Help with DSP/Processor/Pre-Amp configuration

[Epos7]

I have a multipurpose setup I use for TV/movies, video games, and music. Sources include a record player, PC, Nvidia Shield. It's currently a two-channel system with two subwoofers, but I plan to add a center channel in the next year or two.

My current conundrum is figuring out how to add DSP to my setup while allowing for the flexibility to add a center channel in the future. I have a UMIK-1 and would like to use REW. I think the MiniDSP HTx is what I want, but I have some questions.

Current equipment:

• Denon X3700H AVR
• Parasound Halo P6 pre-amp
• March Audio P452 power amp
• (2) Rhythmik F12SE-XLR3 subwoofers

1) Am I correct in thinking that if I added the HTx, I'd want to output multichannel PCM from my X3700H over HDMI into the HTx?

2) To add a center channel, would I then need to add a separate pre-amp and power amp for the center? I don't believe I'd be able to feed the center channel output from the HTx back into the amplifier section of the X3700H.

3) Would I be sacrificing anything using the subwoofer outputs on the P6 over the HTx? Having the subs connected to the P6 would allow me to use the phono input on the P6 for my record player.


Thanks in advance, I appreciate any input. I've been putting this system together over a few years, but getting close to having the setup I want.

 

[Rednaxela]

How about @OCA’s Audyssey One?

 

[Chrispy]

Why are you using both a pre-amp and an avr? Is the Audyssey dsp with editor app not working for you or ?

 

[dualazmak]

Just for your possible interest...

My PC-DSP-based ("EKIO" as system-wide DSP center) multichannel multi-SP-driver multi-amplifier fully active audio setup using OKTO DAC8PRO 8-Ch DAC would be somewhat (more or less) of your reference, I assume. You would please find the latest system setup here on my project thread.

 

[Epos7]

Why are you using both a pre-amp and an avr? Is the Audyssey dsp with editor app not working for you or ?

I primarily bought the AVR for its (non-DSP) processing features. I wish there was something smaller without the amplification, but the dedicated processor options available when I purchased were both more expensive than the X3700H, and they were the same size. I don't think they would have performed much better, if at all.

The P6 has a home theater bypass feature, which makes it quite flexible. It was recommended to me by Rythmik for that feature among others. I'm not married to it if it makes more sense to just use the Denon pre amps for everything.

I haven't been left with a great impression of Audyssey so far. Maybe I need to give it more of a chance, but my understanding has been that Dirac is a far superior option. Maybe things have changed recently?

 

[Chrispy]

I primarily bought the AVR for its (non-DSP) processing features. I wish there was something smaller without the amplification, but the dedicated processor options available when I purchased were both more expensive than the X3700H, and they were the same size. I don't think they would have performed much better, if at all.

The P6 has a home theater bypass feature, which makes it quite flexible. It was recommended to me by Rythmik for that feature among others. I'm not married to it if it makes more sense to just use the Denon pre amps for everything.

I haven't been left with a great impression of Audyssey so far. Maybe I need to give it more of a chance, but my understanding has been that Dirac is a far superior option. Maybe things have changed recently?

What features would those be particularly? There are pre-pros but generally no performance advantage over just using an avr as pre-pro.

Adding in two ch gear is just duplicating stuff with no clear advantage. Home theater bypass, meh. What did Rythmik say is the particular advantage? Are you using Audyssey just in the avr? Editor App? MultEQ-X? Audyssey One?

 

[Epos7]

What features would those be particularly? There are pre-pros but generally no performance advantage over just using an avr as pre-pro.

Adding in two ch gear is just duplicating stuff with no clear advantage. Home theater bypass, meh. What did Rythmik say is the particular advantage? Are you using Audyssey just in the avr? Editor App? MultEQ-X? Audyssey One?

Decoding of various Dolby audio formats. I have a Plex server I play TV and movies from. Like you say, there was no advantage in buying a pre-pro that cost more than the X3700H, so I bought the AVR.

The HTx wasn't available at the time, and Audyssey on the Denon was underwhelming. I was considering the MiniDSP SHD so I could use Dirac with my music (stereo) sources and Audyssey for TV and movies. HT bypass would have let me use both. It looks like there may be additional options since I last looked into it. I was using Audyssey with the editor app, I don't believe MultiEQ-X or Audyssey One existed yet.

 

[Chrispy]

Decoding of various Dolby audio formats. I have a Plex server I play TV and movies from. Like you say, there was no advantage in buying a pre-pro that cost more than the X3700H, so I bought the AVR.

The HTx wasn't available at the time, and Audyssey on the Denon was underwhelming. I was considering the MiniDSP SHD so I could use Dirac with my music (stereo) sources and Audyssey for TV and movies. HT bypass would have let me use both. It looks like there may be additional options since I last looked into it. I was using Audyssey with the editor app, I don't believe MultiEQ-X or Audyssey One existed yet.

Hard to know what your expectations were as to why it was underwhelming. The whole separating music from other content as needing something different is not my experience. You could just bypass Audyssey to replicate a bypass I'd think (or you mean the avr L/R bypass feature, which really isn't audyssey's?)