DAC died. Replace it with a new DAC or a miniDSP?

[japesinjapan]

Greetings fellow nerds.

My DAC is currently dying a horrible death. I need a new one.

Current chains:
1. PC into ifi ZenDAC V1 into Marantz 40n into LS50 meta.
2. TV via HDMI into Marants 40n into LS50 meta

Easy solution is to get a new Dac/Amp, maybe topping, and I can handle that. But what I'm really thinking is minDSP flex, and that opens lots of questions. Besides the room correction with Dirac Live, I'd like to be able to set crossovers (AVR style) so that the ls50 don't have to work so hard and I can send 80hz and below to a subwoofer (yet to be purchased). You know, the whole high-pass filter thing.

I've read here that the flex only performs well at max volume though, so I'm confused on how to integrate it with the subwoofer. Even if I used it on max, added a preamp, that would only affect mains, right? Also, I've lost my headphone amp too.

This obviously isn't desirable, so let me lay out my goals and let me know if you can see any pattern that works.

Needed: New DAC/Amp.

Wanted: Room correction, HPF for bass management.

Anyway to achieve all of this? Please note that I have 2 sources, the TV (HDMI or Optical) and the PC (usb/hdmi/optical), this is my bedroom/office setup.

Thanks!

 

[nerdemoji]

best value dac/amp i can think of rn for your purposes is SMSL dl200. Minidsp Flex also seems good in addition, and it should have transparent performance well below maximum volume. there are other options that might be cheaper that serve the same purpose from minidsp as well.

 

[japesinjapan]

best value dac/amp i can think of rn for your purposes is SMSL dl200. Minidsp Flex also seems good in addition, and it should have transparent performance well below maximum volume. there are other options that might be cheaper that serve the same purpose from minidsp as well.

Thanks. I'm not so worried about the price, I'm more of a "buy it/do it the right way, one time only" kinda guy. Also try to avoid chinese products where possible, but sometimes it is unavoidable.

 

[levimax]

Thanks. I'm not so worried about the price, I'm more of a "buy it/do it the right way, one time only" kinda guy. Also try to avoid chinese products where possible, but sometimes it is unavoidable.

You might want to look at the RME DAC's then.

 

[japesinjapan]

You might want to look at the RME DAC's then.

I was thinking JDS labs, but I'm still not sure then how to control volume for the subwoofer, and how to add dirac to the chain.

 

[Juhazi]

Maranz accepts analog and digital input in various connectors. Why would you need a new DAC?

MODEL 40n - Premium Integrated Stereo Amplifier With 70w, HDMI ARC and HEOS Built-in | Marantz - US

Premium Integrated Stereo Amplifier With 70w, HDMI ARC and HEOS Built-in

www.marantz.com

 

[RosalieTheDog]

If you want to add a high pass and use the minidsp for crossover, you need to control the volume there. You can use the marantz as a power amp only using the power amp in.

 

[japesinjapan]

Maranz accepts analog and digital input in various connectors. Why would you need a new DAC?

MODEL 40n - Premium Integrated Stereo Amplifier With 70w, HDMI ARC and HEOS Built-in | Marantz - US

Premium Integrated Stereo Amplifier With 70w, HDMI ARC and HEOS Built-in

www.marantz.com

Not sure about the dac quality in there, and I would still need one for my headphones anyways so it doesn't really solve my issue. I do use it for the tv though, but I wouldn't be able to set hpf or Dirac that way either

 

[japesinjapan]

If you want to add a high pass and use the minidsp for crossover, you need to control the volume there. You can use the marantz as a power amp only using the power amp in.

Ya, I was thinking that. But apparently it's sinad goes to shit if it isn't running at 100...

 

[japesinjapan]

How about this:

Dirac on PC.
USB out to dac amp. Optical from tv to dac amp.
Dac to kc62 for the high pass.
Kc62 to the 40n for mains.

 

[MAB]

Needed: New DAC/Amp.

Wanted: Room correction, HPF for bass management.

I think you partially answered your question. Room correction and filtering for sub integration is a game-changer.

