Minidsp Flex Review (Audio DSP)

[will.b]

Each output can have it's own EQ, but there are only 4 channels out, so 2 stereo devices.

However there are 4 profiles, and each profile has it's own EQ - There are direct buttons on the remote to select each profile.

Annoyingly it will auto switch to bluetooth when a connected bluetooth device sends it audio - this is a pain in the ass as a connected phone will switch of audio from any other source for a notification sound or similar. So I disconnect any bluetooth device unless I am using it. Otherwise, inputs are selected from the remote but you have to cycle through them - single button.

That bluetooth feature was removed in the latest firmware.

From miniDSP:

V1.16 Firmware v1.25 / 14th June 2022

- Remove BlueTooth Autoconnect feature
- Fix bug of muted output on bootup for certain conditions on Flex Digital
- Fix bug of incorrect output sample rate metadata bit on Flex digital / 48kHz now showing correctly

 

[abdo123]

Annoyingly it will auto switch to bluetooth when a connected bluetooth device sends it audio - this is a pain in the ass as a connected phone will switch of audio from any other source for a notification sound or similar. So I disconnect any bluetooth device unless I am using it. Otherwise, inputs are selected from the remote but you have to cycle through them - single button.

I love that feature, do you know how annyoing it is to get up from the couch and go the flex just so i can use Bluetooth?

I'm actually not updating so i wouldn't lose it.

 

[aikofan]

Received the Flex and have it connected via USB to my PC for source. I noticed that even after everything is shut down the unit is still warm the next day... Do you guys turn off the power to the unit usually or just leave it warm/powered ?

I usually turn off power from a surge protector when I’m not using it, but today, I left it on for about 3 hrs with nothing playing, and I was surprised how hot it was when I touched the top panel. It was hotter than my similarly sized mini-PC while it’s running. So I’m going to continue shutting off power when I’m not playing music.

 

[dougi]

That bluetooth feature was removed in the latest firmware.

From miniDSP:

V1.16 Firmware v1.25 / 14th June 2022

- Remove BlueTooth Autoconnect feature
- Fix bug of muted output on bootup for certain conditions on Flex Digital
- Fix bug of incorrect output sample rate metadata bit on Flex digital / 48kHz now showing correctly

I updated to the latest firmware, but the last bug has not been fixed for me. My DACs still show 96kHz sampling rate on the output of the Flex digital.

 

[antcollinet]

That bluetooth feature was removed in the latest firmware.

From miniDSP:

V1.16 Firmware v1.25 / 14th June 2022

- Remove BlueTooth Autoconnect feature
- Fix bug of muted output on bootup for certain conditions on Flex Digital
- Fix bug of incorrect output sample rate metadata bit on Flex digital / 48kHz now showing correctly

Oh, missed that - good news.

 

[antcollinet]

I love that feature, do you know how annyoing it is to get up from the couch and go the flex just so i can use Bluetooth?

I'm actually not updating so i wouldn't lose it.

You do have a remote...

I think it depends on if you are mainly connecting via bluetooth, or mainly via other means. I just know that if I'm listening via USB, and the phone in another room gets a notification I miss part of the music while I switch it back to USB. And that can happen every few minutes if the kids have a messenger chat going on.

 

[coptician]

Each output can have it's own EQ, but there are only 4 channels out, so 2 stereo devices.

However there are 4 profiles, and each profile has it's own EQ - There are direct buttons on the remote to select each profile.

Annoyingly it will auto switch to bluetooth when a connected bluetooth device sends it audio - this is a pain in the ass as a connected phone will switch of audio from any other source for a notification sound or similar. So I disconnect any bluetooth device unless I am using it. Otherwise, inputs are selected from the remote but you have to cycle through them - single button.

Thanks so much!

I guess to get more outputs I'd need to get the new Flex 8.
Single-button cycling is unfortunate for automation purposes, easy to get desynced that way. Still worth considering, but the ADI-2 might fare better in this regard.

 

[MCH]

Thanks so much!

I guess to get more outputs I'd need to get the new Flex 8.
Single-button cycling is unfortunate for automation purposes, easy to get desynced that way. Still worth considering, but the ADI-2 might fare better in this regard.

