TOPIC:

I have a nad m33 with a full DL licence for my 2.0 audio system.

I also have a separate amplifier system as part of a 5.1 surround for my tv, but L&R channels sharing the same speakers as the 2.0 system.

In order to bring DL to the surround system I am thinking of bringing in a MiniDSP, as there is a lot of room boom that needs controlling with those L&R channels.

i have two questions though that i would be grateful for some help with:

Firstly would a new MiniDSP come with a full spectrum DL licence or would that be an extra expense in the UK? Or indeed does the NAD licence cover it?
Secondly would the MiniDSP introduce a time delay with or without DL switched on? This is important to me as a delay could/might upset the 5.1 timing balance.

many thanks in advance
T

 

But if your surround system shared the same L&R speakers then you must be using the M33 in pass through mode. If the M33 has dirac then when using the L&R with an AVR they already have Dirac. A bit confused. Or does pass through bypass dirac?

Minidsp either come with a full DL licence or you upgrade them with DL post purchase. Also minidsp don't really have any 'surround sound' products. You'd need to buy some thi g like the 88A which sits between a processor and a power amp if you want multiple channels with Dirac. They all introduce delay but if youre driving from an AVR I would think you should be able to compensate for that on the distances tab of the AVR. 

Like @asx77 I'm a bit confused why you may need a miniDSP at all. If you're using the same left and right speakers I'd have thought if you just sent the AV signals to an input on your M33 that would then apply DL exactly as for your music system. That  said, I'd have thought by far the most important AV channel to want EQ on would be your subwoofer.

miniDSPs all either have full frequency range Dirac Live or none at all. None have the low-frequency only version.

You cannot use your M33 licence on any miniDSP.

miniDSPs that have Dirac Live on them will introduce a longer time delay, whether the Dirac filter is live or not. Provided your AVR has enough range of time delay adjustment to compensate this wouldn't in itself be an issue though.

Sorry all. I do see the confusion as to why I need a miniDSP. 

Basically I have a Sonos 5.1 system for my tv/blurays. This I am beefing up with a Sonos Port + Musical Fidelity amp being fed into my hifi speakers. The timing is spot on (unlike with the NAD M33, which has a big time delay) and provides a huge boost to the Sonos 5.1 sound. Married with the Play 3 surrounds and Sonos Sub it is performing beautifully.....
....BUT the room boom is annoying and needs controlling with DL, imho. This is where the miniDSP could prove a cost effective solution methinks.

IF a miniDSP doesn't introduce a time delay (anyone have an answer here?) then my final query is whether I need a second DL licence (already possessed for the MAD M33)

many thanks for your help so far
T

 

Trondi wrote:

IF a miniDSP doesn't introduce a time delay (anyone have an answer here?) 
 

We both answered this above: yes, miniDSPs will introduce time delays.

Trondi wrote:

then my final query is whether I need a second DL licence (already possessed for the MAD M33)
 

I also answered this above: you cannot use a DL licence from a NAD on a miniDSP.

Trondi wrote:

....BUT the room boom is annoying and needs controlling with DL, imho. This is where the miniDSP could prove a cost effective solution methinks.
 

If your subwoofer is handling most sound below 80 Hz then this is probably where your 'room boom' is coming from, not the left and right speakers. Are you able to test by having your sub switched off when listening and seeing if the boom issues disappears?

Many thanks for your help with this.

The bass from both Sonos sub and main front speakers donate room boom. If I can tame the main speakers with DL it will help enormously, especially if I attenuate the Sonos bass a  touch at the same time.

Apologies for not spotting your license info. Although ‘Soundimports’ in the UK dont specify if its a full spectrum license or a bass only license.

The timing issue is more critical though as I am increasingly enjoying 5.1 music albums as well as with movies on disc or via streaming.  Its not the audio/ picture sync that is the issue, its the Sonos 5.1 / (Sonos Port + miniDSP) timing issue that is important not to disturb too much. Sonos do provide some timing adjustment to help sync the two together, but will it be enough is the question.

I’m almost convinced it could work, but not quite there yet. At about £450  for the ddrc-24 dare I take the risk?
Hmm
T

Trondi wrote:

The bass from both Sonos sub and main front speakers donate room boom. If I can tame the main speakers with DL it will help enormously, especially if I attenuate the Sonos bass a  touch at the same time.
 

Did you try what I suggested re. switching your subwoofer off? My best guess right now remains that a DDRC-24 for your front left and right speakers would not be a good idea.

You probably know but Soundimports are based in The Netherlands not the UK (where I live too by the way). Strictly Stereo are the UK distributer I've bought from, and there are a couple of others too I think. Limited frequency range versions of Dirac Live have never been a thing on miniDSPs which is why this won't be mentioned. It's more that the likes of NAD are odd in terms of having introduced the concept. That said I only use DL for low bass frequencies.

Trondi wrote:

The timing issue is more critical though as I am increasingly enjoying 5.1 music albums as well as with movies on disc or via streaming.  Its not the audio/ picture sync that is the issue, its the Sonos 5.1 / (Sonos Port + miniDSP) timing issue that is important not to disturb too much. Sonos do provide some timing adjustment to help sync the two together, but will it be enough is the question.

On the latency front I just had a quick look to see if I could find a reliable figure for the DDRC-24. I couldn't but did find the following which may apply, and either way says the latency for a DDRC-22D is 23 ms. In the distance terms that an AVR is likely to work in this corresponds to 7.9 m which is far from insignificant.

support.minidsp.com/support/solutions/ar...ough-a-ddrc-22-unit-

miniDSPs that don't use Dirac Live have much lower latency.

 

By switching the sub on and off I can tell that it is both the sub and the mains producing the boom. About 50:50 is my estimate, with the sub mainly booming below 80Hz down to 15Hz and my mains booming/causing problems below about 300Hz, tailing off at about  20-30Hz.

Thanks for the info on dealers too. I will try and make contact with them and see what advice they can give re the latency.
T