TOPIC:

Does anyone know if there is a difference between using an analog minidsp after my dac vs a digital unit between my source and the dac. My issue with that option is being able to make the connections. I have a Sony hapz1es using usb out to usb in to emotiva xda2 dac/preamp. From there balanced analog to 2 channel amp. I also need to incorporate 2 Rel subwoofers. Any suggestions are very much appreciated. I want to preserve the best quality audio. Thank you.

Completely replacing your Emotiva with a miniDSP SHD would do all that you want but may cost more than you want to spend?

Taking the output of one DAC and then converting it back to digital has always struck me as rendering the first DAC completely pointless. Yes you can do it, but why? It can only degrade sound quality as far as I'm concerned.

I was thinking to come out of the SHD Studio with the digital signal into my dac but there doesn’t appear to be a good way to get my Sony music player into the SHD. My Sony only has usb digital out or analog out. If I use all analog dsp after the dac there isn’t that issue but I’m not sure if audio quality will be as good using the Dddr24 (I believe is the model).

kaijorg wrote:

I was thinking to come out of the SHD Studio with the digital signal into my dac but there doesn’t appear to be a good way to get my Sony music player into the SHD. My Sony only has usb digital out or analog out.

It looks like the SHD has a USB input to me? Double check it can be used for music playback before ordering but I'm pretty sure it can be.

kaijorg wrote:

If I use all analog dsp after the dac there isn’t that issue but I’m not sure if audio quality will be as good using the Dddr24 (I believe is the model).

There'e no such thing as an 'all analogue DSP' by the way. Firstly because DSP is by definition done in the digital domain, but also because I don't think there are any miniDSP products that only have analogue inputs. The DDRC-24 has optical and USB digital inputs as well as a pair of analogue inputs. It doesn't though have balanced outputs which it sounds like you need?

kaijorg wrote:

I also need to incorporate 2 Rel subwoofers.

I forgot this bit. To do this optimally with an SHD Studio you will need two stereo DACs, one for your main speakers (which could be your Emotiva) and a second one for the subwoofer signals.

Note that the more expensive miniDSP has four analogue output channels, so it's like an SHD Studio plus two stereo DACs in one box.

For info. I have used both a 2x4 HD and SHD for sub integration and I think this is a real strength of these products.