TOPIC:

gkkpch wrote:

Yes, there is an official statement that Volumio 3 is going to be released to OEM customers with a valid contract (with minidsp that should be fine).
What I can't give you is an ETA, Q1 2022 was indicated, but is not fixed.

I'd seen the post below that you'd linked to in the Volumio 3 thead. Have you seen anything else? If not I don't think we can count on a version of Volumio 3 defintiely coming to the SHD Series on the basis of this alone, or it definitely including Tidal Connect if it does.

community.volumio.org/t/what-will-change...h-volumio-3/51233/45

I'm also a volumio dev and know which commitments have been made to OEM partners.
Hope this eliminates your doubts

In the meantime, why not use the airplay option? Maybe it reduses sq? Well, Chromecast is mentioned in this thread as an option but that really sucks in SQ

Any updates on Tidal actually being integrated properly to the SHD??

I don't understand why Volumio on SHD is capped at 48kHz 24bit.  I was sold on the fact that I was supposed to have up to 96kHz/24Bit software decoding on the MiniDSP SHD....

So far the only way I've found this to be possible is via SPDIF or USB.   Considering the USB connection is so sensitive that if you breathe on it wrong, it goes down.... And inputting over SPDIF requires me using another audio interface, which totally defeats the purpose of the SHD being an interface... 

Seems kind of lame for a device that is advertised as a Hifi streaming interface.  I've really enjoyed it for the audio processing capability.  It has great audio hardware and a very powerful DSP with pretty good tuning tools.... But as a streaming interface I'm nothing but disappointed so far... Am I to believe that other junky 'network hotspot boxes' (with no DSP capability or balanced outputs) actually do Tidal integration better?  If I didn't want the streaming part, I would have just gotten a MiniDSP 2x4...

I really want to love this device.  But It's a struggle... If I'm missing something here, then please let me know!!!!
What's the best way to stream Tidal to the actual full decoding capability of this DSP????

Hoping Tidal Connect can actually come to the SHD soon!!!! Q1 is over in a month!

I hear you. I got a raspberry pi, installed volumio on that which was pretty easy and now use tidal connect with joy.

Yes it's annoying as the SHD is supposed to be a streamer but I'm actually selling that to swap for a minidsp flex, saving myself a few hundred £ in the process... Win/win 

Raccio14 wrote:

I don't understand why Volumio on SHD is capped at 48kHz 24bit.  

In a general sense, I don't believe it is. Rather you're referring to a limitation associated with MQA I think? Please share more info. on exactly what you mean in case I'm missing something though.

The SHD plays 96 kHz 24 bit when playing tracks from my NAS.
It won't play Tidal master files in hires because Tidal uses mqa. SDH doesn't do mqa decoding. So it plays Tidal master tracks in 44.1 kHz 16 bits. To me this sounds great and sounds even better with each upgrade of my system. 
I think SHD will play hires Qobuz files but I can't test that. 

JaapDeventer wrote:

I think SHD will play hires Qobuz files but I can't test that. 

It does. There's no pointless MQA nonsense on Qobuz  . I appreciate Qobuz isn't available in as many countries as Tidal though.

Ultrasonic wrote:

Raccio14 wrote:

I don't understand why Volumio on SHD is capped at 48kHz 24bit.  

In a general sense, I don't believe it is. Rather you're referring to a limitation associated with MQA I think? Please share more info. on exactly what you mean in case I'm missing something though.
 

Ultrasonic,

I understand that you're obsessed with Qobuz and hate Tidal, but personally I actually prefer Tidal. 

Suggesting using a different service is not a solution to getting the service that is advertised as supported working properly.  

I also understand that the MiniDSP SHD does not have "MQA unfolding" Hardware capability.   It doesn't need it to do what I'm talking about.  

All of my other hi-fi devices don't have the MQA unfolding hardware capability, but I am able to pass Tidal to them in the maximum format supported by the particular track.  This is because Tidal supports software decoding.  The source device does all of the unfolding (computer, etc).  

I am also aware that the SHD does not support anything higher than 24bit/96kHz due to its internal processor limitations.  That is not the issue.  

My cheap headphone amplifier (that is NOT MQA DECODING "CAPABLE") can take in 24-bit 96kHZ from tidal over USB.   The MiniDSP can take in 24-bit 96kHz from Tidal over USB.  And if I use another audio interface it can do it from SPDIF.  

The simple fact of the matter is, the Volumio interface is the chokepoint here.  The current implementation of Volumio on the SHD caps Tidal at 24-bit 48kHz.  And that's simply pathetic. 

The SHD is advertised as being Tidal compatible.  And it's advertised as having 24-bit/96kHz input capability.   If it only accepts Tidal at 24-bit/96kHz over SOME and not ALL of the inputs, then that IS FALSE ADVERTISEMENT.  

As HarryHarryharry posted in the thread about how Volumio now supports Tidal Connect (which would do exactly what I'm asking for), his solution was to literally get another Raspberry Pi (to bypass the Raspberry Pi that's in the MiniDSP) and re-make the streaming part of his MiniDSP separately.  

