miniDSP Tide16 - Holy Grail with 16 Channel Atmos/DTS:X, high SINAD

[EWL5]

Why would they? You basically have full access to the DSP power of the device. You can just use REW to create filters and import them. There are plenty of other tools for this as well. They sold products with this setup for years to do room correction, so why would they now change that?

Besides, the use of Dirac might mean that they are obligated not to create a competing software solution for a one-click room correction product.

I agree that their primary market is the "captive" miniDSP consumer who is already well-versed in REW and much more DIY than the average Joe. The only miniDSP device I own is the UMIK1 so I don't count myself amongst that fanbase and therefore, don't have rose-colored glasses that thinks $3500 is a steal!

 

[bungle]

You can also use it to built a single 16-way speaker.

 

[Steakhouse]

4K/60 10-bit 4:4:4, it cannot even do. This is nothing very fancy. It will have issues running a modern streamers user interface. 18Gbps is really ancient by now.

And games also have multichannel audio…

But not all is lost. The HDMI board seems to be modular, so I would expect upgrades at some point.

There is no content in 4K/60 10 bit 4:4:4. If you really need it because you hook up a console you would have to revert to eARC.

 

[Keith_W]

@Keith_W, you mentioned possibly removing Dirac to reduce overall product cost. As there is no in-house room correction, are you proposing miniDSP invest in some R&D to come up with their own room correction for their first 16 channel processor? I think miniDSP was smart to partner with Dirac to offer what nearly everyone agrees is world-class room correction instead of creating their own!

Of course not. All they need to do is open up the hardware and let you use any filter designer you want. And there are plenty of filter design software on the market. And, as @voodooless said, for years they have been doing exactly this.

As for Dirac being "world class" ... let's agree to disagree

 

[thcdru2k]

As of today I am not aware of any consumer Dirac ART processor or AVR that actually runs ART at 96kHz internally. Higher sample rates may exist at the input stage, but they do not meaningfully change the internal correction pipeline that ultimately determines what reaches your speakers.

Given that reality, if you do not care about active crossovers or per driver control, then products like the Denon AVR 6800H or Emotiva XMC 2 Plus make a lot of sense. They give you modern HDMI 2.1 video, competent bass management, and Dirac.

However, if you do see value in per driver control of gain, delay, polarity, compression, EQ, and fully customizable crossover topology, then an AVR is simply the wrong tool for the job regardless of how good its room correction is. Its natural market is systems with separate amplification, mixed speaker brands, dissimilar subwoofers, asymmetric room layouts, or unconventional speaker geometries where you need granular control that no mainstream AVR will provide.

It also appeals to users who want to design their own crossover architecture rather than accepting a manufacturer’s baked in bass management. That includes things like asymmetric slopes, different LPF and HPF points per channel, custom bass routing, stereo bass matrices, or nonstandard target curves.

If your priority is convenience and largely automated calibration, an AVR or XMC 2 Plus is the more practical choice. If your priority is maximum control over the signal chain, driver integration, and system topology, then the Tide 16 exists for that purpose, but it is clearly not aimed at the plug and play crowd.

Ex: in my Flex HTx system I've found crossing my mains at 75hz even though my subs cross at 80hz to be best... Why ? Honestly I'm not sure but REW measurements do not lie and for whatever reason placement I am guessing I have smoother summation at the crossover region. I would not be able to do this on any other device.

 

[Gorgonzola]

Just received the newsletter, sounds like the one to rule them all (rather expansive at 3500 USD, but ok)

Tide16

miniDSP Tide16, Immersive AV-DSP Processors powered by Quad Core ARM processor, 16ch balanced analog outputs, 3x1 HDMI , USB audio, Bluetooth, Including license for Dirac Live + DLBC + ART suite

www.minidsp.com

View attachment 504360
View attachment 504362

Hardware Features​

• Processor: Quad Core ARM processor / 1.8GHz
• HDMI 2.0 + EARC/ARC interface (3x1)
• Included License: Dirac Live® 3.x full rance, Dirac Live Bass Control (DLBC) and Active Room Correction (ART)
• Audiophile performance with very low noise floor and distortion (SNR @127dB(A), THD+N @ -118dB (0.0001%)
• Inputs: Stereo digital (SPDIF x 2 / Optical x 2), Analog input (XLR/RCA),USB Audio streaming
• Outputs: 16 fully balanced audio (XLR)
• 1080p Color OLED front panel controller with IR control
• Control and configuration by web user interface and miniDSP Device Console (DC)

Product Brief:

https://www.minidsp.com/images/documents/Product%20Brief%20-%20miniDSP%20Tide16.pdf

What do you think?
Measurements need some @amirm treatment for sure

What do I think?

What I think is that the Tide16 is brilliant ... but for my part I'd settle for a great-measuring 5.1 pre/pro for under USD 1200.

 

[peng]

They did get rid of FIR filtering on Flex HTx though...so the 400MHz processor might have been a limiting factor for them to remove that feature. It was available on the regular Flex. I also have Flex HTx and it is still exceptional imo without FIR filtering.

