Minidsp Flex. Who has it?

[alaios]

Hi all,
my first questions on minidsp flex.
1. Do I understand right that I can connect my turntable (I am about to buy one), my cd transport, my streamer (had digital out) and my radio unit (I am about to buy one) on it? So 4 sources
2. Does flex have some smart future to see where the input is coming from and automatically switch to that one?
3. What amplifier do you have after the minidsp? I guess that you do volume control via the minidsp flex.
4. Is it possible to buy more remotes in case kids break one?

Thanks a lot
Alex

 

[Multicore]

1. It has only one analog input so radio and TT might be a problem. For the TT you will need a preamp - I use the Art Precision.

2. No.

3. Buckeye Hypex NC252MP.

4. Iirc yes. Check the minidsp web site.

 

[gabrielb]

Flex has 1 analog input and 3 digital input:
1 x SPDIF on RCA connector
1 x OPTICAL on Toslink connector
1 x USB audio (stereo)

If your CD has a digital out you can connect it to the Flex in addition to the streamer (one using toslink and the other using RCA-SPDIF).The radio is out unless you can use BT.

It doesn't auto switch so you need to use the remote to switch between channels (even digital ones)

I'm using it with Benchmark AHB2

 

[alaios]

if the radio has usb it is still fine then right? how do we look for radio these days? Any models to propose

 

[voodooless]

if the radio has usb it is still fine then right?

A radio with USB? What model is that? Anything other than a PC, phone or tablet is unlikely to work as a source for a USB audio device like the Flex.

 

[Mort]

You can buy extra remotes on the Amazon US site for $25.

Flex HTx has more analog inputs.

 

[Count Arthur]

You can find some DAB radio tuners with digital outputs. TechniSat make some:

https://www.technisat.com/en_XX/Radios-DAB-FM-internet-cable-/352-8457/

I have a DIGITRADIO 10 IR which has FM, DAB+ and internet radio. Internet radio is quite good, just connect it to your Wi-Fi router, it's higher bit rate than DAB and you don't even need to connect an antenna.

 

[alaios]

You can buy extra remotes on the Amazon US site for $25.

Flex HTx has more analog inputs.

wow...wayyy more

 

[alaios]

You can find some DAB radio tuners with digital outputs. TechniSat make some:

https://www.technisat.com/en_XX/Radios-DAB-FM-internet-cable-/352-8457/

I have a DIGITRADIO 10 IR which has FM, DAB+ and internet radio. Internet radio is quite good, just connect it to your Wi-Fi router, it's higher bit rate than DAB and you don't even need to connect an antenna.
View attachment 429325View attachment 429326

so in that case I will have
1. cd transport
2. internet radio
3. streamer

to the 3 digital inputs miniDSP flex will be just enough. Is that right?

leaving my analog input for my turntable and in that case I

 

[Jimbob54]

So which digital device are you going to plug into which connection? Hint , see post 5.

 

[alaios]

question to everyone. Are there competitors to minidsp products? I have not really seen anyone so far

 

[Count Arthur]

so in that case I will have
1. cd transport
2. internet radio
3. streamer

to the 3 digital inputs miniDSP flex will be just enough. Is that right?

leaving my analog input for my turntable and in that case I

How does the streamer connect?

The USB input is typically only useful for a PC, tablet or phone, that sort of thing.

You can also find CD players with DAB, Teac make a couple, no internet radio though:

PD-301DAB-X CD Player/DAB+/FM Black | CD-Players | Audio Players | Audio & HiFi | TEAC Audio

eu.teac-audio.com

MiniDSP also make this little ADC, that would allow you to use an older tuner, or line level device, that only has analogue outputs:

PocketADC

The miniDSP Pocket ADC is an extremely compact high-resolution A/D (analog-to-digital) convertor that accepts a stereo analog input on single-ended (RCA) connectors and converts it to SPDIF coaxial and TOSLINK optical digital outputs. This pocket size converter supports high sample rate and...

www.minidsp.com

 

[alaios]

How does the streamer connect?

The USB input is typically only useful for a PC, tablet or phone, that sort of thing.

You can also find CD players with DAB, Teac make a couple, no internet radio though:

PD-301DAB-X CD Player/DAB+/FM Black | CD-Players | Audio Players | Audio & HiFi | TEAC Audio

eu.teac-audio.com

MiniDSP also make this little ADC, that would allow you to use an older tuner, or line level device, that only has analogue outputs:

PocketADC

The miniDSP Pocket ADC is an extremely compact high-resolution A/D (analog-to-digital) convertor that accepts a stereo analog input on single-ended (RCA) connectors and converts it to SPDIF coaxial and TOSLINK optical digital outputs. This pocket size converter supports high sample rate and...

www.minidsp.com

It is the wiim streamer that has a digital output.
Nice that exist cd players with radio. Are there more companies building such nice combos?

