Minidsp Flex Review (Audio DSP)

[antcollinet]

Something else worth checking is that you don't have one of the subs out of phase compared to the other.

I'd also suggest forgetting the paid support, and gradually learning how to take measurements yourself. It may take more time, but the investment in learning for. yourself will be cheaper, and more useful in the long term. It may even be fun.

I would start with trying to get a measurement of each sub separately, with the other turned off. Perhaps with your main speakers disconnected also - just to be sure you are only measuring the sub. As a first check, you could even just use the db meter in REW with the Umik as input and manual test tones to one sub, just to see what frequencies at which levels are being registered at what SPL.

 

[batznik]

Questions about a better power supply for the Flex RCA

I have a Flex RCA and i m really happy with.
I m using it in my main system as DAC, DSP & Preamp.
The rest of my system is:
Source of the digital signal: an LG OLED TV or a Wiim.
Amplifier: a TEAC AB-X7R. Is an integrated amplifier but practically i m using it as a power amp.
Speakers: KEF RDM-2 & the SVS SB-1000 PRO subwoofer.

I decided that is the time to find a better power supply for my minidsp flex. I searched the thread (and to the minidsp community) but i didn't found much about the power supplies, so i decided to ask!

In the power inlet on the flex is mentioned 12V 10W.
The stock power supply is the XING YUAN XY24S-1201200Q-U, 12V 1.6A.

Some of the options are:
AUDIOPHONICS LPSU25, at 77 euros, with 12V 1.25A MAX Continuous, 12V 2.0A MAX (5min), https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/hifi...rfi-filter-220v-to-12v-125a-25va-p-11375.html
IFI AUDIO IPOWER X, at 112 euros, with 12V 2A continuous, 12V 3A maximum, https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/powe...witched-mode-power-supply-12v-2a-p-14433.html
LHY AUDIO LPS25VA, at 133 euros, with 12V 1A Continuous, 12V 2A Max, https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/hifi-power-supply/lhy-audio-lps25va-12v-2a-p-19036.html
LHY AUDIO LPS50VA, at 195 euros, with 12V 1.5A Continuous, 12V 3.5A Max, https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/hifi-power-supply/lhy-audio-lps50va-12v-3-5a-p-19043.html
IFI AUDIO iPOWER ELITE, at 308 euros, 12V 4A continuous, https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/powe...r-active-noise-cancelling-12v-4a-p-15101.html

Some questions for you!
- Do someone use one of these? Impressions?
- I think that an LPS or an SMPS can be "equally" good option. Please comment on this!
- I think that, to spend 300 euros is too much for the Flex (with value 650 euros) and my rest of the system. Please comment on this!
- The stock power supply is 1.6A but in the unit is mentioned a need of 12V, 10W. So, do you think i can choose a unit with 1.25A, or 1A continuous?

Thank you in advance for everyone who will answer!

 

[vicenzo_del_paris]

Questions about a better power supply for the Flex RCA

I have a Flex RCA and i m really happy with.
I m using it in my main system as DAC, DSP & Preamp.
The rest of my system is:
Source of the digital signal: an LG OLED TV or a Wiim.
Amplifier: a TEAC AB-X 1 R. Is an integrated amplifier but practically i m using it as a power amp.
Speakers: KEF RDM-2 & the SVS SB-1000 PRO subwoofer.

I decided that is the time to find a better power supply for my minidsp flex. I searched the thread (and to the minidsp community) but i didn't found much about the power supplies, so i decided to ask!

In the power inlet on the flex is mentioned 12V 10W.
The stock power supply is the XING YUAN XY24S-1201200Q-U, 12V 1.6A.

Some of the options are:
AUDIOPHONICS LPSU25, at 77 euros, with 12V 1.25A MAX Continuous, 12V 2.0A MAX (5min), https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/hifi...rfi-filter-220v-to-12v-125a-25va-p-11375.html
IFI AUDIO IPOWER X, at 112 euros, with 12V 2A continuous, 12V 3A maximum, https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/powe...witched-mode-power-supply-12v-2a-p-14433.html
LHY AUDIO LPS25VA, at 133 euros, with 12V 1A Continuous, 12V 2A Max, https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/hifi-power-supply/lhy-audio-lps25va-12v-2a-p-19036.html
LHY AUDIO LPS50VA, at 195 euros, with 12V 1.5A Continuous, 12V 3.5A Max, https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/hifi-power-supply/lhy-audio-lps50va-12v-3-5a-p-19043.html
IFI AUDIO iPOWER ELITE, at 308 euros, 12V 4A continuous, https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/powe...r-active-noise-cancelling-12v-4a-p-15101.html

Some questions for you!
- Do someone use one of these? Impressions?
- I think that an LPS or an SMPS can be "equally" good option. Please comment on this!
- I think that, to spend 300 euros is too much for the Flex (with value 650 euros) and my rest of the system. Please comment on this!
- The stock power supply is 1.6A but in the unit is mentioned a need of 12V, 10W. So, do you think i can choose a unit with 1.25A, or 1A continuous?

