TOPIC:

Hello all,
I'm really sorry if this is an obvious answer but I'm new to the forum and Minidsp and the products in general.
I have had a Google and a search through the forums but I can't seem to find a definitive opinion so here goes:
I have a challenging (domestic) room sonically, room treatment has got me part of the way.
Current setup :
Digital source: Cambridge 851n ( streaming duties)
Digital source 2: Technics CD player (not sure of model)
Turntable/Preamp : Manticore Mantra / Heed Obelisk Preamp
These are all feeding ( via analogue outs into a:
Amplifier : Hegel H200( integrated)
Speakers : PMC Twenty22's (passive)

Can you guys please guide me on where to place a DDRC24 into the signal chain bearing in mind I have an integrated amp and not a Power Amp or would I be best off swapping my integrated for a power amp?
I want to be able to treat at least the streaming and turntable side of the signal before it hits the amp.
I don't have subs.
FWIW the Hegel has 2 x pairs of Pre Outs and the 851n has a digital pre amp too.
I'm ready to pull the trigger on a Minidsp/dirac setup but don't know what is the cleanest route. I happy to spend more on a Minidsp setup that's higher up the food chain if needs be
Help!!
Sorry for the long message!!!!
Phil

If you want Dirac applied to all your sources then you need to have all your sources plugged into the inputs of the ddrc then have the ddrc analogue out plugged into an analogue in of your amp. You basically then leave your integrated on one input setting, use it for vol control and do source selection via the ddrc leaving its volume fixed at -10db.

The problem is the ddrc has limited inputs. Analogue in for your turntable/phono pre then you only have usb and toslink remaining. With any luck your streamer has usb out and you can use usb with the Cambridge and toslink with the CD player (if it has optical out). If you can’t connect the streamer to the usb in then connected it to the ddrc toslink in and don’t have Dirac with CD player. Instead connect that direct to another input of your integrated.

Edit: actually I’ve just seen the streamer has a digital input so you if the steamer doesn’t have usb out and/or your cd doesn’t have optical out, you could connect the CDs digital out to the digital in of your streamer.

Thanks
For some reason I had it in my head that I couldn't use the DDRC-24 with an integrated amp. Your explanation makes perfect sense and yes i can plug my CD player into the DAC or even into the amp as I'm not particularly worries about this going through the DDRC.
Many thanks
Phil

princebarin wrote:

For some reason I had it in my head that I couldn't use the DDRC-24 with an integrated amp.

You may have come across someone posting about using an integrated amplifier and a miniDSP on a tape monitor loop? This would work but I don't think is an option with your amp, or most modern amps for that matter.

Thank you. So just to clarify it will work by connecting the analogue out of the Minidsp unit to a analogue input of my Hegel amp yes?
Does the Minidsp unit have a fixed output mode?
Cheers
Phil

princebarin wrote:

So just to clarify it will work by connecting the analogue out of the Minidsp unit to a analogue input of my Hegel amp yes?

Yes

princebarin wrote:

Does the Minidsp unit have a fixed output?

Sort of. Choose an output volume on the ddrc and leave it there. The consensus on here seems to be leaving the master volume of the ddrc on -10db to allow for any boosts Dirac may apply.