I replaced my AVR with a Flex HT, but don't recommend it.

[Tre2023]

When connecting external devices that can output multichannel PCM directly to a TV supporting eARC, the TV’s HDMI input ports should be set to bitstream and the Digital Output Audio should be set to Passthrough, not PCM.

Setting the output to PCM will down mix all incoming signals to PCM 2.0 for output. Input source devices will be communicated the info and limit their settings accordingly. LG TVs must also have eARC Support enabled or signal output will be bandwidth limited to the ARC spec and result in a down mix of multichannel PCM signals from an input source device.

Using Dolby Atmos for Home Theater setting with an optical cable limits signal output to Dolby Digital 5.1 and multichannel PCM will be off the table. If using HDMI for connection to a TV and eARC out to a device such as the Flex HT, select 7.1 uncompressed sound output in the input source device. Device settings and capabilities will vary of course.

 

[darth]

Using Dolby Atmos for Home Theater setting with an optical cable limits signal output to Dolby Digital 5.1 and multichannel PCM will be off the table. If using HDMI for connection to a TV and eARC out to a device such as the Flex HT, select 7.1 uncompressed sound output in the input source device. Device settings and capabilities will vary of course.

Where would one find such a setting for PC? Trying to understand how/what format is Dolby access sending over hdmi to tv. For Apple TV it ends up decoding on device before sending it over as pcm, but what about for a pc? Looking at the sound properties, it shows supported formats, but I am not seeing for a way to disable the encoded ones. I dont have a flex ht to try (but made sure TV out is eArc/pass-through and input in the TV is also bitstream). curious if PC will also work similarly to apple tv.

 

[Tre2023]

If the device does not support uncompressed multichannel PCM for output, two channel PCM would be the setting to use for output rather than any Dolby bitstreams using Dolby Access as they are not supported by the Flex HT.

 

[tyee]

I'm considering the FlexHT also for HT. So do you basically set levels on all outputs using a mic, set a LPF for your xover for the sub output, set a HPF for all other channels and that's it?

 

[jaakkopetteri]

I'm considering the FlexHT also for HT. So do you basically set levels on all outputs using a mic, set a LPF for your xover for the sub output, set a HPF for all other channels and that's it?

You also need to route each signal to their corresponding output, particularly so for multichannel. In my 4.2 setup for example, I need to mix the center channel into L/R and four surround channels into two. You could also do the inversion trick (I think MiniDSP showed it in some tutorial) where you direct "extreme" audio from mains into surrounds for a wider soundstage.

 

[darth]

Their manuals are pretty good imo that helps through the whole setup

miniDSP Flex HTx User Manual

docs.minidsp.com

 

[peng]

I have owned the 2X4HD (sold), Flex HT and HTx and would like to remind potential buyers of the following, it may or may not matter (not to me anyway) but admittedly I did not know the two facts listed below, all on the website but not hard to miss, unfortunately.

1) The Flex HT and HTx runs at 48 kHz while the 2X4HD and Flex, Flex 8 can run at 96 kHz.
2) The HT, HTs don't have the FIR filter option.
3) HT/HTx do not have input source volume offset adjustments, but apparently will have in future (not sure when) via FW updates.
4) HT/HTx do not have PEQ option on the inputs.

1) and 2) above will not likely change via future FW updates, if miniDSP wants to give the same features to the HT series, I assume they will have to use a different DSP chip.

If I had known all of the above (my fault that I did not read the website info carefully), I might have opted for the Flex 8, but I likely still have opted for the HT/HTx because they could be useful if my AVP for my HT system is in trouble, hopefully not for a long time. Also, I like the HT/HTx's 8 inputs feature, so again, I think I have made the right choice regardless.

I just hope miniDSP will use a more powerful DSP IC in the next launch of new products so that there won't be anything the Flex 8 can do that the HT series cannot do on the audio side. In that case, they can always make 1) 2) and 4) above optional, for price adders. They currently have such paid options already so it shouldn't be hard to do the same with the new products.

 

[jaakkopetteri]

3) HT/HTx do not have input source volume offset adjustments, but apparently will have in future (not sure when) via FW updates.

This was done in Device Console Rev 1.1.18, since November

 

[danstahl]

It doesn't have the options in the console that I can tell? Though they may have added an automatic input trim

 

[peng]

This was done in Device Console Rev 1.1.18, since November

Not true, they moved the control to the input so it would work on avoiding the isp related distortion, but it doesn’t have the offset adjustment in the console yet like the Flex models have. No difference effectively, just don’t have the same convenience offered in the device console.


