SHD

miniDSP is proud to introduce the SHD (“Streaming High Definition”) digital audio processor incorporating Dirac Live®, the world’s premier room correction solution. A natural evolution and extension of our considerable experience with Dirac Live implementation, the miniDSP SHD heralds a new era in affordable yet powerful DSP-based network streamers. First and foremost, the SHD is a stereo Dirac Live room correction processor. Three digital inputs, two analog inputs and USB Audio enable the SHD to fit right into any modern audio system, while processed outputs are available as unbalanced and balanced analog as well as digital. Dirac Live calibration uses our popular UMIK-1 microphone and Dirac’s easy-to use calibration tool.

We have also added network streaming over Ethernet, using a dedicated quad-core ARM processor. Out of the gate, we are shipping with Volumio, a popular open-source network streamer. Volumio gives you access to music files from sources as diverse as a USB stick, to files stored on your local network, to Internet Radio and Spotify. Finally, we’ve added a second pair of outputs and a suite of our powerful but user-friendly DSP audio tuning software - ten-band parametric EQ per channel, crossovers up to 48 dB/octave, compressor/limiter, and a 2x4 matrix mixer — for powerful audio system tuning in applications ranging from integrating a single subwoofer to a two-way active speaker.

Hardware Features

Processor: 32-bit floating-point 450MHz Analog Devices SHARC DSP
32bit Audiophile converters: AK5574 / AK4490EQ
Powered by Dirac Live® 3.x Digital Room Correction
Quad core ARM processor for network audio streaming - Preloaded with Volumio
Inputs: Stereo digital (USB Audio/AES-EBU/SPDIF/Optical), stereo analog (Balanced XLR, unbalanced RCA)
Outputs: 4 x digital (SPDIF out), 4 x analog out (Balanced XLR, unbalanced RCA)
USB audio recording feature (4xCH processed output via USB audio to record inputs, e.g. Vinyl)
White/Black OLED front panel controller

SHD 1200x174

miniDSP SHD diagram

Product Downloads

What's in the box?

Dirac Series Audio Processor — SHD DSP
USB Wifi 2.4GHz adaptor
Dirac Live 3.x license for full range correction (20Hz~20kHz)
UMIK-1 calibrated measurement microphone
IR remote v2
IEC power plug (UK/EU/US)
Rack mounting kit (standard 1RU)

NOTE: The Dirac Live Calibration Tools for miniDSP software is only compatible with the UMIK-1/UMIK-2 microphone for measurement.

Got your own DAC and looking for an All Digital version of this product?
Check out the SHD Studio platform.

Item	Description
Digital Signal Processor	32-bit Floating point Analog Devices SHARC ADSP21489 / 450MHz Internal sample rate: 96kHz
Control	Driverless USB 2.0 control interface for Windows environments A computer is only required for the initial configuration and for USB audio streaming
Network Audio Streamer	Quad Core ARM processor, Gb Ethernet, USB 2.0 for external Hard drive Volumio Audiophile player,
Bidirectional USB Audio	XMOS asynchronous USB audio up to 192 kHz, USB Audio Class 2 compliant ASIO drivers for Windows Driverless for Mac OS X Bidirectional audio / 2ch playback (PC to SHD), 4ch recording post processing (SHD to PC)
Digital Audio Inputs	Digital audio source selectable from IR remote or Front panel, up to 216 kHz sample rate: AES/EBU on Neutrik 3pin female XLR / Isolated with digital audio transformer SPDIF on RCA connector / Isolated with digital audio transformer TOSLINK on Optical connector
Digital Audio Outputs	Four channels of digital output. 2 x SPDIF on RCA connector / Isolated with digital audio transformer.
Analog Audio inputs	2-channel audio input, balanced XLR Neutrik connector, unbalanced on RCA 32bit AKM AK5574 ADC / 120dB SNR measured / 0.0003% THD+N (Balanced Analog to Digital) Max input level: 2V RMS unbalanced, 4V RMS balanced Input impedance: 47k Ohms (RCA) / 48k Ohms (XLR)
Analog Audio outputs	4-channel audio output, balanced XLR Neutrik connector, unbalanced on RCA 32bit AKM AK4490EQ DAC / 120dB SNR measured / 0.0003% THD+N (Digital to balanced analog) Max output level: 2V RMS unbalanced, 4V RMS balanced Output impedance: 100 Ohms (RCA) / 200 Ohms (XLR)
miniDSP DSP Processing	Volume, Parametric Equalizer banks, Crossovers, Matrix mixer, Compressor/Limiter, Mute
Dirac Live Correction Suite for miniDSP	Plug&Play control and configuration from Dirac Live Correction Suite 3.x
FIR filter storage	Up to 4 filter configuration filters stored on unit
USB port	USB port type B for audio streaming, real time control and firmware upgrade
Power supply	110-240V AC
Dimensions (H x W x D) mm	41.5 x 429 x 236 mm, Provided with 1RU rack mount kit

