Did I buy the right miniDSP?

[Inertia]

I bought this miniDSP: MiniDSP 2x4 RevB | miniDSP

I will be using it hopefully for a subsonic filter and maybe some eq'ing. It will go to a Crown XLS2500 DriveCore amp then on to 2 JL Audio 12W7AE's. Just want to know if I made the right purchase?

 

[TLS Guy]

I bought this miniDSP: MiniDSP 2x4 RevB | miniDSP

I will be using it hopefully for a subsonic filter and maybe some eq'ing. It will go to a Crown XLS2500 DriveCore amp then on to 2 JL Audio 12W7AE's. Just want to know if I made the right purchase?

It should work fine. Just set the high pass filter at 20 to 25 kHz and you will be fine.

You will have to have a USB source to power it.

 

[DS-21]

You may have a bit of noise with that one, because you'll need to use the Samson S-Convert to bump levels. I did, though keep in mind my Aurasound subwoofer drivers are flat on their own to over 1kHz.

However, with the balanced one you'd have to do some annoying wire-hacking, your subs are pretty high-Le units, and your amps have headroom to burn. So it'll probably do just fine.

 

[Inertia]

Maybe I can PM you guys once the miniDSP gets here so I know whats going on with it...

 

[NormanPCN]

If you have a multimeter, you can measure the voltage on your outputs that you will send to the miniDSP. With this info you can use the correct input level for the miniDSP. You can always switch between .9V RMS and 2V RMS input sensitivity regardless of rev A (.9V) or rev (V) B.

miniDSP always outputs .9V RMS levels, AFAIK.

 

[Inertia]

I have a samson S-convert on the way how does that fit into the picture?

 

[DS-21]

Maybe I can PM you guys once the miniDSP gets here so I know whats going on with it...

Sure.

I have a samson S-convert on the way how does that fit into the picture?

AVR -> miniDSP -> S-Convert -> amp

 

[NormanPCN]

I forgot to mention. I measured the sub output of my Yamaha RX-V667 receiver and it was pretty ideal for the miniDSP .9V RMS input sensitivity. .9V RMS is about 2.5V peak AC which is what a multimeter measures. With a 30-40Hz sine wave tone, and with pink noise, and the signal at -3db RMS, I saw about 2.5V with the AMP at 0db volume and the sub level at 0db. I used the REW signal generator which was output via HDMI to the receiver.

Of course the AMP goes 16db above 0 but I will never use that. Heck, I will never listen at 0db volume.

 

[lsiberian]

You may have a bit of noise with that one, because you'll need to use the Samson S-Convert to bump levels. I did, though keep in mind my Aurasound subwoofer drivers are flat on their own to over 1kHz.

However, with the balanced one you'd have to do some annoying wire-hacking, your subs are pretty high-Le units, and your amps have headroom to burn. So it'll probably do just fine.

You might look into a change of amps. There are more high power chip amps on the way. It is certainly a good time to be in DIY audio.

 

[DS-21]

You might look into a change of amps. There are more high power chip amps on the way. It is certainly a good time to be in DIY audio.

IMO, with the Peavey IPR, Behringer iNuke, and Crown XLS on the market, not to mention the Crest ProLite (a more adult-looking variant of the Peavey IPR) if it ever shows up, DIYing a sub amp is only a good idea if one intrinsically enjoys tinkering with circuit boards.

The amount of clean power one can buy for well under $500 with the modern class D pro-amps is just staggering.

That said, changing amps is precisely what I did, to get lower-voltage input sensitivity as well as 12V triggers.

 

[Inertia]

I got the Samson S-Convert and it works great! The gain on the amp doesn't need to be turned near as far up anymore.

 

[Inertia]

When I get my miniDSP do I have to hook it up to my computer and to my amp?

 

[TLS Guy]

When I get my miniDSP do I have to hook it up to my computer and to my amp?

Yes you do as it powers from a USB port.

 

[DS-21]

When I get my miniDSP do I have to hook it up to my computer and to my amp?

To program it, yes. It has no built-in controls.

But it needn't stay connected to a computer. Only when you're actually setting its EQ.

I run mine off of an old phone charger.

 

[lsiberian]

Yes you do as it powers from a USB port.

Only for setup. For power you can use the same adapter usb plug adapter that comes with the cell phones these days. It is truly an innovative company and they are continuing to come out with new products.

 

[NormanPCN]

The miniDSP can be powered by a generic DC source anywhere from 5V to 24V, so if you have an old transformer brick from some device you no longer use, you can use that. Or any generic brick you can buy for that matter.

 

[agarwalro]

This article gives the step by step guide to using the miniDSP in a 2.1 config. Therein, the connection of the miniDSP is shown as,

 

[DS-21]

This article gives the step by step guide to using the miniDSP in a 2.1 config. Therein, the connection of the miniDSP is shown as,

That approach won't work for a system with mains powered by an AVR, of course. The 2.1 plugin best used with older separates that don't integrate bass management.

IMO, the optimal use of a miniDSP for subs is to use the bass management in the AVR/pre-pro, and connect the miniDSP to the subwoofer out.

Use the Advanced 4-Way Plugin, and you have a phenomenal feature set: individual control of each sub's level, delay, polarity, and EQ for each of 4 subs, ALONG WITH global EQ to set a house curve.

 

[lsiberian]

That approach won't work for a system with mains powered by an AVR, of course. The 2.1 plugin best used with older separates that don't integrate bass management.

IMO, the optimal use of a miniDSP for subs is to use the bass management in the AVR/pre-pro, and connect the miniDSP to the subwoofer out.

Use the Advanced 4-Way Plugin, and you have a phenomenal feature set: individual control of each sub's level, delay, polarity, and EQ for each of 4 subs, ALONG WITH global EQ to set a house curve.

Or you can do your own bass management and use chip amps to drive the speakers.

 

[Inertia]

Im going to have 2 JL audio 12W7AE's and I also have the mini statements for fronts powered by an Acurus amp. I am not running a 2.1 system though I have a 7.1 system... So should I just use the subsonic filter on the miniDSP on the subs and cross over the subs at 80hz LP on the AVR or should I set the LP on the miniDSP instead at 80hz?