Behringer DCX2496 -- dc power supply - Page 4

envisionelec · 09-18-2007, 11:05 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Dennis5587

I'll take pics when I go home, the inside is virutally empty, there is just the power supply, which we swap out, the front pannel, which is most of the space, the rear pannel, and a small board for processing inside. You only need 3 of these 4, 2 of the 3 connects useing a ribbon cable, and the only other connection uses wires for power. Totally downsizeable.

On the downside, my amp is messed up

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/car-...300-4-amp.html

edit: You could also relocate the front panel to a more convienient spot... but it would be tricky splitting the panel up

Please keep in mind that taking the Behringer apart increases the chances for radiated noise to get into the audio circuitry. Particularly when you extend the ribbon cables - you must use shielded ribbon cables. You will end up with a constant high pitched buzzing in the audio which doesn't go away until you unplug the front panel. Of course, if you don't USE the front panel, this isn't a problem.

RedGTiVR6 · 09-18-2007, 11:11 PM

lol - I downloaded the software and had a look-see.

Looks promising. I'm going to have to go out and copy down all my settings in the alpine currently and enter them into the software and see if it can handle all of the processing.

I'll be needing two of these things though so I can get 8 channels of output...which means each unit would only need to do 4 channels of processing, which means the processing power limitation might not be much of a concern.

So I'll be looking at around $830 for two of these things and then I've got to find somewhere to put them, then I'll have to custom make cables for XLR outputs...at 9v balanced out, that's 4.5v unbalanced...so not too much higher than the Alpine.

However, a great benefit I think I see is that for linearity purposes you can set adjustments based on volume level? I'm not 100% but it seems that way.

I'm planning on running a Hippo HiFi Bloat in this mix along with an analog POT...so it would look like this:

Computer -> USB out to Hippo DAC -> Analog Pot for volume on RCA out of Hippo DAC -> Analog RCA into Behringer -> process signal -> XLR out -> RCA into amplifiers

I'm going to have to see how the volume control before the Behringer is going to behave.

I'm not 100% about the D/A/D/A conversions in this chain though. Yes, I could get rid of the DAC and just run optical in according to some posts I'm reading, but then I can't have an analog volume control. Since the Behringer doesn't allow for volume control this is going to be very important. From my experiences, once you've set many mobos to optical out or you're running bit-perfect out, you cannot use any sort of volume control on the PC...naturally - because it is no longer bit-perfect at this point. So then, where would volume control take place?

This is a bit of a delima...

scott_fx · 09-18-2007, 11:20 PM

well, you can get your hands on a the audiocontrol mvc or two and control the volume after the dbx. apparently vista handles volume control differently then the xp's kmixer so you may still be able to control the volume via the computer:
http://www.diymobileaudio.com/forum/...ad.php?t=19568

if you want to control the volume between the dac and the you always can buy my joshua tree stepped attenuator :-) hell... you could by my dac too! i'd give you a deal!!!

Dennis5587 · 09-18-2007, 11:20 PM

how you get 830?

I got mine for 269 at samash (A music store around here, but you can go anywhere that has pro audio)

so thats 538

Then the power supply's

120 each, thats 240

568+240=778, I'm sure you can get it for around that...

edit: anyway, what music software you run? If you run road runner with winamp, you can have roadrunner set to control winamps volume... that could work?

Dennis5587 · 09-18-2007, 11:24 PM

Hey envisionelec, I see that your viewing this thread... how those power supplies comming along?

RedGTiVR6 · 09-18-2007, 11:24 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by scott_fx

well, you can get your hands on a the audiocontrol mvc or two and control the volume after the dbx. apparently vista handles volume control differently then the xp's kmixer so you may still be able to control the volume via the computer:
http://www.diymobileaudio.com/forum/...ad.php?t=19568

Vista will not be on my CarPC....it won't be on any PC of mine for quite some time...

Quote:

if you want to control the volume between the dac and the you always can buy my joshua tree stepped attenuator :-) hell... you could by my dac too! i'd give you a deal!!!

How did you have your Hippo DAC configured? Did you opt for all of the upgrades they offer?

How did you like the stepped attenuator v. a non-stepped one?

Do you just have the board or the board and pot? Is this your auction by chance? http://cgi.ebay.com/Twisted-Pear-Jos...QQcmdZViewItem

envisionelec · 09-18-2007, 11:26 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by RedGTiVR6

lol - I downloaded the software and had a look-see.

Looks promising. I'm going to have to go out and copy down all my settings in the alpine currently and enter them into the software and see if it can handle all of the processing.

I'll be needing two of these things though so I can get 8 channels of output...which means each unit would only need to do 4 channels of processing, which means the processing power limitation might not be much of a concern.

So I'll be looking at around $830 for two of these things and then I've got to find somewhere to put them, then I'll have to custom make cables for XLR outputs...at 9v balanced out, that's 4.5v unbalanced...so not too much higher than the Alpine.

