djones, unless you listening to fax tones there is a DA conversion before final amplification. So you are saying your amps are in your speakers. There was one amp the TacT S 2175 which essentially was a power DAC. The conversion was done in the output stage of the amp.
mehtayoungs, we are on the same page as is Roger Sanders of Sanders Sound Systems. Active crossovers are the way to go, digital active crossovers. I think the easiest way to go is with a digital preamplifier that contains enough channels and crossovers to suite. Such as this one
https://www.trinnov.com/altitude-16/ It is marketed as a Home Theater preamp but you can use the channels for anything you want. It is pretty pricey but then all you have to add are the right amplifiers. Gain control is in the preamp so amps do not need anything. Then it is all about the speakers and the sky is the limit.
The room is very important but you can minimize the problem by using directional speakers such as dipoles, line sources and horns. Point source dynamic speakers do not do it for me but this is what the vast majority use and there are some silly expensive ones out there.
This is an exciting time for people who like to make their own speakers. Calibrated microphones with impulse measurement programs are readily available for relatively small cash. Units like the one above will not only provide active crossovers but will also time align the drivers. Room control can take care of whatever minor discrepancies are left.
Using the right drivers, in the right enclosures and you easily obtain SOTA results.
