Which would be 600e all taxes included as of today, for unbalanced version without Dirac.
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Minidsp Flex Review (Audio DSP)
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tjcinnamon
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Does anyone know that if I already own a Dirac license from an AVR (paid to Dirac), do I still need to buy the MiniDSP Dirac SKU at $200 OR does my previous Dirac license not require that?
Dirac licenses are tied to minidsp devices.
Thus, yes, you will need to buy a new one.
tjcinnamon
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Dang! So that means if I have 2 devices, I need to buy 2 plugins... Plus the previous Dirac license. I'm all in with Dirac.
To confirm, adjustments can be made after Dirac in the signal chain? For example, I want to increase the gain on my right channel by 1dB after calibration.
adamcstephens
Member
Dirac is applied on input. You should still have full control on output gain. Someone with Dirac may be able to verify this, but I expect it will work as desired.
confirmed.
So I finally got my Flex digital working with my Edifier speakers. When I received the unit it didn't work with either set of speakers so I updated the firmware and tried again but it still didn't work, however, minidsp's support noticed that I had actually downgraded the firmware from the one that the Flex was shipped with and advised that I update it back to the current firmware. I did that last night and low and behold it worked. Not sure why it didn't work originally, perhaps I has done something wrong but I checked and rechecked the setup so many times to find a solution that I don't think that I did. Anyway, kudos to minidsp, they were prompt and responsive with every email I sent them and were as keen to find a solution as I was. I'll order the Dirac upgrade today and do some REW measurements in the meantime. Thanks for all your advice.
HarmonicTHD
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There is a „sticky“ post in the Psychoacoustic section which might get you started (it also contains links to the original source / studies etc).
Audibility thresholds of amp and DAC measurements
Introduction A recurring theme on ASR is whether or not the various measured qualities of the devices are audible. In this post, I'll present some clear and visual thresholds for when those imperfections can be considered a potentially audible concern. I will not explain the basics of amp/DAC...
www.audiosciencereview.com
Gain is set to over 90dB over environment noise and the music has over 90dB of dynamic range and plays at full tilt and the distortion is not masked by the signal.
I would say chances are slim to none to hear it.
Wikedlok
Member
Hi,
before I pull the trigger, could really use some advice. Have read the whole 50 pages of this, but still...
My music system is Node to Topping e50 to Emotiva a300, powering modified Klipsch rp600m (biwired, yay!) and having 2 BK subs connected to it with high level ( stereo subs, like REL). Speakers are shared between this and avr through Beresford amp switch, subs lfe from avr, high level from emotiva.
Although my room is well treated (waterfall graph is pretty good as I understand it, only that nasty peak close to 400 ms and 30 hz and below more than that) , still having some modes, mains have a big dip from 55 to 80, like 20 db down, while their 50-55 are 15ish db up. Audyssey works really well down low, so I'd like to achieve similar or better results, but without avr in the chain (hence music only system).
Tried placement, phase, xover etc, so finally grew tired of it and would go for something like flex.
Really digging the xover and time alignment part Flex analogue offers, as the dac looks good and I think I don't lose audible quality vs my Topping. Feel free to chime in.
Is this the right way to do this:
Subs have two rca in - at the moment avr using both inputs with 1 to 2 rca cables. High level cable from emotiva to sub, which would become obsolete with Mini dsp.
Can I use my subs' rca inputs like this:
-one cable from avr to only one input on sub?
-one cable from flex to the second input on sub?
-try not to have both avr and Flex playing at the same time
?
-Subs don't care one input is dead?
-phase to 0, gain as for avr, xover max?
So, Node to Flex over coax, then pair my left channel with one output (number 1?) to amp's left input and one to the left sub (number 3?) ? Sub becomes extension to mains, not like mono lfe to both subs? Same for right channel. Set crossovers and then get into the rabbit hole of tweaking?
Oh, I'd use Dirac live, seems simpler.
Also - I'm from Croatia, EU, Audiophonics asks for 700 euros without dirac, can someone confirm how much would it cost me / or no customs applied, if I order it straight from USA? Flex + dirac is 694 dollars on their website, convert to euros + shipping, and then VAT 25%, + customs...or what is the formula? I saw one member from Greece here, ...
