MiniDSP Flex HTx

[Sharok]

Is it possible to program a harmony remote to change the center channel level with one button?
Some movies have a lower level dialogue than others and in order to boost the level temporary I use a harmony remote (has been programmed) with my Emotiva XMC-1, is it possible to do the same with Flex HTx?

 

[dweeeeb2]

Is it possible to program a harmony remote to change the center channel level with one button?
Some movies have a lower level dialogue than others and in order to boost the level temporary I use a harmony remote (has been programmed) with my Emotiva XMC-1, is it possible to do the same with Flex HTx?

You could have a movie preset, there’s 4 programmable presets available. Then you can just use a controller to select it. But as for adjusting a channel volume on the fly, no.

 

[Kaameelis]

Generally MiniDSP Flex HTx is good DSP and DAC but software on it have only 10 PEQ per output channel. I need about 20 PEQ per channel, my current DSP have 15 PEQ on channels and I miss some to get better correction.
Did anybody know, can Flex HTx PEQ amount per channel be increased with some option?
Is input PEQ only for stereo pair and it is located before channel routing?

 

[dweeeeb2]

Generally MiniDSP Flex HTx is good DSP and DAC but software on it have only 10 PEQ per output channel. I need about 20 PEQ per channel, my current DSP have 15 PEQ on channels and I miss some to get better correction.
Did anybody know, can Flex HTx PEQ amount per channel be increased with some option?
Is input PEQ only for stereo pair and it is located before channel routing?

10 on input, 8 in crossover, and 10 on output. So if creative you can get 28/channel

 

[dweeeeb2]

Is input PEQ only for stereo pair and it is located before channel routing?

It’s not really input EQ as its after channel routing

 

[Kaameelis]

10 on input, 8 in crossover, and 10 on output. So if creative you can get 28/channel

Great.
Can 48 kHz sample rate improved with some option?
Are 28 PEQ per channel also available with Dirac Live?
Can Dirac live used also when Flex HTx is used for multi (4) way stereo system?

 

[dweeeeb2]

No
Not sure, maybe just 18.
Not sure, will depend on what Dirac package you use.

 

[Fredygump]

Generally MiniDSP Flex HTx is good DSP and DAC but software on it have only 10 PEQ per output channel. I need about 20 PEQ per channel, my current DSP have 15 PEQ on channels and I miss some to get better correction.
Did anybody know, can Flex HTx PEQ amount per channel be increased with some option?
Is input PEQ only for stereo pair and it is located before channel routing?

Why do you need 20 PEQs/ channel? The more I experiment, the fewer filters I use. I mean, I used to think I wanted more, but now I am using maybe 4 PEQs on some channels, and no PEQs on others....on my 4 way active speakers.

To hopefully clear up confusion, there is one input PEQ per input channel, so in a standard multichannel setup you have 18 PEQs per channel.

But it can be confusing, because the HTx can do pretty much anything you can imagine doing.

 

[Kaameelis]

To hopefully clear up confusion, there is one input PEQ per input channel, so in a standard multichannel setup you have 18 PEQs per channel.

Actually not clear at all. If I need 8 channels, then 1 PEQ from input, 10 PEQ from output makes 11 per channel.

 

[Fredygump]

Actually not clear at all. If I need 8 channels, then 1 PEQ from input, 10 PEQ from output makes 11 per channel.

dude.... It is all in the manual. Picture and everything!

Input PEQ tab:



click on one of these channels goes to here:



Then your output PEQ:



Select the output channel PEQ and you get:




So yeah, it is actually 20/ channel if you do 8 channels in and 8 channels out.

But why do you need 20? That is what we want to know!

 

[Dougey_Jones]

General question for this thread:

Is it an acceptable use case for this product to go HTPC —> x3700 HDMI OUT —> Flex HTx if I my only two surround sound sources are Xbox and my HTPC and both can be configured to do the surround decode internally and just pass 7.2ch LPCM to the Flex?

My thought process is that I will be upgrading the DAC and gaining about 10db SINAD by switching to the HTx, gaining Dirac Live if I want it over Audyssey XT32 and gaining stackable PEQ per channel if I need it.

Thoughts?

