Minidsp Flex Review (Audio DSP)

[Joffy1780]

I see, thank you. I was hoping to use the DX3 since a) I already own it, and b) it appears to be a better DAC than that in the MiniDSP. But either way, I'm going to have to use the DAC in the DDRC-24. So maybe my best bet is to just go for the Flex and ditch the DX3 in order to streamline the system.

The only issue is the loss of the headphone amp in the DX3.

 

[Joffy1780]

I see, thank you. I was hoping to use the DX3 since a) I already own it, and b) it appears to be a better DAC than that in the MiniDSP. But either way, I'm going to have to use the DAC in the DDRC-24. So maybe my best bet is to just go for the Flex and ditch the DX3 in order to streamline the system.

If you do still need a headphone amp in the setup, you could get a Flex Eight and Topping L30ii and sell the DX3 to help fund or move to another room.

 

[anotherhobby]

If you do still need a headphone amp in the setup, you could get a Flex Eight and Topping L30ii and sell the DX3 to help fund or move to another room.

I use a Topping L50 with my Flex for headphones. The outputs for L/R just pass thru the L50 before going into the PA5. When the L50 is powered off, it passes the signal straight thru. When turned on, the L50 will not pass the signal thru anymore, and I switch the Flex to a config that has EQ settings for my headphones (fantastic!) and disables the outputs to the subs and the crossovers and whatnot. Volume control on the L50 stays maxed out all the time just like the PA5, and the Flex does all the volume control. It works flawlessly this way. I love having the headphone EQ settings in the Flex.

A picture is worth a thousand words...

 

[ehabheikal]

What are good setting for crossover? I see multiple curve types and slopes.

 

[anotherhobby]

What are good setting for crossover? I see multiple curve types and slopes.

I'd think a 4th-order Linkwitz-Riley @ 80Hz is the most common (24dB/oct). It's a good starting point for any system, but testing, measuring, and listening will be needed to determine if it's optimal.

 

[BenjaminB]

I'd think a 4th-order Linkwitz-Riley @ 80Hz is the most common (24dB/oct). It's a good starting point for any system, but testing, measuring, and listening will be needed to determine if it's optimal.

? I started with 500 Hz and stay with that. 80 Hz is most likely for use with a sub but that is just one use case.

L-R 4th worked fine for me, but again, that is not for everybody.

 

[anotherhobby]

? I started with 500 Hz and stay with that. 80 Hz is most likely for use with a sub but that is just one use case.

L-R 4th worked fine for me, but again, that is not for everybody.

Maybe I misunderstood where he wanted to apply a crossover, as he did not specify. Subwoofer use is by far the most common with this device, for which 500 Hz is way too high in almost every case.

 

[BenjaminB]

Maybe I misunderstood where he wanted to apply a crossover, as he did not specify. Subwoofer use is by far the most common with this device, for which 500 Hz is way too high in almost every case.

? Is it? How do we know that?
Subs are most likely a common use case, however my guess is that room EQ is the most common use case for miniDSP Flex. But this is just a guess. And, there is a difference between guess and knowledge.

You may now think I am nitpicking, but you know, the S in ASR means science. Not guesses.

 

[anotherhobby]

? Is it? How do we know that?
Subs are most likely a common use case, however my guess is that room EQ is the most common use case for miniDSP Flex. But this is just a guess. And, there is a difference between guess and knowledge.

You may now think I am nitpicking, but you know, the S in ASR means science. Not guesses.

The preceding sentence "Maybe I misunderstood where he wanted to apply a crossover, as he did not specify" and rest of the other sentence that you did not bold face "for which 500 Hz is way too high in almost every case" provided the context that should have helped you ascertain that I am referring to the crossover usage, as in sub crossovers are much more common than active speaker crossovers. Sorry you missed that part of the context, or if I was not clear enough for you. Nitpick away I guess if that works for you.

 

[keiron99]

Sorry for the basic nature of my question: do you need a laptop computer to set up Dirac on the minidsp flex? If so - because I don't have one - could I borrow one, set it up and then no longer need the laptop?

 

[staticV3]

Sorry for the basic nature of my question: do you need a laptop computer to set up Dirac on the minidsp flex? If so - because I don't have one - could I borrow one, set it up and then no longer need the laptop?

You need a computer running macOS or Windows, that's connect to both the Flex and your UMIK.
This computer can be a laptop, desktop, or tablet. Doesn't matter.

After calibration, the room correction is stored on your Flex and you no longer need the computer.

Here's miniDSP's user manual for using Dirac Live on their processors:

https://www.minidsp.com/images/documents/miniDSP%20Dirac%20Live%20User%20Manual.pdf

 

[keiron99]

Thanks. Yikes. I see this thing is not for the faint hearted. May as well be written in Chinese as far as I'm concerned! Think I'll just stick to plonking a few cushions round the room and tweaking the tone controls to taste!

