miniDSP HA-DSP User manual

 

miniDSPLtd,HongKong/www.minidsp.com/Featuresandspecificationssubjecttochangewithoutpriornotice 1


HA‐DSP
DSP‐ ENABLEDPORTABLEHEADPHONEAMPLIFIER 

UserManual

 

miniDSPLtd,HongKong/www.minidsp.com/Featuresandspecificationssubjecttochangewithoutpriornotice 2
Revisionhistory
RevisionDescriptionDate
V0.2 Preliminaryversion 12June2017
V0.3 Updatedforreleasedplugin 28June2017
 


 

miniDSPLtd,HongKong/www.minidsp.com/Featuresandspecificationssubjecttochangewithoutpriornotice 3
CONTENTS
ImportantInformation.....................................................................................................................................5
SystemRequirements............................................................................................................................................5
Disclaimer/Warning...............................................................................................................................................5
WarrantyTerms.....................................................................................................................................................6
FCCClassBStatement...........................................................................................................................................6
CEMarkStatement................................................................................................................................................6
Anoteonthismanual...........................................................................................................................................6
1ProductOverview......................................................................................................................................7
1.1 Typicalusageexample...............................................................................................................................7
2Quick‐startGuide.......................................................................................................................................8
3InstallingtheSoftware...............................................................................................................................9
3.1 Downloadingthesoftware........................................................................................................................9
3.2 InstallationonWindows..........................................................................................................................10
3.2.1 SpecialnoteforWindowsXPandVista...........................................................................................10
3.2.2 Plugininstallation............................................................................................................................10
3.2.3 USBdriverinstallation.....................................................................................................................10
3.2.4 Additionalinstallationnotes...........................................................................................................10
3.3 InstallationonMac..................................................................................................................................11
3.4 First‐timeconnection..............................................................................................................................12
4Connections.............................................................................................................................................13
4.1 Inputs.......................................................................................................................................................13
4.1.1 USB..................................................................................................................................................13
4.1.2 Digitaloptical...................................................................................................................................15
4.1.3 Analog..............................................................................................................................................16
4.2 Output.....................................................................................................................................................17
4.3 Turningtheamplifieronandoff.............................................................................................................17
4.4 Frontpanelpresetcontrolandledstatus...............................................................................................17
4.5 Chargingandpower................................................................................................................................19
4.5.1 Fast‐chargingtheHA‐DSP................................................................................................................19
4.5.2 Checkingbatterylevel/UpcomingFirmware.................................................................................19
5DSDPlaybackMode.................................................................................................................................20
5.1 WhatisDSD?...........................................................................................................................................20
5.2 HowdoIplayDSD?.................................................................................................................................20
5.3 WhyisaudioprocessingdisabledinDSDplaybackmode?.....................................................................20
5.4 WhatifIwanttokeeptheprocessingwhileplayingDSDfiles?.............................................................20
5.5 WhyisitimportantthatIknowthatprocessingisdisabledinDSDmode?...........................................20
6InputControls..........................................................................................................................................21
7LinkedMode............................................................................................................................................22
8BassandTrebleControls..........................................................................................................................22
9ParametricEQ(PEQ)................................................................................................................................23
9.1 Overview..................................................................................................................................................23

 

miniDSPLtd,HongKong/www.minidsp.com/Featuresandspecificationssubjecttochangewithoutpriornotice 4
9.2 Typesoffilter...........................................................................................................................................23
9.2.1 PEAK.................................................................................................................................................24
9.2.2 LOW_SHELFandHIGH_SHELF.........................................................................................................24
9.2.3 ALL_PASS.........................................................................................................................................24
10ConfigurationPresets..............................................................................................................................25
10.1 Savingandloadingpresets......................................................................................................................25
10.2 Restoringdefaults....................................................................................................................................26
10.3 Synchronizingoptions.............................................................................................................................26
11AvoidingClipping.....................................................................................................................................27
11.1 Asimpleexample....................................................................................................................................28
11.2 Amorerealisticexample.........................................................................................................................29
11.3 The“nogain”approach...........................................................................................................................30
12AdvancedTopics......................................................................................................................................31
12.1 PEQadvancedmode................................................................................................................................31
12.1.1 What’sa“biquad?...........................................................................................................................31
12.1.2 Advancedmodeforasinglefilter...................................................................................................31
12.1.3 ParametricEQfileimport(REWintegration)..................................................................................32
12.1.4 Biquaddesignsoftware...................................................................................................................32
12.2 FIRfilteringandrouting...........................................................................................................................33
12.2.1 FIRfilteringoverview.......................................................................................................................34
12.2.2 FIRfilterdesignsoftware.................................................................................................................34
12.2.3 Filterfileformat...............................................................................................................................34
12.2.4 Loadingfiltercoefficients................................................................................................................35
12.2.5 Routingsection................................................................................................................................35
13Specifications...........................................................................................................................................37
13.1 Firmwareupgrade...................................................................................................................................38
13.1.1 Windows..........................................................................................................................................38
13.1.2 MacOSX..........................................................................................................................................40


