minidsp ADC

[JRKO]

I'm looking to get myself an active crossover as I'm moving into 2-way (and up) speakers systems from full range systems.

I have a question about the ADC part of the minidsp. I have a sizeable collection of vinyl, cassettes and like listening to analogue radio. Please can any users, or even the maker, give me any insight to the quality of this part of the system? I'd hate to go active only to degrade 3/4 of my music sources

Many thanks in advance

James

 

[smf]

James - I play vinyl most of the time and haven't found my minidsp to be the limiting factor: the speakers, placement in the room and the room are.

 

[JRKO]

Thats good news!

I imagine the set up is: vinyl source - mm pre - pre (with volume) - minidsp - amps - speakers

Is it better to use a volume control after the minidsp to make sure maximum signal get to the inputs of the minidsp?

 

[Henkjan]

probably the best option is to do the volume control IN the minidsp, with the potmeter connection.

 

[JRKO]

thanks Henkjan

I'm having real difficulties with my internet t the moment. I cant get any pdf's to appear...........

oh hang on - got it

Quick question: is the quality of the volume pot important?

 

[Ryssen]

Anyone have a link to this ADC?Can´t find it..

 

[JRKO]

do you mean the actual chip?

if not the minidsp changes all info from analogue into digital (ADC), then applies the processing (dsp, crossovers etc) and then from digital back into analogue (DAC)

What type of volume control does the control provide? Is it a reduction in data bit depth or a 'proper' volume control?

 

[Ryssen]

do you mean the actual chip?

No I mean on the minidsp site.

 

[JRKO]

No its not a new product. Its part of the way the minidsp works as posted above. All the processing is done digitally so analogue info must be digitised (ADC)

Any ideas on how the volume function works?

 

[Ryssen]

Om nanoDigi it´s digital volumecontrol.
I once owned a minidsp where you connected 1 single pot to the board
so I would asume its ´s digital.

 

[JRKO]

is that a bit loss type control do you know? Heard one of those before and its pointless. Who listens at full volume to get gull signal?

 

[Ryssen]

Yes it´s lossy,minidsp recomends to have as much signal as possible through minidsp,but I have a nanoDIGI and I use the volume control and I don´t
hear any diffrence.So I think its safe to use it

 

[JRKO]

mmmm lossy volume controls - kinda like choosing which arm you don't need

I think I'll look for a post dsp volume control.

 

[smf]

JRKO - my system routing is: turntable - step-up - phono amp - pre-amp - minidsp - power amps. I don't use the volume control in the minidsp. I control it on the pre-amp. I have loads of gain and you do have to be careful to get the gain at each stage right. There's a good article on getting the gain structure right somewhere here at diyaudio.

 

[Henkjan]

the volume control in the minidsp is digital. there is a potmeter in the minidsp shop

A proper implemented digital volume control is better than >90% of the traditional volume controls (Hypex' Bruno explained this in some post in the Hypex DSP thread, can't find it).

 

[JRKO]

A proper implemented digital volume control is better than >90% of the traditional volume controls

but if this is a lossy control it isn't 'properly implemented'. Its not like a passive volume control which changes the voltage level but leaves the entire signal intact, its a SQ filter stripping bits as you move away from 100%.

If you want to listen at quiet levels and have a high efficiency system could end up playing mp3 on your top quality system

Is there any further info on the volume control knocking around?