I'm at work now, so probably left some things out, so I'll have to ask later, sorry :/.
And thanks for all input, in advance,
Best
Edit: how would flex digital work in my case, considering the subs? Additional dac, and then how do I control volume? Let's say I get some cheaper topping. One topping rc to rule them all?
before I pull the trigger, could really use some advice. Have read the whole 50 pages of this, but still...
My music system is Node to Topping e50 to Emotiva a300, powering modified Klipsch rp600m (biwired, yay!) and having 2 BK subs connected to it with high level ( stereo subs, like REL). Speakers are shared between this and avr through Beresford amp switch, subs lfe from avr, high level from emotiva.
Although my room is well treated (waterfall graph is pretty good as I understand it, only that nasty peak close to 400 ms and 30 hz and below more than that) , still having some modes, mains have a big dip from 55 to 80, like 20 db down, while their 50-55 are 15ish db up. Audyssey works really well down low, so I'd like to achieve similar or better results, but without avr in the chain (hence music only system).
Tried placement, phase, xover etc, so finally grew tired of it and would go for something like flex.
Really digging the xover and time alignment part Flex analogue offers, as the dac looks good and I think I don't lose audible quality vs my Topping. Feel free to chime in.
Is this the right way to do this:
Subs have two rca in - at the moment avr using both inputs with 1 to 2 rca cables. High level cable from emotiva to sub, which would become obsolete with Mini dsp.
Can I use my subs' rca inputs like this:
-one cable from avr to only one input on sub?
-one cable from flex to the second input on sub?
-try not to have both avr and Flex playing at the same time
?-Subs don't care one input is dead?
-phase to 0, gain as for avr, xover max?
So, Node to Flex over coax, then pair my left channel with one output (number 1?) to amp's left input and one to the left sub (number 3?) ? Sub becomes extension to mains, not like mono lfe to both subs? Same for right channel. Set crossovers and then get into the rabbit hole of tweaking?
Oh, I'd use Dirac live, seems simpler.
Also - I'm from Croatia, EU, Audiophonics asks for 700 euros without dirac, can someone confirm how much would it cost me / or no customs applied, if I order it straight from USA? Flex + dirac is 694 dollars on their website, convert to euros + shipping, and then VAT 25%, + customs...or what is the formula? I saw one member from Greece here, ...
I'm at work now, so probably left some things out, so I'll have to ask later, sorry :/.
And thanks for all input, in advance,
Best
Edit: how would flex digital work in my case, considering the subs? Additional dac, and then how do I control volume? Let's say I get some cheaper topping. One topping rc to rule them all?
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Hey guys, I bought a miniDSP Flex TRS (balanced). I got 2 Neumann KH 120A monitors and a headphone amplifier. Output 1 & 2 go to the headphone amp while output 3 & 4 go to my speakers. In this configuration my headphones produce noise/buzzing/ground loop and even more so when I move my mouse. Input is USB from PC. I only use balanced connectors.
Okay so I tried some things like switching the Neumann KH120 from Ground Connect to Ground Lift. With this there is no more annoying buzzing. So how can I make the Ground Connect mode to not create ground loop/buzzing/or however you call it? In the manual of the miniDSP Flex I see a Ground lug. Would it help to reduce the ground loop?
I mean I can just let it be on Ground lift, but then again why is there even a Ground Connect mode?
Okay so I tried some things like switching the Neumann KH120 from Ground Connect to Ground Lift. With this there is no more annoying buzzing. So how can I make the Ground Connect mode to not create ground loop/buzzing/or however you call it? In the manual of the miniDSP Flex I see a Ground lug. Would it help to reduce the ground loop?
I mean I can just let it be on Ground lift, but then again why is there even a Ground Connect mode?
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NailOnHead
Member
I activated my license today. And performed a measily single measurement and exported an automatic DIRAC filter.
