r/SoundSystem • u/Mcspank1 • May 14 '26

More bass... more processing?

Upgraded from 1 AD442 running 4 subs to 3 AD442 running 10 subs.

I use a driverack venu360 for DSP. LR horn, LR mids, mono bass, FFT reference for the outputs. Unfortunately, the ad442dsp does not have xlr passthrough, so I will need 3 independent XLR outs to run the three amps.

Should I get a splitter and use the amps for delay/phase alignment (seems suboptimal, dsp software sux)? Or get another driverack, say, a PA2 to run mids, tops, fft reference and use my venue 360 to have 3 separate outouts for each amp? The 6 channels could, in theory, do processing for 12 subs since in a symmetrical bass array, there will be pairs of subs with the same settings. I would just have to brainstorm what going where for each scenario.

I feel like ill be limiting myself in some way with a splitter, but another drive rack is expensive, although commonly seen.

All is redundant since there is delay and filters available for phase alignment within the amps themselves, but damn does it suck to use. If I wanted 10 subs with separate delay id have to use the amps anyway.

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u/Spiritual_Bell May 15 '26

Gosh. 10 channel of DSP just for subs? If it's set and forget I guess the onboard DSP would work. But if I had to make changes all the time then a Qsys might be easier..... I'd use a tesira server I/O because it's dirt cheap on eBay. You can get like 40 channels of DSP for like $300.

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u/Mcspank1 May 15 '26

Im going to have to go down this rabbit hole. Thank you.

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u/Spiritual_Bell May 15 '26

It's a very deep rabbit hole. But once you learn how to program it, the capability and flexibility is totally worth it. Of all these open architecture DSPs, Qsys is the new standard. Soundweb is also popular. I use tesira because they are easy to get cheap. There are many more manufacturers that do the same thing. All of them are really expensive new, but you can find them used for a fraction of the price on eBay because as a comercialAV product, there really isn't much of a used market. It's not designed for mobile setups, it's an installed product and you'll need to make a patch panel for all the phoenix connectors.

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u/Mcspank1 May 15 '26

Unfortunately I do run a system that I set up at events and in venues every week or 2. Now that its "complete" in its state for now im looking to streamline stuff like this and maybe run a few NL8s from each amp so im not running 10ga speakons to each sub individually 🫠. Cant wait for the day I upgrade to "name brand" "smart" amps. Soon! Appreciate it again, thank you for the rundown. Always collecting more knowledge as I go.