Delay is very important imho, plus the passive solution also causes phase angle deviations. The best yan naging solution mo brader.
Can you please tell us more about this MiniDSP?
Ang maganda sa DSP, expert ka agad.
Kidding aside, the minidsp 2x8 requires a separate dc supply. Also, a plugin that can be purchased from minidsp.com. Yung sakin, nilagay ko lang sa wooden box but I'm sure mas maganda kung magawan ng magandang aluminum enclosure ito. You need a pc to be able to use the plugin, ofcourse. There is where you do the adjustments and settings.
Digital domain ang processing ng minidsp unlike other active crossovers. Mas flexible siya at mas maraming features. I was able to try a Sony Esprit active analog crossover which is very much expensive compared to the minidsp but I still like the resulting SQ from the minidsp. Mas kapit ika nga. Mas marami pa yatang brand na mas mahal pa sa minidsp pero ok na ko dito.
Importante sakin ang delay kasi if you will see my speakers, nakaforward ang woofers at nasa likod ang compression drivers and compression tweeters. Physically, I have no way anymore of adjusting the vertical alignment of my drivers because of physical constraints. With dsp, I can put some delay sa woofers. Malaking improvement sa integration ng bawat drivers and sa imaging. With dsp also, I was able to EQ bass sa aking system. Me certain frequencies na na-eexcite ng room ko. I cut a few db sa problem freq and ok na. What I don't do is add. I'd rather cut. But it's just me. No equalization sa mids and highs akong ginawa.
Picture of my present speakers
You have the option to use Butterworth, Linkwitz Riley, Bessel. Up to 48db/oct pwede. You can also cut the frequencies where you think your drivers work at their best and can even introduce holes in the frequencies between where two drivers operate para walang masyadong sapawan. Mataas pa sampling rate @96khz. Napakahirap gawin sa passive crossover ng magagawa nito and it will surely cost a lot.
Ang ayaw lang ng mga purists is the additional processing. Pero sa totoo lang, they will not even notice kung di mo lang sasabihin. Maganda pa rin magpatugtog ng plaka! Ang isang compromise solution is to mimic in passive when one had already tuned the settings in digital.