Where did you get that information from? How can it do Dirac Live if it cannot do FIR?

 

[peng]

That is correct, but it will cost MiniDSP $0 to remove the Dirac license and sell it separately for US customers. Hopefully that's what they will do.

Good idea but I would think if would cost an US buyer to end up paying more if they are to add those licenses later because minidsp is not going to drop the price to $2700, may be $3,000 or more. Surely they paid DL less than what we would pay DL direct or through them as an add on later, due to volume and other reasons. Still, it will be good if they offer such pay later option.

 

[peng]

Slightly edited.. Your post. I don't yet see the advantage of this over say a Denon 4800 or a 6800H, as someone else remarked... I am also a fan/proponent/elated user of @OCA scripts and don't plan on leaving the Denon/Marantz ecosystem for the foreseeable future .
As for the reliability of Denon/Marantz because of the supposed "Heat build-up", I have not experienced such, and in eco-mode my old, purchased refurbished in 2017, AVR-X3400H, doesn't offer the possibility of shutting down the built-in amplifers when in Pre/Pro mode. Using it in eco-mode it playing as a preamp, consumes (measured) 65 watts, I have been using it in this mode for the past 8 years without, any "Heat Build-up" nor any other problems .. Cross my fingers.. next step could be either a 3800 or a 6800H, this last one often goes on sales for around $2500... It boasts 11 (!!) 140 watts amplifiers... I there is any sign of "Heat build-up" one can address this with a bit of non-invasive or irreversible DIY: Some silent fans on top or wherever appropriate would solve the issues, if indeed these are serious... on top of that the 6800H, offers 7 (!!) HDMI (2.1) inputs and 3 HDMI outputs, as well as 6 analog inputs and 6 analog outputs and ... the possibility to enter your own (FIR??) filters...
Yes it is big and f-ugly but ... but It seems to provide a lot more ... aside from (likely inaudible for most) better SINAD and balanced outputs... Just saying ... After reading the latest posts of this thread, I am not convinced by this product.

I think it is hard for an AVP to compete with AVR, as we all know the power of the so called scale of economy, that favors AVRs. This thing can however, compete very well with the AV30, AVM70, even the AVM90, HTP-1 and other AVPs at price point above $3,500 list price.

 

[Mort]

Not sure about you, but I guess I will be selling my HT and HTx, may keep the AVM70 though, but if I sell the AVM70 as well, I may have enough to buy this thing that can truly be used for HT and 2 channel hifi stereo. Max sampling rate is still 48 kHz but that's okay, higher than that will make me feel good but I know I can't hear the difference anyway.

Probably not. My most complex system is 5.1 and I doubt I'll upgrade it past the HTx. But it's a beast of a device.

 

[thcdru2k]

Where did you get that information from? How can it do Dirac Live if it cannot do FIR?

I just know they removed the ability to import your own even though Flex could do it with same processor. I was just thinking out loud like only difference between Flex and HTx is number of channels.

Now that I think about it more, it probably has less to do with technical limits and more to do with the Dirac licenses itself. Dirac now owns the implementation essentially.

Third party tools would be locked out from directly interacting with or modifying the correction layer inside the Flex HTx or Tide 16.

 

[EWL5]

As for Dirac being "world class" ... let's agree to disagree

For the sake of argument, what do you consider world-class room correction that doesn't require purchasing an AVP that costs the same as a new Civic or Corolla?

 

[thcdru2k]

Good idea but I would think if would cost an US buyer to end up paying more if they are to add those licenses later because minidsp is not going to drop the price to $2700, may be $3,000 or more. Surely they paid DL less than what we would pay DL direct or through them as an add on later, due to volume and other reasons. Still, it will be good if they offer such pay later option.

I would have preferred if they kept it separate like they did with the Flex HTx. That way buyers who actually want Dirac could add it later, while people would not be forced into a correction framework they may not want or need. I'm happy with full control over gain, delay, polarity, EQ, compression, and filter topology.

 

[EWL5]

I would have preferred if they kept it separate like they did with the Flex HTx. That way buyers who actually want Dirac could add it later, while people would not be forced into a correction framework they may not want or need. I'm happy with full control over gain, delay, polarity, EQ, compression, and filter topology.

I think they wanted some more of the mainstream crowd money and Dirac has instant name recognition for the hobby in 2026 (not to mention the excitement brought to enthusiasts when ART became available to sub $2k AVRs).

I remember when Oppo first made DVD players, they relied on video processing chips from the likes of Faroudja or Anchor Bay to get some competitive advantage over the likes of Sony, Panasonic, Denon, etc. Isn't this what miniDSP is doing now by including Dirac?

 

[thcdru2k]

I think they wanted some more of the mainstream crowd money and Dirac has instant name recognition for the hobby in 2026 (not to mention the excitement brought to enthusiasts when ART became available to sub $2k AVRs).

That is fair. Dirac ART is genuinely impressive at what it is designed to do. It is the most advanced mainstream system that coordinates multiple subs and speakers together to control modal behavior across a listening area, which makes it unique compared to traditional approaches.

