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

[peng]

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.

I have the Firestick 4K max so may be I should try it. Lots of work though.

 

[peng]

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.

Thanks, I read that a while back but decided to pass. It needs to use an extractor, that is costly. So unless I actually need the feature, I will just continue to use my HT for stereo music with 2 subs.

 

[Matt S]

I have the Firestick 4K max so may be I should try it. Lots of work though.

"Lots of work" is the exact term I would also use to describe the setup of an HTx. It is also worth noting that eARC, even if supported by your TV, isn't guaranteed to work (not in the case on the Samsung QN95a).

What was meant to be a small box AVR solution, will inevitably become a 'lots of little boxes' solution.

I need to dedicate more time to it, but it's not straightforward to even route/set channels up. That could admittedly be my own (lack of) intelligence.

I now truly appreciate what an AVR does!

 

[peng]

"Lots of work" is the exact term I would also use to describe the setup of an HTx. It is also worth noting that eARC, even if supported by your TV, isn't guaranteed to work (not in the case on the Samsung QN95a).

What was meant to be a small box AVR solution, will inevitably become a 'lots of little boxes' solution.

I need to dedicate more time to it, but it's not straightforward to even route/set channels up. That could admittedly be my own (lack of) intelligence.

I now truly appreciate what an AVR does!

To try it, I would have to run interconnects from the HT or HTx to the power amps that are currently connected to my AVP. An easier way is to use the unbalanced inputs of the power amps, leaving the balanced/XLRs remain connected to the AVP, not literally a lot of work, but it is because of accessibility with numerous wires at the back and not a lot of spaces to work within. But again, if I need to buy one of those HDMI extractor for it to work, I will continue to pass. To me, the use of this eARC thing is not a friendly solution, may be one day miniDSP or something else will launch a small product like this that can truly, practically replace an AVP, or better still, if Marantz C70 and the Denon AVR-X1800H will have their successors upgraded to 7.2(discrete), with XT32 and the ability to use DLBC then may be we don't have to worry about the sort of bastardized boxes.

 

[Matt S]

To try it, I would have to run interconnects from the HT or HTx to the power amps that are currently connected to my AVP. An easier way is to use the unbalanced inputs of the power amps, leaving the balanced/XLRs remain connected to the AVP, not literally a lot of work, but it is because of accessibility with numerous wires at the back and not a lot of spaces to work within. But again, if I need to buy one of those HDMI extractor for it to work, I will continue to pass. To me, the use of this eARC thing is not a friendly solution, may be one day miniDSP or something else will launch a small product like this that can truly, practically replace an AVP, or better still, if Marantz C70 and the Denon AVR-X1800H will have their successors upgraded to 7.2(discrete), with XT32 and the ability to use DLBC then may be we don't have to worry about the sort of bastardized boxes.

Gosh just trying to suss the channel routing and matrix mixer has my head mashed. What on earth was I thinking!

 

[Matt S]

Gosh just trying to suss the channel routing and matrix mixer has my head mashed. What on earth was I thinking!

Getting there!!

 

[tyee]

I just scanned the manual and it doesn't look too bad. Good examples in there, but I have a tech background so that helps.

 

[Matt S]

I just scanned the manual and it doesn't look too bad. Good examples in there, but I have a tech background so that helps.

I managed to move things on a little this evening with some good results. No doubt partially my lack of patience.

Good things come to those who wait?

 

[jeffaegrim]

I managed to move things on a little this evening with some good results. No doubt partially my lack of patience.

Good things come to those who wait?

Don’t give up there is a slight learning curve with their products, I suppose, if you haven’t worked with stuff like this before - but it should be relatively smooth sailing once you figure out how to make this thing produce sound. Pay close attention to the tutorials available on their website and the contents of the manual. The time invested will be worth it, especially once you start playing with EQ and other useful features they have on board.

A friend of mine was APPALLED at the necessity of routing channels - „how can it be that I pay 700€ for a dac and it’s not plug&play!“. He refused to read the manual until I came over and set it up for him

 

[tyee]

Anyone who ordered from minidsp directly, did you have to pay lots of duty/taxes?

