Minidsp Flex. Who has it?

[JeremyFife]

How far do you sit from your speakers, and how loud do you like to listen?

I like this calculator which, for your speakers at 3m and with 6dB headroom (an allowance for louder peaks in the music) says to play at 85 dB SPL (pretty loud!) you need 23W

Crown Audio - Professional Power Amplifiers | English (US)

www.crownaudio.com

The volume on the Flex is confusing (to me!). Max volume is 0dB which is technically correct for digital sources but is not helpful!! That means that the volume shows as a negative number which gets smaller as you turn up the volume!!!

I listen quietly, often with the Flex showing -25dB, but it will be different in your system. You and your wife will get used to it quickly and the remote just has +/- buttons which helps.

 

[mglobe]

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

There are multiple version of the Flex. If you want a TT along with three digital inputs, you would want to use either the Flex with an analogue input like the one pictured below, or you could use the balanced one, but you would need to convert the TT to balanced. Alternatively you could go with the SHD which gets you one more digital input in the form of XLR. I think as others have mentioned the USB needs to be connected either to a computer or streamer with USB out. There is no phono stage included, so you would need one of those. You could run the phono stage into the analog input, or if you were to buy something like the Waxwing, or MiniDSP Adept you could run digital into the Flex or SHD.

Flex does not have auto switching to input. You will need to use a remote for this.

I run my Flex into the a power amp (two mono blocks actually), and use it for volume. You can set up the flex so that instead of showing volume in -db, it reads from 0 to 100. You can limit it so it can't get to 100 (or -0db) if you want to protect your speakers. ..edited to correct my error on this.

Extra remotes are available at a reasonable price.

 

[terryforsythe]

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

Using something like the WiiM Ultra as your streamer would expland your input capability. Output from the WiiM Ultra to the Flex via any of its digital outputs:

 

[terryforsythe]

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

Or a WiiM Ultra.

I output from my Ultra to a Raspberry Pi (running CamillaDSP) via USB.

 

[Le son des cimes]

Is it possible to make the Flex look more user friendly.

No, the Flex is what it is, and the volume scale uses attenuation in dB

-20dB means nothing to my wife. Anyway to turn this to a volume dial from 0 to some max integer number?

It is not that difficult to get used to -X dB for volume control, I've taught this to my tribe at home with high success !

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?

You could probably be happy with the A5 from 3e audio then, what's the nominal impedance of the Dali ?

 

[RickS]

The better question is not who uses, but why to use a Flex. It does not offer a turntable preamp. It does offer some useful features like active crossover, dsp and Dirac.

If you do not plan to use those features, then you are likely misspending and should get something that better fits your needs.

 

[terryforsythe]

The better question is not who uses, but why to use a Flex. It does not offer a turntable preamp. It does offer some useful features like active crossover, dsp and Dirac.

If you do not plan to use those features, then you are likely misspending and should get something that better fits your needs.

Good point. If the OP does not need the active crossover and Dirac Live, maybe something like the WiiM Ultra streamer will fit the need. It has basic DSP in the form of EQ, subwoofer output, etc. Turntable could go to the Phono in, CD to Optical In and Tuner (Radio) to Line In.

 

[alaios]

How far do you sit from your speakers, and how loud do you like to listen?

I like this calculator which, for your speakers at 3m and with 6dB headroom (an allowance for louder peaks in the music) says to play at 85 dB SPL (pretty loud!) you need 23W

Crown Audio - Professional Power Amplifiers | English (US)

www.crownaudio.com

The volume on the Flex is confusing (to me!). Max volume is 0dB which is technically correct for digital sources but is not helpful!! That means that the volume shows as a negative number which gets smaller as you turn up the volume!!!

I listen quietly, often with the Flex showing -25dB, but it will be different in your system. You and your wife will get used to it quickly and the remote just has +/- buttons which helps.

The room is maximum 3 meters and I do not listen too loud. I can measure with a SPL meter tomorrow and share the value here

 

[Geertidow]

I just made my life easy and got a Wiim Pro as a source that feeds into the MiniDSP Flex.

