Outboard DSP: miniDSP Flex HTx Audio Processor

Expanding on Voice Coil's series of explorations in the world of outboard DSP, this article reviews the Flex HTx, one of the most interesting rack units from Hong Kong-based miniDSP. The 8 in 8 out miniDSP SHARC chip-based HTx processor is primarily intended to support home theater applications and has both balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA inputs and outputs. It is a more cost-effective model than the previously featured DSP processors mentioned in this series, with a retail price of $570 for the TRS balanced IO model.

The fourth in a series of product reviews of outboard DSP hardware, this article explores the miniDSP Flex digital signal processing (DSP) unit. The Flex is a two channels in/four channels out, Sharc-based audio processor that offers a more cost-effective model than the previously featured miniDSP processors in the series, with a retail price of $570 for the TRS balanced IO model. Besides the competitive price, the review confirms how the miniDSP Flex manages to measure and impress.

The third of a series of product reviews of outboard DSP hardware, this article explores the MIR260A DSP processor from Marani Pro Audio. Supported with expert measurements performed by Charlene Chow on a flagship APx555B analyzer (courtesy of Audio Precision), Vance Dickason looks at this professional DSP processor with two inputs and six outputs, and a more cost-effective model from Marani.

In his exploration of available Outboard DSP systems, Vance Dickason explores the Marani Pro Audio MIR4801, the company's flagship DSP processor with four inputs and eight outputs. MIR stands for Marani Impulse Response, which refers to the proprietary Marani linear (zero) phase Linkwitz-Riley filter, which is described in a whitepaper titled by Michael Marani and Simone Castrucci, both from SEED Electronics, Guangzhou, China.

The first in a series of reviews of outboard DSP processors available in the market and of interest to loudspeaker engineers, this article explores an extremely versatile and powerful DSP audio processor and DAC, crossover, and control center for any audio system. The dspNexus comes with balanced inputs and outputs, USB, S/PDIF and Bluetooth aptX HD, and processing is handled by a latest-generation Analog Devices SHARC DSP, with Audio Weaver as the programming interface.

In this review of the GaN Systems amplifier evaluation kit, Stuart Yaniger shares his explorations of the features and benefits of GaN (gallium nitride) power semiconductors, and explains why the technology is not only enabling great sounding audio amplifiers but is also bound to completely disrupt the Class-D segment in high power ratings. This article was originally published in audioXpress, April 2022.

Linear Audio, the bookzine created in 2010 by Jan Didden, is now available on a USB with The Complete Linear Audio Library. We asked three Linear Audio and audioXpress authors - Gary Galo, Bob Cordell, and Dimitri Danyuk - to review it and share their thoughts. Important to know, the USB drive doesn't contain only the PDFs of published articles. It also ads additional articles by Jan Didden and others, together with materials of historical interest.

More than five years in development and after multiple iterations, Australian startup Nuheara achieved its goal with the Nuheara IQbuds2 MAX, a bridge toward truly smart hearables. This advanced design uses digital technology to bring hearing aid functionality into true wireless earbuds. audioXpress asked Brent Butterworth to try them and share his experience and evaluation. This article was originally published in audioXpress, July 2021.

In September 2020, British brand KEF updated its extremely popular LS50 speaker design and introduced the LS50 Meta, an improved version of the original LS50 passive design, now featuring a new Uni-Q driver that is coupled to an interesting new metamaterial absorber in the back. audioXpress requested a pair of the loudspeakers for review. Oliver Masciarotte did the listening, and Kent Peterson confirmed their impressions with extensive measurements. This article was originally published in audioXpress, June 2021.

After conducting a serious listening session of the KEF LS50 Meta with Oliver Masciarotte and Pete Quirsfeld, Kent Peterson took the speakers to Warkwyn to determine if their listening impressions could be confirmed with actual measurements. The KEF LS50 Meta was measured at Warkwyn’s facility using the Klippel Near-Field Scanning (NFS) system. This article was originally published in audioXpress, June 2021.