MiniDsp SHD
The MiniDsp SHD turns a system’s weak links into taut, controlled bass, more precise imaging and a neutral, transparent presentation. Its four-channel routing, flexible crossovers and Dirac Live room correction make it a formidable streaming DAC/preamp for subwoofer integration or active systems. LowBeats found its network playback dependable and its room correction genuinely transformative.
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Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
91/100
Build Quality
88/100
Features Connectivity
93/100
Value for Money
96/100
Pros
Dirac Live correction can remove boomy room modes while sharpening stereo imaging and expanding the usable listening area.
Neutral tonal balance with notable transparency and brilliance makes it convincing even as a conventional streaming DAC/preamp.
Four configurable outputs, crossover control and flexible routing enable sophisticated subwoofer, bi-amping and active-speaker setups.
Volumio streaming proved responsive and dropout-free in extended use, even with older network hardware.
Cons
Its extensive DSP and speaker-configuration options demand time, patience and a willingness to learn.
Dirac Live 2.0 showed occasional software communication glitches during testing, sometimes requiring a reboot.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 91/100
Reviewers describe the SHD as neutral, clean and transparent rather than overtly characterful, with its correction tools bringing major gains in bass definition, focus and image precision. Its low-noise measured performance and room-integration capabilities make it especially convincing in systems with subwoofers or difficult acoustics.
Tonal Balance and Musicality
91/100
LowBeats found a neutral tonal balance with transparency and brilliance as particular strengths. Audiophile Junkie likewise calls it neutral and clean, while reporting that correctly configured bass management replaces muddy, one-note bass with tauter, more realistic and pitch-defined low frequencies.
Resolution and Detail
90/100
LowBeats specifically praises the SHD's transparency and brilliance. Reviewers also report more tightly focused, clearly defined images after time alignment and correction, with instruments occupying more precise positions rather than vague areas.
Digital Performance
93/100
Audiophile Junkie describes state-of-the-art measurements, improved measured performance over earlier versions, and signal-to-noise performance better than virtually any preamp they know. LowBeats also found network playback responsive and free of dropouts even with an old NAS and tablet setup.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
88/100
LowBeats inspected the chassis and found a precisely manufactured, sturdy steel enclosure, noting its likely benefit for electromagnetic compatibility. The supplied reviews say little about longer-term reliability, internal component quality or serviceability.
Features Connectivity
93/100
The SHD combines network streaming, USB audio, AES/EBU, coaxial and optical inputs with RCA and balanced XLR connections, four configurable analogue outputs, four digital output channels, and four stored configurations. Dirac Live, parametric EQ, crossovers, bass management and flexible routing make it unusually adaptable; reviewers call the versatility tremendous and describe it as offering everything needed from a DAC, preamp and signal processor.
Value for Money
96/100
At roughly €1,700 in the LowBeats review and within the stated $1,249–$1,619 range, the SHD is repeatedly presented as exceptional value for its combination of streaming, conversion, preamp control, DSP and room correction. LowBeats calls its price/performance ratio excellent and says the package is unrivaled, while Audiophile Junkie calls the price attractive and the proposition a no-brainer.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
Forum Mentions
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Specifications
- Digital Signal Processor
- 32-bit Floating point Analog Devices SHARC ADSP21489 / 450MHz Internal sample rate: 96kHz
- Control
- Driverless USB 2.0 control interface for Windows environments A computer is only required for the initial configuration and for USB audio streaming
- Network Audio Streamer
- Quad Core ARM processor, Gb Ethernet, USB 2.0 for external Hard drive Volumio Audiophile player,
- Bidirectional USB Audio
- XMOS asynchronous USB audio up to 192 kHz, USB Audio Class 2 compliant ASIO drivers for Windows Driverless for Mac OS X Bidirectional audio / 2ch playback (PC to SHD), 4ch recording post processing (SHD to PC)
- Digital Audio Inputs
- Digital audio source selectable from IR remote or Front panel, up to 216 kHz sample rate: AES/EBU on Neutrik 3pin female XLR / Isolated with digital audio transformer SPDIF on RCA connector / Isolated with digital audio transformer TOSLINK on Optical connector
- Digital Audio Outputs
- Four channels of digital output. 2 x SPDIF on RCA connector / Isolated with digital audio transformer.
- Analog Audio inputs
- 2-channel audio input, balanced XLR Neutrik connector, unbalanced on RCA 32bit AKM AK5574 ADC / 120dB SNR measured / 0.0003% THD+N (Balanced Analog to Digital) Max input level: 2V RMS unbalanced, 4V RMS balanced Input impedance: 47k Ohms (RCA) / 48k Ohms (XLR)
- Analog Audio outputs
- 4-channel audio output, balanced XLR Neutrik connector, unbalanced on RCA 32bit ESS9028 DAC / 120dB SNR measured / 0.0003% THD+N (Digital to balanced analog) Max output level: 2V RMS unbalanced, 4V RMS balanced Output impedance: 100 Ohms (RCA) / 200 Ohms (XLR)
- miniDSP DSP Processing
- Volume, Parametric Equalizer banks, Crossovers, Matrix mixer, Compressor/Limiter, Mute
- Dirac Live Correction Suite for miniDSP
- Plug&Play control and configuration from Dirac Live Correction Suite 3.x
- Filter storage
- Up to 4 filter configuration filters stored on unit (Dirac Live + SHD plugin configuration)
- USB port
- USB port type B for audio streaming, real time control and firmware upgrade
- Power supply
- 110-240V AC
- Dimensions (H x W x D) mm
- 41.5 x 429 x 236 mm, Provided with 1RU rack mount kit
Manufacturer's Description — MiniDsp
miniDSP is proud to introduce the SHD (“Streaming High Definition”) digital audio processor incorporating Dirac Live®, the world’s premier room correction solution. A natural evolution and extension of our considerable experience with Dirac Live implementation, the miniDSP SHD heralds a new era in affordable yet powerful DSP-based network streamers.
