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Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Portland, Oregon
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My experience with miniDSP SHD
I put an SHD into our TV system. (TV to SHD to powered speakers.) Because the speakers are modest (Audioengine A5+) and the room is asymmetrical and untreated, I can't comment on high-end sound quality. However, I can say this about my experience:
- The Dirac room correction works well. You have to buy the mic separately, at least if you use a dealer in the US. Though the Dirac program that came with mine doesn't have bass management, miniDSP includes their own bass management software, so that when you run Dirac, it can correct the full-range signal.
- I thought the combination of miniDSP bass management and Dirac might be a kluge or hard to set up, but I didn't find that the case. It was straightforward.
- The SHD's combination of a good DAC and the Dirac correction really helped a lot in our situation, in which one speaker is against a wall, and the other is not. Intelligibility of dialog is improved tremendously, and the "boom" is gone.
- Streaming with Volumio works very well, assuming you are reasonably familiar with DLNA/UPnP/Open Home systems.
- Support has been good.
- The user interface for setup, though straightforward, is not as refined as units that cost much more. However, Dirac is excellent and allows complete flexibility.
- I think the unit is a bargain: streaming, DSP, and a good DAC and digital preamp all for about US $1200 can't be beat.
I hope that helps, and that if you get an SHD, you enjoy it!
Mike (Portland, Oregon -- Long gone from North Carolina)
Main 2.2 system: Auralic Aries G1 streamer, Anthem STR preamp, Bryston 4B3 amp, Janszen Valentina mains, 2x JL Audio F112 subs. Desktop 2.1 system: JRiver Media Center, Classé CP-800 DAC-preamp, Marsh A400s amp, Harbeth P3ESR, B&W ASW610.