"Minidsp SHD"+External DAC & Delay Issues

[pcosmic]

My friends -
How many of ya have experience with a minidsp SHD? This is the unit i am referring to.
https://www.minidsp.com/products/streaming-hd-series/shd

I bought this unit and have been tinkering with it for 4 days on a 2.2 system for music. I notice that the DAC in it sounds like a awful mthrtrckin ballsac (I am a bit spoilt by a Denafrips Venus DAC).

The unit has four analog outs. I am using 2 of its analog outs to bass manage my 2 subs. For the subs, it is good enough and DIRAC is helping to a slight extent. However, i'm using the digital out into the Denafrips Venus for my 2 main speakers since the minidsp SHD's built in DAC sounds like a mthrtrckin ballsac, as i mentioned above.
But, the usage of this external DAC introduces a significant delay (speakers vs subs). I have not yet figured out a way around this. Is there something basic i'm missing about this minidsp ecosystem? How do i rectify this?

Is there anyone who's more experienced with the minidsp SHD who can chime in?

Thank you,

P.S.
The minidsp forum appears to mostly have minidsp fanbois who froth at the mouth if anyone has a legitimate issue with their beloved minidsp. Hence, i thought i'd post here in hopes of a solution.

 

[lovinthehd]

Maybe the convoluted dac setup is the issue....try it otherwise?

 

[DJ7675]

My friends -
How many of ya have experience with a minidsp SHD? This is the unit i am referring to.
https://www.minidsp.com/products/streaming-hd-series/shd

I bought this unit and have been tinkering with it for 4 days on a 2.2 system for music. I notice that the DAC in it sounds like a awful mthrtrckin ballsac (I am a bit spoilt by a Denafrips Venus DAC).

The unit has four analog outs. I am using 2 of its analog outs to bass manage my 2 subs. For the subs, it is good enough and DIRAC is helping to a slight extent. However, i'm using the digital out into the Denafrips Venus for my 2 main speakers since the minidsp SHD's built in DAC sounds like a mthrtrckin ballsac, as i mentioned above.
But, the usage of this external DAC introduces a significant delay (speakers vs subs). I have not yet figured out a way around this. Is there something basic i'm missing about this minidsp ecosystem? How do i rectify this?

Is there anyone who's more experienced with the minidsp SHD who can chime in?

Thank you,

P.S.
The minidsp forum appears to mostly have minidsp fanbois who froth at the mouth if anyone has a legitimate issue with their beloved minidsp. Hence, i thought i'd post here in hopes of a solution.

You may have already seen this bench test of the SHD at ASR, but in case you haven’t:

Review and Measurements of miniDSP SHD DAC, DSP And Streamer

This is a review and detailed measurements of the MiniDSP SHD DAC, audio processor and streaming appliance. It was drop shipped by a kind member to me. It retails for $1195 and it comes with a license for automatic Room Equalization software, Dirac (which I use personally on a PC). It even...

www.audiosciencereview.com

I have one of these and have used it for the past couple of years in a 2.1 system with the internal DAC. As the bench test shows with a SINAD of 111, the built in DAC is excellent and audibly transparent. So unless you are wanting some coloration in the DAC, an external DAC is not necessary IMO. Don’t know why the DAC in the SHD would not sound good to you.
I don’t know about the delay if using an external DAC for the mains or how one would fix that. There is also the SHD Studio version which does not have a DAC and requires the use of external DAC/DACs. I would start a support ticket with Minidsp. I have always found them to be helpful.

 

[pcosmic]

You may have already seen this bench test of the SHD at ASR, but in case you haven’t:

Review and Measurements of miniDSP SHD DAC, DSP And Streamer

This is a review and detailed measurements of the MiniDSP SHD DAC, audio processor and streaming appliance. It was drop shipped by a kind member to me. It retails for $1195 and it comes with a license for automatic Room Equalization software, Dirac (which I use personally on a PC). It even...

www.audiosciencereview.com

I have one of these and have used it for the past couple of years in a 2.1 system with the internal DAC. As the bench test shows with a SINAD of 111, the built in DAC is excellent and audibly transparent. So unless you are wanting some coloration in the DAC, an external DAC is not necessary IMO. Don’t know why the DAC in the SHD would not sound good to you.
I don’t know about the delay if using an external DAC for the mains or how one would fix that. There is also the SHD Studio version which does not have a DAC and requires the use of external DAC/DACs. I would start a support ticket with Minidsp. I have always found them to be helpful.

