Where do you all insert your MiniDSPs?

[daverosenthal]

I bet, like me, many of you have been attracted to MiniDSP as a cheap way to inject Dirac into your two channel system. And if you have only a single streamer or something, it’s pretty straightforward to put in the the chain:

Streamer -> MiniDSP -> Pre -> Amp -> Speakers

But what about when you have a few sources? Injecting between Pre and Amp is attractive, but I worry about overloading the 2V ADC input and getting gains right in general. A preamp with a processor loop is ideal, but they are very rare. You can of course just get a preamp with Dirac built in, but, again, only a few offerings on the market.

How have you all solved this in practice in your own systems?

 

[AnalogSteph]

Injecting between Pre and Amp is attractive, but I worry about overloading the 2V ADC input and getting gains right in general.

This doesn't seem justified to me. Since a lot of power amps have an input sensitivity of <1 to maybe 1.6 V, you shouldn't easily get in trouble as long as DSP overall gain is roughly unity. Plus, it'll only ever potentially get tight near maximum output power, and how often do you need that? In that sense this position is far less critical than a processor/tape loop.

 

[mglobe]

My MiniDSP Flex is the last thing in the chain before the power amp and subs. This allows me to have the same room correction for all of my inputs (Phone through a preamp, CD, Roon, BT (rarely used)). I control volume with the Flex, and as best possible equalize the level of all the inputs using the Device Console so that I can change inputs without a significant change in SPL.

 

[daverosenthal]

This doesn't seem justified to me. Since a lot of power amps have an input sensitivity of <1 to maybe 1.6 V, you shouldn't easily get in trouble as long as DSP overall gain is roughly unity. Plus, it'll only ever potentially get tight near maximum output power, and how often do you need that? In that sense this position is far less critical than a processor/tape loop.

You’re right that it’s probably not a big deal. But I’m running a Benchmark AHB2 on low gain mode now, and many preamps will generate over 2V so it seemed like it would be nice to avoid clipping. That said, I’m sure you’re right that I’m probably like 30db down from that point most of the time. Mostly just wondering how others have integrated these things…

 

[daverosenthal]

My MiniDSP Flex is the last thing in the chain before the power amp and subs. This allows me to have the same room correction for all of my inputs (Phone through a preamp, CD, Roon, BT (rarely used)). I control volume with the Flex, and as best possible equalize the level of all the inputs using the Device Console so that I can change inputs without a significant change in SPL.

Got ya, so it sounds like in this case you are just using the Flex as your preamp (and you can get away with a single analog input). I assume “phone though preamp” doesn’t actually mean you have another preamp upstream of the Flex, right?

 

[mglobe]

Got ya, so it sounds like in this case you are just using the Flex as your preamp (and you can get away with a single analog input). I assume “phone though preamp” doesn’t actually mean you have another preamp upstream of the Flex, right?

Sorry that should have read phono through preamp, which then goes through Flex

 

[Eric Natural]

My FlexDL is CD > Coax / Wiim Streamer > Optical / phono pre > RCAs / laptop > USB / BT for my wife's Applemusic
Flex > power amp & subs works great / sounds fantastic
Best of Luck

 

[mcdn]

You’re right that it’s probably not a big deal. But I’m running a Benchmark AHB2 on low gain mode now, and many preamps will generate over 2V so it seemed like it would be nice to avoid clipping. That said, I’m sure you’re right that I’m probably like 30db down from that point most of the time. Mostly just wondering how others have integrated these things…

It's a tough question if you have multiple sources and want to use the low gain mode on your AHB2. The MiniDSP Flex has pretty crappy UX as a preamp so I wouldn't put it first in the chain. In balanced config it gives 4Vrms output and can take 4Vrms input, but that won't let you use the low gain mode on the AHB2. Then again, you won't be able to hear any difference, so if it was me I'd just put the flex between the preamp and power amp and put the AHB2 into higher gain mode.

 

[terryforsythe]

With some of the miniDSP products, there is no need for a pre-separate amplifier. Here is my current 8-channel setup:

WiiM Streamer --> miniDSP Flex HTx --> Amplifiers and Subwoofer

If you use the miniDSP SHD, you don't even need a streamer; it has one built in. Here is my old 4-channel setup:

miniDSP SHD --> Amplifier and Subwoofer

 

[daverosenthal]

It's a tough question if you have multiple sources and want to use the low gain mode on your AHB2. The MiniDSP Flex has pretty crappy UX as a preamp so I wouldn't put it first in the chain. In balanced config it gives 4Vrms output and can take 4Vrms input, but that won't let you use the low gain mode on the AHB2. Then again, you won't be able to hear any difference, so if it was me I'd just put the flex between the preamp and power amp and put the AHB2 into higher gain mode.