Thank you in advance for everyone who will answer!

Don't bother with it. It will not make any difference at all !!!!

Why do you want to do that ?

Years ago, I fooled myself and got an Audiophonics lpsu25 for my ddrc24 (since replaced by a flex and then by a flex HT).
Did not make a change (obviously, retrospectively).

Don't waste your money running after chimaeras

 

[Eric Natural]

batz - I totally get the idea to hot-rod the device but if anything, I think you'd be adding more heat to the internals.
best of luck

 

[antcollinet]

Questions about a better power supply for the Flex RCA

I have a Flex RCA and i m really happy with.
I m using it in my main system as DAC, DSP & Preamp.
The rest of my system is:
Source of the digital signal: an LG OLED TV or a Wiim.
Amplifier: a TEAC AB-X 1 R. Is an integrated amplifier but practically i m using it as a power amp.
Speakers: KEF RDM-2 & the SVS SB-1000 PRO subwoofer.

I decided that is the time to find a better power supply for my minidsp flex. I searched the thread (and to the minidsp community) but i didn't found much about the power supplies, so i decided to ask!

In the power inlet on the flex is mentioned 12V 10W.
The stock power supply is the XING YUAN XY24S-1201200Q-U, 12V 1.6A.

Some of the options are:
AUDIOPHONICS LPSU25, at 77 euros, with 12V 1.25A MAX Continuous, 12V 2.0A MAX (5min), https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/hifi...rfi-filter-220v-to-12v-125a-25va-p-11375.html
IFI AUDIO IPOWER X, at 112 euros, with 12V 2A continuous, 12V 3A maximum, https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/powe...witched-mode-power-supply-12v-2a-p-14433.html
LHY AUDIO LPS25VA, at 133 euros, with 12V 1A Continuous, 12V 2A Max, https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/hifi-power-supply/lhy-audio-lps25va-12v-2a-p-19036.html
LHY AUDIO LPS50VA, at 195 euros, with 12V 1.5A Continuous, 12V 3.5A Max, https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/hifi-power-supply/lhy-audio-lps50va-12v-3-5a-p-19043.html
IFI AUDIO iPOWER ELITE, at 308 euros, 12V 4A continuous, https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/powe...r-active-noise-cancelling-12v-4a-p-15101.html

Some questions for you!
- Do someone use one of these? Impressions?
- I think that an LPS or an SMPS can be "equally" good option. Please comment on this!
- I think that, to spend 300 euros is too much for the Flex (with value 650 euros) and my rest of the system. Please comment on this!
- The stock power supply is 1.6A but in the unit is mentioned a need of 12V, 10W. So, do you think i can choose a unit with 1.25A, or 1A continuous?

Thank you in advance for everyone who will answer!

Utterly pointless.

The flex is already audibly transparent - at least in any way that could be influenced by the PSU. You cannot make it "more audibly transparent"

you are wasting your time even thinking about this stuff.

 

[Sparkles]

Questions about a better power supply for the Flex RCA

I decided that is the time to find a better power supply for my minidsp flex.

This is not something I would think necessary. My Flex sounds clear and dynamic to me even compared to an SMSL DL200 straight into the power amp. The benefit would likely be tiny if anything at all.

 

[ironhorse128]

Sorry to bother you. Thanks in advance.

What is the recommended way to trigger an amp with a 3.5mm trigger jack using the minidsp?
Can you point me to a good adapter which I can buy in europe?

 

[Eric Natural]

First 13 point room looks like this with the Dirac mic :

correction only :

house curve with two manually adjustable shelfs

how does it sound ? (guessing that I'll adjust to its kind of brightness ie feels like brightness but it might not be . . . ) It is wildly detailed if you wanted an anecdote
Cheers

 

[ziggurcat]

I just ordered one of these a few days ago, and I should have it in my hands on Monday.

One question I had - with regards to the "drop" in performance going RCA to TRS from the analogue output, does the same thing apply with an RCA to XLR connection? My Buckeye amp only has XLR inputs, so I'm forced to do use a SE to Balanced cable. I thought about the Balanced SKU, but it was explained that the slight performance advantage would essentially be cancelled out from a variety of different things.

 

[Joffy1780]

I just ordered one of these a few days ago, and I should have it in my hands on Monday.

