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Dirac Live standalone for PC and Mac

Topping DM7, Octo dac8, miniDSP Flex HTx.
Topping DM7 is discontinued, hopefully a new model comes out as the DM7 worked for a lot of people. Can anyone confirm the miniDSP Flex HTx will work with DL + DLBC? MiniDSP customer support stated it will not for the PC standalone version.
The ZD3 is a two channel DAC.
ZD3 allows for both outputs simultaneously of XLR and RCA on one channel only. Dirac customer support confirmed it will not work with DL + DLBC. Unless we missed something.

My current setup is PC -> USB -> ZD3 -> XLR -> V3 mono -> Kef LS50s
Subwoofer at PC -> USB -> ZD3 -> RCA -> SB1000 Pros

Dirac C/S stated "Since the L/R speakers and subwoofer are connected together and both use the same L/R channel, it is unfortunately not possible to fully utilize Bass Control on your audio configuration. You would need an audio interface where the L/R speakers and subwoofers can connect separately, so the LFE can have its own channel."

If someone knows how to make the RCA a separate channel on the ZD3 that would be amazing.
 
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If someone knows how to make the RCA a separate channel on the ZD3 that would be amazing.

That's obviously not possible. You would need two ZD3s, one for L/R and one for up to two subwoofer channels. For more subs add additional ZD3s. See my earlier post.
 
Dirac and Minidsp both replied to you correctly about your questions. Both products have specific requirements - Dirac requires each L/R/LFE+ to have a separate native channel on your OS. Minidsp has their own ecosystem and interface so I guess with Flex it doesn't show up natively as a multichannel device on a PC?

If you want it to work perfectly with minimal effort you will need to invest in a new DAC, PC sound card or pro audio gear with at least 4 channels that show up automatically within your OS with perfect bit transfer and clocking speeds.

Plenty have been suggested in earlier posts. Pick one that offers the features for things you want like volume control, remote, visual display info, inputs/outputs you need, etc AND budget.
 
Minidsp has their own ecosystem and interface so I guess with Flex it doesn't show up natively as a multichannel device on a PC?
The Flex HTx says it has 8 input channels over HDMI or USB. There might be some confusion in what Jaskub asked versus what MiniDSP replied with though. AFAIK, all the MiniDSP devices take in signals from any source, and then do the DSP etc on device. They have special processors (SHARK's) that handle all of the DSP duties, and can also manage Dirac Live. I think they used to advertise that DLBC was coming to their devices, but maybe they couldn't get it to run? So that's probably what they are reffering to.

A big benefit to the way MiniDSP does the DSP in its own hardware is that you can plug any source in to it, and the MiniDSP will give the appropriate output. This is good for system integration, because it means your subwoofer integration stays set (timing and filters etc). In the more specialised case of doing actively controlled speakers, it is essential so that you don't accidentally send an unprocessed signal to a driver that can't handle it. My DIY subwoofer for example doesn't have any protection (no passive high-pass or low-pass filters), and both the main speakers and sub are at full gain because the PC does the volume control digitally. If someone came to my house and unplugged the DAC from my PC and put it in theirs, and then played some music, shit would go very wrong. That wouldn't happen with a MiniDSP style device that does the processing in it's hardware.

So after explaining that, I think you will find there is nothing stopping you from running Dirac software on your PC, and sending that output to a MiniDSP device. I would think that initially, you would run the MiniDSP with zero DSP in effect, and then let Dirac do it's magic on the PC. Once it is done, you might be able to copy some of it's config to the MiniDSP...? That's if Dirac reports "simple" config steps like delays, gains, and IIR filters. Things get a bit more complicated when DSP options like FIR and custom impulses per channel get involved, so that may have to stay on the PC.
 
Dirac and Minidsp both replied to you correctly about your questions. Both products have specific requirements - Dirac requires each L/R/LFE+ to have a separate native channel on your OS. Minidsp has their own ecosystem and interface so I guess with Flex it doesn't show up natively as a multichannel device on a PC?

If you want it to work perfectly with minimal effort you will need to invest in a new DAC, PC sound card or pro audio gear with at least 4 channels that show up automatically within your OS with perfect bit transfer and clocking speeds.

Plenty have been suggested in earlier posts. Pick one that offers the features for things you want like volume control, remote, visual display info, inputs/outputs you need, etc AND budget.

I am not sure we are talking about the same application scenario here. The OP's original post is about using the PC Standalone version, as he stated in post#309:

"I bought Dirac Live stereo + DLBC for windows 11. Is there a known good working balanced DAC with at least three channels that will work with DLBC?"

That means (if I understood correctly), he has the following license that is for running Dirac Live on a PC only, not the miniDSP device platform itself:

So, again, in this case, the miniDSP article he linked do not apply and the miniDSP such as the Flex, Flex HT, Flex HTx will work like a multichannel DAC and will therefore work with DLBC just like other DACs such as the Topping's 8 channel DAC, MOTU's 4 channel DAC and others do.