I want coloration in a DAC? and you like neutral dacs?

#1) Name one single piece of music you ever heard in your life on a stereo system that wasn't colored to begin with. By the time it got on a cd or a record or your tape, it was pre-colored exactly how the mastering engineer wanted it. You have never heard anything "neutral" in your life. Get that in your head first.
So if i want some "coloration" on a DAC, so be it. And who told you the Venus is colored? You can keep your very neutral flat line DAC and listen to your "pre-colored" music all day long man. lol Sounds like you you've got that ASR lingo down (i know R2R dacs don't measure as well and get a bad rap at ASR).

#2) The DAC on the minidsp SHD is lifeless with subpar detail retrieval in comparison to the Denafrips Venus R2R. The soundstage is awful, depth, layering, etc everything's gone...One can look at pretty li'l SINAD numbers and listen to a lousy sounding DAC all day long. I'm just not that kinda guy. I look at measurements and i expect them to be within certain ranges, largely as a indicator of engineering aptitude and manufacturing prowess. Other than that, it doesn't say much about whether i like listening to it or not.

#3) Too late, i already bought the minidsp SHD (not the studio) and this awful company has no return policy. I am primarily trying to use this for bass management of the subs and deploying DIRAC in combination. Doesn't the studio version require 2 identical DACs for my application? Whoever designed this sht needs to be smacked on his fcking head.

 

[lovinthehd]

How on earth does a dac define soundstage?

 

[DJ7675]

I want coloration in a DAC? and you like neutral dacs?

#1) Name one single piece of music you ever heard in your life on a stereo system that wasn't colored to begin with. By the time it got on a cd or a record or your tape, it was pre-colored exactly how the mastering engineer wanted it. You have never heard anything "neutral" in your life. Get that in your head first.
So if i want some "coloration" on a DAC, so be it. And who told you the Venus is colored? You can keep your very neutral flat line DAC and listen to your "pre-colored" music all day long man. lol Sounds like you you've got that ASR lingo down (i know R2R dacs don't measure as well and get a bad rap at ASR).

#2) The DAC on the minidsp SHD is lifeless with subpar detail retrieval in comparison to the Denafrips Venus R2R. The soundstage is awful, depth, layering, etc everything's gone...One can look at pretty li'l SINAD numbers and listen to a lousy sounding DAC all day long. I'm just not that kinda guy. I look at measurements and i expect them to be within certain ranges, largely as a indicator of engineering aptitude and manufacturing prowess. Other than that, it doesn't say much about whether i like listening to it or not.

#3) Too late, i already bought the minidsp SHD (not the studio) and this awful company has no return policy. I am primarily trying to use this for bass management of the subs and deploying DIRAC in combination. Doesn't the studio version require 2 identical DACs for my application? Whoever designed this sht needs to be smacked on his fcking head.

Sorry my post seems to have offended you and/or what you prefer. That was not my intent.
1-As for me, I just want to play what is on the source as close to what is there as possible. That is my preference. I absolutely love the SHD DAC/Dirac/multiple subs, crossovers manual EQ, and streamer. For me and my needs it is about as perfect as you can get.
2-The DAC in the SHD is not what you prefer. Nothing wrong with that.
3-I would agree that they should have a return policy of some sort, even if there was a restocking fee. The ones on the used market seem to go for a fairly good price If you put it on the classified section here/ASR/AVS. It is an excellent device for many, but sounds like It isn’t for you.
Again sorry if for some reason I offended you. This particular device is one of my favorite purchases and has allowed me to enjoy my music more than ever.