It's basically doing calculus but someone people just need trigonometry.

For a single listening position, I think you can reasonably argue that a careful manual calibration can match or outperform Dirac ART, because ART’s main advantage is multi-seat, multi-speaker optimization. At one seat, a skilled user with measurements can directly control delays, polarity, crossover summation, and targeted EQ in ways that may be more precise than an automated, black-box system.

 

[Keith_W]

For the sake of argument, what do you consider world-class room correction that doesn't require purchasing an AVP that costs the same as a new Civic or Corolla?

Manually designed filters that you could design using software that you can download for free. The only caveat is that you need to know what you are doing. With Dirac, you can only do what it lets you do.

 

[EWL5]

Manually designed filters that you could design using software that you can download for free. The only caveat is that you need to know what you are doing. With Dirac, you can only do what it lets you do.

Ok, so you're describing like 5% of people in the hobby. miniDSP is a business and needs to make business decisions.

 

[kharan]

Some answers to some questions, plus other answers.

Tide16

support.minidsp.com

Understanding HDMI 2.1 vs 2.0 on Tide16​

Modified on: Fri, 16 Jan, 2026 at 9:04 AM

This is a great topic—and one that really deserves a deeper explanation, which is why we put together this FAQ.

Since the launch of Tide16, one of the most common questions has been: “Why didn’t you include an 8K HDMI 2.1 module? You already had HDMI 2.0, so isn’t it just a simple relayout?”

It’s a fair question, but the reality is more nuanced.

Before diving in, it helps to restate the module specs from the datasheet:

• 3 x In, 1 x out HDMI switch, HDMI 1.4/2.0b compliant
• Resolution: 4k60Hz UHD, 18Gb/s input/output capable, 24/25/30/50/60fps
• 4k to 1080 conversion for HDMI1.4 compliance
• HDMI 2.1 EARC/ARC compliant
• HDMI 2.1 Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)
• HDCP 2.3 compliant / Dolby Vision Compatible

There’s quite a bit to unpack:

• Yes, the spec list mixes HDMI 2.0 and HDMI 2.1 features. That’s because HDMI is a bundle of different capabilities, and we support some HDMI 2.1 functions (like eARC and VRR) but not bandwidth‑heavy ones such as 8K60 or 4K120. Those require a different class of chipset.
• The first major challenge was chipset availability. Accessing true HDMI 2.1 switching chipsets is far from straightforward—the supply chain hurdles are real. If we had waited for them, Tide16 wouldn’t exist today. Choosing a mature HDMI 2.0b platform (which still supports select HDMI 2.1 features) allowed us to build something stable and ship it. Rome wasn’t built in a day.
• The second challenge was certification and licensing. HDMI 2.1 is significantly more complex to validate, test, and certify. Rather than delay the entire product, we prioritized delivering a reliable, feature‑rich solution at a price point where nothing comparable exists.

And if you do have an 8K TV/Projector and want 120Hz, you’re still not out of options. You can integrate Tide16 into your system and add a single HDMI 2.1 input for as little as $249 using an HDFury Arcana at the front end. If you need four additional 8K HDMI 2.1 ports, pairing with an HDFury Vroom achieves that as well.

Hoping this explanation is a starter and we hope to grow the Tide16 with more features in the future.

 

[EWL5]

That is fair. Dirac ART is genuinely impressive at what it is designed to do. It is the most advanced mainstream system that coordinates multiple subs and speakers together to control modal behavior across a listening area, which makes it unique compared to traditional approaches.

It's basically doing calculus but someone people just need trigonometry.

For a single listening position, I think you can reasonably argue that a careful manual calibration can match or outperform Dirac ART, because ART’s main advantage is multi-seat, multi-speaker optimization. At one seat, a skilled user with measurements can directly control delays, polarity, crossover summation, and targeted EQ in ways that may be more precise than an automated, black-box system.

There are folks both in ASR and AVS who have used ART for near-field listening. If you're able to get rid of the decay rates faster and/or easier than ART, then I agree the Tide16 makes no sense.

 

[welwynnick]

I'll wave Keith's flag for him - he's really quite the guru on this subject.
These threads explain where the state of the art in DSP is.
I think this only came about because someone referred to Dirac as being the state of the art, and some people have moved beyond that.

Understanding the state of the DSP market

I thought I would make a public service post about DSP, because I have noticed that many people don't seem to understand it. I hope this post helps you understand what a DSP product offers you, what the advantages and disadvantages are, and ultimately help you choose what you want or need. This...

www.audiosciencereview.com

A comparison of convolution engines

Introduction Some members have systems where the audio crossover is performed by the PC. These are typically .WAV files that contain all the information required for the crossover to function: high and low pass filters, driver correction, room correction, delays for time alignment, etc. A...

www.audiosciencereview.com

ASR Acourate users

There are a number of threads about Acourate on ASR, but there does not seem to be an "Acourate user group". There is an actual Acourate User Group, but that place is pretty quiet and full of existing Acourate users. I thought I would create a thread so that we can discuss and share what we are...

www.audiosciencereview.com