The What: miniDSP, a designer and manufacturer of digital signal processing platforms and solutions for a wide range of applications, announced the launch of immerGO object-based 3D audio.

The What Else: The server is a standard Mac or PC that runs a DAW (such as Reaper) and controls AVB devices on a plug & play AVB network. The client control is provided via a web interface on the server or a separate mobile device. immerGO enables a user to select sound channels, move these channels in 3D space, and to record these movements for later playback. An immerGo system can be used to localize sound sources in live shows, theater productions, and/or theme parks, amongst other environments. The location of sounds can be controlled as the show progresses, or soundscapes can be recorded and played back during a show.

The immerGo series includes: the miniDSP N-DAC8 8-channel digital to analog convertor; the miniDSP PWR-16 400-Watt ultra-compact, highly efficient audio power amplifier; the miniDSP SPK-4P PoE+ full range loudspeaker; and the miniDSP SPK-4 pocket-size full range loudspeaker (fitted with a 3.5-inch full range driver).

The Bottom Line: The product was received as an ideal solution for live events, theme parks, large and small AV installations, museums, art galleries, soundscapes, and many more immersive audio applications.

The What: miniDSP has launched the all-new Streaming HD (SHD) series stereo processor featuring Dirac Research's Dirac Live room correction platform.

The What Else: The Dirac Live-enabled miniDSP SHD series brings to market a stereo processor designed from the ground up to achieve the highest performance with the most flexibility. With its floating point processor, 32-bit converters, quad-core ARM streamer, multichannel USB audio, Volumio network audio support, and more, the SHD series delivers natural, realistic, and transparent sound to streaming audio.

The SHD series joins an extensive portfolio of Dirac Live-enabled miniDSP products that combine miniDSP’s expertise in digital signal processing with Dirac’s expertise in audio optimization and room correction.

“Few in the industry are as passionate about audio as those at miniDSP, which is why our years of extensive collaboration have yielded such astounding results,” said Niklas Thorin, Dirac’s GM of high performance. “The Streaming HD series is the ideal product to introduce Dirac Live to the streaming market, as it truly captures the full potential of our room correction capabilities. With this SHD series introduction, the bar has now been raised for high definition audio streaming.”

Dirac Live is a patented room correction solution that not only corrects the frequency response, but also the impulse response, of the loudspeakers in a room. The solution provides true impulse response correction over a large listening area, improving the depth, the positioning, and distinction of individual voices and instruments.

In an effort to satisfy the needs of all miniDSP customers, the company will release two versions of the SHD series: the SHD full rack-mount unit, an analog and digital All-In-One-Does-It-All unit, and the SHD Studio, a more compact, all-digital solution available at a lower cost and suited for those who already own a DAC. SHD Studio comes with all features of the full version, but without the analog component.

Both versions of the SHD series come equipped with an embedded Volumio network audio music player that allows for the streamed audio to be controlled via smartphone, tablet, or desktop-based app.

“Regardless of hardware design and sophistication, certain external variables are always going to negatively impact audio quality—that is unless you implement a digital room correction solution like Dirac Live,” said Antoine Rouget, CEO at miniDSP. “Dirac Live reduces these variables and equips our products with the degree of performance consistency necessary to satisfy the discerning ears of the miniDSP community. We’re excited to work yet again with Dirac to introduce its Dirac Live room correction solution to the streaming processor market.”

The Bottom Line: Using multiple measurement and mixed phase correction, Dirac Live helps audio systems to create a natural, realistic, and transparent sound with tighter bass and reduced room modes, in a way previously not possible.

The What: miniDSP, manufacturer of digital signal processing platforms and solutions for a wide range of applications, has released the WI-DG Wi-Fi/Ethernet to USB bridge, 2.4GHz router.

The What Else: Available WI-DG support for plugin control (with IP field) includes: DDRC-24/2x4HD, miniDSP 2x8/8x8/4x10/10x10, C-DSP 6x8, C-DSP 8x12, miniSharc series, OpenDRC series, DDRC-88A/D, and nanoAVR HD/HDA..

Available WI-DG Supported platforms for Alexa voice control include: DDRC-24/2x4HD, miniDSP 2x8/8x8/4x10/10x10, C-DSP 6x8, C-DSP 8x12, miniSharc series, OpenDRC series, DDRC-22 series, DDRC-88A/D, and nanoAVR HD/HDA.

“Our new WI-DG is pre-configured for plug and play discovery and control over IP networks,” said Tony Rouget, miniDSP CEO. “Thanks to this pocket-size router, you can retrofit your favorite miniDSP processor to be remotely controlled from our Android/IoS app or plugin interface. We are very excited by this little workhorse.”

The WI-DG also supports Amazon Alexa voice control via miniDSP’s free Amazon Skill, another way to easily control your DSP platform to recall a preset, set the volume, or mute your audio system.

“By joining an existing Wi-Fi network to easily integrate an existing setup, WI-DG acts like a Wi-Fi access point with its own Wifi SSID,” Rouget continued. “It also features a web-enabled GUI, allowing for self discovery of a miniDSP platform on a network.”

The Bottom Line: The WI-DG 2.4GHz router supports Amazon Alexa and is pre-configured for plug and play discovery and control over IP networks. Well suited for retrofits, the processor can be remotely controlled from miniDSP’s Android/iOS app or plugin interface.