miniDSP SHD POWER: All-in-one device that includes a network streamer

SHD Power from miniDSP is an all-in-one device that includes a network streamer, DAC, DSP with volume control and a stereo amplifier with additional analog outputs for simultaneous connection of up to two active sub speakers.

In other words, SHD Power single-handedly performs all the functions of a complete and self-contained High-Fidelity chain. Simply connect the speakers and you have a compact, efficient and ready-to-use solution capable of playing high-definition digital audio files from SPDIF/AES/EBU source, USB audio source, USB media, local area storage device (NAS), web radio or online streaming platforms.

The device is equipped with a SHARC processor with Dirac Live and offers a very powerful acoustic correction solution to adapt to the characteristics of your listening room and compensate for any shortcomings that may detract from your experience. This function requires a UMIK measurement microphone, which is not included with SHD Power.

Powerful and easy-to-use, DIRAC Live offers a 10-band parametric EQ per channel, 48dB/octave crossover, compressor/limiter, and a 2×4 mixing matrix with self-calibration functionality using a UMIK measurement microphone (required for calibration and sold separately). This processor offers a complete and accessible workflow for measuring and correcting acoustic deficiencies in your listening room.

Two digital outputs on the AES/EBU connector allow the digital signal to be taken directly after the SHARC processor to be sent to a second external DA, greatly expanding the integration capabilities of the miniDSP SHD Power.

This is a bidirectional USB interface. It is therefore also possible to recover the digital signal processed and divided into up to 4 channels directly on the computer for periodic use during the acquisition process.

There is a second USB-A input on the connector panel. The latter acts as a USB host and can directly access audio files stored on USB drives or an external hard drive to connect storage devices on the fly.

SHD Power has an amplified analog output for direct connection of passive speakers. This output is powered by the TPA3255 Class D amplification IC and can drive up to 2x120W RMS into an 8/4 ohm load.

The integrated amplifier has a good signal-to-noise ratio of 110 dB (@ 1 kHz A-weighted, 120 W and 8Ω) with THD+N <0.03% (4 Ohms, f = 20 Hz-20 kHz, 60 mW-100 W) / <0.07% (8 ohms, f = 20 Hz-20 kHz, 60 mW-100 W) and crosstalk <-95 dB (1 kHz).

In addition to the Dirac Live interface accessible from your computer, the device comes pre-installed with Volumio. This software has all the tools to easily manage all the functions of the device’s network player thanks to the web interface accessible from the local network. For example, using the web interface, you can use your smartphone/tablet/computer to browse and select audio files contained on a USB storage device connected to the SHD Power, access audio files stored on a NAS, or access an online streaming service.

All analog outputs (amplified outputs to the speaker terminals and unamplified outputs to the RCA jack) are processed by a 32-bit PCM1795 D/A conversion chip. These outputs have excellent frequency response (10 Hz – 30 kHz +/- 0.2 dB), a very comfortable 120 dB signal-to-noise ratio with an extremely low THD+N of 0.0007%.

Non-amplified analog outputs typically allow up to two amplified home theater subwoofers to be easily connected to a system. It is of course possible to set up filtering/crossover specific to the unamplified outputs to match the signal to the specifications of your subwoofers and achieve the best possible setup with your speakers. Please note that while it is possible to use two subwoofers at the same time, this operation also means that the room correction configuration via DIRAC LIVE becomes more complex.

The USB-B connector is a high-definition USB-Audio Class 2 input used to connect the device to a digital source (Windows/MacOSX computer) for the purpose of using the SHD as an audio device directly controlled by the operating system. This input supports sampling rates up to 192 kHz with a depth of 32 bits.

The USB-B input also allows you to configure the SHARC processor via the Dirac Live interface from your computer.

Please note: your computer must have at least two USB ports to simultaneously connect the UMIK measurement microphone and the SHD Power. After this setup, the device can work independently and independently of the computer if you do not intend to use it as an audio device for your PC.

MiniDSP SHD POWER Features:

• Type: Power Amplifier/DSP/DAC/Streamer
• Amplification chip: TPA3255
• Amplification Power: 2x120W RMS (4/8Ω)
• THD+N of amplified output: 0.005% (f=100Hz, 1W-100W, RL=8Ω and RL=4Ω)/ 0.03% (f=20Hz-20kHz, 60mW-100W, RL=4 Ω)/ 0.07% (f = 20 Hz-20 kHz, 60 mW-100 W, RL=8 Ω)
• Amplified Output SNR: 110 dB (at 1 kHz A-weighted, 120 W, 8 ohm load)
• Amplified output frequency response: 10 Hz – 30 kHz +/- 0.5 dB
• Crosstalk: -95 dB (1 kHz
• DAC: PCM1795
• Maximum sampling rate: 192 kHz / 32 bit
• DSP board: SHARC 450MHz
• Software DSP: Dirac Live/Toolbox DSP control miniDSP
• DSP Tools: Volume/Parametric EQs/Crossovers/Matrix Mixer/Compressor/Limiter/Muter
• Digital inputs: 1x optical Toslink/1x coaxial SPDIF with isolation transformer/1x AES-EBU with isolation transformer
• Digital outputs: 2x AES-EBU with isolation transformer
• USB Audio: XMOS asynchrone bidirectionnelle /2 ch playback (PC to SHD) /4 ch post-processing (SHD to PC)
• USB support: Windows Driver ASIO/MacOSX (no driver)
• Unamplified Analog Outputs: RCA balanced stereo/120dB SNR/Output Level: 1.7V RMS
• Power: 100-240V AC (power cable included)