Help understanding Minidsp SHD studio signal routing and possible DAC options

[4D_Coaxial_Cube]

So I got a Minidsp SHD Studio because the SHD was twice as much. Deer Creek Audio's Rbay acct had the Studio variant for 1500USD a couple of weeks ago, then I checked again the next day and saw they reduced them to 950USD plus tax and 40 bux shipping. The user manual shows a routing configuration menu in the app that isnt present in the console when I use it. I asked Perplexity.AI which is a decent model with a more science focus rather than engagement oriented, but I am unsure if the console was updated or if something is buggy on my end. It said there is a known issue with the input routing matrix not appearing due to a few reasons. I went through all the suggestions to make it appear a few times and havent seen the routing matrix from the manual one time. I am able to assign Dirac 1 or 2 to each output channel, but thats it. So here are the things I am trying to connect.

I have an AES 110ohm Canare balanced cable going to an R2R Holo Audio DAC carrying signal from channel 1 and 2. Then I have 2 SMSL SU1 DACs using Canare SPDIF cables and 4 x E15HP2 Rythmik subwoofers, with 2 stacked in each corner of the front wall. The 3rd output in console controls 2 of them, but without being able to set the routing better.. the other 2 are controlled by an output that is controlled by output 1. Clicking Dirac 1 or 2 on the 4th output doesnt do anything to any speakers/subs.

Im not sure how to fix the issue. Ive tried several configurations and reloading the drivers/console software and a lot of suggested fixes, but I have not seen the "input button" that is supposedly at the top of each output strip even one time. Ive started to think that the console no longer uses them. Any help would be appreciated.

I switched out the 2 SU1 dacs with a Gustard R26 and am able to assign high and los pass slopes to each output but really would rather sell it as I think it is overkill for this duty. Im open to DAC suggestions that have great measured performance with AES input and balanced output... features dont matter of course and I would rather the bang for the buck go toward measured performance over unneeded connections etc. Thanks.

 

[Keith_W]

Let us reword your post so that it is clearer for people who have no idea what you are talking about.

You bought a MiniDSP SHD Studio. This takes 2 channel input, and has two 2ch digital outputs with no built-in DAC. You have to BYO DAC's so you can have 2 in, 4 out.

This is different to the MiniDSP SHD (non-Studio). The difference is that this model has built-in DAC's. It takes 2ch in, and 4ch analog out.

This paragraph is confusingly worded:

I have an AES 110ohm Canare balanced cable going to an R2R Holo Audio DAC carrying signal from channel 1 and 2. Then I have 2 SMSL SU1 DACs using Canare SPDIF cables and 4 x E15HP2 Rythmik subwoofers, with 2 stacked in each corner of the front wall. The 3rd output in console controls 2 of them, but without being able to set the routing better.. the other 2 are controlled by an output that is controlled by output 1. Clicking Dirac 1 or 2 on the 4th output doesnt do anything to any speakers/subs.

I have no idea how you have connected your MiniDSP to your DAC's. Please draw a diagram to show your connections. Start by using this picture:

 

[4D_Coaxial_Cube]

The first AES output goes to the R2R Holo DAC, there are 2 SPDIF outputs, each cable goes to a corner where each connect to an SMSL SU1 DAC and each DAC outputs RCA to 2 subs. For clarity each spdif > 1 dac > RCA cables > 2 subs. In the minidsp console Ive yet to see the routing matrix or "input buttons" from the manual pdf even once. Ive tried a plethora of tips that supposedly fix issues which have done nothing to make the input buttons or routing matrix appear. I keep wondering if there was an update that removed it.

 

[MarkHH]

The first AES output goes to the R2R Holo DAC, there are 2 SPDIF outputs, each cable goes to a corner where each connect to an SMSL SU1 DAC and each DAC outputs RCA to 2 subs. For clarity each spdif > 1 dac > RCA cables > 2 subs. In the minidsp console Ive yet to see the routing matrix or "input buttons" from the manual pdf even once. Ive tried a plethora of tips that supposedly fix issues which have done nothing to make the input buttons or routing matrix appear. I keep wondering if there was an update that removed it.

