Use Mini DSP Flex HT with 2x4 HT as active crossover to Biamp?

[pablo.uno]

I have a 5.1 system with Electrostatic towers for the fronts and surrounds that I both have biamped and the speakers have the option to bypass the passive crossovers for use with active crossovers.

For this reason I would like 10 outputs so I can have high and low outputs for those four speakers plus an output for the center and sub. If I connect a 2x4 HD to two of the outputs on the Flex HT then will I still use able to use Dirac Live to configure those two speakers and their hi and low outputs?
I understand this will add an extra AD to DA conversion.

The other option is to run one pair of the speakers biamped with its passive crossover but I am hoping to figure out a solution so both pair of speakers can be biamped with active crossovers.

Any input is appreciated!

 

[PENG]

I have a 5.1 system with Electrostatic towers for the fronts and surrounds that I both have biamped and the speakers have the option to bypass the passive crossovers for use with active crossovers.

For this reason I would like 10 outputs so I can have high and low outputs for those four speakers plus an output for the center and sub. If I connect a 2x4 HD to two of the outputs on the Flex HT then will I still use able to use Dirac Live to configure those two speakers and their hi and low outputs?
I understand this will add an extra AD to DA conversion.

The other option is to run one pair of the speakers biamped with its passive crossover but I am hoping to figure out a solution so both pair of speakers can be biamped with active crossovers.

Any input is appreciated!

As long as you end up with enough outputs you should be able to do what you want but it seems awfully complicated for no gains!

Another thing is, are those speakers 2 ways or 3 ways? 3-ways will need more outputs obviously. Also, that's assuming you don't need DL's Bass Control feature, minidsp can't do that on it's own anyway.

 

[pablo.uno]

As long as you end up with enough outputs you should be able to do what you want but it seems awfully complicated for no gains!

Another thing is, are those speakers 2 ways or 3 ways? 3-ways will need more outputs obviously. Also, that's assuming you don't need DL's Bass Control feature, minidsp can't do that on it's own anyway.

I’m currently using an inexpensive basic DSP for the crossovers for my biamped seperate amps but would like to benefit from a Dirac 5.1 calibration. Perhaps adding a Flex also with Dirac will be a better method. Do you know with Dirac if it can go off the calibration from both units to configure the 5.1 EQs etc like I was just using the Flex HT alone?

 

[PENG]

I’m currently using an inexpensive basic DSP for the crossovers for my biamped seperate amps but would like to benefit from a Dirac 5.1 calibration. Perhaps adding a Flex also with Dirac will be a better method. Do you know with Dirac if it can go off the calibration from both units to configure the 5.1 EQs etc like I was just using the Flex HT alone?

I think so, but not 100% sure if I understand your intended set up correctly, a sketch showing the interconnections would help clarify your plan.

 

[ban25]

I’m currently using an inexpensive basic DSP for the crossovers for my biamped seperate amps but would like to benefit from a Dirac 5.1 calibration. Perhaps adding a Flex also with Dirac will be a better method. Do you know with Dirac if it can go off the calibration from both units to configure the 5.1 EQs etc like I was just using the Flex HT alone?

I think the answer is 'no', because if I understand what you're suggesting correctly, you're planning to daisy chain two MiniDSP devices together and then do double-DSP. The problem with that is that the channels running through the 2nd MiniDSP are going to be delayed relative to the first, so time alignment is out the window.

 

[ban25]

I'll also add that Dirac Live is an automated room correction package, not a general purpose DSP suite. I doubt you will be able to use it effectively as a multichannel digital crossover.

 

[pablo.uno]

I think the answer is 'no', because if I understand what you're suggesting correctly, you're planning to daisy chain two MiniDSP devices together and then do double-DSP. The problem with that is that the channels running through the 2nd MiniDSP are going to be delayed relative to the first, so time alignment is out the window.

I'll also add that Dirac Live is an automated room correction package, not a general purpose DSP suite. I doubt you will be able to use it effectively as a multichannel digital crossover.

Thanks for your response. So to do the DSP crossovers you need to use the MiniDSP software an then Dirac for the room correction?

I was hoping you could link Mini DSP units to form an aggregate drive that pools data the for room calibration with Dirac just like a unit that had more outputs. The price goes up substantially for processors with more channels that support Dirac. I would love to own a unit like the Marantz AV 10.

 

[PENG]

Thanks for your response. So to do the DSP crossovers you need to use the MiniDSP software an then Dirac for the room correction?

Yes, use the minidsp to set crossovers and Dirac Live to do the room rc/eq. That's because the DL with minidsp won't have the bass control "BC" feature, and that's why I use the DLBC PC standalone version instead.

