Minidsp SHD Review Updated (DSP, DAC & Streamer)

[KaLam1ty]

Want to add room control to my setup. Im just stuggling with few things here...
1. How good is a streamer inside, is comparable with lumin, lindemann...
2. mini dsp shd + dac or. good streamer + Ronn + plug in room control + dac
3. mini dsp shd + dac or. good streamer +minidsp flex + dac

What to choose?

I personally do not like Volumio and the internal streamer (it's a bit slow and I do not care much for Volumio's business model); just my personal opinions though. Some will find it perfectly apt though; and as it is included, you can give it a try first.

In my system, I use the SHD as primarily a I/O "pre-amp" all of my digital and analog sources. For streaming I go the RPI via USB route and have piCorePlayer (a purpose built LMS/Squeezelite "Streamer OS") for mainly streaming music from my NAS and various homelab integration. I find LMS/Squeezelite systems to be the most robust for RPI's versus Volumio, moOde, and its various sister OS'.

If you want something easier to set-up and AIO with online streaming solutions, maybe a WiiM device is an option.

 

[EJ3]

I would choose a Shd ( the regular or the studio if you want to use external dac) then use Roon as the Shd is roon ready, then to amplifiers. You will need a Computer Server for Roon. The Shd has Dirac function and the Flex does not! You can use up to 2 subs with this system!

IF I used it (but streaming can't happen were I am (no available signal for a cell phone, so...) but I would send the 2 sub outs to a pair of splitters to my pair of sub amps & use my 4 passive subs.

 

[Antônio Souza]

IF I used it (but streaming can't happen were I am (no available signal for a cell phone, so...) but I would send the 2 sub outs to a pair of splitters to my pair of sub amps & use my 4 passive subs.

You can use splitters of course, but you will not be able to make the individual adjustments for the 4 subs, as you will have only 2 channes for the subs, so you will not time align them propely!! Just a correction you can buy Dirac for the the Flex!!!

 

[nothingman]

Volumio and the Pi streamer are hot garbage. Use a WiiM into one of the digital inputs on the SHD.

If you have four subs why not the Flex HT or HTx with multichannel Dirac license and a WiiM streamer?

Having four subs without control over individual timing and EQ is a waste.

 

[EJ3]

Volumio and the Pi streamer are hot garbage. Use a WiiM into one of the digital inputs on the SHD.

If you have four subs why not the Flex HT or HTx with multichannel Dirac license and a WiiM streamer?

Having four subs without control over individual timing and EQ is a waste.

I wouldn't say that it is a waste. Because it is much better than no subs. But not much better than 2 subs (at least in my case).
As you say, with 4 sub: 100% you need more control of them.
And for me (no cell phone signal at the location [no, I am not moving to get a cell phone signal, I don't need one at home])I am at the end of the power grid & like it that way. Very few manage to get here without a good purpose, there has been 2 crimes in the area since we have owned the property in 1957. Someone stole our boat & tub and someone broke in while we were out & tried to set the place on fire to destroy the evidence that they broke in. Both were caught.), that aspect of it needs to be able to operate without being connected to the internet

 

[deercreekaudio]

Want to add room control to my setup. Im just stuggling with few things here...
1. How good is a streamer inside, is comparable with lumin, lindemann...
2. mini dsp shd + dac or. good streamer + Ronn + plug in room control + dac
3. mini dsp shd + dac or. good streamer +minidsp flex + dac

What to choose?

If you're using Roon as your music streaming interface, it is the opinion of Deer Creek Audio (dealer) that the SHD will be an excellent solution for all of the devices you have mentioned.
This solution is optimal because of the simplicity and purity of the digital chain. Roon is received and put on to the I²S digital bus internal to the SHD and then after digital signal processing (DSP) on to the excellent DAC section of the SHD. Finally on top of all this you have Dirac Live room correction.

 

[EJ3]

You can use splitters of course, but you will not be able to make the individual adjustments for the 4 subs, as you will have only 2 channes for the subs, so you will not time align them propely!! Just a correction you can buy Dirac for the the Flex!!!

I currently just run 2 subs that I built, they are more or less the speaker stands (with a 3 degree thinly padded "wedge' in between the subs & the mains) for the large "bookshelf" Dahlquist M-905's (24 inches high, 13-1/2 inches wide, and 12-1/4 inches deep, 35 pounds (measured) sensitivity 87 dB SPL, frequency response was flat within about ±2 dB from 26 to 20,000 Hz (with a very small bass-resonance peak, at the system resonance of 60 Hz, the output was only about 2 dB above its average level in the upper part of the woofer’s range, and even that minor output variation was spread over almost two octaves. The minimum impedance is 4.8 ohms in the 8,000-10,000 Hz region).
Anything that I use to time align, eq, DSP will need to be self contained.
There is no connection to the outside world from the home except via the power line.
With outdoor antennas, I can receive 36 channels of HDTV (but don't have a TV) & FM form about 80 channels.
And do HAM radio.

 

[rvsixer]

And all this superb hifi chain then going into tubes.....

 

[mikela]

In Amir's review he indicated that the SHD would clip at anything over -6.5db for XLR out. Is this also true for a PCM signal out?

