Anyway, without measuring equipment perfect integration of a sub is almost impossible.
X-over is only one variable, speaker placement is at least equally important.

This valid question comes up so often, maybe we should have a sticky.

A Real Time Analyser is the best tool to optimize your setup:

The iPhone App "Audio Tools", FFT part, by Andrew Smith / Studio Six Digital is a self contained App that doesn't need any additional hardware for precise measurements:
https://studiosixdigital.com
There's a 7 day try out period available.

If you want to use it I can guide you through the process.

alexanderdemaet wrote:

I am missing some punch and dynamics from Focal JM Labs 946 Electra floor standing speakers.
Here is some info about the speakers:
https://www.hifi-regler.de/shop/focal/j … rz_alu.php
Technische Daten des JM Lab Electra 946 Standlautsprechers
Lautsprecherbestückung: 2 x 260 mm Sandwich "W" mit 40mm Schwingspule; 1 x 165 mm Sandwich "W" mit 32 mm Schwingspule; 25 mm tioxid beschichtete Invers-Hochtonkalotte, 20 mm Schwingspule, 2 x 56 mm Magnet
Frequenzgang: (+/-3 dB) 32 Hz - 23 kHz
Wirkungsgrad: (2,8V/1m) 93 dB
Nennimpedanz: (EN 60065) 8 Ohm
Impedanz: Mimimum 4,0 Ohm
Trennfrequenz: 200 Hz - 2.500 Hz
Maximale Belastbarkeit: 300 W
Empf. Verstärkerleistung: 40 - 250 W
Abmessungen: (H x L x B) 125,8 x 32,5 x 51,4 cm
Gewicht: 55 kg
Lautsprecherabdeckung: akustischer Bespannstoff, schwarz oder grau
Gehäuseprinzip: Bassreflex
Bassreflexöffnung: rund, vorne
Aufstellung Boden
Pressebericht in: Heimkino 3/2002

Would I need better monoblocks for better dynamics and punch?

Here is a 6moons review of the monoblocks. To be honest, I like the Focal sound!

I am trying to integrate a (ACI Titan XL) subwoofer.
I received 65Hz high pass filters with the sub.
I wonder if 85 Hz filters would be better?
Some info about high pass filters (https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?t … 84.new#new)

Frequency Response of the speakers : 32Hz to 23kHz +/- 3dB, -6dB @ 27HZ – JM Lab is known to understate their specs…

I use not ADI-2-Pro but RME UFX, UFX II in a Hifi system as preamplifier, crossover (4-way stereo), surround premap, DAC and ADC (for Phono and Tape input and Mic to measure).

I just dumped all the premamps except RIAA-phono as the RME UFX and UFX II can do all and even much more than a preamp.

I see no need for additional preamplifier to complicate the setup and introduce more hardware in the signal-path.

Sonically, and this is my opinion, the UFX and UFX II are way better than I can hear.
The specs and measurements show the facts.
ADI-2 Pro is even better than UFX and UFX II (specs, measurements). And yes I did ABX Tests (with headphones, STAX SR009 and Sennheiser HD800).

Peter

Logan Nolag wrote:

KaiS wrote:

If there's a passthrough that bypasses all active electronics you could connect ADI-2 Pro to the preamp and use it as pure hardware switcher.

This would give the shortest signal path for all sources.

I can see if I find a schematic, what model is that preamp?

The preamp is a McIntosh C47. It does have a fixed output that is unaffected by volume or tone controls but it is an unbalanced RCA output. The preamp has a total of 5 outputs: 2 variable unbalanced 2 variable balanced and 1 fixed unbalanced.

The McIntosh C47 can passthrough balanced signals, and you can select the passthrough input from all, except Phono and Digital.
Passes NOT to the fixed unbalanced RCA output, but to the main XLRs.

Read C47's manual page 9/22,23 and page 17 for details.

To activate passthrough you might, or might not need to connect the passthrough control cable and to switch on the AV-receiver. Just try.

According to this video McIntosh uses (glass encapsuled) Reed Relays for switching, this would be perfectly transparent to audio.
I wouldn't hesitate to use the passthrough for the ADI-2 Pro's signal.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kamJ5k20uKM

Great piece of stuff, the C47, BTW.

Yeah the C47 is pretty awesome. The only parts of it that aren't absolutely top notch are the DAC and the headphone amp which both feel like a bit of an afterthought. The DAC sounds great but it has a very annoying feature where it automutes whenever the USB signal goes silent then instead of coming back on immediately it ramps back up over around a half a second which means that sometimes the first bit of a song or video is cut off. They have fixed this with more recent preamps like the C49 but since the headphone amp also isn't the best I decided to get a dedicated DAC/Headphone amp to pair with my C47 or possibly replace it at some point.

