Oh my!
The Flex is the perfect upgrade to the 2x4HD series and hits the sweet spot for most better than the Studio from what I can see.
It looks like the major differences from the SHD are:
- TRS instead of XLR (which make sense: takes up less space in the chassis, avoids costly licensed connectors, easier to integrate into an unbalenced system and is just the better overall solution if you care about the balenced audio part rather than the aesthetic/tactile sensation of the XLR),
- No built in streaming capability (i.e. they don't have to support every service under the sun and people can buy their own raspberry pi.)
- Native LDAC bluetooth capabilities which is an excellent addition
I think it has the same DAC but can't say for sure since no name is included, so I suspect it will measure the same as the SHD but only Amir can say
This looks perfect for a desktop stack with a headphone amp and is pretty much everything I would want it seems. To order without measurements or not....
So the best value on the market from what I can see now is Digital source using Toslink -> MiniDSP Flex -> Headphone amp w/ pass through -> Topping PA5. Unbalance the 3/4 outputs for wireless subs and you'll be sitting pretty on a 2.2 system with 2 analogue in for a mic/vinyl input.
My god, if they offer the DLBC upgrade...