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MiniDSP PWR-DSP amps - Page 2

post #31 of 82
9/12/11 at 5:40pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks Mark

For some reason I just not a fan of wiring power cables, I definitely do not want to screw up this amp considering its expensive price point.
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post #32 of 82
9/12/11 at 7:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark Seaton View Post

http://www.markertek.com/Cables/Powe...?PWRCN-ACIN-10

Of course you can also buy the connectors and wire one up yourself.

I made up custom length 240V cables to power my Seaton equipment without problems. I take issue with what was said in the link that Mark provided. Using the link below, & Attn: Neutrik states that the cable's connection should not be made or broken under power.
http://www.neutrik.com/fl/en/audio/2...CB_detail.aspx
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post #33 of 82
9/20/11 at 8:38am
There's a user report of a miniDSP plate amp over at PSW forums: http://forums.prosoundweb.com/index....ic,4746.0.html
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post #34 of 82
9/20/11 at 8:41am
Thread Starter 
Quote:


OK, had a couple of hours to have a good play with the amplifier. It is a killer so far. Connecting up via an ethernet cable to my laptop I can set the hpf and lpf, limiting etc. The headroom is quite staggering. Using one of these to power any double 18 box would easily have 6db headroom left when the speakers are at their limits. I have 1400w B&C drivers, and pushing them as hard as they could go, i didn't even flicker the clip light.
And after a couple of hours the amp was barely warm.

Nice!

Im excited about getting them tested. Just waiting on the cables now.
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post #35 of 82
9/20/11 at 9:21am
Not having access to the data sheet at the moment, can anyone tell me what the impedance is for those power output ratings? These seem spectacular for the price, in my opinion.
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post #36 of 82
9/20/11 at 9:51am
Quote:
Originally Posted by penngray View Post

Nice!

Im excited about getting them tested. Just waiting on the cables now.

Can you please check whether they make pop noise at switch on/off via AC?

I have no amps ATM and I'm considering getting some of these, but I'm scared to have compression driver connected to 700W amp. I don't want to go deaf due to an accidental pop

Quote:


Not having access to the data sheet at the moment, can anyone tell me what the impedance is for those power output ratings? These seem spectacular for the price, in my opinion.

4 ohms, but you'd best look up the X-Pro series datasheet here: http://www.pascal-audio.com/amplifier-modules.html as Pascal's specs are slightly less optimistic.

I'm also very interested in these - going by the datasheet they have better Hi-Fi performance than many Hi-Fi amps.
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post #37 of 82
9/20/11 at 9:53am
Thread Starter 
I use ATI 602 with my CDs and I love it. FWIW, I wouldnt use a 700Watt channel with a CD that screams that I might screw something up
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post #38 of 82
9/20/11 at 10:15am
Quote:
Originally Posted by findbuddha View Post

Can you please check whether they make pop noise at switch on/off via AC?

I have no amps ATM and I'm considering getting some of these, but I'm scared to have compression driver connected to 700W amp. I don't want to go deaf due to an accidental pop



4 ohms, but you'd best look up the X-Pro series datasheet here: http://www.pascal-audio.com/amplifier-modules.html as Pascal's specs are slightly less optimistic.

I'm also very interested in these - going by the datasheet they have better Hi-Fi performance than many Hi-Fi amps.

Thanks for the info Penn. I'm thinking of using these in my next subwoofers. Dual opposed Pi 18s. These would be perfect for those.

Yeah, you could be in a lot of pain if your signal is corrupted, even for a short burst with 700W to a CD.
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post #39 of 82
10/2/11 at 10:52pm
penngray,

given it a run yet?
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post #40 of 82
10/3/11 at 12:08pm
Thread Starter 
Yes, I wired it up this past weekend and put it through a simple test vs my Crest CC4000 amp.

During REW SPL calibration testing it output easily up to 115dB without an issue, it was a simple RS meter test. The MiniDSP was 5dB or so louder then the Crest amp also with the same volume/output settings on my Marantz (ie switching back and forth I had 110dB vs 115dB). This is nothing new, all my pro audio amps always have less output at same AVR output levels then my consumer type amps. Its a gain structure/voltage thing (always annoying to me).

