miniDSP Home Theater Series User manual

miniDSP Ltd, Hong Kong / www.minidsp.com / Features and specifications subject to change without prior notice 1
Home Theater Series
NANOAVR DL
8-CHANNEL HDMI AUDIO PROCESSOR
WITH DIRAC LIVE®TECHNOLOGY
User Manual

miniDSP Ltd, Hong Kong / www.minidsp.com / Features and specifications subject to change without prior notice 2
Revision history
Revision
Description
Date
1.0
Initial public release
4 December 2014
1.1
Custom configuration, AVR configuration, smartphone app,
channel mode
19 May 2015
1.2
Updated firmware update procedure
20 May 2015
1.3
Updated for Mac version of software
11 July 2015
1.4
Updated Output & Levels tab
16 July 2015
1.5
Update for Dirac license removal
10 Sept 2015
1.6
Simplified activation procedure
17 October 2016
1.7
Updated installation procedure
20 October 2016
1.8
Added information about channel mode during calibration
12 December 2016

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Important Information .............................................................................................................................................. 5
System Requirements............................................................................................................................................ 5
Disclaimer/Warning............................................................................................................................................... 5
Warranty Terms..................................................................................................................................................... 5
FCC Class B Statement ........................................................................................................................................... 6
CE Mark Statement................................................................................................................................................ 6
What’s Included..................................................................................................................................................... 6
A Note on this Manual........................................................................................................................................... 6
1 Product Overview ............................................................................................................................................... 7
1.1 Typical system configuration..................................................................................................................... 7
1.2 How Dirac Live® works .............................................................................................................................. 8
1.3 Configuration overview ........................................................................................................................... 10
2 Hardware Connectivity ..................................................................................................................................... 11
2.1 HDMI input and output ........................................................................................................................... 11
2.2 Ethernet................................................................................................................................................... 11
2.3 DC Power ................................................................................................................................................. 12
2.4 USB .......................................................................................................................................................... 12
3 Software Installation......................................................................................................................................... 13
3.1 A note on Dirac Live license activation.................................................................................................... 13
3.2 Installation ― Windows .......................................................................................................................... 14
3.2.1 Possible Windows installation issues .............................................................................................. 14
3.2.2 nanoAVR DL Utility installation........................................................................................................ 14
3.2.3 Dirac Live Calibration Tools (DLCT) installation............................................................................... 14
3.3 Installation ― Mac OS X .......................................................................................................................... 15
3.3.1 Possible Mac installation issues....................................................................................................... 15
3.3.2 nanoAVR DL Utility installation........................................................................................................ 15
3.3.3 Dirac Live Calibration Tools (DLCT) installation............................................................................... 15
3.4 nanoAVR HD to nanoAVR DL upgrade..................................................................................................... 16
4 Acoustic Measurement..................................................................................................................................... 17
4.1 Loudspeaker and microphone positioning.............................................................................................. 17
4.2 Connections for acoustic measurement.................................................................................................. 18
4.3 A/V Receiver configuration...................................................................................................................... 19
4.3.1 Speaker distance (delay).................................................................................................................. 19
4.3.2 Level trims ....................................................................................................................................... 19
4.3.3 Bass management ........................................................................................................................... 19
4.3.4 Room correction.............................................................................................................................. 19
4.3.5 Channel count/down-mixing ........................................................................................................... 19
4.3.6 Other processing ............................................................................................................................. 19
4.4 Configuring for measurement ................................................................................................................. 20
4.4.1 Sound System tab ............................................................................................................................ 21
4.4.2 Mic Config tab.................................................................................................................................. 22