 

[Fredygump]

General question for this thread:

Is it an acceptable use case for this product to go HTPC —> x3700 HDMI OUT —> Flex HTx if I my only two surround sound sources are Xbox and my HTPC and both can be configured to do the surround decode internally and just pass 7.2ch LPCM to the Flex?

My thought process is that I will be upgrading the DAC and gaining about 10db SINAD by switching to the HTx, gaining Dirac Live if I want it over Audyssey XT32 and gaining stackable PEQ per channel if I need it.

Thoughts?

I think the best choice would be to run everything to the TV via HDMI, and have the TV to switch inputs. Then use the eArc HDMI on the TV (or Toslink?) to send audio to the TV.

You have to find the right setting on your TV to pass through the decoded audio signal. But it does work this way.

However, it only gives you 7.1 surround. You would probably need to add one of the small stereo minidsp units to the subwoofer output if you want to optimize 2 subs. Dirac will see them as 1 sub, though.

One useful feature is that eArc gives you a "virutal" trigger when set up this way, because the HTx can automatically be power off with the TV (through the HDMI eArc signal). And the HTx has a 12v trigger to control your amplifier.

 

[Dougey_Jones]

I think the best choice would be to run everything to the TV via HDMI, and have the TV to switch inputs. Then use the eArc HDMI on the TV (or Toslink?) to send audio to the TV.

You have to find the right setting on your TV to pass through the decoded audio signal. But it does work this way.

However, it only gives you 7.1 surround. You would probably need to add one of the small stereo minidsp units to the subwoofer output if you want to optimize 2 subs. Dirac will see them as 1 sub, though.

One useful feature is that eArc gives you a "virutal" trigger when set up this way, because the HTx can automatically be power off with the TV (through the HDMI eArc signal). And the HTx has a 12v trigger to control your amplifier.

The x3700 does just as good a job at HDMI switching as a TV, and at least I 100% know it’ll pass through the 7.1 channel LPCM I decode on the Xbox and HTPC via KODI. Why do you think a TV would be better.

The x3700 is able to select per HDMI input whether you want the output device to be itself or the HDMI output device which would be the HTx.

Also, my actual config is 5.2, since there’s 8 channels, what’s stopping you from configuring two sub channels with the HTx?

 

[Kaameelis]

But why do you need 20? That is what we want to know!

I want to replicate this https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...-your-in-room-measurements.13540/post-1737514
on MiniDSP Flex HTx.

 

[rzrike]

But there is nuance to the Apple TV 4K in that it will not do lossless multichannel codecs, and discards any spacial metadata. Same with Atmos-embedded non-spacial metadata, like dynamic range adjustments. Such a shame for a device capable of incredibly clean performance to only ever render lossy audio.

Responding to something half a year ago, apologies, but this is just incorrect I think? I’m almost certain the current Apple TV 4K can output lossless multichannel LPCM. Obviously not from a streaming service since they don’t have lossless audio in the first place, but if you use Plex, Infuse, or a bunch of other video players to play a local MKV blu-ray rip, you should be getting lossless audio all the way through. Unless the ATV4K is converting DTS-HD/TrueHD to a lossy format and then to LPCM. Which if Apple was doing that, I assume more people would be shouting that from the rooftops.

And there are a bunch of boxes that support Kodi which of course supports Dolby/DTS to multichannel LPCM decoding. Like my Ugoos AM6B+. It seems strange that people are acting like the MiniDSP has such a small use case—does everyone only use streaming services on the built-in TV apps? Because I’d find it odd that people who are inside the niche within a niche within a niche that is home-theater separates would settle for streaming media and not invest in a Plex server and/or physical media.

Considering an HTX myself to replace a Denon X3700H (I use the pre-outs with Hypex amps). Ground loops are making me nuts, so I just thought maybe I’ll just go all balanced. Unfortunate I didn’t do this earlier pre-tariffs, though.

 

[masterhw]

Responding to something half a year ago, apologies, but this is just incorrect I think? I’m almost certain the current Apple TV 4K can output lossless multichannel LPCM. Obviously not from a streaming service since they don’t have lossless audio in the first place, but if you use Plex, Infuse, or a bunch of other video players to play a local MKV blu-ray rip, you should be getting lossless audio all the way through. Unless the ATV4K is converting DTS-HD/TrueHD to a lossy format and then to LPCM. Which if Apple was doing that, I assume more people would be shouting that from the rooftops.

