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Going Active - Discrete parts or Hypex Fusions?

MitchH

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Joined
Apr 17, 2024
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Going Active - Discrete parts or Hypex Fusions?

Hey Folks!

I am considering how to go active.
I’m a little torn between the Hypex FA253 served by a Wiim Pro Plus (digital output) or a discrete stack that looks roughly like Wiim Pro Plus (digital output) -> MiniDSP Flex HT -> Individual Amps (Example: Fosi v3 Monoblocks).

Use case:
Active speakers - 2 or 3 ways.
Fully digital sources (I own 0 physical media and will not need any ADC)
Will likely want to integrate subwoofers.
If Flex HT - could be used for 2 way LCR or room correction for 5.1/7.1 at some point if it gets retired from Stereo.


Hypex

Pros:
Simple
Clean
One system - easier support, all built to work together.
Minimal gain management
No testing new parts

Cons:
No testing new parts
Subwoofer out is harder?
Only 3 channels per speaker.

Active Stack

Pros:
Can test new parts.
Can manage subwoofers with extra channels of DSP
Can swap Flex HT into home theatre use if it gets replaced later
Can accept HDMI input from a TV.
More power available (depending on amp choice).
Global volume is easier.
Can get DIRAC

Cons:
Need to deal with gain management.
No Balanced output from Minidsp Flex HT.
Slightly more expensive.


Pricing:

Hypex
$290 AUD - Wiim pro plus
$1993 AUD - 2x Hypex FA253

Stack:
$290 AUD - Wiim pro plus
$951 AUD - MiniDSP Flex HT
$1125 - 6x Fosi V3 Monoblocks (example amp - kickstarter prices).

Hypex: $2283
Stack: $2366

Are there any points I’m missing?
Am I missing hardware options of a comparable quality and price?
What would you do?
Am I overthinking this?

Please remember in your discussion: I am using purely digital media - No ADC is considered or needed. I will NOT be collecting vinyl or CD’s at any stage.

Love to hear your thoughts!

Cheers
 
The answer is obvious to me but I’m partial and might not understand some details of your needs.
Why do you want the Wiim on both? I guess it’s needed as preamp with the fusions but seems redondant with the flex (that has coax/toslink and hdmi in).
So I’m partial to minidsp for their plugins, much easier imo than anything else, and here I favor ease of use over top specs.
One flex means one soft only to manage for tuning, easy to finetune the house target on the fly, 4 presets, dirac etc

But you didn't say if it was for some diy speakers you are about to build.
In that specific case the fusion might make a lot of sense since they will be integrated in the box (if not OB), clean look but not flexible for future upgrades.
If not you'll have to build them a box or something, could be cool but still less flexible than the mini in the long term, you'll be stuck with 2 channels.

Also you could consider the fosi v3 stereo, know reliability, half the number of devices and half the price for basically the same power.
No need to care about load dependancy with a dsp anyway.

So what about:
$951 - MiniDSP Flex HT
$500 (I guess) - 3x Fosi V3 st

$1400-1500 AUD, leaves some good money for the subs
 
Hey.
Thanks for the response.
The Wiim is the media source basically. Tidal, Amazon, Spotify etc etc. I’d be using the digital outputs into either the minidsp or the hypex.

These would be used for DIY active speakers for sure.

I understand the fusions could be “built in” to the speakers, but I’d much more likely make a little box for them and have them separate from the speakers.

Fosi v3 stereo would become the weak point for sinad and thd I believe? You are correct that load dependency isn’t a huge issue with dsp.

I’m honestly open to a “project” amplifier as well. I probably can’t solder to a pcb but I can assembled an amp from a pre-built pcb into enclosures etc if that will be a more economical and “better” option.
 
For me it would come down to fewer boxes and cords in favor of the Hypex. But I have WAF quotas to meet. :)
 
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