 

[jeffaegrim]

Anyone who ordered from minidsp directly, did you have to pay lots of duty/taxes?

Yeah, like 20% import sales tax (order to Europe). Still ended up being cheaper than any other option

 

[vicenzo_del_paris]

Yeah, like 20% import sales tax (order to Europe). Still ended up being cheaper than any other option

There is no import tax on devices such a Flex in EU.
You only have to pay your country VAT + DHL customs processing fees (around 15-20€ as DHL will collect VAT from you and do all the customs paperworks).

See this post for detailed calculations:

 

[Matt S]

Don’t give up there is a slight learning curve with their products, I suppose, if you haven’t worked with stuff like this before - but it should be relatively smooth sailing once you figure out how to make this thing produce sound. Pay close attention to the tutorials available on their website and the contents of the manual. The time invested will be worth it, especially once you start playing with EQ and other useful features they have on board.

A friend of mine was APPALLED at the necessity of routing channels - „how can it be that I pay 700€ for a dac and it’s not plug&play!“. He refused to read the manual until I came over and set it up for him

I think it's the bass management part causing some confusion. I used to manage my crossovers in the output section and am currently doing so with the HTx.

I'm just a little confused as to what to do re bass management. If I set this up with the -10db setting on the other channels to account for the LFE, is there an impact on playing music?

Tad confused!

 

[Mort]

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

He means getting 5.1 out of the HT with a device other than the Apple 4k.

 

[10PSPMemSticksForMiku2007]

Very informative and concise. Thank you!


Is that the only interface that uses that format?

Or the only format used on that interface?

(Uncompressed Multichannel LPCM can only be transmitted via eARC. )

This is not true. Even HDMI 1 supports 8 channel PCM and high resolution. Currently I'm using a 2009 Yamaha AVR with my computer and all 8 channels active.

 

[rirelien]

This is not true. Even HDMI 1 supports 8 channel PCM and high resolution. Currently I'm using a 2009 Yamaha AVR with my computer and all 8 channels active.

Straight HDMI works as you say. However, ARC is a different beast. It stands for Audio Return Channel, and as the name implies the direction of data flow is different. ARC does not have sufficient bandwidth for more than 2 channels of uncompressed PCM.

 

[jeffaegrim]

There is no import tax on devices such a Flex in EU.
You have to pay your country VAT + DHL customs processing fees (around 15-20€ as DHL will collect VAT from you and do all the customs paperworks).

See this post for detailed calculations:

Yeah, thanks for the semantic correction - still seems to be 20%, however

 

[Ultrasonic]

MiniDSP accepts no returns and has no warranty.

This is stated in the first post but miniDSP actually say on their website that all products have a one year warranty:

What is the warranty?

miniDSP Ltd warrants all our products to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one year from the invoice date. Our warranty terms do not cover failure of the product due to an external trigger, misuse, servicing, or us...

support.minidsp.com

Is this info. known to be out of date?

 

[peng]

This is stated in the first post but miniDSP actually say on their website that all products have a one year warranty:

What is the warranty?

miniDSP Ltd warrants all our products to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one year from the invoice date. Our warranty terms do not cover failure of the product due to an external trigger, misuse, servicing, or us...

support.minidsp.com

Is this info. known to be out of date?

I bought two recently and they still have 1 year warranty according to the dealer I bought it from. The no return part is true, though if the box is not used still in a sealed box, and within so many days, then I think then you likely can return it to where you buy it from (depending on the dealer obviously).

 

[peng]

Straight HDMI works as you say. However, ARC is a different beast. It stands for Audio Return Channel, and as the name implies the direction of data flow is different. ARC does not have sufficient bandwidth for more than 2 channels of uncompressed PCM.

I think it depends, going by memory, when I had my Denon AVR (also the Marantz AVP before that) I had used it with my Sony TV (2017 model iirc) that missed the eARC by a year, but even the regular ARC worked with multichannel such as DD+, just not Atmos, DTS:X kind of stuff.

Regardless, @Mort 's post was specific about miniDSP, in that case I think what he stated was correct (I haven't tried that yet but just going by available website info I think he's right).