Edit: Amir indicated that it clips at 0db and that -6.5db is the "normal" volume. Apologies for the misinterpretation.

 

[beefkabob]

In Amir's review he indicated that the SHD would clip at anything over -6.5db for XLR out. Is this also true for a PCM signal out?

My SHD Studio does not clip with digital output at any volume.

 

[Ultrasonic]

In Amir's review he indicated that the SHD would clip at anything over -6.5db for XLR out. Is this also true for a PCM signal out?

Edit: Amir indicated that it clips at 0db and that -6.5db is the "normal" volume. Apologies for the misinterpretation.

I'd guess Amir's comment related to inter-sample overs? There has now been an update that allows input attenuation to be applied to prevent this being a concern.

Where DSP signal boosts the user should be mindful of allowing significant digital headroom to avoid clipping but there are no specific design-flaw type concerns re. clipping and the SHD.

I've used an SHD for years if you have any more specific questions on this.

 

[beefkabob]

I'd guess Amir's comment related to inter-sample overs? There has now been an update that allows input attenuation to be applied to prevent this being a concern.

Where DSP signal boosts the user should be mindful of allowing significant digital headroom to avoid clipping but there are no specific design-flaw type concerns re. clipping and the SHD.

I've used an SHD for years if you have any more specific questions on this.

I don't think this is the case. I think the clipping was likely more a power issue from overdriving the preamp. Intersample overs happen at any volume on the knob. They are only fixed with attenuating in the digital space much earlier in the audio chain. I never actually noticed any intersample overs, but I did back it off 3db just to be safe.

 

[Ultrasonic]

I don't think this is the case. I think the clipping was likely more a power issue from overdriving the preamp. Intersample overs happen at any volume on the knob. They are only fixed with attenuating in the digital space much earlier in the audio chain. I never actually noticed any intersample overs, but I did back it off 3db just to be safe.

Good point re. the inter-sample over issue being independent of output volume. I only mentioned it as it is the one known clipping issue that used to exist.

Maybe @amirm could clarify what he was referring to in his 2020 review (maybe a measurement issue?), but I really don't think there are clipping issues to worry about on analogue outputs. Other than those caused by inappropriately managed DSP boosts as I referred to above.

Edit: this thread and the miniDSP forum would be full of complaints if the analogue outputs really couldn't be driven to maximum output OK, and they are not.

 

[mdsimon2]

I am 99% sure Amir inadvertently had two channels summed which is why 6 dB of attenuation was needed to avoid clipping.

You would not get such clipping with a 1 kHz test tone due to intersample overs.

Michael

 

[RichB]

I believe that BenchmarkMedia found an issue where the digital processing was causing clipping that they reported to MiniDSP and was corrected in a firmware update.

- Rich

 

[mikela]

I asked the question about PCM because I have the SHD set at 0db for PCM output. My configuration has been: Mac Mini (Roon Endpoint) running Bacch4mac USB > MiniDSP SHD coax(PCM out) > Peachtree GaN 1. With the room correction and volume leveling I can hit a maximum peak of 87db. Recently, I decided based on Amir's reviews to try out the Topping B200s. So now my configuration is: Mac Mini (Roon Endpoint) running Bacch4mac USB > MiniDSP SHD XLR > Topping A90 Discrete XLR> Topping B200s. Both the A90 and B200 are in high gain mode while I have had the SHD set at -6.5db. No problem exceeding 87db peaks with this configuration. I think it would be great if @amirm could provide additional information about the -6.5db measurement. I tried the SHD at 0db with XLR outs and couldn't tell a difference, so I suspect Ultrasonic is correct in his assessment.

 

[beefkabob]

I have a feeling Amir doesn't have the SHD anymore.

 

[Ultrasonic]

I have a feeling Amir doesn't have the SHD anymore.

I wouldn't expect his to but this doesn't preclude him knowing more about what the issue was at the time of measurement.

 

[Ultrasonic]

I asked the question about PCM because I have the SHD set at 0db for PCM output. My configuration has been: Mac Mini (Roon Endpoint) running Bacch4mac USB > MiniDSP SHD coax(PCM out) > Peachtree GaN 1. With the room correction and volume leveling I can hit a maximum peak of 87db. Recently, I decided based on Amir's reviews to try out the Topping B200s. So now my configuration is: Mac Mini (Roon Endpoint) running Bacch4mac USB > MiniDSP SHD XLR > Topping A90 Discrete XLR> Topping B200s. Both the A90 and B200 are in high gain mode while I have had the SHD set at -6.5db. No problem exceeding 87db peaks with this configuration. I think it would be great if @amirm could provide additional information about the -6.5db measurement. I tried the SHD at 0db with XLR outs and couldn't tell a difference, so I suspect Ultrasonic is correct in his assessment.

Note that with any DSP applied including a boost (which Dirac Live does) it is a bad idea to run the SHD at 0 dB, unless attenuation has been applied somewhere else in the miniDSP settings to provide attenuation rather than via the master volume.

 

[EJ3]

Maximum 87db peaks? I'm curious: would you please provide the room size?