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4.4.3 Output & Levels tab......................................................................................................................... 23
4.4.4 Custom System configuration ......................................................................................................... 24
4.5 Running the measurements .................................................................................................................... 25
4.5.1 Listening environment..................................................................................................................... 26
4.5.2 Executing a measurement ............................................................................................................... 27
4.5.3 Completing the measurements ....................................................................................................... 28
4.5.4 Viewing and redoing measurements............................................................................................... 28
4.6 Saving and loading projects..................................................................................................................... 28
5 Filter Design ...................................................................................................................................................... 29
5.1 Linking and unlinking channels................................................................................................................ 30
5.2 Zooming in and out.................................................................................................................................. 31
5.3 Designing your target curve .................................................................................................................... 32
5.3.1 The Auto Target ............................................................................................................................... 32
5.3.2 Editing the target curve ................................................................................................................... 32
5.3.3 Changing the frequency range for correction ................................................................................. 32
5.3.4 Guidelines for target curve design .................................................................................................. 33
5.3.5 Saving and loading target curves..................................................................................................... 34
5.4 Generating correction filters ................................................................................................................... 35
5.5 Downloading and managing filter sets.................................................................................................... 36
6 Using the nanoAVR DL Processor...................................................................................................................... 37
6.1 Status indicators ...................................................................................................................................... 37
6.2 Front panel controls ................................................................................................................................ 37
6.3 Infrared remote control........................................................................................................................... 38
6.4 Smartphone control app.......................................................................................................................... 39
7 Additional Information...................................................................................................................................... 40
7.1 The NanoAVR DL Utility program ............................................................................................................ 40
7.2 Channel mode.......................................................................................................................................... 41
7.3 Specifications........................................................................................................................................... 42
7.4 Troubleshooting ...................................................................................................................................... 43
7.5 MCU Firmware update ............................................................................................................................ 45
7.5.1 Windows.......................................................................................................................................... 45
7.5.2 Mac OS X.......................................................................................................................................... 47
7.6 Obtaining Support ................................................................................................................................... 49

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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 your nanoAVR DL HDMI audio processor, you will require a Windows or Apple Mac computer with
the following minimum specification:
Windows
Intel Pentium III or later, AMD Athlon XP or later
2 Gigabytes (GB) of RAM or higher
Keyboard and mouse or compatible pointing device
Microsoft• ® Windows® Vista® SP1/Win7/Win8/Win10
Two free USB 2.0 ports
Mac OS X
Intel-based Mac with 1 GHz or higher processor clock speed
2 Gigabytes (GB) of RAM or higher
Keyboard and mouse or compatible pointing device
OS X 10.9 (Mavericks) to macOS 10.12 (Sierra)
Two free USB 2.0 ports
DISCLAIMER/WARNING
miniDSP cannot be held responsible for any damage that may result from the improper use or incorrect
configuration of this product. Please read this manual carefully to ensure that you fully understand how to
operate and use this product, as incorrect use or use beyond the parameters and ways recommended in this
manual have the potential to cause damage to your audio system.
Please also note that many of the questions we receive at the technical 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 documentation. And if an issue arises with
your unit, please read through the Troubleshooting section first. Thank you for your understanding!
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.

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FCC CLASS BSTATEMENT
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 nanoAVR DL has passed the test performed according to European Standard EN 55022 Class B.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
One nanoAVR DL HDMI audio processor
One universal 5 VDC power supply with interchangeable power pins
One USB cable for computer connectivity (1.5m)
One flat HDMI v1.4 cable (1.5m)
One full license for Dirac Live Calibration Tool for miniDSP
Note: your nanoAVR DL purchase does not include the required UMIK-1 USB measurement microphone. Please
add a UMIK-1 to your order if you do not already have one.
ANOTE 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.
For reading on the computer, we have included hyperlinked cross-references throughout the manual. In
addition, a table of contents is embedded in the PDF file. Use the View menu (Preview on Mac) or the
bookmarks sidebar (Adobe reader on Mac and Windows) to view this table of contents.