I never clipped either amp in the test although my REW measurements flatten out a great deal above 110dB, never really thought it did that....hmmmm. I will have to post the sweeps later, I have to re-run them since I didnt save (UGH!!!). I get a little nervous with the LMS5400 pushing that high, there is always slight mechanical/squeaking type of sound that always exists when pushing hard.

One thing I know is that the MiniDSP provides LOTS of power, I need to get it connected to my network now to get some DSP stuff set but that is not easy to do during testing in the HT room since I only have wireless access.


My only complaint right now was the "dinky" speaker wire connections. They remind me of RS-232 pins we buy when building cables.....really small and almost impossible to insert a 10AWG wire I couldn't even use the "locking plastic" part because my wire was too thick. I guess I should have used 14AWG wire I just didnt have any. I will get some and great a simple wire solution for it.

I can definitely see this amp as a nice addition to a sealed LMS5400 design.
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post #41 of 82
10/3/11 at 1:00pm
Weird noises from the driver above 110db? One LMS 5400 driver? Any EQ? Were you measuring at the LP?
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post #42 of 82
10/3/11 at 1:04pm
Thread Starter 
Yeah, Im not sure its weird, sort of a slight "squeaking" sound when the driver is pushed really hard. It seems all subwoofers are going to have more mechanical noise then sound < 20Hz, I do not know of a driver that didnt have some sort of "noise" actually. I tend to stand close and listen for any thing not part of the soundwave. They are definitely pushing air but I can hear suspensions/etc moving anytime I run testing. Of course I never push anything much during real usage so I never cared about any small noise issues. This noise is sort of like my kids jumping up and down on an old bed, there is a slight sound like a spring or something "Squeaking", I do not know how to describe it outside of that. Is that normal??? I never cared to figure it out.

Measurements are all 1 meter so far, No EQing yet, Only one LMS5400. The other one is apart.

I will post the REW sweeps showing the differences later.
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post #43 of 82
10/3/11 at 1:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by penngray View Post

I couldn't even use the "locking plastic" part because my wire was too thick. I guess I should have used 14AWG wire I just didnt have any. I will get some and great a simple wire solution for it.

Why not just cut enough strands off the stripped end to make it fit?

I know it's "unaesthetic", but it's functionally irrelevant; think about the gauge reduction at the tinsel leads on the driver.
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post #44 of 82
10/3/11 at 1:23pm
Thread Starter 
Noah, I did that, Still hated it I still had to wrap it in electrical tape to ensure no strands touched either other. metal pins didnt stick far enough down the plastic holding clip because I had too much tape....arrg. Definitely hated it!!!

When I have time, I will redo and clean up. Just pointing out the speaker wire connectivity was far from easy IMO. Of course Im loving the cables I bought from Marketek!!! Perfect power cable solution.
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post #45 of 82
10/3/11 at 2:33pm
Care to share any pics of the "in cab" side of this plate amp. It is my understanding that this amp can power two channels. But the lack of info and pics has me puzzled on how to power two seperate sub cabs with one of these plate amps. Do I / can I use bare wire or speakons. Thanks.
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post #46 of 82
10/3/11 at 2:35pm
Thread Starter 
I will take a picture later for you....kid/family time now
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post #47 of 82
10/3/11 at 3:25pm
Good to hear of another happy user.....

Do they pop at turn on or when AC is switched off?
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post #48 of 82
10/4/11 at 6:45am
Thread Starter 
Honestly, I didnt see an on/off switch, connecting the power didn't any pops either.
Attachment 224450



Here is the back where the speaker wire connections are.
Attachment 224449

Here is some info from MiniDSP.

Quote:


The connector used
(MOLEX connector) is an industrial connector (i.e. very robust
connection) which indeed isn't very common (i.e. vs some binding post).
It was selected mostly to fit the needs of OEM/ODM speaker suppliers who
prefer a fixed connectivity.