At the risk of self-promotion, I built a pair of JBL M2 with MiniDSP Flex Balanced:

JBL M2 Clone

I recently measured a JBL D2430K compression driver and M2 lens. My goal is to build an M2 clone. The speakers are going to go into individual boxes allowing me to stack the woofer and D2 into an M2, or even include a midrange. I got a pair of B&C 5NDL38 for cheap, and if they don't work I...

www.audiosciencereview.com

And a pair of Small desktop speakers plus subwoofers in a fully active system with a Flex Eight:

Active DSP DIY speakers, for testing a few ideas

FFLOTSAM (Fabricated From LeftOver Things Studio Active Monitor) Active DSP speakers, for testing a few ideas I had some stuff lying around; a few random Baltic Birch-ply panels, some countertop material, a few cans of partially used brown spray paint, and some not-too clumpy spar varnish (that...

www.audiosciencereview.com

I also use a Mini DSP SHD that I use with a pair of active monitors plus subwoofers.
All of these allow room correction (DIRAC if you purchase the license).
MiniDSP have really nice application notes:

Applications

miniDSP is a leading manufacturer of Digital Audio Signal Processors for the HomeTheater, Hifi, headphone and Automotive market. Join our large community of Audiophiles, Engineers and DIYers using our innovative products.

www.minidsp.com

On top of the DSP, the Flex is a pretty useful source-selection/preamp including analog.

I have a Topping D90. It has no audible performance advantage, limited connectivity, and no DSP. I got DAC from RME with DSP and no longer use the Topping.

 

[japesinjapan]

I think you partially answered your question. Room correction and filtering for sub integration is a game-changer.

At the risk of self-promotion, I built a pair of JBL M2 with MiniDSP Flex Balanced:

JBL M2 Clone

I recently measured a JBL D2430K compression driver and M2 lens. My goal is to build an M2 clone. The speakers are going to go into individual boxes allowing me to stack the woofer and D2 into an M2, or even include a midrange. I got a pair of B&C 5NDL38 for cheap, and if they don't work I...

www.audiosciencereview.com

And a pair of Small desktop speakers plus subwoofers in a fully active system with a Flex Eight:

Active DSP DIY speakers, for testing a few ideas

FFLOTSAM (Fabricated From LeftOver Things Studio Active Monitor) Active DSP speakers, for testing a few ideas I had some stuff lying around; a few random Baltic Birch-ply panels, some countertop material, a few cans of partially used brown spray paint, and some not-too clumpy spar varnish (that...

www.audiosciencereview.com

I also use a Mini DSP SHD that I use with a pair of active monitors plus subwoofers.
All of these allow room correction (DIRAC if you purchase the license).
MiniDSP have really nice application notes:

Applications

miniDSP is a leading manufacturer of Digital Audio Signal Processors for the HomeTheater, Hifi, headphone and Automotive market. Join our large community of Audiophiles, Engineers and DIYers using our innovative products.

www.minidsp.com

On top of the DSP, the Flex is a pretty useful source-selection/preamp including analog.

I have a Topping D90. It has no audible performance advantage, limited connectivity, and no DSP. I got DAC from RME with DSP and no longer use the Topping.

With a signal coming from the mini dsp going to the amp and another to the subwoofers, where are you controlling the volume?

 

[MAB]

With a signal coming from the mini dsp going to the amp and another to the subwoofers, where are you controlling the volume?

I use the MiniDSP and RME DACs as a preamp to control volume.
All have competently designed firmware that restores the unit to reasonable state upon reset. This is important. All have been flawless but I realize with digital volume controls there's always a finite possibility an unexpected power reset inadvertently cause the unit to go to full volume and destroy things. I have the gain structure set on the M2's and my desktop speakers so that I don't blow my ears out, so no way to blow the speakers. The active monitors have advanced protection so no way to realistically blow them.
I have older DSP gear that is not useful as a preamp because of odd reset behavior, unreliable volume control behavior, etc. even if they were useful crossovers.

If you are worried about some sort of sound quality degradation, then you may need to look at gain.

 

[JeremyFife]

Love my miniDSP Flex... does exactly what you are looking for - apart from HDMI.
Not sure what your best option for adding HDMI is: converter? AVR processor (don't know enough about these but it should add DSP)
If you don't need to EQ your TV signal (or feed it to a sub) then the Flex is a good choice

 

[RosalieTheDog]

Love my miniDSP Flex... does exactly what you are looking for - apart from HDMI.
Not sure what your best option for adding HDMI is: converter? AVR processor (don't know enough about these but it should add DSP)
If you don't need to EQ your TV signal (or feed it to a sub) then the Flex is a good choice

Just use the optical out from the tv, I can't see what's the problem with that for a 2.1 system.

 

[japesinjapan]

Just use the optical out from the tv, I can't see what's the problem with that for a 2.1 system.

They are coming out with an HDMI version soon btw

miniDSP Flex HT

miniDSP Flex HT, 400MHz Sharc DSP audio processor, toolbox for subwoofer or multiway speaker tuning, USB/HDMI ARC/EARC, WISA, Optional Multichannel Dirac Live license for room correction,

www.minidsp.com