Could you provide a screenshot of how your MiniDSP device console looks like?

 

[4D_Coaxial_Cube]

Also, without being able to route inputs like shown in the manual, for some reason the left and right outputs from the Gustard R26 route signal incorrectly, with the left channel producing the right's signal and vice versus. Ive checked the back of it and the Holo Audio R2R and everything is wired correctly. The Holo DAC routes correctly.

 

[Keith_W]

You have 3 DAC's connected to a device that can only drive 2 DAC's at once. FYI, you can ONLY use EITHER AES1/2 and 3/4, OR SPDIF 1/2 and 3/4, not both together.

 

[4D_Coaxial_Cube]

You have 3 DAC's connected to a device that can only drive 2 DAC's at once. FYI, you can ONLY use EITHER AES1/2 and 3/4, OR SPDIF 1/2 and 3/4, not both together.

I thought that might be the case. I will send the extra SU-1 back. Unfortunately I cant return the custom SPDIF Canare cables, but I only hooked them up once so maybe I can recoop most of what I spent on them. I would rather get another DAC with AES in and balanced out. I would love if there was one really light on features so I dont have to pay for a headphone amp and extras that I wont be using. I wish there was something similar to the SU-1 but AES and balanced connectivity but I seriously doubt such a thing exists. Thanks for clarifying the issue.

 

[4D_Coaxial_Cube]

You have 3 DAC's connected to a device that can only drive 2 DAC's at once. FYI, you can ONLY use EITHER AES1/2 and 3/4, OR SPDIF 1/2 and 3/4, not both together.

Also, any clue why the left and right channels are switched on the Gustard R26... also judging by the screen cap I posted should I have a routing matrix like seen in the manual or is that from a previous console build?

 

[JustJones]

Also, any clue why the left and right channels are switched on the Gustard R26... also judging by the screen cap I posted should I have a routing matrix like seen in the manual or is that from a previous console build?

Try disconnecting Dirac and see if the other routing matrix shows up.

 

[4D_Coaxial_Cube]

Try disconnecting Dirac and see if the other routing matrix shows up.

I can unclick the Dirac 1 and 2 on each of the output strips but that doesnt do anything to bring it up. The 2 smaller strips to the left labeled Dirac 1 and Dirac 2 have nothing clickable in them. Ive tried a lot of things to bring up this fabled routing matrix heh. Ive uninstalled the console and drivers a few times. Once was because the driver wouldnt change the sample rate to the native sample rate in the UAC2 control panel. I had to remove the drivers and uninstall the minidsp console. Then it worked great for a night and the next morning my silly furball of a dog stepped on the remote and switched the input and I didnt notice,(I heard a clikc but wasnt sure what she did at the time) which made me repeat the entire process before realizing it was simply on the wrong input.

The laptop is pretty capable with a 12th gen I7 CPU, 16gb RAM and 4tb of NVME storage. Ive uninstalled all of the driver packages for previous DACs that I connected directly and disabled all output options in windows sound preferences. I saw somewhere that verifying documents stores locally can reinitiate the routing matrix, but mine was already set to local over drop box.

 

[JustJones]

I mean click the red button where it says DISCONNECT.

 

[4D_Coaxial_Cube]

Unfortunately that just brings me to the first page to discover and select the device. No sign of the routing matrix from the manual.

 

[JustJones]

Sorry I was thinking of the old plug-in and thought you were connected to Dirac. It looks like this is the new Device Console.

 

[4D_Coaxial_Cube]

Certainly no need to apologize, you helped me out a bit. I had a feeling the old console was in the manual and it simply changed, though I would really liked the way it looks in the manual. I really like how much cleaner my system sounds now with the with cross over slopes. I havent even done the measurements yet to make the room correction filter. I think I will get a Gustard X16 for second DAC purposes. Thanks for the screen grab and clarification.