Yeah, it would be easy to just run high gain mode, and I agree the noise would be a non-issue. Or I could just keep it in low gain since I doubt I'll ever need rated power for my listening. (But that's where I imagine cranking preamp volume and clipping the ADC...) I do also get a bit antsy about a potentially-glitchy software-defined box thingy plugged directly into my amp I had a MiniDSP Open-DRC like 8 years ago and I remember it being... finicky. Perhaps that's improved. That's part of the reason why a pre with processor loop seems like a nice way to go, but if everyone here is running them direct into amp without issues I guess that's a good datapoint.

 

[terryforsythe]

With the SHD and the Flex HTx there is a button on the remote to cycle through input sources. I mostly stream music, so for me it is not a significant issue and pressing the button a couple of times to cycle through the input sources on the rare occasion I use my CD player isn't a problem.

If you have a turntable that does not have a built-in phono stage, you would need to get a separate phono stage unless you use a streamer like the WiiM Ultra that has one built-in.

But, if you love your pre-amp, it will work. Put it before the miniDSP in the chain. I just would not recommend spending extra money to buy one since it really is not needed.

 

[mcdn]

Yeah, it would be easy to just run high gain mode, and I agree the noise would be a non-issue. Or I could just keep it in low gain since I doubt I'll ever need rated power for my listening. (But that's where I imagine cranking preamp volume and clipping the ADC...) I do also get a bit antsy about a potentially-glitchy software-defined box thingy plugged directly into my amp I had a MiniDSP Open-DRC like 8 years ago and I remember it being... finicky. Perhaps that's improved. That's part of the reason why a pre with processor loop seems like a nice way to go, but if everyone here is running them direct into amp without issues I guess that's a good datapoint.

The latest generation MiniDSPs are much better performing than the OpenDRC, the 2x4, and even the 2x4HD. The software is also much better than it was a few years a go. Overall they are rock solid and totally transparent. Heck, I have a 4x10HD in my setup and I don't think I've touched it in 4 years.

 

[Waxx]

I use mine as preamp with 4 outputs and dsp. Even my turntable on that system and it's phono stage are connected direct to the MiniDSP flex. It's my active crossover for a diy 2way system with Ncore power amps on the output and my sources (turntable, computer, DAB/Web streamer) on the inputs.

 

[tw99]

I'm using an SHD as a source selector/pre-amp as well. The only issue really with doing this is whether the device has the inputs you need. In my case, my sources offer enough connectivity options that it works out OK. But if you need two analogue inputs for example, then you're looking at another box.

 

[mglobe]

I'm using an SHD as a source selector/pre-amp as well. The only issue really with doing this is whether the device has the inputs you need. In my case, my sources offer enough connectivity options that it works out OK. But if you need two analogue inputs for example, then you're looking at another box.

If you need a second analogue input, one option is the new to the market PocketADC

https://www.minidsp.com/products/usb-audio-interface/pocketadc

 

[LesterNZ]

Re: Second analogue input on the miniDSP SHD. There are existing XLR and RCA pairs to give you connectivity. Rotate push selector through input for USB, Co-Ax, Tos, XLR. and RCA.

 

[AaronJ]

I have a miniDSP Flex in the pre-out/main-in loop of my integrated, with a basic analog pot set to 12 o'clock between the miniDSP and the main-in to prevent any accidents. My amp doesn't have a remote, so volume control is done using the miniDSP. I purchased a more attractive remote to replace the miniDSP plastic remote.

 

[Calypso1]

I have a miniDSP Flex in the pre-out/main-in loop of my integrated, with a basic analog pot set to 12 o'clock between the miniDSP and the main-in to prevent any accidents. My amp doesn't have a remote, so volume control is done using the miniDSP. I purchased a more attractive remote to replace the miniDSP plastic remote.

May I ask what remote you purchased?

 

[AaronJ]

May I ask what remote you purchased?

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806445244927.html?spm=a2g0o.detail.pcDetailBottomMoreOtherSeller.1.7e2cwe4xwe4xVW&gps-id=pcDetailBottomMoreOtherSeller&scm=1007.40196.439370.0&scm_id=1007.40196.439370.0&scm-url=1007.40196.439370.0&pvid=b6891259-afea-46c7-892a-6983fb4142a4&_t=gps-id:pcDetailBottomMoreOtherSeller,scm-url:1007.40196.439370.0,pvid:b6891259-afea-46c7-892a-6983fb4142a4,tpp_buckets:668%232846%238112%231997&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22order%22%3A%2295%22%2C%22eval%22%3A%221%22%2C%22sceneId%22%3A%2230050%22%7D&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21USD%2131.64%2127.21%21%21%2131.64%2127.21%21%402103277f17484467534172803ebf67%2112000037877125125%21rec%21US%21%21ABXZ&utparam-url=scene%3ApcDetailBottomMoreOtherSeller%7Cquery_from%3A

I got the 3-button. The cost is up about 50% from when I bought it, likely due to tariffs.

 

[Calypso1]

I am not in the US, so we do not have this issue with tariffs. Thanks for the link.