Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Using MiniDSP (incl Dirac) with Meridian gear for DIRAC, good idea?

I am thinking on buying a MiniDSP DDRC-88A Dirac Live Processor to use with my G65. Instead of MRC.

Is anybody using MINIDSP (with Dirac) with Meridian gear?

Is this overkill? Can the same be achieved with REW?

Is the bass management add on an advantage?

I am using Focus Fidelity and I am still planning to write my experiences here. In short, it has positively changed my listening experience and system performance.

Speaker and room interaction are vital and focus fidelity has not only made the frequency response more even, but more importantly also improved the step response and stereo imaging significantly.

I know people using Dirac with good effects (non M systems). Dirac also corrects for timing differences and phase. I would try it, it is relatively cheap. I do not understand why Meridian doesn't utilize its DSP for room correction inside the speakers for the newer speakers. Or imagine an upgrade of DSP speakers that would made this possible...

I use a MiniDSP NanoAVR DL (it works on HDMI signal) before my HD621 + 861v6.
I have it with my old none-M processor.

Works fine but I haven't tested MRC.

Theoretically it's more powerful.

I hope a DDRC-88D with Dirac ART (I have tested ART on my system with an StormAudio : my 861v6 is totally obsolete ).
I will place it between HD621 and 861.

I use the DDRC-88D between my processor and DSP speakers.

I found the results using the Dirac software produced a slightly inferior sound to just using REW, measuring manually and using fewer filters that I input myself.

You might wonder why I'm using it at all then, instead of MRC? Simply because I need cuts around 400hz and 2-4khz, the latter is a personal requirement due to some medically induced hearing damage.

The sub doesn't route through the DDRC-88D as it is analogue and has its own DSP but the bass management filter is surprisingly useful, at least for me.
I had a few holes in the 60hz area and was toying with the idea of adding another sub at the back of the room.
I realised that since I have D5Ks all around, the ones at the rear may be able to help.
The Bass Management plugin allows me to create an effective bandpass filter and siphon off 50-80hz or so from the front LR speakers and route that bandpass range to the rear LR speakers, which are then subject to the appropriate delay. Tweak the levels, just for that bandpass and it can be dialled in just right.
It helped fill in that null at 60hz without any extra boxes.

The plugin is incredibly flexible and I should think it'd be even more useful for someone routing all channels plus LFE through it as well.

Is al thinking about using the Minidsp ddrc88ab/m connecting 5 speakers out from G65 and use the other 2/3 outputs for my subwoofers. As i am using 2 different subs SVS Sb3000 and Kef Kube2 (maybe even3rd, old Rel stampede).

Therefor I thought especially the base mgt would be an add on.

But i read some reviews regarding added noise by minidsp (anybody problems with this?)

And what about the sound quality of this device, will it negatively impact Meridian sound?

Devils advocate: do i still have a purpose for my G65 or should i connect the minidsp to my Marantz sr7015?

So HDMI -> HD621/722 Upsample, de-jitter -> G65 Meridian proprietary DSP to Meridian quality DAC -> Meridian quality analogue out -> ??? Analogue in buffer -> ??? ADC -> Dirac -> ??? DAC -> analogue out with whatever quality they deem adequate.

If you want Dirac this way, sell the Meridian gear. There's nothing worthwhile going to survive.

seems like perhaps this hardware modification, is the only way I think to use an external DAC.
To get a full 88/96 signal withouth MHR.

But it has it's limitations.

Meridian MRC should give all you need.
I was very happy with MRC, it delivered a boomines bass to me, and I'm sure with more tweaking I can get a lot more out of it..

I guess it needs the G61 configured with the 5ks as 18/48 and then the comms bypass the MiniDSP?

Correct.

To be clear i would be using the MINIDSP between my G65 and 557,556,556 and subs.

Regarding quality i am indeed wandering if I shouldn’t use the Dirac output as input settings (just the numbers for input on the for MRC in the configuration software, 5 channels).

And only use the balanced input/output for the subs to use with Base management Control from Dirac.

Or am I tinkering too much this way?

Or even more out of the box, using the other 5 analog channels for the ATMOS surrounds from the Marantz

For me the best version is a ddrc 88d (d for digital) or equivalent.
So no DAC or ADC.

If you have analog speakers, between an HD621 / 722 and the processor.

I think you might be tinkering too much here, why not first measure or determine where something is wrong and maybe solve it with acoustic measures or Meridian’s own DSP?