First "Audiophile" DAC/Amp for LS50 Meta

[Roland68]

Starting to settle on MiniDSP HT with UMIK-2 microphone and tripod, plus Dirac license. For the amplifier I am holding the Buckeye Hypex NC502MP 2-channel amplifier in my mind. I am letting go of the Peachtree Carina 150 and 300 due to lack of HDMI eARC and the first application for this setup is with a TV. I understand that if latency is preceived to be an issue, the solution appears to be to get an HDFury HDMI Adapter to fork the audio signal to the MiniDSP HT between the source HDMI device and the TV.

Now I need to fill out the system, including interconnects:

I am considering the KEF KC92 subwoofer.

WORLDS BEST CABLES - RCA to XLR (Male) Cable Pair - Canare L-4E6S Star-Quad Audio Interconnect Cable & Amphenol ACPL RCA & Neutrik Male XLR Gold Plugs. 1 foot to 3 feet. Considered Mogami Gold cables but they don't appear to make 3 foot or less in stock configurations, and World's Best Cables is $30.95 or less for a pair instead of $53.95 for one cable (Mogami gold-xlrm-rca-03 or 06).

Need an RCA subwoofer cable. WBC RCA cables are probably fine but I cannot seem to find them in lengths > 5 ft online. I own a Blue Jeans BJC LC-1 subwoofer cable, which has served me well but the RCA connectors on the ends are extremely long and thick and actually interfere with speaker and equipment placement a little bit. Thinking about SVS SoundPath Subwoofer Cable (3 to 8 meters) because it's a good brand, I perceive the price to be reasonable, and the interconnects do not look nearly as long and thick as the BJC LC-1 cable's interconnects.

Speaker cables--likely inspires endless arguments amongst audiophiles . Currently considering BJC Belden 5000UE (Gray jacket, 12 AWG) with locking banana plugs. Probably 4 to 8 feet. Want the connector for convenience, welded connection, good brand, don't see a need to go thicker than 12 AWG.

Already have satisfactory HDMI and USB cables.

Sound good? Anything else?

Your amplifier list is missing some amplifiers that meet your requirements.
Lyngdorf TDAI-1120, which also has an excellent room EQ including subwoofer management.
Leak Stereo 230 has analog outputs for the subwoofer, but unfortunately no subwoofer management.
This topic has already been discussed several times, perhaps you will find other devices in the other threads.

 

[SeanTek]

I'm in a very similar situation as you. I settled on a pair of KEF R6s with a MiniDsp HTx. I still haven't decided on an amplifier though. I also need a subwoofer and was actually looking at passive sub options without any luck. I need to run the sub quite a distance away from the system hence the need for this. Have you also considered RSL subs? They look good and are 1/4 the price of the KEF you're looking at.

I looked at the RSL subs, but it is hard to form an opinion without listening to them in person somewhere.

I found a KEF dealer that had two new KC92 subwoofers in stock and he let me buy one at a pretty hefty discount (low enough that I probably should not post it here!). It pays to ask around at all of your local KEF dealers within a 100-200 mile radius. At the beginning of this thread, I noted that I picked up a pair of LS50 Meta speakers on sale. It was at Best Buy for US$999; the current retail price is US$1599.

I finally pulled the trigger on my chosen products:
MiniDSP HT with Dirac license
MiniDSP UMIK-2 microphone and tripod
MiniDSP WI-DG accessory
Buckeye Hypex NC502MP 2-channel amplifier
KEF KC92 subwoofer
WBC WBC-PRO-QUAD 8 foot subwoofer cable with Amphenol ACPR-SWH Die-Cast, Gold Plated RCA Connectors
WBC RCA to XLR (Male) Cable Pair 1.5 foot - Canare L-4E6S Star-Quad Audio Interconnect Cable & Amphenol ACPL RCA & Neutrik Male XLR Gold Plugs
BJC Ten White Speaker Cable 6 foot with Welded Terminations (custom variant of Belden 5T00UP for ten AWG)
CableCreation 3.5mm Aux Cable 1.5 foot, intended to be used for 12V trigger

The products will arrive in the next 3 weeks so I am looking forward to hearing how it all comes together.

The one thing left that I am now thinking of, is a capable network streamer. Initially I will use the Sony Bravia TV for network streaming through eARC and I will see how it goes. I can also stream through a Sony UBP-X800M2 UHD player. If anyone wants to narrow down streamers that would be helpful--or advise that I can use my current Sony + Samsung equipment to do streaming as-is.

I just found the Bluesound NODE ICON ($999), which was announced two weeks ago. It could have replaced the MiniDSP HT products in my setup (well, the MiniDSP HT has not shipped yet--I could still replace it). The cheaper Bluesound NODE N132 ($549) also seems to have the right product specs.

