TOPIC:

The MiniDSP SHD is an excellent piece of hardware, slightly limited by the software functionality and UI experience.

Please find below some potential improvement ideas. Most can be applied to the current hardware platform, while the others are referring to a potential v2 unit. 

Software related:

• better behavior of the stand-by LED: when the unit is connected to mains power, but is in stand-by, the LED should be on; when the unit is in normal operation, the LED should be off (regardless of the display status)
• consider additional OLED pixel refresher techniques to prevent burn-in issues (e.g.: periodic image shift by 1 pixel, ...)
• show incoming digital stream details (e.g.: bit depth, sample rate, ...) -> even though there is an internal ASRC (resampling to 96k), it is relevant to check the incoming digital signal details
• show a temporary indication on the screen in case of clipping detected at the output (similar to the Device Console meters, but limited to clipping behavior); alternatively, the stand-by LED can be used (rapid flashing)
• show custom preset names on the OLED screen (limited to the max # of characters that fit / enable text scrolling)
• bring back the possibility to learn 3rd party IR remote control codes (for all existing functions)
• implement Dirac Live Bass Control, allowing a 2.2 configuration -> if current DSP capability is limited, consider offering DLBC instead of output parametric EQ / crossovers / compressor as option
• add auto turn-off after specified amount of time (user configurable)
• add possibility to rename inputs and show them accordingly on the OLED screen
• add possibility to define turn-on volume level as well as maximum allowed volume level
• add possibility to include volume level as part of the preset settings
• add possibility to include active input as part of the preset settings
• add possibility to adjust input level independently for all inputs (regardless of the overall volume level)
• add "Solo" button for each of the output channels in Device Console
• allow the possibility to change the DAC filter (reconstruction filter)

    
Hardware related:

• 12V trigger output
• consider replacing the OLED screen with a quality color LCD screen to mitigate burn-in issues and expand UI display possibilities
• consider adding dedicated buttons for power, input selection, presets, etc.
• consider moving away from Volumio and current NEO3 platform and potentially replace with LinkPlay modules and associated firmware / app (see Wiim Pro / Pro+ line of products) -> better supported software, better integration of different streaming protocols, integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

@Community: Please reply to this post if you consider these proposals relevant to you.

Thank you!

• implement Dirac Live Bass Control, allowing a 2.2 configuration -> if current DSP capability is limited, consider offering DLBC instead of output parametric EQ / crossovers / compressor as option
• add possibility to define turn-on volume level as well as maximum allowed volume level

These would be great! I'd be willing to pay for an upgrade to DLBC.

If DLBC will be implemented, for sure it will come with an additional cost due to licensing. I'm also willing to pay for that.

MihaiP wrote:

@Community: Please reply to this post if you consider these proposals relevant to you.

Thank you!

You’re on the right track in every regard, but I would not hold your breath.

For example, in an email in August 2022 (to which they acknowledged), I suggested to them that they should use the Device Console desktop interface and the front panel to alert clipping of inputs or outputs. Clipping lights have been a feature of old school devices for the longest time, and modern units like the Benchmark AHB2 feature them. With all the signal processing power of the DSP, it’s especially relevant for SHD/Flex products to indicate if something is clipping and to indicate on which side. As you can see, over a year later, they haven’t taken us up on the suggestion.

 Other notes:

• Of course you do realize that before Device Console shipped, that red LED on the front panel did exactly what you suggest. They broke the functionality with DC, turning it into a “is my OLED on or off?” light, which is incredibly dumb, and 9 months after DC’s debut it’s still working like that. I thought the whole idea of DC is that quick, fast updates are easy to deliver to end users? And why would a new desktop software break the function of something so simple and straightforward?
• They’ve already said it’s impossible to rename presets on the front panel. Like, the architecture of the code or hardware or whatever prevents that from being a thing they can do. I don’t believe they’ve spelled it out that clearly with renaming inputs on the front panel, but I wouldn’t be surprised. 
• The rest of your software suggestions, outside of maybe DLBC which might just not be possible with how they constructed things (not that they’ve ever told us as much despite years of customers asking for whether it’s at least possible to deliver DLBC) don’t sound like they’d need a whole new V2 of the SHD. They just need miniDSP to write and deliver code, which moves more slowly than I could ever imagine.

 

Most of the suggestions are fairly easy to implement, given pretty much any software architecture and don't require extra resources.

DLBC might be complicated, I admit.

Hardware changes are also a different story.

Not being able to show preset / source names... Really? Controlling a simple LED? Wow...

Too bad that valuable suggestions from users get buried. Even simple ones that can bring a lot of benefit...

 

Add behaviour setting on power restore - either go to standby or power up

I have been considering the SHD, as I’m interested in the streaming features and DIRAC.

Over the course of putting together a 3-way active speaker system, I have acquire several of the miniDSP products.  Now with the 3 way system I have no analog input for vinyl as I’m using the FLEX 8. I noticed he SHD has an analog input, but lacks enough outputs for a 3 way active system.   I’m trying to avoid an analog-digital-analog conversion path.  I realize one of the analog outputs of the SHD could be sent to a FLEX 4 or miniDSP.

HOWEVER, the SHD has digital outputs.  I think it would be great if one of these outputs could be configured to deliver a stereo signal derived after the DIRAC processor.  I’m thinking this would be a great way to expand the number of output channels by connecting it to the digital input of a FLEX or mini.  

I realize this may be a confusing post, as I am still not sure of all the capabilities of these products.  What do you think?

Chris

The digital outputs carry the same signal as the analog outputs (OUT 1&2, OUT 3&4). This is quite good and unique. I'm using them to display signal levels (with external equipment).

Having the possibility to assign them to any point in the signal chain would be interesting. 

I personally find these a priority, I added a few comments:

MihaiP wrote:

Software related:

• show incoming digital stream details (e.g.: bit depth, sample rate, ...) -> even though there is an internal ASRC (resampling to 96k), it is relevant to check the incoming digital signal details
  •  Comment: Either in the device screen or in the Device Console. I have sources which output details I have no other way of verifying, so it'd be nice if the SHD would show some details.
• bring back the possibility to learn 3rd party IR remote control codes (for all existing functions)

Hardware related:

• 12V trigger output

And these as secondary:

MihaiP wrote:

Software related:

• show a temporary indication on the screen in case of clipping detected at the output (similar to the Device Console meters, but limited to clipping behavior); alternatively, the stand-by LED can be used (rapid flashing)
• show custom preset names on the OLED screen (limited to the max # of characters that fit / enable text scrolling)
• implement Dirac Live Bass Control, allowing a 2.2 configuration -> if current DSP capability is limited, consider offering DLBC instead of output parametric EQ / crossovers / compressor as option
• add auto turn-off after specified amount of time (user configurable)
• add possibility to rename inputs and show them accordingly on the OLED screen
• add "Solo" button for each of the output channels in Device Console
• allow the possibility to change the DAC filter (reconstruction filter)

Hardware related:

• consider adding dedicated buttons for power, input selection, presets, etc.
  •  Comment: Any number of additional buttons would be an improvement.

Good suggestions, thanks.