 

miniDSPLtd,HongKong/www.minidsp.com/Featuresandspecificationssubjecttochangewithoutpriornotice 5
IMPORTANTINFORMATION
Pleasereadthefollowinginformationbeforeuse.Incaseofanyquestions,pleasecontactminiDSPviathe
supportportalatminidsp.desk.com.
SYSTEMREQUIREMENTS
ToconfiguretheminiDSPaudioprocessor,youwillrequireaWindowsPCorAppleMacOSXcomputerwith
thefollowingminimumspecification:
Windows
 PCwith1GHzorhigherprocessorclockspeed.Intel®Pentium®/Celeron®family,orAMDK6®/AMD
Athlon®/AMDDuron®family,orcompatibleprocessorrecommended.
 512megabytes(MB)ofRAMorhigher
 Keyboardandmouseorcompatiblepointingdevice
 USB2.0port
 Microsoft•®Windows®Vista®SP1/XPproSP2/Win7/Win8.1/Win10
 Microsoft•®.NETframeworkv3.5orlater
 AdobeAIRenvironment(latestversion)
 AdobeFlashplayer(latestversion)
MacOSX
 Intel‐basedMacwith1GHzorhigherprocessorclockspeed
 512megabytes(MB)ofRAMorhigher
 Keyboardandmouseorcompatiblepointingdevice
 USB2.0port
 MacOSX10.8orhigher
 AdobeAIRenvironment(latestversion)
 AdobeFlashplayer(latestversion) 
DISCLAIMER/WARNING
miniDSPcannotbeheldresponsibleforanydamagethatmayresultfromtheimproperuseofthisproduct
orincorrectconfigurationofitssettings.Aswithanyotherproduct,werecommendthatyoucarefullyread
thismanualandothertechnicalnotestoensurethatyoufullyunderstandhowtooperatethisproduct.The
miniDSPaudioprocessorisapowerfultool,andmisuseormisconfiguration,suchasincorrectlysetgainsor
excessiveboost,canproducesignalsthatmaydamageyouraudiosystem.
Asageneralguideline,youshouldperformtheinitialconfigurationoftheminiDSPaudioprocessorbefore
enablingaudiothroughanyconnectedoutputdeviceoramplification.Doingsowillhelpensurethatthe
softwareiscorrectlyconfigured.
Finally,notethattheminiDSPaudioprocessorisaveryflexibledevice,andmanyofthequestionswereceive
atthetechsupportdepartmentarealreadyansweredinthisusermanualandintheonlineapplicationnotes
ontheminiDSP.comwebsite.Sopleasetakethetimetocarefullyreadthisusermanualandtheonline
technicalsupport.Thanksforyourunderstanding!