KaiS wrote:

Logan Nolag wrote:

... my preamp has a passthrough mode which bypasses the volume control whenever the receiver is turned on so theoretically I only ever have the receiver or the preamp connected at a time.

If there's a passthrough that bypasses all active electronics you could connect ADI-2 Pro to the preamp and use it as pure hardware switcher.

This would give the shortest signal path for all sources.

I can see if I find a schematic, what model is that preamp?

The preamp is a McIntosh C47. It does have a fixed output that is unaffected by volume or tone controls but it is an unbalanced RCA output. The preamp has a total of 5 outputs: 2 variable unbalanced 2 variable balanced and 1 fixed unbalanced.

The McIntosh C47 can passthrough balanced signals, and you can select the passthrough input from all, except Phono and Digital.
Passes NOT to the fixed unbalanced RCA output, but to the main XLRs.

Read C47's manual page 9/22,23 and page 17 for details.

To activate passthrough you might, or might not need to connect the passthrough control cable and to switch on the AV-receiver. Just try.

According to this video McIntosh uses (glass encapsuled) Reed Relays for switching, this would be perfectly transparent to audio.
I wouldn't hesitate to use the passthrough for the ADI-2 Pro's signal.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kamJ5k20uKM

Great piece of stuff, the C47, BTW.

Logan Nolag wrote:

KaiS wrote:

Either way you're daisy-chaining, for the analog-, or the digital signal path.

Choose the setting that's better for the source you're mainly listening to:

• If you are mainly listening to digital through ADI-2, leave it as it is.
• If your true analog sources (like phono) are used the most reverse the setting.
•  If your "analog" sources are digital in reality, like a CD or Streaming Player, leave the basic setting like it is, but connect the digital source to the ADI-2.

... my preamp has a passthrough mode which bypasses the volume control whenever the receiver is turned on so theoretically I only ever have the receiver or the preamp connected at a time.

If there's a passthrough that bypasses all active electronics you could connect ADI-2 Pro to the preamp and use it as pure hardware switcher.

This would give the shortest signal path for all sources.

I can see if I find a schematic, what model is that preamp?

The preamp is a McIntosh C47. It does have a fixed output that is unaffected by volume or tone controls but it is an unbalanced RCA output. The preamp has a total of 5 outputs: 2 variable unbalanced 2 variable balanced and 1 fixed unbalanced.

KaiS wrote:

Logan Nolag wrote:

I need multiple analog inputs. Right now I connected the output of my preamp to the ADI-2 Pro FS R BEs analog input then I connected the ADI-2's output to my amp. Basically I'm using my preamp as an analog switcher and phono preamp. Do you think it would be better to connect the ADI-2 to the preamp and just use it as a DAC?

Either way you're daisy-chaining, for the analog-, or the digital signal path.

Choose the setting that's better for the source you're mainly listening to:

• If you are mainly listening to digital through ADI-2, leave it as it is.
• If your true analog sources (like phono) are used the most reverse the setting.
•  If your "analog" sources are digital in reality, like a CD or Streaming Player, leave the basic setting like it is, but connect the digital source to the ADI-2.

... my preamp has a passthrough mode which bypasses the volume control whenever the receiver is turned on so theoretically I only ever have the receiver or the preamp connected at a time.

If there's a passthrough that bypasses all active electronics you could connect ADI-2 Pro to the preamp and use it as pure hardware switcher.

This would give the shortest signal path for all sources.

I can see if I find a schematic, what model is that preamp?

Logan Nolag wrote:

bejoro wrote:

I and almost all of my customers with an ADI-2 PRO/DAC do not use a pre-amp, always a direct connection to a power-amp or active speakers. Unless you need more than one analog input. And we all have setups of very or extremely high quality.

The RME's great digital volume control is perfect and there is absolute no coloration, perfectly neutral.

If you want a specific sound, a specific coloration you can use a pre-amp to achieve that. But no electronic and a simple cable connection is always better than a complex pre-amp circutry.

I need multiple analog inputs. Right now I connected the output of my preamp to the ADI-2 Pro FS R BEs analog input then I connected the ADI-2's output to my amp. Basically I'm using my preamp as an analog switcher and phono preamp. Do you think it would be better to connect the ADI-2 to the preamp and just use it as a DAC?

Either way you're daisy-chaining, for the analog-, or the digital signal path.

Choose the setting that's better for the source you're mainly listening to:

• If you are mainly listening to digital through ADI-2, leave it as it is.
• If your true analog sources (like phono) are used the most reverse the setting.
•  If your "analog" sources are digital in reality, like a CD or Streaming Player, leave the basic setting like it is, but connect the digital source to the ADI-2.