The miniDSP SHD is a certified Roon Ready network player. Being Roon Ready means that miniDSP uses Roon streaming technology, for an incredible user interface, simple setup, rock-solid daily reliability, and the highest levels of audio performance, without compromise. The quad-core streaming processor in the SHD also runs Volumio, a popular open-source network streamer, providing web-based access to music files from sources as diverse as a USB stick to Internet Radio and Spotify/Tidal/Qobuz streaming.
The SHD has extensive connectivity options. Three digital inputs, two analog inputs and USB Audio enable the SHD to fit right into any modern audio system. The four-channel DSP-controlled outputs are available as single-ended (RCA) and balanced (XLR) analog as well as SPDIF digital.
In addition to Dirac Live, the miniDSP SHD includes a full suite of our powerful but user-friendly DSP audio tuning software - ten-band parametric EQ per channel, crossovers up to 48 dB/octave, compressor/limiter, and a flexible 2x4 matrix mixer — for powerful audio system tuning in applications ranging from subwoofer integration to a two-way active speaker.
Hardware Features
- Processor: 32-bit floating-point 400MHz Analog Devices SHARC DSP
- 32bit Audiophile converters: Measured 120dB Dynamic Range / 0.0003% THD+N
- Powered by Dirac Live® 3.x Digital Room Correction
- Powered by miniDSP's new Device Console for Over The Air upgrades, Live Real Time control of DSP settings
- Quad core ARM processor for network audio streaming - Roon Ready, Volumio streaming, Tidal/Tidal Connect, Spotify/Spotify Connect, Qobuz.
- Inputs: Stereo digital (USB Audio/AES-EBU/SPDIF/Optical), stereo analog (Balanced XLR, unbalanced RCA)
- Outputs: 4 x digital (SPDIF out), 4 x analog out (Balanced XLR, unbalanced RCA)
- USB audio recording feature (4xCH processed output via USB audio to record inputs, e.g. Vinyl)
- White/Black OLED front panel controller
Product Downloads / Manual for new Device Console
- Product Brief: SHD
- SHD Series User Manual
What's in the box?
- Dirac Series Audio Processor — SHD DSP
- USB Wifi 2.4GHz adaptor
- Dirac Live 3.x license for full range correction (20Hz~20kHz) / Hardware Locked to SHD unit
- UMIK-1 calibrated measurement microphone
- IR remote v2
- IEC power plug (UK/EU/US)
- Rack mounting kit (standard 1RU)
NOTE: The UMIK-1/2 are measurement microphones approved by Dirac Research. Knowing the major effect a wrong calibration/measurement would have on the final results of Dirac Live tuning, we strongly recommend that you select a UMIK-1/2 microphone together with your platform for a plug&play experience leading to best results. Any issues related to 3rd party microphones such as ASIO/USB audio driver incompatibility/Latency problems or incorrect calibration process will not be under our support structure by our support team.
SHD Series is ROON READY
The miniDSP SHD Series processors are certified Roon Ready players. This means that they are certified by Roon Labs to work seamlessly with the Roon software running on your PC, Mac, or Linux-based server! You can also use the Roon Remote for Android or iPhone/iPad for full remote control of your music playback with the miniDSP SHD Series.
Powered by Tidal Connect
Got a Tidal account and want to stream directly your favorite tracks from your PC/Phone/Tablet? Thanks to Tidal Connect support on the SHD Series, we provide a plug&play experience for high bitrate and full volume integration.
Powered by miniDSP's Device Console
Using the Surface Dial to control a miniDSP SHD Series processor
Got your own DAC and looking for an All Digital version of this product?
Check out the SHD Studio platform.
Verified Dealers
Online Dealers
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Authorized dealers for MiniDsp SHD
- Alta Fedelta — online and in-store — Lombardia, Italy (website)
- AUDIOPHONICS — in-store — Bordeaux, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France (website)
- CHT Solutions — online and in-store — Alexandria, New South Wales, Australia (website)
- Cross Spectrum Acoustics — in-store — East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, United States (website)
- Decibel HiFi — online and in-store — Esk, Queensland, Australia (website)
- Deer Creek Audio — online and in-store — Colorado, United States (website)
- Hembio Consult — in-store — Högsbo, Västra Götalands län, Sweden (website)
- Hey Now Hifi — online and in-store — St Kilda, Victoria, Australia (website)
- Igloo Audio — online and in-store — Royal Tunbridge Wells, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Kruunuradio — online and in-store — Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland (website)
and 5 more verified dealers