Recommendation for 2.1 setup: AVR vs. minidsp flex + Hypex Ncore NC252MP amp

[R.J.]

Hello,

I need a recommendation for an amp solution to drive a pair of ATC SCM11 speakers and a JL Audio E110 sub in a 2.1 setup. As an input source, I'm going to use a Spotify streamer (e.g. Fire TV stick with audio extractor) connected over Toslink. I'm considering the following two options:

• minidsp flex + Hypex Ncore NC252MP amp
  • Pros: advanced tuning options, optional Dirac live, small dimensions, reviews of minidsp flex and NC252MP on ASR
  • Cons: requires more knowledge or practice and manual tuning
• Denon X1700H/X2800H/X3800H AVR
  • Pros: Plug and play, automatic measurements
  • Cons: quality of automatic measurements might be inferior to manual tuning

What is your opinion on the above two options? An AVR is a plug and play solution and can perform automatic measurements. Whereas a minidsp would require more manual tuning.

 

[sarumbear]

Hello,

I need a recommendation for an amp solution to drive a pair of ATC SCM11 speakers and a JL Audio E110 sub in a 2.1 setup. As an input source, I'm going to use a Spotify streamer (e.g. Fire TV stick with audio extractor) connected over Toslink. I'm considering the following two options:

• minidsp flex + Hypex Ncore NC252MP amp
• Denon X1700H/X2800H/X3800H AVR

What is your opinion on the above two options? An AVR is a plug and play solution and can perform automatic measurements. Whereas a minidsp would require more manual tuning.

You are paying for licenses on Denon. I will buy the first option.

 

[R.J.]

You are paying for licenses on Denon. I will buy the first option.

Ok. Do you mean the Dirac live license? For a minidsp flex, the Dirac live license also costs additional 199 USD.

 

[sarumbear]

Ok. Do you mean the Dirac live license? For a minidsp flex, the Dirac live license also costs additional 199 USD.

No I said you are paying licenses on the Denon. The surround format licenses on an AVR is a good part of their cost. On the other hand Dirac is optional on miniDSP.

 

[samysound]

Hello,

I need a recommendation for an amp solution to drive a pair of ATC SCM11 speakers and a JL Audio E110 sub in a 2.1 setup. As an input source, I'm going to use a Spotify streamer (e.g. Fire TV stick with audio extractor) connected over Toslink. I'm considering the following two options:

• minidsp flex + Hypex Ncore NC252MP amp
  • Pros: advanced tuning options, optional Dirac live, small dimensions, reviews of minidsp flex and NC252MP on ASR
  • Cons: requires more knowledge or practice and manual tuning
• Denon X1700H/X2800H/X3800H AVR
  • Pros: Plug and play, automatic measurements
  • Cons: quality of automatic measurements might be inferior to manual tuning

What is your opinion on the above two options? An AVR is a plug and play solution and can perform automatic measurements. Whereas a minidsp would require more manual tuning.

Are you planning on using this for music only or with movies/TV with multi channel content? If the latter, the denon might have some advantage in down sampling multichannel content to 2.1. If music only, I would go miniDSP for sure

 

[VMAT4]

No I said you are paying licenses on the Denon. The surround format licenses on an AVR is a good part of their cost. On the other hand Dirac is optional on miniDSP.

I didn't realize those licenses were are part of the cost of an AVR.

 

[Keened]

If you are trying to eek out every bit of performance of the signal and amplification chain, the Flex is going to win every time. But you probably are not going to notice a difference since the biggest constraining factor is going to be your speakers and single sub, they should/will effectively sound the same.

The Flex does not offer any kind of HDMI/(e)ARC compatibility which might get annoying for turning the system on/off or adding additional video components as you go. If it's always going to be a dedicated 2.1 audio set up then it won't matter.

Do you already own the speakers and subwoofer or are you planning to put it all together?

Edit: Whoops, forgot that generation of Denon doesn't have Dirac. Dirac >> historical autoeq solutions. Unless you have a well tamed room and a narrow listening window Dirac will make the biggest difference.

 

[NiagaraPete]

Hello,

I need a recommendation for an amp solution to drive a pair of ATC SCM11 speakers and a JL Audio E110 sub in a 2.1 setup. As an input source, I'm going to use a Spotify streamer (e.g. Fire TV stick with audio extractor) connected over Toslink. I'm considering the following two options:

• minidsp flex + Hypex Ncore NC252MP amp
  • Pros: advanced tuning options, optional Dirac live, small dimensions, reviews of minidsp flex and NC252MP on ASR
  • Cons: requires more knowledge or practice and manual tuning
• Denon X1700H/X2800H/X3800H AVR
  • Pros: Plug and play, automatic measurements
  • Cons: quality of automatic measurements might be inferior to manual tuning

What is your opinion on the above two options? An AVR is a plug and play solution and can perform automatic measurements. Whereas a minidsp would require more manual tuning.

I’d go option 1 with Dirac.

 

[sarumbear]

I didn't realize those licenses were are part of the cost of an AVR.

You are never asked to pay for Dolby or DTS licenses when you buy an AVR but you can play content encoded in them. Do you think those companies allow their IP to be used free?

 

[sarumbear]

Do you already own the speakers and subwoofer or are you planning to put it all together?

Have you read his post?

 

[Keened]

Have you read his post?

Yes, it doesn't state whether they currently own them or are looking to 'match' a source to their soon-to-be speakers.

It's an important question since the MSRP is $4K for those two-way speakers and the 10" sealed subwoofer...

 

[VMAT4]

You are never asked to pay for Dolby or DTS licenses when you buy an AVR but you can play content encoded in them. Do you think those companies allow their IP to be used free?

Never gave it a thought! But I through out (to be recycled) the only AVR I ever owned years ago.

 

[R.J.]

I already own the speakers and the sub. My primary use is music listening.

 

[Brofeld]

• Denon X1700H/X2800H/X3800H AVR
  • Pros: Plug and play, automatic measurements
  • Cons: quality of automatic measurements might be inferior to manual tuning

Remember that you can also do some manual tuning on Denon AVRs via the 20€ smartphone or 200€ PC app. The 3800 is also Dirac-ready, although you would have to pay extra for the license. Another point in favor of AVRs is the all-in-one aspect; for example, you wouldn't need an external streamer for Spotify, because the AVR already features Spotify connect.

 

[sarumbear]

Remember that you can also do some manual tuning on Denon AVRs via the 20€ smartphone or 200€ PC app.

Not on every model, especially not on the model Denon is considering.

 

[Brofeld]

Not on every model, especially not on the model Denon is considering.

No? I thought the ones the OP listed should all be compatible with the app.

 

[sarumbear]

No? I thought the ones the OP listed should all be compatible with the app.

Compatible models (Product availability varies depending on regions):

• AVR-X6300H
• AVR-X4300H
• AVR-X3300W
• AVR-X2300W
• AVR-X1300W

Not compatible with Denon models other than those listed above.

Audyssey MultEQ Editor App | Take total control of the way your home cinema sounds | Denon

Tailor tailor the sound of your Denon home cinema to your personal preferences with the Audyssey MultEQ Editor App

www.denon.com

 

[Brofeld]

It says right below "Selected future models will be compatible as well."

1300 -> 1700
2300 -> 2800
3300 -> 3800

 

[tesseractASR]

Audyssey MultEQ Editor App | Take total control of the way your home cinema sounds | Denon

Tailor tailor the sound of your Denon home cinema to your personal preferences with the Audyssey MultEQ Editor App

www.denon.com

I am using the MultEQ app with an X3800H.

 

[sarumbear]

I am using the MultEQ app with an X3800H.

Thank you for letting us know.