It appears to compete somewhat with the WiiM Ultra ($329) (see also Bluesound NODE NANO $299). The key points for me are that the NODE ICON has a screen, XLR outputs, subwoofer RCA out, and HDMI eARC. The NODE has a control screen on top (not a real screen--therefore not much of a selling point), unbalanced RCA stereo + subwoofer outputs (willing to live with it), HDMI eARC, and USB audio out per below.

The WiiM Ultra has a screen, unbalanced RCA stereo + subwoofer outputs (willing to live with it), and HDMI ARC (useless) but it also has USB audio out so I can connect it to the MiniDSP HT USB in. The NODE NANO has no screen and no subwoofer out. The NODE NANO's manual, page 4 says:

USB OUTPUT (TYPE A) The NODE NANO can transfer digital audio (USB Audio 2.0) through to an external DAC via the
USB Type-A slot. Using a USB cable (not provided), connect one end to the USB output of the NODE NANO and the
other end to the corresponding USB input on a separate DAC device. Select your USB DAC from the NODE NANO’s Audio
settings page in the BluOS App to bypass the NODE NANO’s internal DAC via USB audio out. Note: when USB Output is
selected, all other outputs (Analog and Digital) are dormant.

Therefore, the NODE NANO could be connected to the MiniDSP HT USB input at high quality.

The NODE ICON and NODE both advertise Dirac Live "Ready", "available via a future software upgrade." They also advertise: "A calibration kit with a high-sensitivity microphone is also required and available from Bluesound with additional purchase," but I have not seen such a microphone on the Bluesound website as of now. I guess the NODE ICON and NODE could replace the MiniDSP HT in my setup but the Dirac Live features are currently vaporware so one could be waiting a very long time before those features come out.

It is also unclear if the NODE ICON and NODE have "home theater bypass" functionality to reduce latency on eARC.

Between the Bluesound, WiiM, and MiniDSP (SHD/SHD Studio), I guess a big differentiator is software. All are capable but each one has pluses and minuses on software experience and I am guessing the only way to know is to experience the software for oneself to see if you like it or hate it.

 

[blackiridium]

I am in a very similar situation as Im waiting on my R6s to come in and have already received my minidsp htx. The Node Icon seems like a very interesting product and could have replaced my minidsp as well. It’s not out yet so we don’t know at this point how comparable they are. Great choice on the amp. I’ll be going with a purifi option due to heat in enclosed spaces of my particular setup.
I’m also wondering whether there would be any advantages of the usb-c connection on the Icon vs the minidsp. It seems to me that it offers more bandwidth but that might not be needed.
One positive aspect imo is separating out a dac from a streamer. It seems to me that streamer technology changes relatively frequently while dacs don’t. So separating out the dac is a positive for me.

 

[staticV3]

It seems to me that streamer technology changes relatively frequently while dacs don’t.

Nine years ago Google released the Chromecast Audio which already supported bit-perfect audio streaming.

If all you care about is bit-exact audio transmission to your DSP, then you'll get identical sound quality with that, as with the Eversolo DMP-A8 or something ridiculous like the Lumin U2.

Naturally, manufacturers will try to convince you of the opposite

 

[bibi2000]

Seantek your analysis is interesting!
I owned a NAD T758v3 for 5 years, I have a WiiM mini/marrantz set up for my teen age son and my main system is LS 50 + T-REL Mini MK3 with MiniDSP SHD Studio / Topping E70V with balanced output -> boxem amps.

Taking into account your high end set up, I would consider first 3 factor of choice

• Room Correction
• Streaming Service
• Interfacing

Room Correction: The DIRAC live is until now a no brainer.

Its working great and moreover it is justified when your room/listenning position is not optimized. It would be in favor for Mini-DSP or Node "Icon" solution.

An important element to consider, if you plan for more than one Sub-woofer integration the MiniDSP HT or Flex are the solution (you may do the cross over and integrate more than 1 Sub...).
No doubt that the Node ICON DIRAC licences will be extra paid. If free, it would be a great selling point ;-).
Do not forget to buy a UMIK for proper measurement/calibration. The $ spent on it are not lost.

Streaming Service:

• BlueOs: As previous NAD T758 owner, I confirm that this OS provide a great user experience.
• Wiim: As Wiim Mini owner for my son set-up. I must say that its improving and smooth but it is not as User friendly as the BluOs yet and Hard to be driven from a PC.

Anyhow, if you are using only the Tidal Connect both are working great. T

Interfacing: For its price the Wiim Ultra looks fabulous and Versatile and associated to a Mini-DSP HT/Flex - SHD Studio I would say why not!
But the ICON have almost the same specs + balanced output, so It likely the problem solver.


Upon it my two cents suggestion:

No Budget restriction: Go with a Node Icon and wait months for Dirac availability before you sell eventually your mini DSP HT.

Budget "restricted": Go with an Wiim Ultra or Wiim Pro (using optical output of your TV and Coax of your Sony XM800) with your mini DSP HT or Flex.