However, a great benefit I think I see is that for linearity purposes you can set adjustments based on volume level? I'm not 100% but it seems that way.

I'm planning on running a Hippo HiFi Bloat in this mix along with an analog POT...so it would look like this:

Computer -> USB out to Hippo DAC -> Analog Pot for volume on RCA out of Hippo DAC -> Analog RCA into Behringer -> process signal -> XLR out -> RCA into amplifiers

I'm going to have to see how the volume control before the Behringer is going to behave.

I'm not 100% about the D/A/D/A conversions in this chain though. Yes, I could get rid of the DAC and just run optical in according to some posts I'm reading, but then I can't have an analog volume control. Since the Behringer doesn't allow for volume control this is going to be very important. From my experiences, once you've set many mobos to optical out or you're running bit-perfect out, you cannot use any sort of volume control on the PC...naturally - because it is no longer bit-perfect at this point. So then, where would volume control take place?

This is a bit of a delima...

I want to clarify the idea that the Behringer is a balanced-signal ONLY piece.

That is not the case. The input as well as outputs are equally suitable for balanced or unbalanced operation with the same gain. The reason for this is because Behringer uses servo feedforward circuitry. This means that the input gain will automatically increase when an unbalanced source is connected. Similarly, the output gain will automatically increase when an unbalanced load is connected. The gain increases in both circumstances are equivalent to a properly terminated balanced signal's dBv level (all else considered equal, as well).

scott_fx · 09-18-2007, 11:32 PM

here are some additional pics from my thread over at diyma. i hope i'll get some more but here is the 'main' board:

i dont have a hippo dac, rather i have crystal dac eval board (122 s/n ratio, 192/24 bit, balanced output)
http://www.cirrus.com/en/pubs/rdData...s43122eb-1.pdf
thread discussing the unit:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showt...=&pagenumber=1

as far as how i like the stepped attenuator...it's never seen a signal so i can't comment. i know it has a pretty good following over at diyaudio. the main reason why i got it was the fact that the pot is completely out of the signal path so you can buy a cheap pot and extend it as far away from the board as you want (the guys over at twisted pear tested it at 16 ft for me)

http://www.twistedpearaudio.com/joshuatree/jt.aspx

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showt...threadid=74224

envisionelec · 09-18-2007, 11:34 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Dennis5587

Hey envisionelec, I see that your viewing this thread... how those power supplies comming along?

Very well. I (unexpectedly) received the boards about a week later than quoted due to a minor manufacturing error. I still plan to ship everyone's preorders out on Sept 21 (this Friday).

scott_fx · 09-18-2007, 11:34 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by envisionelec

I want to clarify the idea that the Behringer is a balanced-signal ONLY piece.

That is not the case. The input as well as outputs are equally suitable for balanced or unbalanced operation with the same gain. The reason for this is because Behringer uses servo feedforward circuitry. This means that the input gain will automatically increase when an unbalanced source is connected. Similarly, the output gain will automatically increase when an unbalanced load is connected. The gain increases in both circumstances are equivalent to a properly terminated balanced signal's dBv level (all else considered equal, as well).

so layman's terms is taht you'll get 9v outs regardless if it's balanced or not?

RedGTiVR6 · 09-18-2007, 11:34 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Dennis5587

how you get 830?

I got mine for 269 at samash (A music store around here, but you can go anywhere that has pro audio)

so thats 538

Then the power supply's

120 each, thats 240

568+240=778, I'm sure you can get it for around that...

$50 here or there is not a concern. I'm comparing the DBX ($2200 retail + PSU modification) to this...

If the Behringer cannot do what I need precisely, then no matter what the money savings, it's not an option.

Quote:

edit: anyway, what music software you run? If you run road runner with winamp, you can have roadrunner set to control winamps volume... that could work?

I don't run Road Runner. Either way, if you run bit-perfect and in some applications if you run optical output only, you cannot control the volume on the computer...no matter what program you're using - WinAmp, WMP, FooBar, iTunes, etc.

envisionelec · 09-18-2007, 11:38 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by scott_fx

so layman's terms is taht you'll get 9v outs regardless if it's balanced or not?

Sure, if you can get 9V in (at 0dB)! I've not yet seen a headunit that can do this (no matter what the screen printing on the faceplate says).

Hi Volt heads are great if you need them. Problem is - 2V heads work just fine if your downstream equipment is any good.

RedGTiVR6 · 09-18-2007, 11:39 PM

head unit...what's that?

on a different note...you will only have the voltage out that you put in...so say I go with the Hippo HiFi USB DAC...which only has something like .5v output...means I'll only have .5v out to of the Behringer to the amps, correct?

hrmmm....

Dennis5587 · 09-18-2007, 11:43 PM

HAHA... have you seem the site?

RedGTiVR6 · 09-18-2007, 11:45 PM

the site....which site?