TOPIC:

I am just beginning to explore the abilities of the system and am very impressed so far. First let me say that the ordering and shipping results were amazing. I placed my order on a Thursday and received the unit the following Wednesday. I did not understand it was shipping from Hong Kong. On Monday after ordering, I sent a message stating that I hoped I could receive the unit by Friday since I have this weekend alone to begin learning it, To my amazement, I received a ship notice on Tuesday and I received the unit on Wednesday! Nice work MiniDSP and FedEx. All the more amazing since UPS can hardly get a next day delivery within the US sometimes....

The Layout:

Current:
Sonos Connect, Audio Alchemy DAC, DIRAC:
Zone 1, QSC GX3 Amp, EV T251i Speakers
Zone 2, QSC RMX 850, 3 sets of vintage speakers wired through an impedance matcher.
Zone 3, Sunfire 2ch amp, Carver ALIII Speakers
In this case master volume is in the Sonos, and zone volumes are in the Plug In.

Option 1:
Sonos Connect, Audio Alchemy DAC, DIRAC:
Zone 1, Carver CT-29Pre Amp, QSC GX3 Amp, EV T251i Speakers
Zone 2, QSC RMX 850, 3 sets of vintage speakers wired through an impedance matcher.
Zone 3, Sunfire Theater Grand 2 Pre Amp, Sunfire 2ch amp, Carver ALIII Speakers
In this case volume control is at the Pre Amp, and at the Amp in Zone 2 and the Plug In.

Option 2:
Sonos Connect 1, Sonos Connect 2, Sonos Connect 3, DIRAC:
Zone 1, QSC GX3 Amp, EV T251i Speakers
Zone 2, QSC RMX 850, 3 sets of vintage speakers wired through an impedance matcher.
Zone 3, Sunfire 2ch amp, Carver ALIII Speakers
In this case volume control is at each Sonos and available on wireless devices, and the Plug In.
This option could also use the Pre amp's as shown above.

The various wiring requirements are no problem, and the distances in to zone are about a max of 40'.
Sonos is the networked source controlling, Internet Radio, CD collection on NAS, and analog inputs for CD, turntable etc.. All controllable though a smartphone or pad device. They can be individual or grouped.

So on to my questions:
Is the shortest signal chain the best?
A Sonos has a Toslink, Digital Coax, and Analog out put. Any reason to use the digital feeds to the pre amp's then the pre amp analog outputs back to the DIRAC?
If the DIRAC zone source is changed, should you redo the room measurements?

TIA!
Lon

Hi, on your last question, the Dirac Live test signal originates from within the DDRC-88. So the source connected to its input makes no difference to the Dirac Live calibration.

HTH

Excellent, thanks!