 

miniDSPLtd,HongKong/www.minidsp.com/Featuresandspecificationssubjecttochangewithoutpriornotice 6
WARRANTYTERMS
miniDSPLtdwarrantsthisproducttobefreefromdefectsinmaterialsandworkmanshipforaperiodofone
yearfromtheinvoicedate.Ourwarrantydoesnotcoverfailureoftheproductduetoincorrectconnection
orinstallation,improperorundocumenteduse,unauthorizedservicing,modificationoralterationoftheunit
inanyway,oranyusageoutsideofthatrecommendedinthismanual.Ifindoubt,contactminiDSPpriorto
use.
FCCCLASSBSTATEMENT
ThisdevicecomplieswithPart15oftheFCCRules.Operationissubjecttothefollowingtwoconditions:
 Thisdevicemaynotcauseharmfulinterference.
 Thisdevicemustacceptanyinterferencereceived,includinginterferencethatmaycauseundesired
operation.
Warning:ThisequipmenthasbeentestedandfoundtocomplywiththelimitsforaClassBdigitaldevice,
pursuanttoPart15oftheFCCRules.Theselimitsaredesignedtoprovidereasonableprotection.This
equipmentgenerates,usesandcanradiateradiofrequencyenergyand,ifnotinstalledandusedin
accordancewiththeinstructions,maycauseinterferencetoradiocommunications.However,thereisno
guaranteethatinterferencewillnotoccurinaparticularinstallation.Ifthisequipmentdoescauseharmful
interferencetoradioortelevisionreception,whichcanbedeterminedbyturningtheequipmentoffandon,
theuserisencouragedtotrytocorrecttheinterferencebyoneormoreofthefollowingmeasures:
 Reorientorrelocatethereceivingantenna.
 Increasetheseparationbetweentheequipmentandreceiver.
 Connecttheequipmentintoanoutletonacircuitdifferentfromthattowhichthereceiverisconnected.
 Consultthedealeroranexperiencedradio/TVtechnicianforhelp.
Notice:Shieldedinterfacecablemustbeusedinordertocomplywithemissionlimits.
Notice:Changesormodificationnotexpresslyapprovedbythepartyresponsibleforcompliancecouldvoid
theuser’sauthoritytooperatetheequipment.
CEMARKSTATEMENT
TheHA‐DSPhaspassedthetestperformedaccordingtoEuropeanStandardEN55022ClassB.
ANOTEONTHISMANUAL
ThisUserManualisdesignedforreadinginbothprintandonthecomputer.Ifprintingthemanual,please
printdouble‐sided.Theembeddedpagesizeis8½”x11”.PrintingonA4paperwillresultinaslightly
reducedsize.


 

miniDSPLtd,HongKong/www.minidsp.com/Featuresandspecificationssubjecttochangewithoutpriornotice 7
1 PRODUCTOVERVIEW
ThankyouforchoosingtheminiDSPHA‐DSPDSP‐enabledportableheadphoneamplifier.TheHA‐DSPisa:
 DSPprocessor.TheHA‐DSPincorporatesapowerfulsetoffeaturesrangingfromgain,bass,and
treblecontrols,through10‐bandparametricEQoneachchannel,toapowerfulcross‐feedFIR(finite
impulseresponse)filterarrayforadvancedheadphoneequalizationandcross‐feedprocessing.
 DAC.Thedigitalaudiodataisfedtoa32‐bitESSSabreDAC.TheUSBinputalsosupportsdirectDSD
playback,whereDSDaudio(DoP)isfeddirectlytotheDACchip.(DSPprocessingisdisabledwhile
playingDSD.)
 Headphoneamplifier.ATexasInstrumentsTPA6120providesupto100mWineachchannelinto32
ohmswithverylowdistortionandasignal‐to‐noiseratioof112dB.
FourDSPprocessingconfigurationsarestoredon‐boardandcanbeselectedusingthebuttononthefront
panel.TheHA‐DSPfeaturesthreeinputs–USB,digitaloptical,andanalog–allowingittobeusedwith
almostanyportabledevice.
1.1 TYPICALUSAGEEXAMPLE
TheHA‐DSPhasanumberofuses.Thisdiagramillustratesonetypicalusagemode.

 

miniDSPLtd,HongKong/www.minidsp.com/Featuresandspecificationssubjecttochangewithoutpriornotice 8
2 QUICK‐STARTGUIDE
WhilewedorecommendthatyouinstalltheminiDSPsoftwareonyourcomputerandfamiliarizeyourself
withthepowerfulfeaturesofthepluginsoonerratherthanlater,youcansimplyplayaudiothroughyour
HA‐DSPwhenyoureceiveit.
1. Checkthattherearpanelswitchissettoposition2.
2. Connectanaudiosourcetotheanaloginput.(Ifconnectingtothedigitalopticalinputortothemicro‐
USBport,seeSection4.)
3. Connectyourheadphonestotheheadphoneoutput.
4. TurnontheHA‐DSPwiththemainknob.Leavethevolumeknobatalowlevelatthispoint.
5. WaituntiloneoftheLEDsonthefrontpaneloftheHA‐DSPturnon.Startplayingaudiofromyour
source.
6. Graduallyturnupthevolumeknob.