I should have started experimenting with room correction before. My preliminary opinion (based on a "bad" single measurement filter) is that a lot of phase magic happens. I have always had relatively small listening rooms, and not enough room to take the speakers more than 20cms off the wall. DIRAC seems to make a big difference, mostly a lot of phase magic, the soundstage is more to my liking. e.g. Until now I've not always liked that the music was very cleary coming from my 2 speakers, I was able to localise them easily, now though, the sound is more detached from the speakers. And yes, some frequency response sounds altered, I don't really mind, doesn't sound better or worse for me, just different.
I don't like it on all songs, but this might also be due to my "bad" filter. I really appreciate the DIRAC button on the remote so you can switch instantly without interruption.
That sound stage though
I should have started experimenting with room correction before.
I activated my license today. And performed a measily single measurement and exported an automatic DIRAC filter.
I should have started experimenting with room correction before. My preliminary opinion (based on a "bad" single measurement filter) is that a lot of phase magic happens. I have always had relatively small listening rooms, and not enough room to take the speakers more than 20cms off the wall. DIRAC seems to make a big difference, mostly a lot of phase magic, the soundstage is more to my liking. e.g. Until now I've not always liked that the music was very cleary coming from my 2 speakers, I was able to localise them easily, now though, the sound is more detached from the speakers. And yes, some frequency response sounds altered, I don't really mind, doesn't sound better or worse for me, just different.
I don't like it on all songs, but this might also be due to my "bad" filter. I really appreciate the DIRAC button on the remote so you can switch instantly without interruption.
That sound stage though
I should have started experimenting with room correction before.
People needs to understand that they don't need to try to "equalize / process" sound buying more expensive amplifiers / cables ... they need to work with acoustics / real DSP.
But how can they feel smugly superior about their needlessly expensive gear that way?
But how can they feel smugly superior about their needlessly expensive gear that way?
well, yes, for some audio is only other way to show status ... there's no arguments / reasons for them, fancy and expensive is the way to go.
Money is the best way to get bad kins and friends
phoenixdogfan
Major Contributor
Using components like "synergistic" amps with your speakers instead of EQ and DSP is like eating a steak with a screwdriver.
I think it's kind of like the romanticism with complicated wood joinery, if done correctly you can achieve a beautiful 'pure' piece of art, but it take a very high level of skill to get results better than using metal hardware and it can't pack flat and be reused in new configurations.
In some ways I think it is a good mastery test for a full stack audio production engineer:
Can you understand room interactions and calculate optimal positioning purely from theory?
Can you create a speaker and case with desired properties tailored to that placement?
Can you design an amplifier with explicitly synergistic properties that take into account the room and speaker design?
You'd have to really grasp the underlying physics in multiple sub-domains to make it work right and know the explicit parameters you'd be designing for.
Agreed - soundstage is the biggest improvement for me in my nearfield desktop setup.I activated my license today. And performed a measily single measurement and exported an automatic DIRAC filter.
I should have started experimenting with room correction before. My preliminary opinion (based on a "bad" single measurement filter) is that a lot of phase magic happens. I have always had relatively small listening rooms, and not enough room to take the speakers more than 20cms off the wall. DIRAC seems to make a big difference, mostly a lot of phase magic, the soundstage is more to my liking. e.g. Until now I've not always liked that the music was very cleary coming from my 2 speakers, I was able to localise them easily, now though, the sound is more detached from the speakers. And yes, some frequency response sounds altered, I don't really mind, doesn't sound better or worse for me, just different.
I don't like it on all songs, but this might also be due to my "bad" filter. I really appreciate the DIRAC button on the remote so you can switch instantly without interruption.
That sound stage though
I should have started experimenting with room correction before.
dougi
Addicted to Fun and Learning
I just did my first DIRAC calibrations for my Flex Digital (with ADI-2 pro). The first one wasn't good, with 7.8ms delay applied to one speaker! The second was better (0.67ms, tightly focussed setup). Yes the soundstage change was quite noticable. I did reduce the bass correction range a bit as it was pushing the speakers down low a lot (+10dB at 25 Hz so lifted correction to 35 Hz). It certainly changed the impulse response and phase. Not sure it looks an improvement on paper.
