Which miniDSP for my setup?

[gurujee]

I have decided to add miniDSP with Dirac to my stereo setup. I am using stereo setup with AVR through HT Bypass. Below is my setup.
Marantz SR 6008 (AVR), Audiolab 6000A (integrated amp), iFi Zen Stream, Q Acoustics Concept 20, and Wharfedale D10 subwoofer

Since, room correction for HT is already being handled by Marantz's Audyssey, I need the miniDSP with Dirac to correct room acoustic problems for stereo. (I have already done minimal room acoustic treatments)

I think for my setup (researched about setup and connection through chatGPT) miniDSP FLEX Digital will be good. Below is the setup path suggested by chatGPT. I want to know Is this OKAY? And please suggest where to purchase the UMIK Mic and Flex Digital devices. I found that Avenue Sound sell them, but don't know if they are reliable, and the prices can be negotiable. They have listed the Flex Digital at 62,288/-

iFi Zen Stream (digital SPDIF)
↓
miniDSP Flex Digital (applies Dirac & DSP)
↓ (digital output via SPDIF or TOSLINK)
Audiolab 6000A (uses its internal DAC)
↓ (analog)
Speakers + Sub setup

 

[hardcore_gamer99]

how room correction is handled by audessey when you have dirac?

 

[gurujee]

I am utilizing the front left right speaker from stereo setup through AVR’s Preout/Int.Amp’s HT bypass feature (AVR Preout>Intgrated Amplifier PowerAMP-In)
Thus, AVR is correcting the HomeTheatre system by Audessey. For stereo listening, there is no room correction provided by Int. Amp.
I don’t have Dirac yet. Planning to add it through MiniDSP

 

[Yelamanchili manohar]

I have decided to add miniDSP with Dirac to my stereo setup. I am using stereo setup with AVR through HT Bypass. Below is my setup.
Marantz SR 6008 (AVR), Audiolab 6000A (integrated amp), iFi Zen Stream, Q Acoustics Concept 20, and Wharfedale D10 subwoofer

Since, room correction for HT is already being handled by Marantz's Audyssey, I need the miniDSP with Dirac to correct room acoustic problems for stereo. (I have already done minimal room acoustic treatments)

I think for my setup (researched about setup and connection through chatGPT) miniDSP FLEX Digital will be good. Below is the setup path suggested by chatGPT. I want to know Is this OKAY? And please suggest where to purchase the UMIK Mic and Flex Digital devices. I found that Avenue Sound sell them, but don't know if they are reliable, and the prices can be negotiable. They have listed the Flex Digital at 62,288/-

In my humble opinion, the Flex digital is too much money for the little your goodselves want to do with it. I think the Wiim streamers offer PEQ correction, if you can measure your system with a Umik microphone via REW. The dips cannot be filled by any system, so only the peaks need to be chopped. Which can be acheived by many digital streamers like Wiim. A Minidsp Flex digital might be overkill, without knowing what issues we have at hand. Besides, if you go for the Flex model with in-built dacs, then atleast you can use it to time align and seamlessly blend the subwoofer for 2 channel music, which might be worth the asking price. Just my 2 cents...

 

[gurujee]

Thanks so Much, I hadn’t thought in that way. Will look into it the flex with dac ..
Wondering about whether eversolo dmp a6 with peq can be equal, better or worse than a Wiim.

 

[Yelamanchili manohar]

Thanks so Much, I hadn’t thought in that way. Will look into it the flex with dac ..
Wondering about whether eversolo dmp a6 with peq can be equal, better or worse than a Wiim.

Thanks

Sorry I have no clue which of them will be better. There is a newer Eversolo T8 which is purely a digital transport with PEQ functionality. But expensive I think. Since, the Dac is going to do the heavy lifting, I think Wiim with a linear power supply, acting as a pure digital transport should do the PEQ needed.

The reason why I posted the above, is beacuse I have 3 DSP options at home. A Minidsp SHD, DSpeaker Antimode 2.0 which is a active bass correction system, and a Dayton DSP. I find that I only use PEQ correction to clip the peaks in the bass. And never liked them working full range across the entire frquency band. So a simple digital transport with PEQ functionality should be sufficient I think, Unless you want to integrate the Subwoofer too.

 

[gurujee]

Thanks again, Manohar ji. Thank you for this clarity. I think I will have to decide between the T8 and Wiim, as I also desire native playback of Apple Music. Subwoofer integration is not priority for the time being.

