miniDSP 2x4 HD Sweetspot-audio Mod Review

[Koeitje]

Can't call this anything more than a scam.

 

[ViperDom]

I think getting the DDRC-32 version of the Minidsp 2x4 HD with Dirac Live is a much better upgrade on this device.

+1
but its called the DDRC-24

 

[Joffy1780]

Has it been burned in though?

 

[Steve Dallas]

This reminds me of 'improvements' by Black Lion Audio, some of which cost more than the device itself:

Modifications – Black Lion Audio

www.blacklionaudio.com

 

[Fidji]

This reminds me of 'improvements' by Black Lion Audio, some of which cost more than the device itself:

Modifications – Black Lion Audio

www.blacklionaudio.com

Let me present you 2.500 USD Apple TV …..

AppleTV X

The best AppleTV on earth - AppleTV X

appletvx.com

BTW - i loved my 2x4HD as 4 subs controller, my first experiments with DRC, filters, MSO.

 

[phoenixdogfan]

There's a lot to like about the stock unit. It has all the functionality in terms of PEQ, crossover, routing that the Flex has; Dirac Live can be added for around $200, it has a four channel DAC for output: and it only costs $225. There is also a remote available, sold separately, which will allow for volume control and the selection among four separate DSP profiles (though it has no LED volume indicator, alas). I believe it will also accept USB signal input, so it can be used directly from a PC as well. And a lot of people already own one.

IMHO, the one mod you might want is something that upgrades the DACS. That could happen either by putting new DACs in or else by tapping into the I2S outputs and adding spdif jacks to make possible the use of any number of l.t. $100 DACS which handily better the onboard units. If someone were handy with a soldering iron (you'd need to be proficient in micro-soldering), it could be a $50 DIY project.

But Sweetspot Audio has instead given us something like a Dannie Richie mod. A lot of parts upgrades which don't improve a single performance parameter, rather making everything worse. Total waste of money.

 

[Ron Texas]

@phoenixdogfan mine came with a remote in the box.

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

Clowns over on the WiiM forums are claiming "improved sound" after replacing op amps on their WiiM Pro+ streamer. Laughable.

Wiim Pro+ OPAMP replace

Hello! I recently bought a Wiim pro+ streamer and I want to get the most out of it. I replaced the factory rca cable, and a Topping P50 linear psu is on the way. I'm thinking about other tunning for the wiim pro plus. I want to replace the SE5534 opamps. The options are: OPA627 OPA1611 AD8065...

forum.wiimhome.com

 

[sealman]

I always find it amusing no matter how lousy something measures there's always a few great votes. I could see not terrible or maybe fine but great?

This happens with practically every review. There are several people that always vote the opposite of everyone else.

 

[pseudoid]

Uze awl are being quite harsh on this mod.

Scope of modification:

• RFI measures

You see?
It has often been said that the "RFI [prevention] measures" are a scientific endeavor akin to someone chasing a black cat, in a pitch-dark chamber... except that there is no cat.
I am forced to vote for the HappyPanther solely because we once owned a black cat!

 

[caught gesture]

various factors (transportation fees, inflation, wars and uncertainty)

it would be remiss not to add greed to this list.

 

[Robbo99999]

God knows what my nonHD version of the 2x4 measures like, I'm thinking it could measure worse than either of these!

 

[voodooless]

Well, they certainly hit the sweet spot

Nach umfangreichen Modifikationen und zahlreichen Hörsessions können wir mit Stolz sagen, das unsere aktuelle Sweetspot Audio Platinum Stufe sich mehr als deutlich vom Seriengerät absetzenkann.

Well, good that @amirm could at least prove this to be true… ironically…

Translation:

After extensive modifications and numerous listening sessions, we can proudly say that our current Sweetspot Audio Platinum level distinguishes itself significantly from the stock device.

