Minidsp SHD Review Updated (DSP, DAC & Streamer)

[andrew]

@mdsimon2

I’m considering purchasing a mini-DSP SHD Studio with AES1/2 driving a DAC / power amp / main speakers and AES 3/4 driving a mini-DSP 10x10HD that manages a fleet of three subwoofers that are optimized using MSO. Are there any issues with, in effect, running different DAC for the main speakers and subwoofers? I seem to recall that there can be issues with timing for USB DACs but here I’m using AES so am assuming that it’s all ok.

P.S. Yes, the alternative is to use mini-DSP SHD which has on-board DAC, but this is less attractive as the Studio allows me to leverage an existing stereo DAC and avoids the A/D/A on the bass. Also, down the track, I might revisit the model using the mini-DSP SHD as a digital pre-amp ahead of a computer based x/o.

 

[Ricwa]

@mdsimon2

I’m considering purchasing a mini-DSP SHD Studio with AES1/2 driving a DAC / power amp / main speakers and AES 3/4 driving a mini-DSP 10x10HD that manages a fleet of three subwoofers that are optimized using MSO. Are there any issues with, in effect, running different DAC for the main speakers and subwoofers? I seem to recall that there can be issues with timing for USB DACs but here I’m using AES so am assuming that it’s all ok.

P.S. Yes, the alternative is to use mini-DSP SHD which has on-board DAC, but this is less attractive as the Studio allows me to leverage an existing stereo DAC and avoids the A/D/A on the bass. Also, down the track, I might revisit the model using the mini-DSP SHD as a digital pre-amp ahead of a computer based x/o.

No issues. In addition to gain settings and (optional) LP/HP filter PEQ settings, MSO will produce delays for each subwoofer and this will compensate for any delays induced by daisy-chaining to the 10x10. I had a similar setup with an SHD and a 2x4 HD with 4 subs (and using MSO) a while back. It will take some effort/patience to get everything configured but I’m sure you already know that. I got tired of it after a while and went with Dirac on a Mac with DLBC.

 

[mdsimon2]

@mdsimon2

I’m considering purchasing a mini-DSP SHD Studio with AES1/2 driving a DAC / power amp / main speakers and AES 3/4 driving a mini-DSP 10x10HD that manages a fleet of three subwoofers that are optimized using MSO. Are there any issues with, in effect, running different DAC for the main speakers and subwoofers? I seem to recall that there can be issues with timing for USB DACs but here I’m using AES so am assuming that it’s all ok.

P.S. Yes, the alternative is to use mini-DSP SHD which has on-board DAC, but this is less attractive as the Studio allows me to leverage an existing stereo DAC and avoids the A/D/A on the bass. Also, down the track, I might revisit the model using the mini-DSP SHD as a digital pre-amp ahead of a computer based x/o.

As mentioned by others there will be no timing issues as long as your DAC is not something weird like a Denafrips with a variable latency FIFO buffer.

Only thing I should note is the SHD has both digital and analog outputs so is certainly more flexible than the SHD Studio.

Michael

 

[andrew]

As mentioned by others there will be no timing issues as long as your DAC is not something weird like a Denafrips with a variable latency FIFO buffer.

Only thing I should note is the SHD has both digital and analog outputs so is certainly more flexible than the SHD Studio.

Michael

Much appreciated. I'd somehow missed the fact that the SHD has S/PDIF (Coax) output! It's kind of tempting as there is a scenario in which domestic harmony requires moving from 3 to 2 subwoofers at which point I could get to a one box solution. And, I guess, if I do return to s/w based cross-over then I can use S/PDIF to AES cable to feed the AES input of my RME UFX.

 

[Stoutblock]

Much appreciated. I'd somehow missed the fact that the SHD has S/PDIF (Coax) output! It's kind of tempting as there is a scenario in which domestic harmony requires moving from 3 to 2 subwoofers at which point I could get to a one box solution. And, I guess, if I do return to s/w based cross-over then I can use S/PDIF to AES cable to feed the AES input of my RME UFX.

The SHD has two separate SPDIF coax outputs. One for channels 1 & 2 and one for channels 3 & 4 so it can be connected to two seperate stereo DACs. So if you are motivated not to use the SHD internal DAC you can still use external DACs including one to mange the subs. Of course crossover points and DSP can still be used by the SHD for each channel.

 

[andrew]

I had a similar setup with an SHD and a 2x4 HD with 4 subs (and using MSO) a while back. It will take some effort/patience to get everything configured but I’m sure you already know that. I got tired of it after a while and went with Dirac on a Mac with DLBC.

What was the reason for ditching mini-DSP / MSO for Mac / DBLC? (A while back I was using a PC / RME UFX to deal with FIR filters from Audiolense but getting the occasional issue with the PC made it untenable for the family)

 

[mamsterla]

I use the miniDSP with complex set of inputs and outputs - analog in for my turntable, digital in for a streamer that is a bit easier than the built in one. I also have outputs to a DAC which I like better than the one in the miniDSP (although it is a fine DAC). I use it with mains and 2 subs that I group as mono after doing REW based room tuning. The cool thing is it works well with Harmony remote, Roon, etc. It is just very family friendly for such a versatile tool.

 

[Ricwa]

What was the reason for ditching mini-DSP / MSO for Mac / DBLC? (A while back I was using a PC / RME UFX to deal with FIR filters from Audiolense but getting the occasional issue with the PC made it untenable for the family)

I would have kept the miniDSP if they would have added support for DLBC.

 

[catastrofe]

The SHD has two separate SPDIF coax outputs. One for channels 1 & 2 and one for channels 3 & 4 so it can be connected to two seperate stereo DACs. So if you are motivated not to use the SHD internal DAC you can still use external DACs including one to mange the subs. Of course crossover points and DSP can still be used by the SHD for each channel.