 

[Count Arthur]

It is the wiim streamer that has a digital output.
Nice that exist cd players with radio. Are there more companies building such nice combos?

ThechniSat also make a couple.

However, I think you may be able to get internet radio via the WiiM:

Add Radio Browser

Radio Browser (https://www.radio-browser.info/) is a large database for worldwide radio stations. (36538 stations) It provides API. It will enable WiiM users to listen to a variety of radio stations without inputting the URL of each station if added to "Music Services" of the WiiM app.

forum.wiimhome.com

How do i add internet radio stations

Hi, I am brand new to wiim and online radio and never used a "streamer" before. I managed to get the wiim working and updated. The app doesn't have any instructions (I don't see them) but I notice all kinds of services such as spotify, amazon music etc. Do I have to sign up for these...

forum.wiimhome.com

 

[Jimbob54]

ThechniSat also make a couple.

However, I think you may be able to get internet radio via the WiiM:

Add Radio Browser

Radio Browser (https://www.radio-browser.info/) is a large database for worldwide radio stations. (36538 stations) It provides API. It will enable WiiM users to listen to a variety of radio stations without inputting the URL of each station if added to "Music Services" of the WiiM app.

forum.wiimhome.com

How do i add internet radio stations

Hi, I am brand new to wiim and online radio and never used a "streamer" before. I managed to get the wiim working and updated. The app doesn't have any instructions (I don't see them) but I notice all kinds of services such as spotify, amazon music etc. Do I have to sign up for these...

forum.wiimhome.com

He knows this https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/add-radio-tuner.51427/post-1851949

@alaios please answer post number 10. It's quite important. Also, which wiim model?

 

[JeremyFife]

It is the wiim streamer that has a digital output.
Nice that exist cd players with radio. Are there more companies building such nice combos?

I use my WiiM, into my miniDSP Flex via optical, for streaming and also Internet Radio too. Turntable into analogue, occasional laptop via USB - all works great

 

[Le son des cimes]

Hi all,
my first questions on minidsp flex.
1. Do I understand right that I can connect my turntable (I am about to buy one), my cd transport, my streamer (had digital out) and my radio unit (I am about to buy one) on it? So 4 sources
2. Does flex have some smart future to see where the input is coming from and automatically switch to that one?
3. What amplifier do you have after the minidsp? I guess that you do volume control via the minidsp flex.
4. Is it possible to buy more remotes in case kids break one?

Thanks a lot
Alex

I have a 3e Audio A7 amp after the Flex and it works very well. Volume is controlled with the Flex indeed. I have a TT with built-in pre-amp connected to the only analog input of the Flex, and a Raspberry PI connected in USB that I use as a streamer and to listen to internet radio.

 

[alaios]

So which digital device are you going to plug into which connection? Hint , see post 5. View attachment 429330

Not sure how to answer this. My wiim (the most basic one) has only toslink. My cdplayer with fm has also a toslink and a coaxial.
My turn table will be bough in the near future so we need to assume that the flex has the capability to take it on board.

when it comes to outputs I want to connect 2 main speakers and 2 subs. I think flex can cover those

 

[alaios]

I have a 3e Audio A7 amp after the Flex and it works very well. Volume is controlled with the Flex indeed. I have a TT with built-in pre-amp connected to the only analog input of the Flex, and a Raspberry PI connected in USB that I use as a streamer and to listen to internet radio.

Is it possible to make the Flex look more user friendly. -20dB means nothing to my wife. Anyway to turn this to a volume dial from 0 to some max integer number?
I have a 20 square meters rooms. My speakers are the dali on wall that have a sensitivity of 87. As I also have two small active subs I guess the main speakers via the flex will not have to play that low. How much watts my amplifeir should be. I would guess that 50 watts per channel is really a lot.
Any ideas?

 

[Jimbob54]

Not sure how to answer this. My wiim (the most basic one) has only toslink. My cdplayer with fm has also a toslink and a coaxial.
My turn table will be bough in the near future so we need to assume that the flex has the capability to take it on board.

Which is fine . But not what you said you were doing .

As others have said the usb into the minidsp needs a proper host device