One question I had - with regards to the "drop" in performance going RCA to TRS from the analogue output, does the same thing apply with an RCA to XLR connection? My Buckeye amp only has XLR inputs, so I'm forced to do use a SE to Balanced cable. I thought about the Balanced SKU, but it was explained that the slight performance advantage would essentially be cancelled out from a variety of different things.

There is no drop in performance from the outputs, the drop in performance was when using RCA to TRS to the balanced input on the Flex.

 

[staticV3]

There is no drop in performance from the outputs, the drop in performance was when using RCA to TRS to the balanced input on the Flex.

Even on the inputs, a performance drop can likely be avoided by using the correct cable construction.

 

[ziggurcat]

There is no drop in performance from the outputs, the drop in performance was when using RCA to TRS to the balanced input on the Flex.

Thanks - that's something I would have had to do to connect my turntable.

Even on the inputs, a performance drop can likely be avoided by using the correct cable construction.

Sometimes you have no choice - anyone with a Buckeye amp (like myself) connected to an AVR/AVP that doesn't have Balanced outputs needs to use a SE to Balanced cable.

 

[Joffy1780]

Sometimes you have no choice - anyone with a Buckeye amp (like myself) connected to an AVR/AVP that doesn't have Balanced outputs needs to use a SE to Balanced cable.

Yeah and that's fine, it's only the balanced input on the Flex balanced version that suffers from a performance drop when using a standard RCA to TRS cable. @staticV3 was pointing out that the performance drop can be avoided with the correct cable construction.
The issue does not even arise with the standard Flex (unbalanced).

 

[antcollinet]

Yeah and that's fine, it's only the balanced input on the Flex balanced version that suffers from a performance drop when using a standard RCA to TRS cable. @staticV3 was pointing out that the performance drop can be avoided with the correct cable construction.
The issue does not even arise with the standard Flex (unbalanced).

And even if you have the issue, the performance of the analogue input will still easily outpace the performance of typical analogue sources (Vinyl, tape etc)

 

[bloodshoteyed]

Yeah and that's fine, it's only the balanced input on the Flex balanced version that suffers from a performance drop when using a standard RCA to TRS cable. @staticV3 was pointing out that the performance drop can be avoided with the correct cable construction.
The issue does not even arise with the standard Flex (unbalanced).

i didn't want to deal with cables, let alone assemble my own so i went with the flex digital (which might probably end up on sale on here, if anyone's interested) and two dacs for a 2.1 system

 

[brombo]

I have been doing active crossovers since the 1970's (homemade analog). With my CBT36K speakers I first used the miniDSP Open DRC-DA8 and now the Flex 8. I am also using the Flex 8 as the active crossover and equalization for my LX521.4. In both cases the people supplying the kits also supplied the starting filter settings which I could then modify. The attached figures show the CBT36K and LX521.4 systems. The plot is for the LX521.4 output measured with REW and what some tweaks to the equalization would do to the measured output. The only complaint I have about the miniDSP software is that they don't have a version that will run on Linux. I use Ubuntu 22.04 HPTC's on all of my audio/visual systems.

 

[KyleBarnhart]

I have had the Flex Digital for about a year and I'm using it in a 2.2 system. I used the UMIK-2 for room correction. I will never change to anything else somehow they make a better version, not that it would likely make a difference. I can't imaging now not using a digital room correction and crossovers. I put it slightly different profiles in the remote. I also use it for volume. I wanted the digital so I can use lossless digital sources and use a separate DAC (Topping 90SE). Amps are 2 mono Topping LA90 into Ascend Acoustic Sierra-LX, subs are SVS SB-2000 Pro.

I have a small pc (Fractal Ridge is a nice case) and a tv running so I can use the software and play with the Flex whenever I want.

 

[ziggurcat]

I just ran into a weird issue with my Flex - or rather with the remote itself.

I'm now using the Flex as a preamp in my 2.1ch HT system, and part of that system includes a Cambridge Audio AXC35 CD player. The problem is that when the CD player is on, and I want to adjust the volume on the Flex, it triggers some of the functions on the CD player - namely, the track selection function. None of the button functions on the actual AXC35 remote affects anything on the Flex.

What seems evident is that the Flex remote uses the same IR code for some of its functions as the AXC35.

Is there a way to use an alternate IR code for the Flex's volume control?

 

[greyscale]

ziggucat, u mite try https://www.minidsp.com/community/

 

[ziggurcat]

ziggucat, u mite try https://www.minidsp.com/community/

I did - even put in a support ticket - and have yet to receive any kind of response. Thought someone here might have run into a similar issue and/or could point me to a solution no matter how creative it happens to be.