 

miniDSPLtd,HongKong/www.minidsp.com/Featuresandspecificationssubjecttochangewithoutpriornotice 9
3 INSTALLINGTHESOFTWARE
ForfullcontroloveryourHA‐DSP,youwillneedtoinstallsoftwareasfollows:
Windows
 TheHA‐DSPpluginsoftwarethatrunsonyourcomputer.
 TheASIOdriverneededtostreamaudio.
Seepage10forWindowsinstallation.
Mac
 TheHA‐DSPpluginsoftwarethatrunsonyourcomputer.
Seepage11forMacinstallation.
3.1 DOWNLOADINGTHESOFTWARE
IfyoupurchasedyourproductdirectlyfromminiDSP,yoursoftwarewillbeavailablefromtheUser
DownloadsareaoftheminiDSPwebsitewhenyourorderships.
IfyoupurchasedyourproductfromaminiDSPdealer,youwillreceiveacoupontogetherwiththeproduct.
RedeemthiscouponandselectthePluginGroup“HA‐DSP”atthelinkbelow:
 https://www.minidsp.com/support/redeem‐coupon

Toaccessthedownload,youwillneedtobeloggedintotheminiDSP.comwebsitewiththeaccountyou
createdwhenpurchasing.TheUserDownloadslinkisvisiblefromthedropdownmenuatthetoprightofthe
websitepage:

NavigatetotheHA‐DSPplug‐inssectionanddownloadthezipfileundertheheadingHA‐DSP.

 

miniDSPLtd,HongKong/www.minidsp.com/Featuresandspecificationssubjecttochangewithoutpriornotice  10
3.2 INSTALLATIONONWINDOWS
TheminiDSPsoftwareinstallerwillautomaticallydownloadandinstalladditionalsoftwarethatitrequires.
YoumustthereforebeconnectedtotheInternetwhenyouruntheinstaller.
3.2.1 SpecialnoteforWindowsXPandVista
ForWindowsXPandVista,downloadandinstallthefollowingframeworksfirst.
 Microsoft.NETframework(version3.5orlater)
 LatestversionofAdobeAir
 MicrosoftVisualC++2010RedistributablePackage:forx86(32‐bitoperatingsystem)orx64(64‐bit
operatingsystem)
WindowsXPandVistaalsouseadifferentversionoftheUSBdriver.Followtheinstructionsbelow.
3.2.2 Plugininstallation
Toinstalltheplugin:
1. Unzipthedownloadedsoftware:right‐clickonitsiconandselect“ExtractAll…”.
2. NavigatetotheWindowsfolderoftheunzippeddownload.
3. Double‐clickontheHA‐DSP.exeinstallerprogramtorunit.Werecommendthatyouacceptthedefault
installationsettings.
4. Thepluginwillstartautomatically(ifyouacceptedthedefaultinstallationsettings).Tomakeitquicker
toruninfuture,right‐clickonitsiconinthetaskbarandselect“Pintotaskbar.”
3.2.3 USBdriverinstallation
TheUSBdriverisrequiredfortheplugintocommunicatewiththeHA‐DSP.Itisalsorequiredforfullaudio
streamingfunctionality.
1. NavigatetotheWinDriversfolderofthesoftwaredownloadanddouble‐clickontheappropriate
installer(note:theversionnumberembeddedinthefilenamemaybedifferent):
 miniDSP_UAC2_v2.29.0_ForWinXP_Vista.exeforWindowsXPandVista
 miniDSP_UAC2_v4.11.0_2017‐06‐19_setup.exeforWindows7,8,and10
1. Werecommendacceptingthedefaultinstallationlocation.Oncethedriverinstallationcompletes,click
theFinishbutton.
2. Tocompleteinstallationofthedriver,theHA‐DSPwillneedtobeconnectedandturnedon.Youcando
thisnow,orconnecttheHA‐DSPlaterandturnitontoallowWindowstofinishtheinstallation.
3.2.4 Additionalinstallationnotes
Note1:TheAdobeAirframeworkmayneedtoconnecttotheInternetthefirsttimeyouruntheplugin.It’s
stronglyrecommendedthatyouareconnectedtotheInternetthefirsttimeyoustarttheplugin.
Note2:Thefirsttimeyouruntheplugin,youmayseeawarningfromWindowsFirewallaskingwhetherthe
softwareshouldbeallowednetworkaccess.Ifyoudo,ensurethat“Privatenetworks...”ischeckedand
“Publicnetworks...”isnotchecked.Thenclickon“Allowaccess.”

