G · 11-23-2006, 08:44 AM

Hi,

I have bought a zenec ZE51 - its a 5.1 DSP with an integrated set of amps. 3 * inputs - analogue, coax and optical digital.

It uses picture overlay for most of the menus. No hardware display - may be a plus point or negative - suits my setup and keeps things neat.

I have conducted a series of tests - and it peformes very well. Good seperation of dolby and DTS. Useful compression setting (on or off) for those movies with loud explosions! Plenty of power - although it sports a useful pre-out for an extra sub amp if needed.

Here's a link:

http://www.zenec.com/en_flash/index_flazub.html

Hope this is of interest.

ZeroT · 11-24-2006, 04:31 AM

The zenec looks pretty good, thanks for the link.

Can I ask how much and where you got it from?

cheers.

sama · 11-24-2006, 05:22 AM

TonyG, that looks like a good amp.

how does it handle 2 channel digital outputs? does it duplicate the signal on the fronts and rears?

Tony G · 12-12-2006, 10:26 AM

Sorry for the long delay - work has a lot to answer for..

I got the unit direct from Europe. Overall cost inc. shipping c. £200

When in 2.1 mode (stereo), the front and rear are the same. The centre channel is defeated, but the sub is active.

Choice of 5.1 modes, include phantom centre.

As I write this, looking at the clock, I realise that I will never get the time to install the damm thing (work, family, band, mtb, rugby club). Its not the unit (its very good) - its all the cabling and extra speakers I need to fabricate. If you have these sorted in your mind, this is a nice solution.

So if anyone in the UK is interested, let me know. Will post to you for £180

Tested but still in box, with all instructions, etc. Will dig out receipt for warranty.

sama · 12-12-2006, 10:34 AM

where are you based? how old is it?

Tony G · 12-12-2006, 11:25 AM

Hi Sama,

Based in West country - near Bristol.

Unit will be 4/5 months old by now.

sama · 12-12-2006, 11:34 AM

check ur pm matey

scott_fx · 12-12-2006, 12:01 PM

f.y.i. some dac's require volume control after the output stage for proper volume control and accurate conversion. i'm not sure how that zenec works but it's something to research