MiniDSP

I've been playing more with the one MiniDSP I have, and think I'd like to have another couple of them, for rear channels and center channel. It is really nice as both a crossover and a parametric EQ.

With the sensitivity of SEOS horns and a compression driver, and the sound quality of the little T-Amps which will drive a SEOS with gobs of spare dynamic range, MiniDSP is a great way to go for a crossover. Priced copper inductors lately? The only down side would be for those who are using receivers or integrated amplifiers that don't provide preamp out/in, and with receiver prices coming down, it might still be worth changing over to one that does have pre-outs.

I'm working on additions to OmniMic to determine filter parameters for MiniDSP and export values to it as a file.

Is anyone in US interested in pooling some orders to save a little on shipping and get the quantity discount?

 

I'm using a Dayton DTA100a right now, because I got some at MWAF (defect units, some minor repairs needed) didn't have to make a case for it and it had a volume control on it. Way more power than I need when driving just the waveguide. I also have some 200Watt ICEPower amps and Ucd amplifiers, but those would be insane for driving something that sensitive covering just the highs.

If you don't mind making a box, or are making an all-in-one powered setup and want to put a T-Amp on woofers, too, the Sure amplifiers (they have a 2x100 and a 4x100 model) worked nicely when I tried them. Or they have some with lower power, already packaged. You really only need about 10W/8ohms.

If you're using a MiniDSP as crossover and adjusting response via measurements, you don't have to worry about how the driver impedance affects the amplifier (which is normally a disadvantage of Class-T, it's output impedance is kind of high at high frequencies) since you'll be adjusting the total anyway.

 

MJ- we should hold off a bit, there may be another way to go about this (got some inside info I can't spill yet). Will still collect names of interested folks, in case the group buy is still the way to do it.

Bill

 

Ok, I'm told I can post this - it seems that the MiniDSP units will be carried by Parts Express, so that should cut shipping costs. Don't know what kind of pricing they'll have, but if done similarly to the pricing they've done on small class-t amps, it should be comparable to the direct pricing from MiniDSP.

So probably not much need for a group buy now.

 

The ICE sounds a little sharper (a little etched, maybe) but that can be seen in its measured response, too. (Not sure whether I actually hear it or just think I do having seen the few-tenths of a dB wiggle). I don't really know whether I have the ICE or the Ucd in my system right now (they are in identical enclosures) so maybe I can't really hear it?

The T-Amp sounds a bit lush, which might be from nonlinearity or it might be from frequency response (T-Amps take feedback before the output choke, so their high frequency response is affected some by the speaker's impedance). I'm using the T-Amp on the tweeter, just because of its power rating (50W vs about 200W for the ICE or Ucd that I use on the bass/mid).

I actually like all three amps a lot, but probably the Ucd the best (maybe because of its' very high build quality).

 

I've got SMPS supplies from Hypex for them (they are made as mono amplifiers, each with its own SMPS supply)

 

Yup, and the little 4 channel Sure amps (plus the switching supply PE has for them) sweetens the deal all the more. I think the reign of all-passive speakers is nearing an end.

 

I think they said sometime in July, so probably not in time for MWAF. I'll have an auto-EQ feature in OmniMic about the same time.

 

Yup, particularly if you use the Sure multichannel amps. And if you use a crossover with lots of shaping (like my fussy designs tend to ), the active can take a lead fast. Provided you have preamp outputs to drive it all with, of course.

 

Yeah, its been in since July! v4 has it.