 

miniDSPLtd,HongKong/www.minidsp.com/Featuresandspecificationssubjecttochangewithoutpriornotice  11
3.3 INSTALLATIONONMAC
Toinstalltheplugin:
1. Unzipthedownloadedsoftwarebydouble‐clickingonthezipfile.
2. NavigatetotheMacfolderoftheunzippedsoftwaredownload.
3. TheinstallerprogramisnamedHA‐DSP.pkg.Torunit,double‐clickonit,orright‐clickandopenas
describedbelow.Werecommendthatyouacceptthedefaultinstallationsettings.
4. Toruntheplugin,locateHA‐DSP.appintheApplications‐>miniDSPfolderanddouble‐clickonit.To
makeiteasiertoruninfuture,right‐clickonitsdockiconandselectOptions‐>KeepinDock.

Note1:Ifdouble‐clickingonaninstallerbringsupamessagethattheinstallercannotrun,usethisalternate
method(notethatthenameofthepluginwillbeHA‐DSP.pkg,notMiniDSP_Plugin.pkgasshowninthe
screenshots):
1. Right‐clickontheinstaller(orclickwhilepressingtheControlkey).
2. Onthemenuthatpopsup,movethemouseoverthe“OpenWith”itemandthenclickon“Installer
(default).”

3. Thefollowingwindowwillappear.Clickon“Open.”

Note2:TheAdobeAirframeworkmayneedtoconnecttotheInternetthefirsttimeyouruntheplugin.It’s
stronglyrecommendedthatyouareconnectedtotheInternetthefirsttimeyoustarttheplugin.


 

miniDSPLtd,HongKong/www.minidsp.com/Featuresandspecificationssubjecttochangewithoutpriornotice  12
3.4 FIRST‐TIMECONNECTION
Whenyoustarttheplugin,theuserinterfacescreenappearsasshownbelow:

ToconnecttotheHA‐DSP:
1. ConnectthesuppliedUSBcablefromyourcomputertothemicro‐USBportontheHA‐DSP.
2. TurnontheHA‐DSPwiththevolumeknob.Don’tconnectyourheadphonesyet.
3. ClickontheConnectbuttonatthetoprightofthewindow.Thefirsttimethefollowingdialogpopsup,
clickon“RestoreConfig”.ThisensuresthatboththeuserinterfaceandtheHA‐DSPareresetto
defaults.

4. TheConnectbuttonwillchangetoshow“Connected”.Atthispoint,thepluginisinonlinemode.Thisis
alsocalled“synchronized”–anychangesthatyoumakeintheuserinterfacewilltakeeffect
immediately.

 

miniDSPLtd,HongKong/www.minidsp.com/Featuresandspecificationssubjecttochangewithoutpriornotice  13
4 CONNECTIONS
4.1 INPUTS
TheHA‐DSPacceptsinputoverUSB,analog,oropticaldigital.Fornormaloperation,therearpanelswitch
shouldbeleftinposition2.
4.1.1 USB
4.1.1.1 Computer
USBconnectionfromacomputerisusedforbothconfiguringthepluginwiththepluginGUI,andfor
streamingaudio.UsethesuppliedUSBcabletoconnectfromaUSBport(mustbeUSB2.0compatible)on
thecomputertothemicroUSBconnectorontheHA‐DSP.

Forinformationonconfiguringwiththeplugin,seelatersectionsofthismanual.


