Will a MiniDSP 2x4HD make a noticeable difference when connected in front of Swissonic A306's that use a ADAU1701 DSP internally?

[Plompudu]

I'm currently considering adding a MiniDSP 2x4 HD to my system to get per channel time delay and FIR-adjustment that can be toggled via a remote / presets since I have 2 different listening positions depending on watching a movie or using it nearfield when working.
Being able to see the live level like with the App of the Qudelix5k would be nice.

Will a MiniDSP 2x4 HD or a better measuring DAC like the MiniDSP Flex make any difference if it's run through the ADAU1701 of my Speakers in the end (distortion/noise-wise)? Is it just wasted money to buy a better DAC then a MiniDSP 2x4HD instead of saving for a 2nd SB-2000 instead of the SB-1000 for example?

Here are the measurements I could find of the devices listed:

• https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...qudelix-5k-bluetooth-dac-headphone-amp.17386/
• https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...urements-and-minidsp-2x4-hd-dsp-and-dac.2674/
• https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/minidsp-flex-review-audio-dsp.30804/
• https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/sigma-adau1701-review-dsp-board.19981/

My Current Setup is:

My Idea was this, but then would I loose being able to see the exact level I'm playing at when watching a movie (unless I route the TV via BT through the Qudelix 5K):

Thanks in Advance!

 

[INS1GHT]

Working with a similar setup. MiniDSP 2x4 HD with Emotiva 6s and 2 Rythmik f18s as my home theater, TV, Music setup. I found that I did not like the DAC in the MiniDSP it sounded compressed and lacked dynamic range, this could have been due to using the volume controller in the DSP or it's actual capabilities, either way I decided on using the analog input and I found that the sound was much better. So I have my PC and Google TV connected to my TV hdmi and using optical out to a Topping E30 which controls the system volume as a preamp, DSP set to 0db.

Not sure the Quedlix would be worth using, if your setup is anything similar to mine.

 

[DVDdoug]

Will a MiniDSP 2x4 HD or a better measuring DAC like the MiniDSP Flex make any difference

The whole purpose is to change the sound in a desirable way!

if it's run through the ADAU1701 of my Speakers in the end (distortion/noise-wise)?

You should be OK unless you configure it "wrong" and get digital clipping.

I found that I did not like the DAC in the MiniDSP it sounded compressed and lacked dynamic range,

You don't normally hear/perceive a loss of dynamics. Clipping is the "worst kind" of dynamic compression and it's normally heard as distortion rather than compression. You'll get digital clipping if the digital level "tries" to go over 0dBFS. And of course, you can get analog clipping if you try to get 110W out of a 100W amplifier. The clipping level determines the top-end of the dynamic range.

The quiet-end of dynamic range is limited by noise. Again i's no heard as a loss of dynamics. It's noise in the background. If you aren't hearing noise there's no problem on the quiet-end. And that would be analog noise from the analog side of the DAC. The dynamic range is also limited in a different way on the low-end by the number of bits. You can have pure digital silence (sample values of zero) which could be considered infinite dynamic range but there are no factional values between a sample value of 1 and a sample-value of zero.

 

[Keith_W]

Sorry, I missed your question. Your current setup has a Qudelix 5k performing DA conversion, before it is fed into your speakers (Swissonic A306) which performs AD conversion, runs it through its internal DSP, and then DA conversion again. You are asking whether there will be a notable difference if the Qudelix DA converter is replaced with a MiniDSP.

Short answer: no. The DAC's in the MiniDSP are far superior to the ADAU1701 (SINAD -81dB!!). Amir sardonically notes "the elitist in me wants something better". It is true that noise adds up when you connect two noisy devices in series, but the culprit device here is the speaker and not the MiniDSP. As for whether you will be able to hear it, it's doubtful.

I was going to say something about clipping causing compression but @DVDdoug beat me to it

 

[INS1GHT]

I'm by no means a subjectivist when it comes to DACs. Honestly have very few references to compare DAC to DAC. However I did use the miniDSP for a while as a preamp with its optical in and because I was unable to see what the volume was I integrated the Topping DAC which has the screen. I noticed that the sound was better. I'm totally fine with my opinion being objectively wrong though.