You could have the flex 8 outputing simultaneouly to 4 different stereo amplifiers (headphone or speakers) with different EQ each and just turn on the amplifier you are using at the moment, no need to change conf.
Same thing with the older flex and two amplifiers.

 

[coptician]

You could have the flex 8 outputing simultaneouly to 4 different stereo amplifiers (headphone or speakers) with different EQ each and just turn on the amplifier you are using at the moment, no need to change conf.
Same thing with the older flex and two amplifiers.

That is what I was thinking of I have a Stax amp, a dynamic/planar amp and my speakers. I could even consider settng up a separate sub-output, though currently my AV receiver is handling that.

Interesting idea

 

[deercreekaudio]

This was the one I've been waiting for since the announcement! Thanks for reviewing it this fast. The result is even better than expected, this is a brilliant piece of kit!

Whoooo. Hyped, hyped, hyped.


Edit: I have one question before I pre-order. I don't use long cable runs. Is there any advantage to the higher output voltage of the balanced version? Otherwise I see no reason not to get the RCA version for home use.

If you have an amplifier with balanced inputs you will want to drive it with a balanced FLEX (TRS) for the SINAD performance.

Deer Creek Audio is an authorized miniDSP dealer.

 

[juliangst]

Does the flex allow mixing inputs? If I want to hear Pc audio and audio from my iPad for example

 

[antcollinet]

Does the flex allow mixing inputs? If I want to hear Pc audio and audio from my iPad for example

No

 

[juliangst]

No

I wonder why almost no devices can do that. The only I know off that have this feature are those Goxlr Interfaces

 

[antcollinet]

Because the use case is at best niche. Why on earth would I want to listen to two sources at once?


Music recording is a different issue - where I may want to mix different instruments - but that is done in the opposite direction - from audio interface to PC.

 

[juliangst]

Why on earth would I want to listen to two sources at once?

Console sound and discord sound for example. Not so niche imo.
The Goxlr let’s you mix usb with toslink for that reason

 

[Pioter]

Hi, I went through the topic but I am still bit confused.
Can i plug it into tv without compromising sound quality? Is there any reason to not do that? I assume i can simply plug and play this into the tv (and prior to that set up room correction/dsp?).
In case SQ would be too lame on my old smarttv, can I simply switch source to imphone via bluetooth and optionally to some streamer (rasberry without dac) ?
I am thinking about
TV/iphone/streamer->minidsp flex->active studio monitor
Thanks.

 

[abdo123]

Hi, I went through the topic but I am still bit confused.
Can i plug it into tv without compromising sound quality? Is there any reason to not do that? I assume i can simply plug and play this into the tv (and prior to that set up room correction/dsp?).
In case SQ would be too lame on my old smarttv, can I simply switch source to imphone via bluetooth and optionally to some streamer (rasberry without dac) ?
I am thinking about
TV/iphone/streamer->minidsp flex->active studio monitor
Thanks.

The Flex should work without issues.

 

[Jefrpol]

Interesting thread. I'm looking for a simple use case:
My preamp has two xlr out and no dedicated sub out. I want to send a signal to a sub with an xlr input, that I have yet to purchase, and have a 2.1 system with the Flex handling room correction/eq.

My question: will the Flex do this (trs to xlr notwithstanding)? Is the Flex overkill for this need and, if so, what is an alternative that has balanced in/outs?

 

[antcollinet]

Interesting thread. I'm looking for a simple use case:
My preamp has two xlr out and no dedicated sub out. I want to send a signal to a sub with an xlr input, that I have yet to purchase, and have a 2.1 system with the Flex handling room correction/eq.

My question: will the Flex do this (trs to xlr notwithstanding)? Is the Flex overkill for this need and, if so, what is an alternative that has balanced in/outs?

Yes it will work. It is probably also the lowest cost device that will do what you want - so not overkill.

 

[kolestonin]

Building a windows 10 pc system with 2 active sub woofers and 2 active speakers and I am looking for a DAC.
80% playing flacs in Foobar ASIO mode, 15% web radios and 5% Spotify.
I consider buying a MiniDSP Flex.
Do you think it will serve me well for the intended purpose?
Do I need the unbalanced RCA or the balanced TRS output version?

Thanks