 

[Eric Natural]

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

The FlexDL also has BluTooth - Alex can stream "radio" or what-have-you over BT as well . . .
My rig is CD player > Coax / IPhone > Wiim > Toslink optical / Turntable > phono pre > RCAs / and the lappie > USB
I'm very happy with the Flex's performance as a preamp / dsp / crossover & volume knob

 

[mglobe]

The FlexDL also has BluTooth - Alex can stream "radio" or what-have-you over BT as well . . .
My rig is CD player > Coax / IPhone > Wiim > Toslink optical / Turntable > phono pre > RCAs / and the lappie > USB
I'm very happy with the Flex's performance as a preamp / dsp / crossover & volume knob

I’m very happy with mine as well. I have CD player, Turntable via a preamp, Roon Server (Mac Mini), and a Wiim Mini connected to it. I rigged up a a Xencel Quick Keys as a remote through the Mac Mini. I can select input, control volume, select profile, mute with the Quick Keys. It took some effort to figure out how to do that part. I would only swap it out for a MiniDSP that does DLBC and ART, or for a Trinnov Amethyst if I figure out how to rob a bank legally.

 

[HoJ76]

On my flex i have turntable, mobile phone, cd-player and my pc connected - no problem at all.

 

[Mort]

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?

Unfortunately no. Flex is trargeted at 'hobbyists' and definitely lacks some user friendly features to which we have become accustomed. (An app based remote control and automatic input switching would be high on my list. )

 

[Sokel]

with 6dB headroom (an allowance for louder peaks in the music)

???
At least 15dB for nice recorded music,as far as 20dB or more for classical.

 

[alaios]

Using something like the WiiM Ultra as your streamer would expland your input capability. Output from the WiiM Ultra to the Flex via any of its digital outputs:

View attachment 429423

Let me see if I get this right. The wiim becomes in the above figure the source selection. Does it also do volume control or this still stays at the flex?

 

[Mort]

Let me see if I get this right. The wiim becomes in the above figure the source selection. Does it also do volume control or this still stays at the flex?

Both/Either. Most folks would put the Flex at full volume and just use the Wiim for volume. But one could do the opposite.

 

[terryforsythe]

Let me see if I get this right. The wiim becomes in the above figure the source selection. Does it also do volume control or this still stays at the flex?

You could connect everything to the WiiM and use it as the source selection, which is probably how I would handle it. In my setup I control the volume with the WiiM. There is a practical reason for this. My miniDSP remote is IR and my WiiM remote is BLE. IR does not propagate a strong enough signal through the dark glass I have over my audio cabinet, whereas BLE does.

But, as Mort indicated, you have options. If a clear IR path to your Flex exists, you could use it to control your volume. The advantage to that setup is that if you have, for example, two TosLink inputs, you could connect one to the WiiM and one to the Flex. The downside is that source selection between the two may require selecting the appropriate source for each device.

An advantage of using the WiiM Ultra is that you can start with it, and not even use the Flex. If the WiiM's room correction, EQ and subwoofer controls are adequate for you, great, you are done. If not, you always can add the Flex to your system at any time. Just insert it between the WiiM and your amplifier/subwoofer.

 

[alaios]

You could connect everything to the WiiM and use it as the source selection, which is probably how I would handle it. In my setup I control the volume with the WiiM. There is a practical reason for this. My miniDSP remote is IR and my WiiM remote is BLE. IR does not propagate a strong enough signal through the dark glass I have over my audio cabinet, whereas BLE does.

But, as Mort indicated, you have options. If a clear IR path to your Flex exists, you could use it to control your volume. The advantage to that setup is that if you have, for example, two TosLink inputs, you could connect one to the WiiM and one to the Flex. The downside is that source selection between the two may require selecting the appropriate source for each device.

An advantage of using the WiiM Ultra is that you can start with it, and not even use the Flex. If the WiiM's room correction, EQ and subwoofer controls are adequate for you, great, you are done. If not, you always can add the Flex to your system at any time. Just insert it between the WiiM and your amplifier/subwoofer.

