DizRotus Posted September 4, 2019 Author Share Posted September 4, 2019 1 minute ago, Chris A said: The 2x4 HD is a good piece of equipment (and I'm currently running one on my surrounds with excellent results). But I don't recommend the "miniDSP 2x4". Chris Why not? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 Read my post again... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizRotus Posted September 4, 2019 Author Share Posted September 4, 2019 1 minute ago, Chris A said: Read my post again... I did. Same question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizRotus Posted September 4, 2019 Author Share Posted September 4, 2019 Now I see you edited your post after I quoted it. Thanks @Chris A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizRotus Posted September 4, 2019 Author Share Posted September 4, 2019 27 minutes ago, babadono said: I have no personal experience with the miniDSP hardware but I have read it is easy to overdrive the inputs. So no reason it cannot be used but you will have to be mindful of that. miniDSP website says max input for the unit you linked to is 2 Vrms which is only about +8dBu. I could find the max output of the Pono player balanced outputs, but I doubt it’s very high. ”2 Vrms which is only about +8dBu.” Is that Russian? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babadono Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 So @Chris A the "HD" has greater resolution (96kHz as opposed to 48kHz) but is single ended only? Do you use at 2 or 4 volt input? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 But note that you'll have to step up to a miniDSP 4x10 HD unit in order to get balanced connections, however. The "2x4 HD" uses unbalanced RCA connectors and I find that it is a little noisy relative to all my other balanced/XLR-Euro connectors. It's the only downside that I can see with the 2x4 HD--there aren't balanced connections available. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 1 minute ago, babadono said: So @Chris A the "HD" has greater resolution (96kHz as opposed to 48kHz) but is single ended only? Do you use at 2 or 4 volt input? Yes, it has better resolution, but it's the much greater gain range that I was specifically referring to (i.e., the analog side of things). I'm using my Onkyo PR-SC886 pre/pro to drive it (like everything else in my setup). So I guess that means 2V...(?) Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizRotus Posted September 4, 2019 Author Share Posted September 4, 2019 This will demonstrate my ignorance. Might it be possible to use multiple dsp units to maintain balanced, that is, to have a + & - for each channel without a common ground? It’s starting to sound very complicated, but I do want to preserve balanced. I do not want to insert something between the preamp (Pono) and the amp that will degrade the midrange and treble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babadono Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 2 minutes ago, DizRotus said: I could find the max output of the Pono player balanced outputs, but I doubt it’s very high. I was looking briefly, seems tech info is gone or hard to find. But I did read it has line out as well as the volume controlled headphone out. The line out would definitely not be a problem but you would have to have volume control further downstream using that option. With the volume controlled headphone out you will just need to be mindful that you could overdrive the input. I am saying this without knowing the specs of the Pono player but assuming the headphone out is capable of more than +8dBu. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babadono Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 10 minutes ago, Chris A said: So I guess that means 2V...(?) Chris Says it's a jumperable configuration option so i was just wondering how you set it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 I haven't changed any jumpers inside the Onkyo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babadono Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 10 minutes ago, DizRotus said: Might it be possible to use multiple dsp units to maintain balanced, that is, to have a + & - for each channel without a common ground? Easy answer is no. But that said anything is possible, but it would be a marvel of engineering. It certainly could not be done with two separate miniDSP units. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 I guess you could use a couple of these to convert unbalanced to balanced: https://www.jlmaudio.com/shop/regurgitator-kit.html?display_tax_prices=1 I don't know how to buy them in the USA. It quotes the price on the website in USD (in addition to Australian dollars--where they're apparently made), which is encouraging. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babadono Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 7 minutes ago, Chris A said: I haven't changed any jumpers inside the Onkyo. Uh yea roger, I was speaking of the miniDSP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 None there, either... I'll have to take a look to see if there are any advantages. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mboxler Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 36 minutes ago, Chris A said: But note that you'll have to step up to a miniDSP 4x10 HD unit in order to get balanced connections, however. The "2x4 HD" uses unbalanced RCA connectors and I find that it is a little noisy relative to all my other balanced/XLR-Euro connectors. It's the only downside that I can see with the 2x4 HD--there aren't balanced connections available. Chris I'm confused. Are you saying that this doesn't give you balanced connections? https://www.minidsp.com/products/minidspkits/2-x-in-4-x-out-bal Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 By the way, the miniDSP 2x4 HD is available in boxless configuration, too, thus saving $10(US): https://www.minidsp.com/products/minidspkits/2-x-in-4-x-out-hd ...where you could also strap the "Regurgitator" interfaces to a suitably sized box to hold everything. 11 minutes ago, mboxler said: I'm confused. Are you saying that this doesn't give you balanced connections? https://www.minidsp.com/products/minidspkits/2-x-in-4-x-out-bal Mike You've made the same mistake that many others have made. You're looking at a balanced "2x4", not a "balanced 2x4 HD"... miniDSP should really change the naming of these two units (and their variants) to differentiate them more clearly. I've seen this issue more than once, so I don't believe it's a "customer issue" so much as a "supplier issue". Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babadono Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 Just a comment...looks like $499 for the 4X10 HD miniDSP unit to get balanced 2in X 8 out.......why not just take a leap and buy a Xilica? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 I don't know the price on the Xilica (and I'm sure you don't want to quote here right now), if $100 or $300 means anything to you (it does to me), then it might be worthwhile to consider the 2x10 HD, which has balanced connectors. I haven't used one, but I've seen no one complain about noise or lack of gain out of them (i.e., signal/noise ratio). I'd try one if I had an immediate use for one. As it is, I've got too many balls in the air right now. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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