Hi,
I bought the MiniDSP about 6months ago and I have not use it very much. I will explain why and I hope someone can give me an answer if available.
If I use MiniDSP alone I will have to use my own DAC, most users are aware there many models of DAC available now in the market and many of them are of very good to excellent sound quality. These DACs can be purchased at relatively low cost between $100-$1000. I connect the analog output of the my DAC to the input of the MiniDSP which converts it to digital again before entering the analog inputs of amps(digital or analog). My concern is changing from digital signal form CDs or 24bit/96Khz source to analog by DAC then back to digital(MiniDSP) than to analog. Redundant conversion I think.
Enters the MiniDigi which accepts SPDIF from my CD transport or media server with SPDIF output. I believe the current Minidigi would be able to do just that. My questions are:
1. Can the MiniDigi(costs $70) give me comparable performance to some of the commercial DAC that costs about $300. BTW my DAC costs about $300 and it sounds very good for this price?
2. Is MiniDSP thinking of designing a very "High Performance(HP) MiniDigi" that will operate with MiniDSP? This HP MiniDSP should be able to accept USB(the current MiniDigi does not accept USB) and SPDIF as well? Is there one unit in the design stage, if yes I am interested? I think there is a market for it.
I am currently using my Behringer DCX 2496 and I understands its limitations. I prefer to the MiniDSP and MiniDigi combo. Any comments anyone?
I bought the MiniDSP about 6months ago and I have not use it very much. I will explain why and I hope someone can give me an answer if available.
If I use MiniDSP alone I will have to use my own DAC, most users are aware there many models of DAC available now in the market and many of them are of very good to excellent sound quality. These DACs can be purchased at relatively low cost between $100-$1000. I connect the analog output of the my DAC to the input of the MiniDSP which converts it to digital again before entering the analog inputs of amps(digital or analog). My concern is changing from digital signal form CDs or 24bit/96Khz source to analog by DAC then back to digital(MiniDSP) than to analog. Redundant conversion I think.
Enters the MiniDigi which accepts SPDIF from my CD transport or media server with SPDIF output. I believe the current Minidigi would be able to do just that. My questions are:
1. Can the MiniDigi(costs $70) give me comparable performance to some of the commercial DAC that costs about $300. BTW my DAC costs about $300 and it sounds very good for this price?
2. Is MiniDSP thinking of designing a very "High Performance(HP) MiniDigi" that will operate with MiniDSP? This HP MiniDSP should be able to accept USB(the current MiniDigi does not accept USB) and SPDIF as well? Is there one unit in the design stage, if yes I am interested? I think there is a market for it.
I am currently using my Behringer DCX 2496 and I understands its limitations. I prefer to the MiniDSP and MiniDigi combo. Any comments anyone?
miniDSP 2x4 (assuming that you have this one) is 2ch analog in and 4ch analog out using the build in ADC/DAC of the DSP.
If you have a digital source it does indeed not make sense to use a (high quality) DAC to go analogue into the miniDSP and convert back to digital using the build in ADC. This is where miniDIGI comes into play. miniDIGI will give you a SPDIF input and you will avoid the extra DA/AD conversion.
miniDIGI also has one SPDIF output that could be used to feed your existing high quality DAC with two of the output channels (e.g. high frequencies).
hoping this info helps
If you have a digital source it does indeed not make sense to use a (high quality) DAC to go analogue into the miniDSP and convert back to digital using the build in ADC. This is where miniDIGI comes into play. miniDIGI will give you a SPDIF input and you will avoid the extra DA/AD conversion.
miniDIGI also has one SPDIF output that could be used to feed your existing high quality DAC with two of the output channels (e.g. high frequencies).
hoping this info helps
I am not sure that is correct...
I agree that the miniDIGI can accept a s/pdif signal in. It only passes that input to the minidsp. Minidsp performes the dsp and converts to analog. Using their products as supplied, there is no way to avoid the D/A conversion that was the fear of the OP.
There is a way to mod the minidsp to bypass its DAC (so you can use your better DAC) by tapping into its i2s header. This is described in this thread:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/minidsp/200946-minidsp-2x8-i2s-crossover-dsp.html
The digital output on the miniDIGI can be switched to use any of the I2S lines on the board. See the block diagram in this article:
http://www.hifizine.com/2011/09/digital-direct-minidsp-stack/
(That is as per the manuals.)
John
Thanks for the link, its useful. I did not realize the miniDIGI had spdif out from the minidsp 12s. Having said that, (and as you point out) this can only be 2-ch, so the remaining 2-ch must be fed from the analog out from the minidsp DAC.
To completely avoid use of the minidsp DAC the link I provided shows how one can use a buffalo-III highend (DIY and affordable) m-ch DAC tied into up to 8-ch of a minidsp.
Depending on what the OP wants, I think between the two of us, he has the available choices.
Thanks for the link, its useful. I did not realize the miniDIGI had spdif out from the minidsp 12s. Having said that, (and as you point out) this can only be 2-ch, so the remaining 2-ch must be fed from the analog out from the minidsp DAC.
To completely avoid use of the minidsp DAC the link I provided shows how one can use a buffalo-III highend (DIY and affordable) m-ch DAC tied into up to 8-ch of a minidsp.
Depending on what the OP wants, I think between the two of us, he has the available choices.
Configuring MiniDIGI I2S
I have a Mini DIGI, DSP and 2 way Xover ADV 2.1 Plug-in. I should have gotten the 2 ADV, but mistakenly got the 2.1. Apparently no prob, except that the 2.1 has different I2S configs than the 2. It says "Plug-in OUT #1/2 available on I2S Data OUT 1/2, and Plug-in OUT #3/4 available on I2S Data OUT 3/4."
So does that mean I am supposed to put jumpers on Data OUT 1/2 AND 3/4?
According to the MiniDIGI manual, selecting more than one Data OUT line could cause damage! Help! Dan
I have a Mini DIGI, DSP and 2 way Xover ADV 2.1 Plug-in. I should have gotten the 2 ADV, but mistakenly got the 2.1. Apparently no prob, except that the 2.1 has different I2S configs than the 2. It says "Plug-in OUT #1/2 available on I2S Data OUT 1/2, and Plug-in OUT #3/4 available on I2S Data OUT 3/4."
So does that mean I am supposed to put jumpers on Data OUT 1/2 AND 3/4?
According to the MiniDIGI manual, selecting more than one Data OUT line could cause damage! Help! Dan
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