With this said, we've already started to ship new amps with a pre-wired
connector (i.e. Connector + 14AWG cable of about 1m long). Hoping this
would help the setup. If you need such pre-made cable, let me know and I
could ship one using Airmail (slow but cheap... :-)


LL
LL
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post #49 of 82
10/4/11 at 10:55am
Doug that sound you describe makes me think "small air leak" immediately. I have had a few that sounded very close to what you describe. When a lot of air is being swept the leak can start to whistle due to the high rate of air flow.
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post #50 of 82
10/4/11 at 7:32pm
Thanks for the pics penngray.
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post #51 of 82
10/5/11 at 5:44am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ricci View Post

Doug that sound you describe makes me think "small air leak" immediately. I have had a few that sounded very close to what you describe. When a lot of air is being swept the leak can start to whistle due to the high rate of air flow.

I have tried to find if it was a leak because that is what I thought at first, I couldnt find any air movement anywhere. It could be a "pinhole" type air leak and that could create the squeak at high SPL levels. Its more of a "mechanical" type of noise but Im definitely hoping for it being just a leak. Im not really excited about removing the driver

I pushed the LMS5400 to Xmax last night, clank
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post #52 of 82
10/5/11 at 10:50am
Quote:
Originally Posted by penngray View Post

Its more of a "mechanical" type of noise but Im definitely hoping for it being just a leak.

One of the subs I built had a leak in a screw hole and it made a ticking noise.
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post #53 of 82
10/5/11 at 12:43pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks Noah, very interesting that it would sound like that. I will trying and find if there is a leak.
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post #54 of 82
12/19/11 at 12:32pm
So did anyone else end up trying these out? Looks like Nathan is no longer selling his (only included in a kit). Keep debating whether to just bite the bullet on the cost as I just HATE any amount of fan noise and hum which I have issues with a plenty.
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post #55 of 82
12/19/11 at 7:12pm
I got one coming, should be here in the next few days. It was not cheap but with 2,400W RMS/4,000WPeak and DSP included, it should be worth it. Like you, I wanted no fan noise or gain issues (receiver to pro amp) to deal with. Talk to Nathan, you might be surprised at what you can get.
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post #56 of 82
12/20/11 at 6:12am
Have been PMing him since yesterday. Sounds like he's working on potentially one that ha s 2 modules in one chasis sans fan but it's in early phases (i.e., still in the "thinking aloud" phase!).
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post #57 of 82
12/29/11 at 11:18am
Quote:
Originally Posted by spanish68 View Post

I got one coming, should be here in the next few days. It was not cheap but with 2,400W RMS/4,000WPeak and DSP included, it should be worth it. Like you, I wanted no fan noise or gain issues (receiver to pro amp) to deal with. Talk to Nathan, you might be surprised at what you can get.

+1

Those are the same reasons I've been delaying my dual Aura NS18 build- trying best to avoid any potential pro-amp problems especially the mentioned gain issue. Plate amp seems to be the solution and cost about $1K :O . Spoke to Nathan about the 2ch 800w each version, but that wont be ordered for quite a while awhile. PWR-DSP2 fits the bill.
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post #58 of 82
12/29/11 at 10:06pm
From all user accounts, the balanced MiniDSP provides sufficient level for an EP2500/4000 and costs half what that plate amp does.
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post #59 of 82
12/31/11 at 5:52pm
What is the Freq BW on the amplifiers?

I dont think I can afford these options but its great to know whats out there.
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post #60 of 82
4/16/12 at 1:22pm
Anyone else tried these amps?

I need 3-channel amps with DSP/XO and can't find to many others than MiniDSP and Digimoda.. so I consider buying 3xPWR-DSP3 to power my mains in my HT.

The speakers are 3-way EAW cinema speakers with dual 15s and 10" MF and 1,4" HF. They have very high sensitivity (110-113dB) so I'm a bit concerned about noise, anyone tried them for something else than subwoofer duty?
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