I was hoping you could link Mini DSP units to form an aggregate drive that pools data the for room calibration with Dirac just like a unit that had more outputs. The price goes up substantially for processors with more channels that support Dirac. I would love to own a unit like the Marantz AV 10.

The way you describe your intended use is not 100% clear to me, that's why it would be nice if you can include a diagram. As to ban25's point about delays, that is true but I wouldn't worry much about it because the difference could be compensated for, by using the mini, and in fact DL should be able to compensate the delays as well between outputs.

 

[ban25]

I agree, a diagram would be helpful because I have a vision in my mind of what you're trying to do, but I'm not sure that matches what you're asking.

 

[pablo.uno]

Yes, use the minidsp to set crossovers and Dirac Live to do the room rc/eq. That's because the DL with minidsp won't have the bass control "BC" feature, and that's why I use the DLBC PC standalone version instead.



The way you describe your intended use is not 100% clear to me, that's why it would be nice if you can include a diagram. As to ban25's point about delays, that is true but I wouldn't worry much about it because the difference could be compensated for, by using the mini, and in fact DL should be able to compensate the delays as well between outputs.

I agree, a diagram would be helpful because I have a vision in my mind of what you're trying to do, but I'm not sure that matches what you're asking.

Thanks for the info.

This would be the chain with my biamped fronts and surrounds using the Mini DSP Flex HT with a 2x4 with 5 separate amps:

• ⁠Dirac L -> Out 1/2 -> Hi/Low L -> Stereo Amp
• ⁠Dirac R -> Out 3/4 -> Hi/Low R -> Stereo Amp
• ⁠Dirac Sub -> Out 5 > Powered Sub
• ⁠Dirac C -> Out 6 -> C -> Amp
• ⁠Dirac SL -> Out 7 -> 2x4 In 1 -> 2x4 Out 1/2 -> SL Hi/Low -> Stereo Amp
• ⁠Dirac SR -> Out 8 -> 2x4 In 2 -> 2x4 Out 3/4 -> SR Hi/Low -> Stereo Amp

Since I now know that Dirac doesn’t handle active Hi/Low crossovers then it seems that pooling data between two Mini DSP Dirac units for the surround calibration would have no benefit with my configuration if it was possible. The idea was basically forming a single Mini DSP with 10 outputs to run Dirac for my layout.

Maybe a regular Flex unit instead of 2x4 would be beneficial because it has a better DAC and noise floor.

Is Dirac Bass control just for independent subs or also functions as an active Hi/Low biamp crossover? I know MiniDSP doesn’t support Bass Control but I could look into other options.

Thanks again

 

[PENG]

Thanks for the info.

This would be the chain with my biamped fronts and surrounds using the Mini DSP Flex HT with a 2x4 with 5 separate amps:

• ⁠Dirac L -> Out 1/2 -> Hi/Low L -> Stereo Amp
• ⁠Dirac R -> Out 3/4 -> Hi/Low R -> Stereo Amp
• ⁠Dirac Sub -> Out 5 > Powered Sub
• ⁠Dirac C -> Out 6 -> C -> Amp
• ⁠Dirac SL -> Out 7 -> 2x4 In 1 -> 2x4 Out 1/2 -> SL Hi/Low -> Stereo Amp
• ⁠Dirac SR -> Out 8 -> 2x4 In 2 -> 2x4 Out 3/4 -> SR Hi/Low -> Stereo Amp

Since I now know that Dirac doesn’t handle active Hi/Low crossovers then it seems that pooling data between two Mini DSP Dirac units for the surround calibration would have no benefit with my configuration if it was possible. The idea was basically forming a single Mini DSP with 10 outputs to run Dirac for my layout.

Maybe a regular Flex unit instead of 2x4 would be beneficial because it has a better DAC and noise floor.

Is Dirac Bass control just for independent subs or also functions as an active Hi/Low biamp crossover? I know MiniDSP doesn’t support Bass Control but I could look into other options.

Thanks again

It should work, as mentioned earlier, the additional delays due to the 2X4HD would be compensated by Dirac. Of course you could do that manually too using the Flex HT itself as well.

The better DAC of the Flex unit won't help as the regular 2X4HD's performance is reasonably well, especially if used for the surround speakers that are mainly for effects. The additional advantage, in my opinion, is that you can get the balanced I/O that will give you higher output voltage but again in your applications, that is not the issue, your Flex HT does not have balanced I/Os anyway.

I don't know why you would complicate things so much to biamp your speakers, are you sure your speakers crossovers are not properly designed? What model?

 

[pablo.uno]

Acoustat Spectra 3

I’m using an inexpensive DSP now for active crossover and like the sound more than the passive one.