 

[Overseas]

Thanks. Yikes. I see this thing is not for the faint hearted. May as well be written in Chinese as far as I'm concerned! Think I'll just stick to plonking a few cushions round the room and tweaking the tone controls to taste!

Feeling the same. You would need to get a scientist friend.

Some other time just try some Yamaha with YPAO, works with the push of a button.

 

[mglobe]

Feeling the same. You would need to get a scientist friend.

Some other time just try some Yamaha with YPAO, works with the push of a button.

It's a bit daunting when you first look at it, but once you set up the input and output of the flex, making the Dirac calibration measurements is pretty easy, as is selecting and applying the default dirac target curve. It's only a bit more effort to adjust the target curve to your liking. But yeah, it's not just connect a microphone and push a button easy.

 

[radix]

It's a bit daunting when you first look at it, but once you set up the input and output of the flex, making the Dirac calibration measurements is pretty easy, as is selecting and applying the default dirac target curve. It's only a bit more effort to adjust the target curve to your liking. But yeah, it's not just connect a microphone and push a button easy.

It's not too much worse than doing the room mic setup on an AVR, where you put the mic in a couple positions. It is worse (more steps and UI), just not too much. There are decent youtubes on it.

 

[mglobe]

It's not too much worse than doing the room mic setup on an AVR, where you put the mic in a couple positions. It is worse (more steps and UI), just not too much. There are decent youtubes on it.

Totally agree.

 

[catch22]

Hi all,

I currently have a 2.1 setup without EQ.
It sounds OK, but I will trust response graphs more than my ears.
I want to start experimenting with Flex + REW + UMIK-1, and to apply Low Pass for sub, High pass for speakers, + EQ filters.

Current setup:
Libreelec on RPi4 -> USB -> SMSL DL200 -> Yamaha A-S700 -> Elac DBR62 + Yamaha Sub YST-SW515 (sub is connected to speaker B posts, and the amp is in A+B mode).

I reckoned a Flex Unbalanced is a perfect fit for my 2.1 setup with future addition of one more sub, maybe.
However, for just 55 USD extra a Flex Eight can be had. Which is surplus to my current needs, but why not? Definitely giving more flexibility for example to connect a different amp to outputs 5,6 or a set of active speakers and can use Flex Profiles to compare different gear. I mean, why not?

Now the question is, are there any downsides of Flex Eight over the standard Flex for my case?
(For one, I know there are no analog inputs in Eight, but I don't need them. If I want to play CD, I will connect my CD player to Flex, or to Flex Eight, using toslink or coax.)

Another difference I read here, that I do not fully understand:
https://www.minidsp.com/applications/dsp-basics/fir-vs-iir-filtering
miniDSP Flex (without Dirac Live). Supports a total of 4096 taps dstributed across the four output channels.
miniDSP Flex Eight (without Dirac Live). Supports a total of 4096 taps dstributed between the two input channels.

1. Are FIR better and more useful, in reality, than IIR, or IIR are good enough?
2. Does the above mean that the Eight is quite limited in using of FIR? I mean, I logically understand the benefit of applying of different set of FIRs to each individual output. But if applied to input channels, that essentially means that all eight outputs will receive the same filtering, defeating the benefit of per-channel output tuning?

 

[diablo]

Hi all,
However, for just 55 USD extra a Flex Eight can be had. Which is surplus to my current needs, but why not? Definitely giving more flexibility for example to connect a different amp to outputs 5,6 or a set of active speakers and can use Flex Profiles to compare different gear. I mean, why not?

I have both the standard Flex and the Eight model. When I only had the normal Flex I did some speaker comparisons - though needed to hang the subwoofer off the amps I was using - as of course there weren't enough outputs for a separate sub. So I found some more cash and got the Eight, which is ideal for lots of things.

Very well worth the extra $55 in my opinion.

I have the Dirac versions of each. As far as I know the Dirac correction is done on the two input channels, using both IIR and FIR filters. So I've only ever used the IIR ones on the outputs using Biquads calculated by the REW EQ screen.

It takes a bit of practice to make good use of the REW EQ system, or at least it did for me. Though these days I quite often only use the REW compensation, preferring the sound I get.

 

[catch22]

It takes a bit of practice to make good use of the REW EQ system, or at least it did for me. Though these days I quite often only use the REW compensation, preferring the sound I get.

Yeah I am looking forward get into this stage when I get a Flex / UMIK, for now I am on the learing curve thanks for explanations!

 

[catch22]

I have the Dirac versions of each. As far as I know the Dirac correction is done on the two input channels, using both IIR and FIR filters. The output channels (be it 4 or 8) share the same number of FIR filters I think. Though I've only ever used the IIR ones using Biquads calculated by the REW EQ screen.

I will likely skip Dirac for now. If I not wrong, I understand that Dirac is easier and perhaps will give better fine tuned results, but and the moment I think that manual configuration will help me better understand the EQ kitchen