 

miniDSPLtd,HongKong/www.minidsp.com/Featuresandspecificationssubjecttochangewithoutpriornotice  14
4.1.1.2 Android
ToconnectanAndroiddevicetoUSB,usethe
suppliedOTG(“onthego”)cabletoconnectfrom
yourAndroiddevice’smicroUSBporttothemicro
USBportontheHA‐DSP.
YourAndroiddevicemustsupporttheUSBOTG
standardtoplayaudiototheHA‐DSPoverUSB.
Checkthespecificationsofyourdeviceand/orits
usermanual.(IfyourdevicedoesnotsupportOTG,
thenyoucanstillplayaudiothroughtheHA‐DSP
usingtheanaloginput.)






4.1.1.3 IOS(Apple)
ToconnectaniOSdevice(iPhoneoriPad)totheHA‐
DSPviaUSB,usetheAppleCameraConnectionKit
(CCK)andthesuppliedUSBtypeAtomicroUSB
cable.

 

miniDSPLtd,HongKong/www.minidsp.com/Featuresandspecificationssubjecttochangewithoutpriornotice  15
4.1.2 Digitaloptical
Toconnectadigitalsource,pluga3.5mmopticalconnectorintotheinputjack.TheHA‐DSPwill
automaticallydetecttheopticalinputandswitchtoit.USBAudiowillbedisabled.Youcanuse:
 ThesuppliedTOSLINKtomini‐TOSLINKadapterwitharegularTOSLINKcable,or
 Acablethathasamini‐TOSLINKontheend.
Thisdiagramshowstwotypicalconnectionexamples:


 

miniDSPLtd,HongKong/www.minidsp.com/Featuresandspecificationssubjecttochangewithoutpriornotice  16
4.1.3 Analog
Toconnectananalogsource,pluga3.5mmstereoplugintotheinputjack.TheHA‐DSPwillautomatically
detecttheanaloginputandswitchtoit.USBAudiowillbedisabled.Youcanuse:
 Thesupplied3.5mmto3.5mmcable.Thisshortcableisperfectforconnectingtoaphone.
 Anyotherstereocablewitha3.5mmstereoconnector.Forexample,insomecases,thesourcemayhave
RCAjacks.Inthatcase,useanRCAto3.5mmadaptercable.
Thisdiagramshowstwotypicalconnectionexamples:

 

miniDSPLtd,HongKong/www.minidsp.com/Featuresandspecificationssubjecttochangewithoutpriornotice  17
4.2 OUTPUT
Toconnectheadphones,earbuds,orin‐earmonitors(IEMs),simplyplugthemintothe3.5mmjackonthe
frontpanel.

Ifyourheadphoneshavea6.35mm(1/4‐inch)plug,youwillneedtouseanadapterplugorpigtail.

Turnthevolumeknobtothelowestposition(withoutnecessarilyturningofftheamplifier)when
insertingtheheadphoneplug.
4.3 TURNINGTHEAMPLIFIERONANDOFF
Toturntheamplifieron,rotatetheknobclockwise.TheDSPwilltakeafewsecondstoinitialize,afterwhich
oneoftheLEDs(numbered1to4)correspondingtotheselectedDSPpresetwillturnon.
Toturntheamplifieroff,rotatetheknobcounterclockwiseuntilitclicksandtheLEDsareallout.

4.4 FRONTPANELPRESETCONTROLANDLEDSTATUS
TheHA‐DSPisfittedwithafrontpanelmomentaryswitchtocontroltheactiveDSPpreset.InternalFlash
memorywillstoreupto4xDSPpresetbanks.

 

miniDSPLtd,HongKong/www.minidsp.com/Featuresandspecificationssubjecttochangewithoutpriornotice  18
.
Tochangetoanewpreset:
‐ Performashortpresstotoggletothenewpresetbank
‐ Performalongpress(2sec)toconfirmtheselection.Ifaconfirmationisn’tperformed,theLEDwill
reverttothecurrentlyloadedpreset.