You’re right that some apps do it, they’re doing it in the app layer though. So it is not system wide as a native ability of the device. And still no height/spatial metadata but the HTx is a great device for those who can stay within these constraints.

 

[rirelien]

You’re right that some apps do it, they’re doing it in the app layer though. So it is not system wide as a native ability of the device. And still no height/spatial metadata but the HTx is a great device for those who can stay within these constraints.

I don't think this is correct, or at least its more nuanced than that.

I get multichannel LPCM from Apple TV+ service, Apple Music, Plex, Youtube etc. For Atmos tracks on Apple services (TV+, Apple Music) at least, the spatial objects are rendered. You can find object-based Atmos test tracks on Apple Music to test this. If it didn't do this, a LOT of music wouldn't play well at all!

Obviously this all has to be downmixed to at most 7.1.

And yes -- no height channels.

 

[IamJF]

Considering an HTX myself to replace a Denon X3700H (I use the pre-outs with Hypex amps). Ground loops are making me nuts, so I just thought maybe I’ll just go all balanced. Unfortunate I didn’t do this earlier pre-tariffs, though.

Can you write a few sentences about your problem? I was considering a Denon amp for my system when they get the Dirac ART upgrade ... but your situation doesn't sound promising.

 

[rzrike]

I don't think this is correct, or at least its more nuanced than that.

I get multichannel LPCM from Apple TV+ service, Apple Music, Plex, Youtube etc. For Atmos tracks on Apple services (TV+, Apple Music) at least, the spatial objects are rendered. You can find object-based Atmos test tracks on Apple Music to test this. If it didn't do this, a LOT of music wouldn't play well at all!

Obviously this all has to be downmixed to at most 7.1.

And yes -- no height channels.

Applications like Apple TV+ and YouTube are all lossy, so that is lossy audio converted to LPCM. Plex is like I mentioned (along with Infuse), a third party app that supports actual DTS-HD/TrueHD decoding to LPCM. Apple Music is interesting, though. As far as we know, it is legitimately outputting 24bit 48kHz (for stereo music). Given that Apple Music is a native Apple application, that indicates that Apple doesn’t see the ATV as just a lossy platform (and why I think it is misleading to talk about it like it is). No reason to think of it as such.

Atmos in Apple Music and the streaming apps are all lossy E-AC3. The spatial metadata isn’t discarded because ATV4K supports lossy Atmos, just not lossless Atmos. Unless you’re talking about using the ATV4K with the Flex HTx because then yes, the metadata is discarded.

 

[rzrike]

Can you write a few sentences about your problem? I was considering a Denon amp for my system when they get the Dirac ART upgrade ... but your situation doesn't sound promising.

I've got the Denon with a four-channel VTV NC502MP (for LR and surrounds) and a monoblock VTV NCx500OEM (for center). No issues with the four channels on the first amp, but I have a significant hum on the second one. I've tried everything to eliminate it, ripped everything out and isolated the amp with the Denon. Tried different cables, different outlets, different power conditioners, different power circuits, a HumX, moving them onto a different rack, etc. The hum seemingly fluctuates in volume throughout the day (or maybe depending on how long the components have been on). The amp doesn't have any issue with my Wiim Ultra, and the Denon has no issue with the other amp, so I guess it's just this exact pairing that's a match made in hell. Decided it would be foolish to spend more hours of my life wrestling with this thing and ordered a Flex HTx tonight (if the hum is still present then, I'm definitely shipping the amp off to VTV for a warranty repair).

If you're using the Denon internal amps, I doubt this would be an issue for you. Even using the pre-outs, 99% chance this won't be an issue. I think the wiring in my pre-war apartment is just terrible. I still quite like the Denon X3700H (I just bought another used one to put in my mother's place). Dirac ART is pretty exciting. It would be nice if MiniDSP got to use it in the future (although I know it would have to be a new device). Dirac probably limiting it to their AVR pals, though.