Another great review, Erin. Don't know where you find the time!
But thank you for taking the time and expense to check this out. It seems to be an amazing group of products, especially for the cost. And the support from Tony and company seem very promising!
I personally think it would be much better in a Home Audio Environment...I forsee too many UI/Control workarounds for "easy" or universal implementation in car audio, at least for most of the "tweakers" here, including myself, lol.
The Processing Power is simply amazing, but when you put something like this in a car, well it's really ALL ABOUT the UI, as you have discovered through all of your experimenting and gear swaps. I'm always the pessimist, sorry, lol. At least the PS solution is easy and inexpensive. I'm not writing these off just yet though.
So, will this setup replace your BitOne1 anytime soon?
From your included photos I'm assuming that you are using the ANALOG Output from your BitOne1. This is feeding the ANALOG Inputs of the MiniDSP board, and then Output a single Stereo channel Pair via ANALOG Out of the MiniDSP to the JL HD Amp's RCA Inputs?
And so far you've tested a single board connected to your system, not multiples, right? I realize that this is most likely for simplicity's sake in quickly evaluating the CAPABILITY of this unit, while at the same time utilizing your existing system (so you don't have to rewire everything). I would do the same fo sure!
So here are a few more Questions, not directed at you specifically, but just food for thought for the DIYMA community in general:
1. What happens when you want to take full advantage of this unit's power by using a Direct Digital Source to feed the inputs? For instance using the Logitech Squeezebox Touch which has Analog RCA, and S/PDIF via Optical Toslink, and Coaxial Digital Ouputs. Am I wrong in assuming that most of us here want to utilize a Digital Source? I mean it is 2010, not the 80's, no?
2. VOLUME CONTROL (when using a DIGITAL INPUT into the MiniDSP without a Computer attached for instantaneous volume control). Take your Head Unit and BitOne1 out of the equation for a moment. If you want to send the MiniDSP a DIGITAL S/PDIF or I2S signal (and it will accept both of these, correct?) how would you control volume? A pot or MVC before the amps, or is there a Digital VC available?
3. PRESETS. Would there be any way to implement a small/separate EPROM I/O board with remote hardwired buttons that would allow you to switch between your "saved" EQ/TA/XO group settings WITHOUT the need to have a computer attached? I'm sure we would all like to switch between several different settings such as, Driver Seat Only, Front (Both Front Seats), ALL SEATS, On-the-Highway Curve, Competition Curves, etc. Or just to easily compare different XO/EQ setups on the fly. Home users might want to switch between Classical, Movies, Rock, etc.
Control via BlueTooth al a the 360.2, or even WiFi would be ideal. But realistically, I don't see that happening. If so, an inexpensive NetBook or even an iPhone/iTouch/iPad app to control it would be awesome. I guess a NetBook or Tablet via USB would still be pretty slick, since these DSP boards are doing all of the resource-intensive processing on the board itself so they shouldn't be a CPU/resource hog. I guess some of this is dependent upon the software, but you haven't had any problems/hangups using your laptop since Tony made the software changes, right?
I'll be watching this one...
But thank you for taking the time and expense to check this out. It seems to be an amazing group of products, especially for the cost. And the support from Tony and company seem very promising!
I personally think it would be much better in a Home Audio Environment...I forsee too many UI/Control workarounds for "easy" or universal implementation in car audio, at least for most of the "tweakers" here, including myself, lol.
The Processing Power is simply amazing, but when you put something like this in a car, well it's really ALL ABOUT the UI, as you have discovered through all of your experimenting and gear swaps. I'm always the pessimist, sorry, lol. At least the PS solution is easy and inexpensive. I'm not writing these off just yet though.
So, will this setup replace your BitOne1 anytime soon?
From your included photos I'm assuming that you are using the ANALOG Output from your BitOne1. This is feeding the ANALOG Inputs of the MiniDSP board, and then Output a single Stereo channel Pair via ANALOG Out of the MiniDSP to the JL HD Amp's RCA Inputs?
And so far you've tested a single board connected to your system, not multiples, right? I realize that this is most likely for simplicity's sake in quickly evaluating the CAPABILITY of this unit, while at the same time utilizing your existing system (so you don't have to rewire everything). I would do the same fo sure!
So here are a few more Questions, not directed at you specifically, but just food for thought for the DIYMA community in general:
1. What happens when you want to take full advantage of this unit's power by using a Direct Digital Source to feed the inputs? For instance using the Logitech Squeezebox Touch which has Analog RCA, and S/PDIF via Optical Toslink, and Coaxial Digital Ouputs. Am I wrong in assuming that most of us here want to utilize a Digital Source? I mean it is 2010, not the 80's, no?
2. VOLUME CONTROL (when using a DIGITAL INPUT into the MiniDSP without a Computer attached for instantaneous volume control). Take your Head Unit and BitOne1 out of the equation for a moment. If you want to send the MiniDSP a DIGITAL S/PDIF or I2S signal (and it will accept both of these, correct?) how would you control volume? A pot or MVC before the amps, or is there a Digital VC available?
3. PRESETS. Would there be any way to implement a small/separate EPROM I/O board with remote hardwired buttons that would allow you to switch between your "saved" EQ/TA/XO group settings WITHOUT the need to have a computer attached? I'm sure we would all like to switch between several different settings such as, Driver Seat Only, Front (Both Front Seats), ALL SEATS, On-the-Highway Curve, Competition Curves, etc. Or just to easily compare different XO/EQ setups on the fly. Home users might want to switch between Classical, Movies, Rock, etc.
Control via BlueTooth al a the 360.2, or even WiFi would be ideal. But realistically, I don't see that happening. If so, an inexpensive NetBook or even an iPhone/iTouch/iPad app to control it would be awesome. I guess a NetBook or Tablet via USB would still be pretty slick, since these DSP boards are doing all of the resource-intensive processing on the board itself so they shouldn't be a CPU/resource hog. I guess some of this is dependent upon the software, but you haven't had any problems/hangups using your laptop since Tony made the software changes, right?
I'll be watching this one...