Topic: Benefit of XLR and DSP+EQ on subwoofer pair, with ADI-2 DAC
I have read some very informative posts on subwoofer integration for the ADI-2 DAC, but have a slightly different question I'd like help with. I'm yet to buy my ADI-2 DAC but am fairly sure it is the one, and am also yet to buy my subwoofers (the more difficult part).
I have Acoustic Energy AE1 active speakers. I want to run a stereo pair of subwoofers with them. My use case is only music, small-modest size home office room. Want deep but high quality bass (lots of electronic music). Haven't tested/analysed the room yet.
I was thinking to run the subs on the DAC RCA out, and AE1s on the XLRs, which gives me many many options for subs, but maybe not the best or easiest integration (depending on the sub) and risks ground loops.
It was suggested I should run everything on XLR / balanced, from DAC to subs, then to AE1s. This is interesting but limits the number of subs to choose from. Also have to consider if the sub has HPF or not. But maybe integration of the subs with speakers is easier in this case?
This led me to wondering about the value of having DSP (and PEQ) on the sub I choose. If I use the RCA out I can have subs like SVS with DSP & EQ etc to manage system integration and do some room correction. But to get DSP and EQ, and the XLR balanced inputs and outputs on the same sub seems like it is going to cost a lot more than I want to spend.
I ask all this because of the EQ features on the ADI-2 DAC, and my need to better understand what problem(s) it can solve, so I don't buy the wrong subs (e.g. buy more features on the subs that I don't actually need for good system integration and for room correction).
I am assuming I would do room correction with REW and a mic (or a similar solution), which can be achieved for the whole system with the EQ in the ADI-2 DAC (if I am correct). But maybe there is benefit in having further adjustment on the subs? This is a key question for me, because to get the DSP + EQ on the sub, I might have to give up on a balanced XLR connection for the sub.
The closest subwoofer options I can see so far in my price range are something like Dynaudio S9, or Rythmik L12 / F12 with the XLR amp. The former has no PEQ on the sub, but the latter does. They have some different options on HPF and the phase (dynaudio has more HPF options). Otherwise if I run subs on RCA I was leaning towards SVS.
The AE1s have both RCA unbalanced and XLR balanced inputs, so they could be run off either of the DAC outputs. I could run them on the RCA and subs on the XLR, but don't have a HPF in that case (although the AE1 do have a +/- 3db treble and bass switch on them but I don't think this is the same thing).
So in summary, what to prioritise in the sub given the features and options of the ADI 2 DAC?
Hopefully this makes sense and someone can help!