Edit: For clarity, below is the convenient adjustment feature that the not HT versions have now, I am hoping will be added to the HT/HTx in the next update. Until then, one can just do it in the volume control circuit, that is by lowering the output gains below 0.

 

[rirelien]

I have owned the 2X4HD (sold), Flex HT and HTx and would like to remind potential buyers of the following, it may or may not matter (not to me anyway) but admittedly I did not know the two facts listed below, all on the website but not hard to miss, unfortunately.

1) The Flex HT and HTx runs at 48 kHz while the 2X4HD and Flex, Flex 8 can run at 96 kHz.
2) The HT, HTs don't have the FIR filter option.

I think the Flex HT series is probably always best to combine with Dirac, if that suits your use case? That is how I use it but I do recognise it is less feature rich than the 2 input variants and it would be great to have it all (and a unicorn that.. emits rainbows.)

Likely insufficient compute in the SHARC DSP?

 

[peng]

I think the Flex HT series is probably always best to combine with Dirac, if that suits your use case? That is how I use it but I do recognise it is less feature rich than the 2 input variants and it would be great to have it all (and a unicorn that.. emits rainbows.)

Likely insufficient compute in the SHARC DSP?

It is about DSP as far as I know, in other word, cost. That’s why my hope is that they might be open to keep the current models but add a Flex 8 and HT/HTx version 2 for maybe $50-$100 more that have the features I listed and the Flex 8 would have 8 inputs, or 4 if 8 would force them to use use another DSP jump in cost.

 

[peng]

I think the Flex HT series is probably always best to combine with Dirac,

I guess so, but I would add that for those who use it for movies and music, they are the only two that have HDMI eARC. For music only, movies as back up only, to an existing AVP, then the non HT Flex might often be used with DL, but for DLBC, then the HT series would again be the only choice because the Flex and Flex 8 has only 2 inputs. Even with the HT series, miniDSP does not offer the DLBC option (don't know exactly why, likely limited by the DSP IC's capability again), one would have to use the PC standalone version, and that's how I am using it.

Bottom line, imo it is desirable for miniDSP to upgrade their DSP ICs, AVR/AVP manufacturers such as D+M, Onkyo and others have done it, it is time for miniDSP to follow suit, again, just my opinion.

 

[tyee]

Does anyone really know why they chose only LPCM input? Is cost for licensing the real reason or is there politics here with the big guys pushing out the smaller guys for a piece of the pie? I would pay $200 more for bitstreaming input.

 

[darth]

Does anyone really know why they chose only LPCM input? Is cost for licensing the real reason or is there politics here with the big guys pushing out the smaller guys for a piece of the pie? I would pay $200 more for bitstreaming input.

some info here

Post in thread 'Dolby and DTS conversion to LPCM'
https://www.minidsp.com/community/threads/dolby-and-dts-conversion-to-lpcm.22618/post-68560

Unfortunately we don't have decoding capabilities on these units. It's unfortunately not as trivial as it sounds from a licensing nor. A lot of these solutions are baked into custom OEM build/binaries. i.e. made by the 10k pcs MOQ with zero flexibility and ability to tune. Knowing we're doing a lot of DSP on these, all our code/solutions wouldn't work...

 

[Mort]

Does anyone really know why they chose only LPCM input? Is cost for licensing the real reason or is there politics here with the big guys pushing out the smaller guys for a piece of the pie? I would pay $200 more for bitstreaming input.

The issue with the license is partly size yes. They may only sell several hundred or a thousand of their popular devices. They also said that the licensed software has no customization and would not work with the existing MiniDSP platform.

I think it's safe to say that they will not be adding any decoding. However, more and more devices are outputting LPCM, so there is some momentum in the right direction.

 

[tyee]

Ah, I see, thanks! In my case my source is a PC which should output lpcm. On the minidsp forum someone said the Amazon 4k firestick can now do it also if you select "best" instead of "pcm".

 

[peng]

On the minidsp forum someone said the Amazon 4k firestick can now do it also if you select "best" instead of "pcm".

"do" exactly what? Could you share a link to the source please.

 

[Tre2023]

When set to “Best Available,” some Fire TV devices can decode Dolby multichannel signals and output multichannel PCM. The Apple TV 4K, many models of blu-ray players, Macs, PCs, Playstation and the XBOX can also do as much.

 

[tyee]

Achieving 5.1 Surround Sound with Fire Stick 4K and FLEX HT

Hi everyone, I wanted to share a setup that worked perfectly for achieving 5.1 surround sound with my Fire Stick 4K (model M3N6RA) and the FLEX HT. To make it happen, I used an OREI HDA-929 HDMI eARC Audio Extractor. This device allowed me to extract the audio signal from the HDMI output of...

www.minidsp.com

There you go.