Anyone hear about the QSC DSP-30?

[Amphiprion]

This $500 unit looks like it fits in between the BFD and the SMS-1. It seems more powerful than either, with signal summing/splitting, crossover functions, shelving functions, limiters/compressors, lots of parametric EQ abilities, and more. It has no measurement capabilites I don't think, and it's not automated like the SMS-1, so you're trading off ease of use for power. But it does have a PC based programming interface, which is ridiculously easy to use, and you can add as many functions (EQ, XO, whatever) as you want until you run out of processor capability (which it neatly indicates at the bottom of the programming window as a % utilization).

Anyway, I hadn't heard this unit talked about before, so I thought I might see if anyone had heard of it / used it and if not, just post to make folks aware of it. Seems neat.

[ThomasW]

I'm sure Mark Seaton will drop by and post, this is a tool he likes to use.

[Dennis H]

It's good at what it does but it only has two inputs and two outputs. If you just want to EQ two channels, the Behringer DEQ2496 costs less. If you want a 2->6 crossover/EQ, the Behringer DCX2496 is the cheapest way to go. If you need the CAD-style programming interface like the QSC has, most likely you'll want more than two outputs so, for a few bucks more, the Rane RPM26 has the CAD interface, 2 inputs and 6 outputs.

Note: if you're a "transient perfect" fan, both the QSC and the Rane can do a subtracted-delayed crossover with no phase distortion caused by the crossover. Put a square wave into the crossover and the summed output will be a square wave. Lipshitz and Vanderkooy first published this kind of crossover and John K. made the DIY community aware of it. How audible all this phase distortion stuff is is open for debate but it can't hurt if you can live with the rolloff slopes imposed by the crossover. Basically 4th order on the lowpass and 3rd order on the highpass. Here's a pic of a 2-way subtracted-delayed XO done with the QSC.

[AJINFLA]

May I suggest another option: http://www.peavey.com/products/brows.../VSX%3F+26.cfm
Available online for about $450.
Peavey isn't BSS or Renkus-Heinz, but their products are well engineered and good (like the low-rider subs) value - at least the one's that I have used in the field.
I have the DCX, had a Driverack and will have to give the Peavey serious consideration in the future. Digital in, USB, etc. Unfortunately I have no hands on experience with the units, so performance, GUI, etc. are still unknown. My guess is that it's a good unit. Maybe very good.

cheers,

AJ