The 2X4 HD still will not work with DLBC but work with DL without the "BC" part, because, as you mentioned, it does not have a 3rd dac channel for the subwoofer, hence the name 2X4HD, i.e. only 2 inputs.

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I am not sure we are talking about the same application scenario here. The OP's original post is about using the PC Standalone version, as he stated in post#309:

Which is why I was questioning if the Flex showed up as a multichannel device within the PC OS. If it does then the standalone version will work with BC despite it not being supported on device. I'm aware Minidsp only offers regular Dirac on their devices.

I used a Minidsp 4x10 for years but on the Mac side of things and can't remember some of the details but I will say upgrading to an Okto and doing it in software (including standalone DLBC) is a much better solution.
 
Which is why I was questioning if the Flex showed up as a multichannel device within the PC OS. If it does then the standalone version will work with BC despite it not being supported on device. I'm aware Minidsp only offers regular Dirac on their devices.
Can anyone on here confirm that any of the miniDSP Flex models show up as a multichannel DAC via USB to pc?
 
Flex HT does.
Thank you!! I’ll either order the Flex Balanced or Flex HTx. Will I have any issues using the TRS cables on a balanced DAC to my SVS PB-1000 subwoofer?

Can’t wait to get both DL + DLBC to work.
 
Will I have any issues using the TRS cables on a balanced DAC to my SVS PB-1000 subwoofer?

No problems, I do the same. Volume leveling between speakers/subs will occur within DLBC measurements so the voltage difference isn't a problem.
 
Thank you!! I’ll either order the Flex Balanced or Flex HTx. Will I have any issues using the TRS cables on a balanced DAC to my SVS PB-1000 subwoofer?

Can’t wait to get both DL + DLBC to work.

I will likely be ordering the Flex HT in about a month, just wondering for just 2 channel with 2 subs to use DLBC, what is it in the HTx that you need? To me the HTx is great for someone who actually need the 8 channel balanced inputs but for 2.2 up to 7.2 using HDMI (or USB if that works) I would save the $350.

The TRS cables should work well with the right TRS to RCA cables, such as described below:

 
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Which is why I was questioning if the Flex showed up as a multichannel device within the PC OS. If it does then the standalone version will work with BC despite it not being supported on device. I'm aware Minidsp only offers regular Dirac on their devices.

I used a Minidsp 4x10 for years but on the Mac side of things and can't remember some of the details but I will say upgrading to an Okto and doing it in software (including standalone DLBC) is a much better solution.

According to miniDSP support, it should:


The answer they give to the question:

Is the Flex HT an 8 channel USB DAC?​


Indeed, the Flex HT is an 8 channels USB DAC among many other things.

Common sense tells me it will work but I don't want to take even a slight chance before spending so much on a 2 channel system just to gain the mini benefits of the DLBC.
 
Flex HT does.
Are you using Mac or Windows? Just want to confirm all the details on the Flex HT before taking the plunge to get both DL + DLBC to work on the standalone desktop application via USB using the Flex.
 
I finally read the manual, unless I missed something, it looks like to do 2 speakers + 2 subwoofers using DLBC window/Mac standalone license, the Flex 8 may not be able to do it, but the Flex HT or of course HTx can definitely do it, via USB input. So, I will be buying the Flex HT and get the job done within about two weeks. Too bad we have to pay for 8 DAC when we only need two. No one in the world is catering to just a small number of people who needs a 4 channel DAC I guess. MOTU is one of the very few if any more than a handful that can also do it, but it just doesn't seem easy to configure it, whereas the Flex HT seem straightforward, and have the added DSP functions that are more suited for stereo listening, whereas the MOTU's seem to be designed mainly for those who use workstation applications.
 
Are you using Mac or Windows? Just want to confirm all the details on the Flex HT before taking the plunge to get both DL + DLBC to work on the standalone desktop application via USB using the Flex.

I can probably let you know in two weeks, may be sooner.;) I want to be sure too as it is a no return for refund kind of deal, but having read the manual and asked them the question I am 99.9% sure now it will do the job find, just painfully expensive, for use with just 2 channel stereo.

@TOPPING, when are you guys going to launch a 4 channel DAC for <$350?? Most 2 channel stereo hobbyist need one for use with 2 subwoofers/Room correction, yet no one seems to make anything for them!!
 
Watching with great interest. Thanks for being the guinea pig!
 
The product page mentions "stereo digital inputs" and "Flexible 2x8 signal routing", so no, it won't suit.
Agreed, the FlexHT costs only $50 more, a much better value.
 
In short, you're going to do DLBC on the PC or Mac and use the FlexHT as multi-channel USB DAC? Makes sense.
 
Are you using Mac or Windows? Just want to confirm all the details on the Flex HT before taking the plunge to get both DL + DLBC to work on the standalone desktop application via USB using the Flex.
I'm mostly been on Mac where the Flex HT automatically appears as a multichannel output just by plugging it in. Tonight I was able to connect it to a PC. REW was able to send to all 8 channels without additional effort, but I had to install a driver before the OS would see all 8 channels. The driver is installed directly from the "MiniDSP Device Console" application that you use to configure the device.
 
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