 

[Amarendra]

Thanks again, Manohar ji. Thank you for this clarity. I think I will have to decide between the T8 and Wiim, as I also desire native playback of Apple Music. Subwoofer integration is not priority for the time being.

In case you can stretch the budget and need more convenience consider the Marantz model m1 which is a streamer + dac + amp + Dirac. It has sub out with HPF + LPF, made in Japan and sounds phenomenal.

 

[gurujee]

In case you can stretch the budget and need more convenience consider the Marantz model m1 which is a streamer + dac + amp + Dirac. It has sub out with HPF + LPF, made in Japan and sounds phenomenal.

Thank you. I was considering, (perhaps still in dilemma) the m1. But it is a difficult decision to ditch all avr + int.amp + Center + LFE channel etc and go for the all in one. Sometimes I enjoy movies in surround. I can’t audition it, otherwise would have taken the decision.
I am wondering and would love to hear, how is its 2 channel performance for movies.

 

[Amarendra]

Thank you. I was considering, (perhaps still in dilemma) the m1. But it is a difficult decision to ditch all avr + int.amp + Center + LFE channel etc and go for the all in one. Sometimes I enjoy movies in surround. I can’t audition it, otherwise would have taken the decision.
I am wondering and would love to hear, how is its 2 channel performance for movies.

You don’t need to ditch anything but just add the M1 to your HT speakers via a speaker selector or similar. The M1 takes HDMI ARC from tv and gives stereo as well as Dolby virtual surround. Both modes are good fun for movies/ tv. If connecting to existing set up is tough then create 2 setups - if possible. I was using mini DSP for stereo but wasn’t too impressed. The software is quite clunky.

 

[DB1989]

Thanks so Much, I hadn’t thought in that way. Will look into it the flex with dac ..
Wondering about whether eversolo dmp a6 with peq can be equal, better or worse than a Wiim.

I have used the PEQ on the Eversolo A8. Pretty decent but necessary only to correct the nasty stuff. However, there is a minor drop in transparency - akin to the thinnest of veils being draped around an object which lets 99% of the light through but that 1% is noticeable if you lean in and listen.

I have used the MiniDSP Flex with the DA convertor and while it performs really well, the reduction in transparency is even more noticeable as its DA converter is nowhere as accomplished as the Eversolo A8.

I use the M1 too and it is a very good sounding Amp, much better value than the MiniDSP Flex, because it provides you a streamer+DAC+Amp+DIRAC under INR 1L all in. However, unless you want a parallel system or replace the Audiolab 6000a with a different sound signature, I'm not sure if the M1 is the best fit.

If you want the best PEQ, it is to be found in the RME ADI-2 DAC FS. Them Germans know their stuff - its nigh impossible to detect any drop in transparency unless you engage all 7 bands with some very aggressive tuning.

 

[sidvee]

If you want the best PEQ, it is to be found in the RME ADI-2 DAC FS. Them Germans know their stuff - its nigh impossible to detect any drop in transparency unless you engage all 7 bands with some very aggressive tuning.

I agree, it is a very transparent implementation in the RME and perhaps the best upto this price range and even above perhaps. The PEQ in the wiim pro, which I have is terrible, I stopped using it (granted it is a low budget unit). I think a lot of the budget Chinese mfrs. do not have proper implementation of PEQ's, it is just to add to the feature count.
Cheers,
Sid

 

[gurujee]

@Amarendra @DB1989 @sidvee
Thanks so very much for the valuable insights and guidance. One thing I realised from your replies that miniDSP not the best thing for my need. Want to go into the easy way of Marantz m1, especially @DB1989 ‘s glowing review at Hifimart. But not sure about speaker selector. Will make a decision

 

[Passive_audio_enthusiast]

In my humble opinion, the Flex digital is too much money for the little your goodselves want to do with it. I think the Wiim streamers offer PEQ correction, if you can measure your system with a Umik microphone via REW. The dips cannot be filled by any system, so only the peaks need to be chopped. Which can be acheived by many digital streamers like Wiim. A Minidsp Flex digital might be overkill, without knowing what issues we have at hand. Besides, if you go for the Flex model with in-built dacs, then atleast you can use it to time align and seamlessly blend the subwoofer for 2 channel music, which might be worth the asking price. Just my 2 cents...

Why can’t a DSP fill the dips?

 

[morerajendra5678]

Why can’t a DSP fill the dips?

DBX DiveRack PA2 have given me good results. Using it in all tube system and I don't miss any frequency spectrum. Amplifier and dac is from Audio Note.