Do you know if the digital ouputs are a "pass through" of the original bitstream, or do they output a resampled signal?

 

[radix]

Do you know if the digital ouputs are a "pass through" of the original bitstream, or do they output a resampled signal?

They are not pass through.

Digital out COAX 1&2 and 3&4 correspond to the 4 output channels.

 

[Wavez]

Hoping a user can confirm a quick question about the analog inputs please - can you have one source plugged into the XLR inputs, and another source plugged into the RCA inputs at the same time and easily switch between them without re configuring anything? Essentially turning the SHD into a 2x analog input preamp? If yes, how is this achieved - do you have to configure two different presets or do you simply change inputs like you would on a typical preamp?

 

[catastrofe]

Hoping a user can confirm a quick question about the analog inputs please - can you have one source plugged into the XLR inputs, and another source plugged into the RCA inputs at the same time and easily switch between them without re configuring anything? Essentially turning the SHD into a 2x analog input preamp? If yes, how is this achieved - do you have to configure two different presets or do you simply change inputs like you would on a typical preamp?

Great question. From the SHD user manual:

9. Analog inputs. Connect one or two analog sources here, using balanced XLR or unbalanced RCA connections. The two analog inputs can be individually selected with the front panel encoder or the remote control. See Specifications for maximum input voltages.

Front and rear panels - miniDSP SHD User Manual

docs.minidsp.com

 

[Stoutblock]

Hoping a user can confirm a quick question about the analog inputs please - can you have one source plugged into the XLR inputs, and another source plugged into the RCA inputs at the same time and easily switch between them without re configuring anything? Essentially turning the SHD into a 2x analog input preamp? If yes, how is this achieved - do you have to configure two different presets or do you simply change inputs like you would on a typical preamp?

Yes, just change from XLR to RCA on the SHD. You can do the same with the different digital inputs. DSP filters are not effected by input source selection.

 

[dmilller]

How does my SHD have airplay? I use it through the LAN connection, but it does have a USB connection to a mac mini. Did miniDSP ad airplay, or is the Mac providing it?

I recently started using DNLA for the first time as I'm moving from Roon to Music Assistant on Home Assistant. But I sometimes use airplay for Radio Paradise

 

[mdsimon2]

How does my SHD have airplay? I use it through the LAN connection, but it does have a USB connection to a mac mini. Did miniDSP ad airplay, or is the Mac providing it?

I recently started using DNLA for the first time as I'm moving from Roon to Music Assistant on Home Assistant. But I sometimes use airplay for Radio Paradise

I believe Volumio on the SHD has shairport-sync -> https://github.com/mikebrady/shairport-sync.

Michael

 

[dmilller]

The SHD has two separate SPDIF coax outputs. One for channels 1 & 2 and one for channels 3 & 4 so it can be connected to two seperate stereo DACs. So if you are motivated not to use the SHD internal DAC you can still use external DACs including one to mange the subs. Of course crossover points and DSP can still be used by the SHD for each channel.

True, but it's an expensive item to not use as intended (Dirac, subs). My only issue has been getting it to switch endpoint types between DNLA, Tidal connect and Airplay. It doesn't seem to follow the rule that any new pairing grabs the device from what was previously playing.

Anyone have a link to the API document for the device? I see the command line utility on github. But I would like to send a few RESTful API commands.

 

[jamesmafyew]

I'm popping on to this thread just to register my delight with this device, which I've been using for about 5 months. I have it set up receiving optical from a TV, AES from a CD player, coax from a Bluetooth receiver, RCA from a phono preamp, USB from an HTPC, and using the built-in streamer with a NAS for network playback and as a Foobar endpoint from various laptops. I have it driving a pair of Dynaudio BM15As, plus a mono DIY sealed 3.5 cu ft sub w/ a 12" driver in it, powered by an old Hafler P3000 MOSFET amplifier in bridged mode.

When I first set up DIRAC live, I wasn't that impressed with it. The BM15As were demoted from my recording studio because they have a broad low-Q rise at 5kHz that was really causing translation problems (they were replaced in the studio by Genelec 8351Bs and Neumann K120 IIs, which are what I use at work). DIRAC took care of the BM15As' FR deviations, but I felt like it compromised stereo localization and shifted certain frequency ranges to one side or the other. I had to turn off "delay/gain" to get a stable stereo image. I figured hey, maybe I'll get better results in this little TV room with some budget panels and bass traps from GIK. That was also a "meh" improvement on its own, absent DIRAC. but when I re-ran DIRAC calibration after the treatment, with delay/gain turned back on, the results have been wonderful. Perfect stereo localization, no hint of FR non-linearity from the BM15As, and excellent sub integration.

The preset slots allow for several configurations: 1 = full range w/ sub crossed at 60Hz, wide listening area; 2 = same but with an equal-loudness smiley curve for low-volume listening; 3 = BM15As alone no sub, narrow listening area; 4 = same but with low-volume curve.

My wife finds the setup easy to use as long as I leave a little printed card under the unit listing what sources go to which inputs on the SHD. I don't care about multichannel, and this has been fantastic for both music listening and watching movies.

Are there things that could be better? Sure. But I've never had a single device meet so many needs at one time.

 

[nick-v]

I built a Control4 (IR) driver for my SHD using the discrete input codes from a Harmony remote. Working like a charm, love my SHD.

 

[pollock0424]

Yes, a great unit but I put mine for sale as my AVR Integra DRX-8.4 is fulfilling most of the stuff that miniDSP SHD does.

 

[WillBrink]

Yes, a great unit but I put mine for sale as my AVR Integra DRX-8.4 is fulfilling most of the stuff that miniDSP SHD does.

I didn't know Integra still existed. Cool.