Ok. That makes sense. My primary sources are 100% digital. I mostly use a PC, a MacBook, and the optical out from my TV. My analog sources are a Turntable, a vintage receiver which I use as a tuner, an aux cable and the left and right preamp outputs from my home theater receiver. Theoretically I could just connect all of the analog sources to the home theater receiver and cut the preamp out entirely but the phono stage in my preamp is way better than the one in my receiver. Also my preamp has a passthrough mode which bypasses the volume control whenever the receiver is turned on so theoretically I only ever have the receiver or the preamp connected at a time.

bejoro wrote:

I and almost all of my customers with an ADI-2 PRO/DAC do not use a pre-amp, always a direct connection to a power-amp or active speakers. Unless you need more than one analog input. And we all have setups of very or extremely high quality.

The RME's great digital volume control is perfect and there is absolute no coloration, perfectly neutral.

If you want a specific sound, a specific coloration you can use a pre-amp to achieve that. But no electronic and a simple cable connection is always better than a complex pre-amp circutry.

I need multiple analog inputs. Right now I connected the output of my preamp to the ADI-2 Pro FS R BEs analog input then I connected the ADI-2's output to my amp. Basically I'm using my preamp as an analog switcher and phono preamp. Do you think it would be better to connect the ADI-2 to the preamp and just use it as a DAC?

Either way you're daisy-chaining, for the analog-, or the digital signal path.

Choose the setting that's better for the source you're mainly listening to:

• If you are mainly listening to digital through ADI-2, leave it as it is.
• If your true analog sources (like phono) are used the most reverse the setting.
•  If your "analog" sources are digital in reality, like a CD or Streaming Player, leave the basic setting like it is, but connect the digital source to the ADI-2.

I am missing some punch and dynamics from Focal JM Labs 946 Electra floor standing speakers.
I am using the RME Adi 2 pro as preamp for the Norh Le amp MB100 monoblocks which are connected to the speakers with speaker cables.
As source I am using a Shanling M2x which is connected with usb to the ADI dac.

Here is some info about the speakers:
https://www.hifi-regler.de/shop/focal/j … rz_alu.php
Technische Daten des JM Lab Electra 946 Standlautsprechers
Lautsprecherbestückung: 2 x 260 mm Sandwich "W" mit 40mm Schwingspule; 1 x 165 mm Sandwich "W" mit 32 mm Schwingspule; 25 mm tioxid beschichtete Invers-Hochtonkalotte, 20 mm Schwingspule, 2 x 56 mm Magnet
Frequenzgang: (+/-3 dB) 32 Hz - 23 kHz
Wirkungsgrad: (2,8V/1m) 93 dB
Nennimpedanz: (EN 60065) 8 Ohm
Impedanz: Mimimum 4,0 Ohm
Trennfrequenz: 200 Hz - 2.500 Hz
Maximale Belastbarkeit: 300 W
Empf. Verstärkerleistung: 40 - 250 W
Abmessungen: (H x L x B) 125,8 x 32,5 x 51,4 cm
Gewicht: 55 kg
Lautsprecherabdeckung: akustischer Bespannstoff, schwarz oder grau
Gehäuseprinzip: Bassreflex
Bassreflexöffnung: rund, vorne
Aufstellung Boden
Pressebericht in: Heimkino 3/2002

Here is some info about the monoblocks:
https://www.tnt-audio.com/ampli/norhleamp_e.html
Le Amp is rated at a minimum of 100 watts into 8 or 4 ohm loads (based on IEC268.3 rules), and it supports power peaks of 160 watts into 8 ohms, or 240 watts into 4 ohms. This class A/B amp is rated at 0.010% total harmonic distortion (THD) at 72 watts continuous power into 8 ohms, or 0.014% THD at 105 watts into 4 ohms. It is available for 110-120 VAC 50/60Hz, or 220/240 VAC 50/60Hz.

Would I need better monoblocks for better dynamics and punch?

Here is a 6moons review of the monoblocks. To be honest, I like the Focal sound!

I and almost all of my customers with an ADI-2 PRO/DAC do not use a pre-amp, always a direct connection to a power-amp or active speakers. Unless you need more than one analog input. And we all have setups of very or extremely high quality.

The RME's great digital volume control is perfect and there is absolute no coloration, perfectly neutral.

If you want a specific sound, a specific coloration you can use a pre-amp to achieve that. But no electronic and a simple cable connection is always better than a complex pre-amp circutry.

I need multiple analog inputs. Right now I connected the output of my preamp to the ADI-2 Pro FS R BEs analog input then I connected the ADI-2's output to my amp. Basically I'm using my preamp as an analog switcher and phono preamp. Do you think it would be better to connect the ADI-2 to the preamp and just use it as a DAC?