miniDSP Ltd, Hong Kong / www.minidsp.com / Features and specifications subject to change without prior notice 7
1PRODUCT OVERVIEW
Thank you for purchasing a nanoAVR DL HDMI audio processor powered by Dirac Live®, the world’s premier
room correction solution. We are delighted to offer you this software and hardware combination, the fruit of
extensive research and development and years of experience in sound system tuning.
The nanoAVR DL is a digital audio signal processor (DSP) running the Dirac Live® room correction algorithm. The
onboard floating-point SHARC processor provides time and frequency correction of eight HDMI (v1.4a) audio
channels received in linear PCM (LPCM) format. Two HDMI sources can be connected, and selected from the
front panel, by an infrared remote control (not included), or a smartphone control app. Video from the selected
input is switched directly to the output with no processing applied to the video signal.
Typically deployed in 5.1 or 7.1 home theater systems, the nanoAVR DL processor will:
Improve imaging and immersion
Improve clarity of music and dialog
Produce a tighter bass
Reduce listening fatigue
Remove resonances and room modes
Reduce early reflections
1.1 TYPICAL SYSTEM CONFIGURATION
In its most typical application, the nanoAVR DL connects between an HDMI source such as a Blu-ray player and
an A/V receiver. The nanoAVR DL implements the world-leading Dirac Live® room correction algorithm on all
audio channels, while passing video through from the selected HDMI input to the HDMI output. The second
HDMI input allows connection of another device such as a computer/HTPC or media streamer.

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Computer connectivity is used to perform acoustic measurements and generate digital room correction filters
for Dirac Live®. Up to four sets of correction filters can be stored on the NanoAVR DL processor and recalled
from the front panel, via an infrared remote, or with the miniDSP smartphone app. Once the processor is fully
configured, the computer is no longer needed.
1.2 HOW DIRAC LIVE®WORKS
The miniDSP nanoAVR DL HDMI audio processor includes Dirac Live®, a premium mixed-phase room correction
technology. This technology is used not only in home stereo and home theater systems but also in cinemas,
recording studios, and luxury cars.
As with any room correction system, Dirac Live® corrects the system’s magnitude response (often referred to
imprecisely as “frequency response”). In contrast to fully automated systems, Dirac Live® corrects the
magnitude response towards a user-adjustable target response. The target response takes account of the
natural frequency range of the loudspeaker system and the normal effects of loudspeaker dispersion on the
measured in-room magnitude response.
Illustration of Dirac Live® magnitude response correction
In addition, Dirac Live® corrects the system’s impulse response, which reflects how the system responds to a
sharp transient such as a drumbeat. Reflections, diffraction, resonances, misaligned drivers, and so on, all
combine to smear out the transient. An ideal loudspeaker has none of these, so correcting the impulse response
makes the speaker in the room behave much more like that ideal loudspeaker. The impulse response is a critical
factor for accurate sound-staging, clarity and bass reproduction. Dirac Live® employs a sophisticated analysis
algorithm to make the optimal correction across the whole listening area, not just at a single point.

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Illustration of Dirac Live® impulse response correction
Dirac Live® accomplishes this using mixed-phase filters –filters that match a desired magnitude response and
generate a customized impulse response. This contrasts with the minimum-phase and linear-phase filters that
are commonly used in audio applications. While minimum-phase and linear-phase filters are relatively easy to
design, they are tightly constrained in their impulse response characteristics –neither can make a desired
change to the magnitude response independently of controlling the impulse response. In some cases, they may
even make things worse.
Mixed-phase filters are more difficult to design, but the audible performance of Dirac Live® is due to its success
in using mixed-phase filters to make the system response across the whole listening area more closely resemble
that of an ideal speaker. The energy from the direct wave and from early reflections is optimally combined to
arrive as a single wavefront to the listener. Late reflections are left largely untouched, being corrected only for
their spectral coloration, as they contribute to a larger, more enveloping soundstage.

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1.3 CONFIGURATION OVERVIEW
The steps for configuring the nanoAVR DL HDMI audio processor with Dirac Live® to optimize your home theater
system is summarized as follows:
1. Connect the nanoAVR DL audio processor into your system and
install software. See Section 2, Hardware Connectivity and Section 3,
Software Installation.
2. Execute a series of acoustic measurements on your computer using
the Dirac Live Calibration Tool For miniDSP program, to capture
the acoustic behavior of your speakers and room. See Section 4,
Acoustic Measurement.
3. Generate the digital room correction filters that will be executed
by the processor. Up to four filter sets can be downloaded into the
processor for easy real-time recall and auditioning. See Section 5,
Filter Design.
4. Once the digital room correction filters are designed and
downloaded, the computer can be disconnected, as computer
connectivity is not required for normal listening and operation. See
Section 6, Using the nanoAVR DL Processor.