@bungle linked to a miniDSP app note showing how to set up multichannel surround with the Apple TV 4K and the miniDSP Flex HT/HTx. Apparently the Apple TV 4K can decode various surround formats to multichannel lpcm (although there is no indication in its spec sheet that it can do so). What other devices can do that? My circa 2020 Roku sticks and LG smart TVs cannot. There is no indication on their respective spec pages that the Chromecast or Firestick streamers can do it either. If other streaming devices or TVs do not decode to lpcm, it seems this product has limited applications.
-
WANTED: Happy members who like to discuss audio and other topics related to our interest. Desire to learn and share knowledge of science required. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!
MiniDSP Flex HTx
- Thread starter MAB
- Start date
Good to know, although I am not personally interested in a DIY solution at this time.
I hope you are wrong. I had plans to connect my ~2020 LG TV (OLED55C9) to an HTx. I currently have a SHD connected via toslink and the TV outputs PCM according to the audio settings menu. Works fine with inbuilt apps like Netflix/Disney/Plex. I would like the HTx to add a center and for the LFE channel. In the tv settings menu it seems possible to output PCM on eARC but I have no way of testing. Would it be wasting my money getting an HTx?Could be!
I can't get mine to output multichannel PCM, only stereo. One LG SM9000PUA is connected to a new Samsung HW-990C soundbar via eARC, the second SM9000PUA connects to an old Sony AVR via ARC. Both the soundbar and AVR switch to stereo mode when I set the sound to PCM in the TV menus. If I set them to "auto" or "passthrough" I get multichannel.
It would if your TV acts the same as mine.
Thanks. Does it just play media on the local network or can it also stream from services like Netflix?
I believe it can but not without much effort...I only use it for streaming Bluray rips from my NAS.
I’ve been testing this for the past few days. The HTX is bought by a friend of mine. The SINAD and DR is pretty much as specified by Minidsp. However, ESS hump is there. And more importantly, Minidsp seems to have screwed up Multitone again. It’s probably a bug that clips the input signal or something related to its ASRC. But either way, at far as I can tell, the firmware still needs some work.
Sounds like we need a public review to help progress along
Is there an audible difference? or does it just give more DSP options?Maybe i have misundertood but It seems that all the DSP is done at 48 kHz. As with my rpi i upsample everything at 192khz to my humble and cheapo Esi 8 channels dac, i have been seriously disapointed...
I do not intend to provide a full detailed mesurements on HTX yet, but here is some measurements showing the 0dBFS Multitone issue.
The HTX is connected to Cosmos Scalar(at 0dB) then to Cosmos ADC(Grade 0 with thermalstat). The REW settings of Multitone is the following:
Notice the crest factor is 13.3 dB so we have -1.09dBFS peak here which should not clip. All Output channel of HTX is configured at 0dB.
Here is the Multitone:
If I toggle the output channel 2's gain to be -1dB, I get this (free of issue):
Now, if I further tweak all output channel's gain to be -1dB. The issue comes back exactly like before, so I don't need to show you any graph anymore.
The HTX is connected to Cosmos Scalar(at 0dB) then to Cosmos ADC(Grade 0 with thermalstat). The REW settings of Multitone is the following:
Notice the crest factor is 13.3 dB so we have -1.09dBFS peak here which should not clip. All Output channel of HTX is configured at 0dB.
Here is the Multitone:
If I toggle the output channel 2's gain to be -1dB, I get this (free of issue):
Now, if I further tweak all output channel's gain to be -1dB. The issue comes back exactly like before, so I don't need to show you any graph anymore.
Last edited:
@sarieri those results are fascinating! Thank you for sharing!
Just to make sure I understand, these are your results.
Ch 1 = 0 dB, Ch 2 = 0 dB: elevated multitone noise floor
Ch 1 = 0 dB, Ch 2 = -1 dB: normal multitone noise floor
Ch 1 = -1 dB, Ch 2 = -1 dB: elevated multitone noise floor
So it seems that having the output channels at the same level is the issue rather than an absolute level issue.
Michael
Just to make sure I understand, these are your results.
Ch 1 = 0 dB, Ch 2 = 0 dB: elevated multitone noise floor
Ch 1 = 0 dB, Ch 2 = -1 dB: normal multitone noise floor
Ch 1 = -1 dB, Ch 2 = -1 dB: elevated multitone noise floor
So it seems that having the output channels at the same level is the issue rather than an absolute level issue.
Michael
You are right. But it looks like when gains of all channels are changed to lower levels (say -20dB), Multitone is around 18bit. Better than the original elevated noise floor I showed here but still not as good as 21bit. I suspect something is wrong with their ASRC which causes a clipping
Hello @sarieri and other HTx owners! Would somebody mind doing a latency test to see how much delay is added with Analog -> DSP -> Analog? This would be without any crossovers, PEQ, Dirac, etc.
I know the 2x4 HD is around 3.2ms and I have heard the SHD is 25ms. I'd love to know how much delay is in the HTx before buying one, given the price and the lack of return policy.
I know the 2x4 HD is around 3.2ms and I have heard the SHD is 25ms. I'd love to know how much delay is in the HTx before buying one, given the price and the lack of return policy.
I‘m not an expert in this, but here is the measurement. I use Topping E2X2 as output and input. I connect output2 of E2X2 directly to input2, and output1 to HTX then to input1. So Output 2/Input2 is the reference timing here. Here is my REW setting:
Here is the result when no EQ is applied:
Here is the result when all 10 EQs are applied:
Side note: The only reason I'm using a E2X2 here is because I do not want to solder any new cables anymore...
Similar threads