Harryharryharry post=60056
I hear you. I got a raspberry pi, installed volumio on that which was pretty easy and now use tidal connect with joy.

Yes it's annoying as the SHD is supposed to be a streamer but I'm actually selling that to swap for a minidsp flex, saving myself a few hundred £ in the process... Win/win 

I should not have to resort to such hackery.  If I wanted to design the streaming part of my MiniDSP myself, I could have bought a 2x4 and saved $800.. but I didn't because I'm a hardware engineer, not a software engineer. I thought it was worth the extra money to not have the hassle and already have everything integrated to the unit. 
But so far I've had to spend way too much time to even get their software functionality up and running... and in the end it doesn't even have the capabilities advertised!!!

MiniDSP sold me on the SHD being a seamless all-in-one solution with all of that done for me already....  Quite frankly, it was false advertisement, no way around it.

@devteam: PLEASE COMMENT.  When will you actually bring Tidal Connect version of Volumio to the SHD????

I'm extremely upset with my MiniDSP purchase.  It has been nothing but headaches so far.   
I know what an hour of my time is worth.... So far, even getting the damn thing connected to the internet took more of my time than the device is even worth!!!  I seriously feel ripped off here!!!  As it stands, can never recommend a MiniDSP device to anyone. 

Raccio14 wrote:

The simple fact of the matter is, the Volumio interface is the chokepoint here.  The current implementation of Volumio on the SHD caps Tidal at 24-bit 48kHz.  And that's simply pathetic. 

 

If this doesn't relate to MQA then I'm confused why Tidal would be limited to 48 kHz as it isn't for other services. What is your basis for saying there is a 48 kHz limit? 

Also, does Tidal definitely have any non-MQA content above 48 kHz sample rate now? I wasn't sure it did.

I am quite disappointed as well. I get it they have Roon, but Volumio is 2 years (almost 3 actyally) ahead in the version we got, this is an absolute joke. They blame Volumio but the truth is it is THEIR responsability to nag Volumio to update it. Using a 2nd device like a RPi is no good either, because unless you spend $300 and get a proper DAC for the RPi it pops and clicks and is just garbage, and even then some people complain that happens even doing that. I think the most deplorable thing is not having a phone app to adjust the settings via LAN, like come on thats 10 year old tech now!!!!! 1 year no firmware update either? Having a Mac bug fix does not count! Unless I bought this for a dedicated DSP (which this is advertised as a DAC Preamp solution) I would have been better off buying a Zidoo Neo S for just an extra 100 and have spotify and tidal (soon to be released in a firmware) and mqa (which I dont even care about) certification and have the ability to play any video file we can think of. This is one FKN expensive simple box.

Well I used to own a Bluesound Node N130, but then I had the opportunity to lay my hands on a used SHD studio. I have loved Spotify Premium for a long time, until I became more serious about hifi and switched to Tidal. I didn’t want to keep both the Node and the SHD, since I preferred a small chain and wanted to free up some extra funds. So I ended up selling the Node and by doing so letting go of Tidal connect. 

Do I miss Tidal connect? Hell yeah! I was even temped to buy a temporary solution to get it back.

However, personally I think patience will be rewarded. Either the SHD will get the Volumio update, or Spotify will come up with their hifi version of Premium, which was for announced beginning later this year in selected markets. Whatever those will be.

For now I am going to enjoy the spring and summer season outside as much as I can, and I’ll dive back into the audio hobby afterwards.

 

jeschiotz wrote:

In the meantime, why not use the airplay option? Maybe it reduses sq? Well, Chromecast is mentioned in this thread as an option but that really sucks in SQ

Airplay doesn't seem to work for me either.... It's just way too low volume all the time.... Like -30dB from any other source!!! Tips or tricks PLEASE???

So now we’re a 1.5 years since Tidal Connect was announced and a full year since Tidal Connect was first available on standard Volumio. This thread is five pages deep and not once has miniDSP even acknowledged the discussion, much less delivered support. This is just plain pathetic and indefensible. 

They are so far behind I’m embarrassed for them. Meanwhile, a no-name company like Wiim has their new device, the Wiim Mini for just $89 USD, that makes the entire Pi side of the SHD series completely irrelevant (assuming you’re like the vast majority of people and don’t pay for Roon) and it delivers Tidal Connect and a much better app than our last-gen version of Volumio. It even includes some nice perks like Airplay 2, native multi-room with multiple Mini devices, and has a built in mic to check for latency on Airplay 2. They put some thought into it.

The only thing that isn’t confusing about miniDSP is diagnosing their problem. It is very clearly a lack of good leadership. It all starts at the top.

it's too bad it uses toslink and analog only so that device still doesn't help anyone using their tv. why can't they put a spidf coaxial on it? or those of us that have an older cd player with optical only. it's still not a solution for THIS device. so wiim is only good for exclusive music streaming on the SHD or users that want lower quality streaming. no thanks. optical has higher jitter and lower bit depth than coaxial by quite a bit. on good amp and speakers it's night and day. thanks for the good reference but still doesn't solve the issue. AES would be cool but the wiim is too cheap to have that