MiniDSP SHD Power: 2 x 120 watt amp with Dirac room correction and streamer

My first experiences with this brand was with the MiniDSP SHD Studio. A digital pre-amp and streamer that also does Dirac room correction. The SHD Power on review here is about the same but with a powerful amp added, costing only 1,499 US dollar ex sales tax.

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[IAmThankfulToday]

Hans is back. Yeah! - And reviewing a product I expected him to review this summer. Not sure if I’ve got a ESP or if he’s just predictable but either way he knows to give us great content featuring the products we’re interested in. Thank you Hans. Hope you had a great vacation.

[alext]

Excellent content as usual Hans. Thanks.

[novisnick]

Sure did miss you Hans! Hope you had a wonderful holiday! See you next week.

[stephencosta]

Very nice product and review good to see you Hans

[Antoon]

I just discovered REW to make filters for Roon DSP to apply room correction. I wonder how this compares to the MiniDSP hardware. Benefit of Roon filters is that I can use my existing system.

[Fearwtscomin]

Great review, thanks for your education.

[bobc]

I have the poor man’s version of this - a MiniDSP DDRC-24 with an NAD 3020. Even with my less sophisticated system, the sound is TrueType stunning. I understand people who prefer to use room treatments, however now that I’ve had Dirac 3.0 I can never imagine myself owning a system without it. There is no going back- Dirac 3.0 is simply unbelievable.

[noga]

Hi Hans, are you planning to review the minidsp flex at some point?

[martinames]

2 channel amps with bass management are hard to find. This is an awesome piece of hardware, even without Dirac.

[RageZiekdope]

Great review, thanks! I was wondering how it compared to the NAD M10 as on paper they are nearly identical.

[shobhitmathur]

Welcome back. I have a minidsp 2x4hd. I love it. The DAC could be better I feel. A question though. Would replacing it with a Minidsp Nano Digi + External DAC be a better option or getting the Dirac plug in for the 2x4hd be a better option?

[paznewis]

Serious comments: is this not a bit like the Bose sucks argument? Given enough time, tech/engineering nouse and modelling skills, you can make it sound like anything you want...

Is this ok? Or do we want three components direct wired in a steel box?

[QoraxAudio]

How accurate is the automatic room correction?
Does it need manual fine tuning after the automatic part is done?

[wojciechczupta]

Hans, have you got a chance to test 'MiniDSP SHD' (the one with analog outputs)? I'm thinking if this is worth trying not only as room correction squezed between my DAC and source (SHD Studio), but as a full solution replacing DAC and Preamp.

[faridmaruf]

Hi Hans, glad you back. Hope you had a great holiday. Does the investment on MiniDSP (with DSP processing capability + Dirac) is better compare than having a good NAA like SoTM in SQ aspect? My concern is the measurement just only need to be done once, while both of them provide streaming capability.

[claudedickson]

The MiniDSP SHD/Studio require 2 DACs to use the unit as an active 2-way crossover. Does the SHD Power allow you to use it as an active crossover with just one DAC? My system is bi-amped. I could see using the amp in the Power for my woofers if I could use a separate DAC and amp for the mid/tweeters.

[YamilLlanos]

Hi. Do you think this device can be used to power fairly inefficient speakers? I have Magnepan MMG + Rythmik sub but I'm lacking a decent integrated AMP with DAC with bass management. I'm interested on this device, but I don't know if it is a good match for my speakers

[gizimowizard]

Hi Hans. Do you use the same curves on your SHD Studio which is on your system 1 during regular listening?

[gerard]

Hi Hans, if you only want to add Dirac room correction to the signal path (so if you already have a Mac Mini with DAC/DSP combo like RME ADI-2) is there any advantage in using the DSP mini (hardware solution) over the software only solution for Mac? In terms of sound quality I mean.

[bobdylan]

Those Dirac measurements... They're so flat! You must have a fantastic setup 👍