I’m relatively new to high-end audio. My system, running for a few months now in a small dedicated listening room, is:
Roon Nucleus One >USB>
McIntosh MDA200 >XLR>
McIntosh MA352 >
Focal Aria Evo No. 3 towers and JL Audio E110 sub
It sounds great, and since I can now hear nuances, I get quite annoyed when music that I really enjoy suffers from poor production. I’m interested in using DSP specifically to improve the sound of sub-par recordings. In an ideal world, I’d like to save a variety of EQ settings and then easily apply them only when needed. I tried using the DSP in Roon, but it doesn’t show up in the settings so I’m assuming that it doesn’t work with my equipment. I’ve been researching the MiniDSP SHD Studio and it seems to be a good choice because I can easily include or bypass the DSP. The inclusion of Dirac is a nice plus, although it’s a secondary consideration.
I would really appreciate any feedback on experiences with using the MiniDSP SHD Studio or a similar DSP with Roon. Specifically, how much of an improvement does it provide and is it worth the potential hassle of integrating another component into my stack (more as related to everyday operation; I’m not bothered about the setup). Any insights greatly appreciated!
You do not need external hardware for essentially applying tone controls to recordings/masterings that you think could sound better. You already can do this with Roon DSP aka MUSE, which works with all Roon hardware/software. You need to figure out that piece first before you explore any other external options.
Thanks for the feedback, AJ. I would love to avoid adding a standalone DSP. I did try using Roon DSP first, but the controls for it don’t show up no matter what I’ve done. It appears as if the issue is not the Roon hardware, but an inability to use Roon DSP with the MDA200. The procedure I followed (generated by ChatGPT) is provided below for reference. BTW, your feature suggestion is exactly what I’m looking for. Thanks again,
I’m going to also send a note to Roon tech support to see if the MDA200 is the issue so that I can focus on a proper path to resolution.
Procedure: Enable and Use Roon DSP with the McIntosh MDA200
Step 1: Verify Your Output Device in Roon
Open Roon on your PC.
Go to Settings > Audio.
Locate your MDA200 DAC under the “Connected to Core” section (if USB) or in the “Roon Ready” section (if networked).
Click the gear icon next to the MDA200 and select Device Setup.
Check if the DAC is set to bit-perfect mode:
If there is an option for Exclusive Mode or Bit-Perfect Mode, disable it.
If there is a setting for Max Sample Rate Conversion, set it to Enable (if necessary for DSP).
Step 2: Enable DSP Engine
Start playing any music in Roon through the MDA200.
Click on the speaker icon at the bottom right (Zone Selector).
Click the gear icon next to the MDA200 output and select DSP.
If the DSP screen opens, the engine is active. If not, check Device Setup again.
Step 3: Use Roon’s Parametric Equalizer (Example)
In the DSP Engine, find Parametric Equalizer and toggle it on.
Click Add Filter and select Peak/Dip, Low Shelf, or High Shelf to adjust specific frequencies.
Adjust Frequency (Hz), Gain (dB), and Q (bandwidth) based on your room’s acoustics or listening preference.
Click Save Preset to store your settings.
Step 4: Enable Headroom Management (Optional)
In the DSP Engine, enable Headroom Management.
Set -3 dB to prevent clipping if you boost frequencies in the EQ.
Step 5: Test Playback
Play a track in Roon and open the Signal Path (click the glowing dot near the track name).
Check that the DSP Engine is listed as active.
If the signal path shows Lossless (No DSP Applied), revisit Device Setup and disable bit-perfect settings.
Final Notes
If DSP is still unavailable, check if the MDA200 is in a bit-perfect mode that cannot be overridden. In this case, you may need to apply DSP before sending the signal to the DAC (e.g., through a Roon Bridge device or an intermediary).
If you prefer pure, unaltered audio, you may choose not to use DSP, especially if your room acoustics and speaker placement are optimal.
Would you like specific EQ recommendations based on your room or personal preferences?
One thought: Are you using a phone as your controller? If so, you won’t see the actual MUSE filters and be able to configure them, you’ll only have the ability to turn them on and off. If you’re using a tablet or computer you’ll see the detail on the filters when you’re in the MUSE section. These will exist regardless of what DAC you’re using.
I’d suggest you experiment with, say, HouseCurve as a way of exploring inexpensively some of the more “sophisticated” types of DSP. That doesn’t address your concern about specific tracks, but it is a high impact way of seeing what DSP can get you. And it’ll get you used to the MUSE section, so you’ll be used to playing with the area where you can find parametric EQ, etc. which is likely what you’re looking for.
This is all being done on a Windows PC. As far as ChatGPT, I provided it as an example of the several things I’ve tried. Since you all seem pretty sure that I’m missing something, I’ve provided the settings for the Nucleus One and MDA200 below. Click though I may, I don’t see any DSP controls. I would love to chalk this up to my ignorance and burgeoning senility, because then I’d have a simple solution
Johnny, re: Housecurve, I’d be happy to look at it, but I only have Android devices.