I like your proposal on making WiiM Ultra the center piece. It is not clear how I do the volume control.
I understand that all my devices (cd transport, turntable and radio) will go to wiim for source selection and volume control. Then
1. Which minidsp product I need for 2x2 system. The 2 subs are active
2. Where do you connect in the sequence the minidsp. Is it Wiim-Some Mini Dsp Product-Amplifier for the main speakers

 

[terryforsythe]

It is not clear how I do the volume control.

It's your choice. I would use the WiiM for volume control, using the remote control that comes with it. (EDIT: or use the volume knob on the WiiM, or use the WiiM app volume control). In that case you can set the Flex to a set volume. E.g., leave it at 0dB, -5dB, or whatever you prefer.

But, if instead you want to use the Flex for volume control, you can do that with its remote control. In that case, just disable the WiiM volume control using the WiiM app on your mobile phone or tablet.

1. Which minidsp product I need for 2x2 system. The 2 subs are active
2. Where do you connect in the sequence the minidsp.

MiniDSP options for stereo analog output, including Dirac Live and a measurement microphone:


1. miniDSP DDRC-24. It costs $449 and includes a measurement microphone and Dirac Live:

WiiM (analog out) --> DDRC-24 --> amplifier/subwoofers

But, with digital sources you are going D/A with the WiiM, then A/D and D/A again with the DDRC-24. Each D/A conversion introduces noise and distortion. It looks to be based on the 2x4 HD, for which Amir stated in his review "the miniDSP 2x4HD has OK performance" and "you would be compromising some performance to gain the benefits of its equalization."

Review and Measurements and miniDSP 2x4 HD DSP and DAC

This is a brief review and measurements of miniDSP 2x4 HD Processor and USB DAC. I purchased this online and seems like the price as of this writing is USD $207 as of this writing. This is a USB DAC with Toslink optical input and analog/digital in, four channel digital signal processor (DSP)...

www.audiosciencereview.com

2. miniDSP Flex. It costs $769 after you add Dirac Live and a measurement microphone:

Wiim (digital out) --> Flex --> amplifier/subwoofers

That way, there is only one D/A conversion for your digital sources in comparison to the DDRC-24. In his review Amir stated "What a nice combination of functionality, usability and performance! As with many DAC companies, it is clearly Minidsp has put strong focus on chasing away sources of noise and distortion."

Minidsp Flex Review (Audio DSP)

This is a review and detailed measurement of the Minidsp Flex audio signal processor. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $475 for unbalanced and $550 for balanced that I tested. Flex borrows the interface from SHD and puts it in a compact package. Seeing how I really liked that...

www.audiosciencereview.com

3. miniDSP SHD. It costs $1,299 and includes a streamer, a measurement microphone and Dirac Live:

SHD --> amplifier/subwoofers

The SHD is miniDSP's flagship stereo DSP unit. It includes a streamer, which I found to work well for my needs.
It has an analog input, but not a phono stage. So, you would need to use a turntable that has an integrated phono stage, or add a phono stage between the turntable and the SHD analog input.

EDIT: I just remembered that you have two analog sources, your turntable and your tuner. You would need to add an A/D converter for one of those, e.g., https://www.minidsp.com/products/us...zi-Q9sk3KJiZ_Mo-FDtNyThSKqJTWkKCCH0LLQX9p9pKp
Or, you could use a phono stage with a digital out.

In his review Amir stated "With distortion and noise at or below threshold of human hearing, the Minidsp provides competitive performance to some of the best desktop and high-fi DACs yet provides a ton of extra functionality they do not".

Minidsp SHD Review Updated (DSP, DAC & Streamer)

This is an update to the review of minidsp SHD that I did a couple of years ago. My tests have evolved since then and company has stated that they fixed a few issues I found in that test. The SHD costs US $1,195 and includes a USB DAC, streaming engine (based on Volumio) and of course, DSP...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Is it Wiim-Some Mini Dsp Product-Amplifier for the main speakers

Yes, except you would not even need a WiiM if you went with the miniDSP SHD. See above.

 

[Geertidow]

Volume control via Wiim. But I set de flex at 60% of volume to prevent accidentally blowing up my speakers