Hey Guys,
I've just bought a miniDSP SHD to get an all-in-one unit to cover both streaming and preamp duties and employing an active crossover.
I'm not super impressed by the look and feel of the unit. It feels very flimsy. Sound-quality seems acceptable, however.
Here's my question:
Does it make more sense to just get the miniDSP 2x4HD and get a better streamer, dac, and preamp, or will the 2x4HD also be a sort of bottleneck for future upgrades to sound quality?
Hope you can help,
Mads
I've just bought a miniDSP SHD to get an all-in-one unit to cover both streaming and preamp duties and employing an active crossover.
I'm not super impressed by the look and feel of the unit. It feels very flimsy. Sound-quality seems acceptable, however.
Here's my question:
Does it make more sense to just get the miniDSP 2x4HD and get a better streamer, dac, and preamp, or will the 2x4HD also be a sort of bottleneck for future upgrades to sound quality?
Hope you can help,
Mads
In my personal experience, all miniDSP products represent somewhat of a bottleneck in terms of sheer sound quality - though this will only be noticeable if compared to a really top-notch alternative (e.g., a really good high-end DAC).
My conjecture is that this is probably due to high-ish levels of jitter creeping in.
My conjecture is that this is probably due to high-ish levels of jitter creeping in.
Ok. Thank you. I was affraid that might be the case.
I like the functionality, but the question is whether I can get better sound by using the 2x4HD and seperate DAC and preamp. I guess it comes down to how transparent the 2x4HD is?
I like the functionality, but the question is whether I can get better sound by using the 2x4HD and seperate DAC and preamp. I guess it comes down to how transparent the 2x4HD is?
SHD tested by Amir shows jitter at -123dB level https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...sp-shd-review-updated-dsp-dac-streamer.18681/
2x4HD has jitter as well at -123dB https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...urements-and-minidsp-2x4-hd-dsp-and-dac.2674/
I haven't used SHD, only 2x4HD and 4x10HD. I use Yamaha AVR or WXC-50 as streamer/preamp. Mnidsp units have power on 24/7 as well as power amps. In other speakers I use Hypex FA123 units, two pairs also without problems.
Connectivity is one important question, it relates also to gain matching and that way to SNR.
2x4HD has jitter as well at -123dB https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...urements-and-minidsp-2x4-hd-dsp-and-dac.2674/
I haven't used SHD, only 2x4HD and 4x10HD. I use Yamaha AVR or WXC-50 as streamer/preamp. Mnidsp units have power on 24/7 as well as power amps. In other speakers I use Hypex FA123 units, two pairs also without problems.
Connectivity is one important question, it relates also to gain matching and that way to SNR.
I bought the nanosharc a minidsp 2x4hd without dac's, and used two Soekris dac's. Works well. However, they stopped making the nanosharc, so I am not sure whether you can get hold of one.
Thank you for your replies.
A 2x4HD without the DAC sounds great. But what about the digital version of a MiniDSP Flex, going digital in and digital out into two better DACS so you skip the ADC and DAC within the miniDSP? Would that give a better result perhaps?
I'm listening to the miniDSP SHD right now, just as a streamer/DAC/preamp and it's fine, but the top-end is a bit coarse. Maybe that's the jitter?
A 2x4HD without the DAC sounds great. But what about the digital version of a MiniDSP Flex, going digital in and digital out into two better DACS so you skip the ADC and DAC within the miniDSP? Would that give a better result perhaps?
I'm listening to the miniDSP SHD right now, just as a streamer/DAC/preamp and it's fine, but the top-end is a bit coarse. Maybe that's the jitter?
no, I adjust them in level with each other at the speakers by adjusting the miniDSP levels. I haven't been thinking of doing that on the dac's, but I could probably adjust them in level with each other at the dac's. I wonder whether there would be any benefit in doing so? Of course the overall level is done with the minidsp software.
| OK, so now I'm looking at the miniDSP Flex, digital version. My immediate thought would be to get better boxes to handle streaming, volume control, and digital to analog conversion. That would leave something like the miniDSP Flex, digital version, between my own streamer with volume control and my own two DACs. My thinking is that by going digital into the Flex I avoid a step of ADC, and by going digital out from the Flex to two separate DACs I can upgrade those as budget allows. Of course, I might go for the SHD Studio as well and skip the separate streamer part and focus on the subsequent DACs? I just vary of the SHD and the SQ bottleneck it could entail... Could someone help me here? Is my thinking flawed in some way? Has anyone compared the SQ of the SHD with that of a setup with separate streamer, volume control and DACs? Any help will be much appreciated. Thank you Mads |
Long time SHD owner here. I have a very early unit so your mileage may vary. It's stashed in one of my three equipment racks. I have found the DACs and ADCs to be quite competent, but will admit to wondering whether things could be better. (I recently bought a pair of TD-4001s so that should give you an idea of where I am at.) Mine has 32 bit AKM DACs and ADCs, and has an internal 32 bit signal path. The ASR review is extremely incomplete and I recommend ignoring it.
It's pretty transparent, but I am now using it as digital pre-amp and mixed digital (spdif > AES) and analog XO. Analog to a pair of subs, and digital to a heavy modified DCX which is configured as a 3 way XO with time delays, and a single PEQ filter on each mid-range channel for the Yuichi A-290/TD-4001s. Tweeters are FaitalPro HF10AK on STH100 horns, woofers Iconic 165-8G in 340L diy Onken cabinets.
Note that all my hardware has balanced I/O and I use XLR cables to tie all of this together - this might have some bearing on sonics.
The Dirac folk will have you believing Dirac is easy to use, and that is true, using it well is another matter. Big learning curve, once you figure it out it's quite powerful, but speakers need to mostly right as does room to get the full benefit of the technology.
I think you could spend a lot more and not get an appreciable improvement. Spend some time with it before deciding to move on. You may well decide to at some point.
I have a 4 way system and after nearly 5 years with the SHD I am considering a DEQX PRE-8 when it becomes available. (I am on the waiting list)
This is the best sounding system I have put together to date, and the SHD is a part of that.
It's pretty transparent, but I am now using it as digital pre-amp and mixed digital (spdif > AES) and analog XO. Analog to a pair of subs, and digital to a heavy modified DCX which is configured as a 3 way XO with time delays, and a single PEQ filter on each mid-range channel for the Yuichi A-290/TD-4001s. Tweeters are FaitalPro HF10AK on STH100 horns, woofers Iconic 165-8G in 340L diy Onken cabinets.
Note that all my hardware has balanced I/O and I use XLR cables to tie all of this together - this might have some bearing on sonics.
The Dirac folk will have you believing Dirac is easy to use, and that is true, using it well is another matter. Big learning curve, once you figure it out it's quite powerful, but speakers need to mostly right as does room to get the full benefit of the technology.
I think you could spend a lot more and not get an appreciable improvement. Spend some time with it before deciding to move on. You may well decide to at some point.
I have a 4 way system and after nearly 5 years with the SHD I am considering a DEQX PRE-8 when it becomes available. (I am on the waiting list)
This is the best sounding system I have put together to date, and the SHD is a part of that.
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