TOPIC:

Greetings! Ihope this is not a duplicate post. I wrote one earlier, but don't see it anywhere so submitting again.

I'm new to the forum and also to using miniDSP. I just ordered an SHD Studio for use in my 2.1 system and looking forward to receiving it. I did not order the full SHD because I do not have or plan to have analog gear - feels like a financial quagmire for a tweaker like me. Anyway, I'm confused about how to hook up the subwoofer to the SHD Studio. My plan is to connect my computer, OPPO 103, and Bryston BDP-1 to the SHD Studio, then the SHD to my DAC, Dac to my Primaluna Dialogue HP Integrated (love this unit!). Right now my sub is hooked to the Primaluna sub line out. It's a powered sub, so I use it's crossover to control frequency and volume.

My speakers are Martin Logan Summit X, so the both have two 10 inch powered subs, totalling four for the system not counting the sub.

I'd sure appreciate your advice on how to integrate the sub to the SHD Studio, or would I be just as good to continue with it connected to the Primaluna and not worry about it?

Thanks everyone! Really excited to get this connected and do some room correction.

Steve

Hi Steve

Welcome to the miniDSP community!
If you have a a 2.2 setup, then you'd need to use 2 x DACs (one for main, one for subs) so you can get all gear their analog audio they need.
Here is a great way to get started with an SHD (similar concept, just minus the external DACs since they are already in the box)

www.minidsp.com/applications/audio-strea...integration-with-shd

Have fun!

DevTeam

Can you sketch how things are hooked up? How are the ML subs connected an filtered?

I decided to get the full SHD so I could use my sub the way intended. Fortunately, I got to the folks at miniDSP before the SHD Studio shipped and we made the change. It arrived in about four days, just like they said it would. I have it hooked up and will start a new post about that. I can say without hesitation that the service from this company is excellent!

Not sure if you will be planning on using the SHD with an integrated amp or not but I started using it like that. I had a McIntosh MA7900 integrated. The McIntosh has a preout/in that I went out of the integrated, into the shd, and back into the amp. I did this basically to use the SHD for room correction , and crossovers for sub, What I found is that the SHD is so good as a preamp/dac in addition to dirac/crossovers etc I am using it more as intended. So I now just use it with a dedicated amp. To get an idea how good of a DAC it is check out the review/measurements www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.p...p-and-streamer.4286/ .It is a well engineer unit that has a lot of functionality and most importantly sounds great.

I am using the SHD for room correction and I do still have the integrated. I have all digital inputs t the SHD. From the SHD I go to the integrated and also have my sub connected. I did the room correction that way and it seems to be working. I use the SHD for volume control and make no adjustments to the integrated. Are you saying that with this configuration the room correction is not working?

Steve

Sorry I didn’t mean to imply Dirac it wouldn’t, or isn’t working properly. I wouldn’t know if it is or isn’t. I was just surprised someone was using it with an integrated amp in a somewhat similar manner as I was. My experience was my system actually improved using the full preamp capabilities of the SHD by hooking it up directly to an amp and use the crossover/out to sub from the SHD. If you like to experiment, you might try it and see what you think.

IMy integrated does have a bypass for just using the amp, which I use for Home Theater with a different old receiver I have that does 5.1 surround. I'll give that a try and see if there is a difference. I do use the SHD as a Pre but the signal goes through the integrated into the AUX input, and I am not using the Integrated for volume control, so it's essentially like an amp I guess.

Thanks for the suggestion!

If using the SHD as pre, then there is no need for an integrated amp. I use a power amp from Ghent Audio www.ghentaudio.com/amp/ga-s125p.html for the mains (MiniDSP PWR-ICE modules for the subs), great value and low power consumption. They also have DIY kits. The ICE Power amps are an excelent upgrade.

Makes complete sense, but I have a lot invested in the Premaluna integrated--it's a great tube amplifier! I feel like if I'm only using one input and the integrated stays set on that input, then I'm really using it like an amp. I realize the preamp may be adding some "stuff" to the signal, but it's what I have to use. I could use the Home Theater Bypass, but I'm using that already for my Home Theater setup.

I could just get a new amp and sell the integrated I have, but I'd take a big hit since it's only about four months old.

Too many options and not enough equipment!