LEDStatusandtheirmeanings:
‐ LED1:Preset1selected
‐ LED2:Preset2selected
‐ LED3:Preset3selected
‐ LED4:Preset4selected
‐ LED1&4:BypassDSP
‐ LED2&3:DSDmode(automaticallyselectedwhenplayingDSDfile)


 

miniDSPLtd,HongKong/www.minidsp.com/Featuresandspecificationssubjecttochangewithoutpriornotice  19
4.5 CHARGINGANDPOWER
4.5.1 Fast‐chargingtheHA‐DSP
USBportssupplyonlylimitedcurrent.Therefore,whileconnectedtoadevicesuchasacomputer,theHA‐
DSPwillonlytrickle‐charge.Ifitisinuseatthesametimetoplayaudio,itmayevencontinuetodrainthe
battery.
TochargetheHA‐DSPmorequickly,connectittothededicated2AUSBchargerprovidedalongtheHA‐DSP.
AUSBhubwithatleast2Acapacitycanbeusedtoplayaudioatthesametimeasfastcharging.


4.5.2 Checkingbatterylevel/UpcomingFirmware.
1. Turntheampoff(ifitisnotalready)
2. Pressandholdthecontrolbutton.
3. Afterasecondortwo,between1and4oftheLEDswilllightup.1LEDmeansthebatteryisverylow,
while4LEDsmeansthatthebatteryisfullycharged.
4. Turntheamplifierbackonifrequired.

 

miniDSPLtd,HongKong/www.minidsp.com/Featuresandspecificationssubjecttochangewithoutpriornotice  20
5 DSDPLAYBACKMODE
TheHA‐DSPdetectsDSD(DirectStreamDigital)audiosenttoitovertheUSBconnectionandswitchesto
playitautomatically.WheninDSDplaybackmode,allaudioprocessingexceptforinputselectionandfinal
stagevolumeisdisabled.
5.1 WHATISDSD?
DSDisarelativelyrecentaudioformat.ItistheforminwhichdataisstoredinSACDs.(RegularCDs,in
contrast,storedatainPCM‐pulsecodemodulation‐format.)
DSDaudiowillbecontainedinfilesendinginthesuffix“.dsf”or“.dff”.YouwillbeplayingDSDonlyifyou
havepurposelydownloadedDSDfilesanduseaDSD‐capableaudioplayertoplaythem.Regularaudiofrom
yourcomputerwillalwaysbeinPCMformat.CommonaudioformatsuchasFLAC,WAV,ALAC,AIFF,and
MP3areallPCMformat.
5.2 HOWDOIPLAYDSD?
ByusingaDSD‐capableaudioplayer.Thesedays,mostaudiophile‐levelmusicplayersareDSD‐aware.
Typically,youwillneedtotelltheplayer(e.g.inthePreferencessettings)thattheHA‐DSPcanplayDSD
usingDSD‐over‐PCM(DoP).
5.3 WHYISAUDIOPROCESSINGDISABLEDINDSDPLAYBACKMODE?
TheDSDformatisnotconducivetoaudioprocessing.WhentheHA‐DSPdetectsDSDaudio,itsimply
bypassesthedigitalsignalprocessing(DSP)chipandsendstheDSDdatadirectlytotheDACchip.
5.4 WHATIFIWANTTOKEEPTHEPROCESSINGWHILEPLAYINGDSDFILES?
YouwillneedtotelltheplayertoconverttheDSDtoPCMbeforesendingittotheHA‐DSP.Someplayerswill
dothisautomaticallyifyouhavenottoldittosendDSDtotheHA‐DSP;othersmayneedaspecificsettingto
converttoPCM.
5.5 WHYISITIMPORTANTTHATIKNOWTHATPROCESSINGISDISABLEDINDSDMODE?
AnyEQorcross‐feedthatyouhavesetupintheHA‐DSPwillnolongerfunction.Inaddition,thegainsettings
intheinputsectionwill(ineffect)besetto0dB.Ifyouhaveappliedalotofattenuationhere,youwillgeta
jumpinvolumewhenyouswitchfromplayingaPCMfiletoplayingaDSDfile.Usually,thisisnotaproblem
astheinputattenuatorsarenotsetveryfarbelowzero.Youjustneedtobeawarethatthevolumecould
change.

InDSDplaybackmode,allaudioprocessingisdisabled.Thismayresultinasuddenchangein
volume.

