Minidsp Flex Review (Audio DSP)

[mike70]

I hope the improvements relative to Dirac also will be applied in the standard flex products

 

[Geertidow]

They have said it's unlikely because It would require rewriting the code base. Same reason they can't incorporate Dolby digital 5.1 open source. They do not publish a roadmap and on fact are very secretive so no one can say for sure.

I'd bet Wiim has a 2 in/6 out that supports Dolby before minidsp does. DiracArt, I have a hunch, is not in the future of either company.

Well, look whats being announced!

 

[Mort]

Well, look whats being announced!

Yeah I was wrong. Thanks for pointing that out. Love the internet.

 

[Geertidow]

Yeah I was wrong. Thanks for pointing that out. Love the internet.

The timing of this was just funny

 

[thcdru2k]

Wish my wife did not make me downsize from 4 to 2 subs and get rid of the ceiling speakers. Tide 16 would be fun to play with. Flex / HT / HTx is more than sufficient if one is not trying to solve height layer remapping/object steering, seat-to-seat variance, or wants automated optimization. Unreal the possibilities Tide 16 unlocks for something priced like an AVR.

 

[Joffy1780]

I nearly spat my tea out when I opened the newsletter.
Hopefully one is on its way to Amir as we speak.
Very, very exciting news!!

 

[Robocop]

Hi folks, I'm considering picking up the Flex TRS (V2) with the hardware revision from May 2025 that has the Sabre ES9017. Are we expecting a fresh review of it because it seems they've improved on an already fantastic little gem of a product and am I correct to say that all Flex TRS from MiniDSP.com are being shipped/fulfilled with the V2?

The upgrade to V2 was announced back in September 2025 and at that point all new Flex TRS were already supplied in the upgraded V2.

I asked minidsp if one could upgrade V1's and this was the reply September 9th

Unfortunately no way to upgrade the older units I'm afraid. It's a complete new hardware design. :-(
The Flex was already using a very good dac, the new design just simplifies the manufacturing process.

 

[Mort]

The timing of this was just funny

It is. The good news is we have the potential for a very high performer in this device. Much better than Wiim will probably release. (Hopefully I'm wrong about that too)

 

[hamdog]

So I have a Marantz Model 30 and SACD 30n and would like to add a Minidsp Flex in between them to use as a Dirac box. To make this work, I'd have to rely on the combined ADC and DAC performance of the Flex, since the SACD 30n is under DRM lockdown.

What I'm wondering is whether the Flex' ADC stage is generally considered "good enough" to be inaudible with DSP included? Or would I likely get an audible improvement by using something like the Minidsp Adept for the analog conversion and then chaining that to the Flex?

 

[MI55ION]

A bit late to the party since it's quite a mature product but I've had a few days now to familiarise myself with the Flex v2 (TRS) in my 2.2 system. I don't often get excited with new purchases these days but what a game changer it's been to have full control of the speakers and subs without compromise. It has all the "blackness" and transparency of the old Topping D30Pro but now caters to all 4 speakers in the system with the benefit of DSP wizardry. No hiss or electrical interference from the highly sensitive active monitors either. Sprinkle on a touch of Dirac Processing for PC and I've truly never had the system sounding this good. Who would have thought something so small could do so much, this has to be the "holy grail" of stereo if the Tide16 is for multi-channel! Now I better remove myself from the desk before the wife and kids send out a search party!

 

[Sparkles]

So I have a Marantz Model 30 and SACD 30n and would like to add a Minidsp Flex in between them to use as a Dirac box. To make this work, I'd have to rely on the combined ADC and DAC performance of the Flex, since the SACD 30n is under DRM lockdown.

What I'm wondering is whether the Flex' ADC stage is generally considered "good enough" to be inaudible with DSP included? Or would I likely get an audible improvement by using something like the Minidsp Adept for the analog conversion and then chaining that to the Flex?

The SACD 30N has digital OUT via coax and optical. Doesn't the Flex have digital IN?

 

[Luvchampagne]

The SACD 30N has digital OUT via coax and optical. Doesn't the Flex have digital IN?

I could be wrong but the way I read @hamdog post was he wants to use minidsp flex's dirac. That means it must be the last digital to analog conversion since dirac only works in the digital domain ("DSP"). If you go flex digital out you don't get the benefits of dirac.
I do something similar and send an analog signal to my minidsp htx and have it adc then dac in order to utilize its crossover and dsp.
To answer @hamdog, although the adc dac of the flex is SOTA, it is undoubtedly inaudible. You probably could go multiple cycles and still find it inaudible.

 

[Sparkles]

I could be wrong but the way I read @hamdog post was he wants to use minidsp flex's dirac. That means it must be the last digital to analog conversion since dirac only works in the digital domain ("DSP"). If you go flex digital out you don't get the benefits of dirac.
I do something similar and send an analog signal to my minidsp htx and have it adc then dac in order to utilize its crossover and dsp.
To answer @hamdog, although the adc dac of the flex is SOTA, it is undoubtedly inaudible. You probably could go multiple cycles and still find it inaudible.

Agree. I assumed SACD digital to MiniDSP, then MiniDSP Dirac processed analog OUT to the integrated amplifier. I have Bluesound Node sending digital coax to MiniDSP Flex with Dirac feeding a power amplifier. I'm not sure why the topology is not similar i.e., why would you send analog out of the SACD when digital is available.

 

[SoySalsaPicante]

Agree. I assumed SACD digital to MiniDSP, then MiniDSP Dirac processed analog OUT to the integrated amplifier. I have Bluesound Node sending digital coax to MiniDSP Flex with Dirac feeding a power amplifier. I'm not sure why the topology is not similar i.e., why would you send analog out of the SACD when digital is available.

He said the digital output is under DRM lockdown.

 

[levimax]

I'm not sure why the topology is not similar i.e., why would you send analog out of the SACD when digital is available.

Due to copy protection the SACD layer can not be digitally output so the digital outputs are outputting the CD layer. If you want the DSD layer only analog output is allowed.

 

[Sparkles]

Due to copy protection the SACD layer can not be digitally output so the digital outputs are outputting the CD layer. If you want the DSD layer only analog output is allowed.

Thanks. I see now. I guess it's protecting DSD file market. I hope the ADC solution works out.

 

[Wikedlok]

This is the solution Deer Creek Audio recommends:

I run Node coax to Flex digital with Dirac, coax to Topping e50, trs to Ncore amp and optical to Hd2x4 for subs. Magic.

 

[BlairTronica]

In the control software, you can rename presets, but I don't seem to get that on the front panel display. Is there a way? I would like it to be easy on my wife!

ChatGPT said it only changes the name (re-names) in the software. So, unfortunately, the answer is “no”… remains Preset’s 1-4 on the device’s display

 

[mike70]

ChatGPT said it only changes the name (re-names) in the software. So, unfortunately, the answer is “no”… remains Preset’s 1-4 on the device’s display

yes, it's in that way ... the display and (obviously) the remote always shows 1..4

 

[Eric Natural]

I asked the developers if the screen could show named inputs & the reply said no. You'd think that in 2026 it could be programmed