 

[TurtlePaul]

After reading a bunch of comments on a bunch of sites to the effect of “2x4 HD is only good enough for subs and not for mains” I feel validated that I in fact do not have tin ears using these on my mains and having no issues with the performance. CD transparent is good enough for me. I don’t feel I need to biy the $300 more Flex for looks and meaningless SINAD.

edit: But I wish the “stock” test was a current generation TI unit and not a pre-fire AKM unit.

 

[Sokel]

Well, they certainly hit the sweet spot


Well, good that @amirm could at least prove this to be true… ironically…

Translation:

What made this thing a victim of such abuse was the first but also the second version's IMD and noise(don't know about the second's second,V2)
Countless talk at mod sites about it.
What's funny about the "upgrade" is that this metrics got even worst in the whole region!

Yep,it's hard to make a cheap ADC+DAC combination that will measure 120db SINAD,we saw what happened with topping's EX2x2,etc and it's 100db SINAD wich is a little more expensive with a gazzilion more stuff on it.
But that's far,far from it.
Even the flex suffered with the filters applied before the fix.

 

[TurtlePaul]

Amir, my concern with the 2X4 HD has been their 2 V maximum specification. Any chance you can measure it at higher voltage? If you are concerned about 4 V being risky, how about 3 V, or even 2.5 V. Most people probably use it with their AVR's sub outs, and 2 V maximum really is not a great spec at all for such applications, yet people don't seem to have issues.

The 2V input and output is achieved at the digital clipping limit. You can’t get above 2V, it just gets clipped. I don’t use it behind an AVR sub output, but I don’t think most sub outs go much above 2V and a lot of them can be volume adjusted. My subs input has sufficient gain for 2V have way more than enough level even without the subs volume anywhere near max.

 

[TurtlePaul]

There's a lot to like about the stock unit. It has all the functionality in terms of PEQ, crossover, routing that the Flex has; Dirac Live can be added for around $200, it has a four channel DAC for output: and it only costs $225. There is also a remote available, sold separately, which will allow for volume control and the selection among four separate DSP profiles (though it has no LED volume indicator, alas). I believe it will also accept USB signal input, so it can be used directly from a PC as well. And a lot of people already own

FYI, in August 2022, MiniDSP started also including the remote free in the box.

 

[amirm]

Amir, my concern with the 2X4 HD has been their 2 V maximum specification. Any chance you can measure it at higher voltage?

As noted, I fed the unit 0 dBFS signal. There is no volume control like there is in AV products to then get higher output voltage. I did see in the control app that there is a -1 dBFS headroom reserved. I suppose I could defeat that but don't see a good reason to do so. If you look at the IMD graph, you see that distortion has already started to rise prior to getting to full output.

 

[peng]

As noted, I fed the unit 0 dBFS signal. There is no volume control like there is in AV products to then get higher output voltage. I did see in the control app that there is a -1 dBFS headroom reserved. I suppose I could defeat that but don't see a good reason to do so. If you look at the IMD graph, you see that distortion has already started to rise prior to getting to full output.

Thanks for checking into it. I guess if they say it is 2 V max., then 2 V is the maximim if distortion is to be at acceptable level. It is just my wishful thinking that may be it can do more, because I am using it with my buckeye amp nc502mp that has only 25.5 dB gain. I am using it with analog signal, not limited by the 0 dBFS

 

[TurtlePaul]

Thanks for checking into it. I guess if they say it is 2 V max., then 2 V is the maximim if distortion is to be at acceptable level. It is just my wishful thinking that may be it can do more, because I am using it with my buckeye amp nc502mp that has only 25.5 dB gain. I am using it with analog signal, not limited by the 0 dBFS

You are not getting it quite. The internal brain of this device is digital. All signals pass through the digital. That is how it can do the DSP. 0dBFS gives 2V.

As a practical matter in your situation, unless you have the world’s least sensitive speakers or are powering a concert venue, you should be able to get loud enough (which is what matters). I usually have 25-40 dB of excess gain available on my 2x4 HD when using an amp with similar gain (Fosi V3) and 88 dB efficient speakers (Revel F206). Even a speakers in the low 80s sensitivity with an amp gain in the high teens will get quite loud.