Community Forum

Link to miniDSP community forum

FAQ's & Support portal

Link to miniDSP tech support portal FAQ's

Sub Integration with the SHD

The miniDSP SHD includes not only Dirac Live^® but also a full set of crossover functions on its four output channels. One use of this is as a flexible tool for integrating subwoofers into your system along with Dirac Live. This app note shows you how.

Using a Harmony Remote to control the SHD

The miniDSP SHD can be used with a Logitech® Harmony® remote. For this app note, we tried two of the most affordable Harmony remotes, the Harmony 650 and the Harmony 350. The Harmony 650 has a small screen and is easier to set up, while the Harmony 350 is a bit cheaper. This short app note shows you how easy it is to set up!

Using a Synology NAS with the miniDSP SHD

The miniDSP SHD Series support a range of network streaming services, including Spotify, Tidal, and Qobuz. Even so, many of us still have a collection of music files that we want to play through an SHD Series processor. In a networked computer music system, a network attached storage (NAS) may be used for music file storage. While there are many manufacturers of NAS units, in this app note we will use a Synology as an example, as they are a popular and widely-available brand. If you use a different brand of NAS, the general techniques in this app note should still work. However, you will need to figure out the specific settings for your brand of NAS.

There are a number of well-regarded music players that can stream audio to the miniDSP SHD Series over your local area network (LAN). In this app note, we will show you how to use JRiver Media Center (JRMC). JRiver Media Center is available for Mac, Windows and Linux. It is a commercial program with a 30-day free trial. Check out the app note for more details.

minidsp shd jriver media center enable media network

There are a number of well-regarded music players that can stream audio to the miniDSP SHD Series over your local area network (LAN). In this app note, we will show you how to use Audirvana Plus. Audirvana Plus is available for Mac and Windows. It is a commercial program with a 15-day free trial. Check out this app note for more details.

                        Thursday, 05 August 2021
                        
                        First, the conclusion: With the SHD and a March Audio p452 Purifi amp, I now have sound that surpasses my previous, twice-as-expensive integrated amp in every way. Compared to the megabuck offerings out there, the SHD offers exceptional functionality and flawless sound at a fraction of the cost.

The long story: I just got back into the high-end audio game after being away for a decade. Formerly, I had USD $10,000 speakers and a $6000 integrated amp, both from technically savvy companies. At that point I was very pleased with the sound of my system. 

For various reasons, about 8 years ago I had to go to a desktop system, though, and for a while had fairly modest components. The system was fine, but I saw it as a stopgap system, not a long-term one.

What motivated me to get serious about a desktop system was seeing the recent advances in amplifier and digital technology. I just purchased the SHD plus a March Audio Purifi amp, which both offer measured performance that ensures that they will never be the weak link in my system. I chose the SHD model because of its analog input (for when I set up my turntable again) and its ability to integrate two subwoofers (although in my small room right now, I only use one sub).  I do wish that the SHD had a headphone amp, though, since I ended up having to buy a separate unit.

Using Dirac Live was easy and the sound is better than anything I've had before. I'm using KEF LS50 Metas and an SVS Micro 3000 sub, both of which are "affordable" in the high-end context that I used to play in. With Dirac Live, what I noticed even more than the frequency response correction was the clarity of the sound and the seamlessness of the soundstage. 

I set up 3 Dirac curves with different bass responses so that I can get satisfying perceived bass at very low, low, and moderate levels (I don't listen at high SPLs). The fourth preset is 
                        Don Kuhn-Choi

Sunday, 09 February 2020

A brilliant product I use for my active 2-way speakers (c, streaming high def music from Tidal. Can use steep filters and delay the tweeter signal just right. The Dirac software takes care of the room correction in a relatively foolproof way (easy to use, just make sure you have good distance between the measuring points in the room). With the right (Dirac) target curve this just sounds fantastic! Clarity of the treble and mid-range and the tightness of the bass increased significantly (the latter probably due to the impulse correction). A two way system can now play significantly deeper in frequency after Dirac EQ, but of course within reason volume wise. For sure well worth the money!

Morten Molde

SHD

SHD