miniDSP SPK-4P, SPK-4 User Manual
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SPK-4P
COMPACT DSP-ENABLED IP SPEAKER
SPK-4
AUXILIARY PASSIVE SPEAKER
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
First released version
4th June 2019
1.1
Updated for configurations/presets, added panel diagram
17th June 2019
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Important Information ...............................................................................................................................................5
1 Product Overview ................................................................................................................................................7
1.1 Typical application ......................................................................................................................................7
1.2 About AVB ..................................................................................................................................................8
2 Hardware Connectivity ........................................................................................................................................9
3 AVB Configuration – Mac OS X ......................................................................................................................... 10
3.1 Enabling AVB speaker .............................................................................................................................. 10
3.2 Configuring multiple SPK-4P .................................................................................................................... 11
4 Software installation ......................................................................................................................................... 14
4.1 Mac .......................................................................................................................................................... 15
4.2 Possible Mac installation issues .............................................................................................................. 15
4.3 2x4 HD plugin installation ........................................................................................................................ 15
5 Configuring the SPK-4P ..................................................................................................................................... 16
5.1 Signal flow and processing overview ....................................................................................................... 16
5.2 Synchronizing with the SPK-4P ................................................................................................................ 17
5.3 Key features ............................................................................................................................................. 18
5.3.1 Master control ................................................................................................................................. 18
5.3.2 Configuration/preset selection........................................................................................................ 18
5.3.3 Saving and loading configurations ................................................................................................... 18
5.3.4 Restoring to defaults ....................................................................................................................... 19
5.3.5 Local configuration storage ............................................................................................................. 19
5.3.6 Input selection ................................................................................................................................. 19
5.4 Input channel strips ................................................................................................................................. 20
5.5 Routing .................................................................................................................................................... 21
5.6 Output tab ............................................................................................................................................... 22
5.6.1 Channel strip layout ......................................................................................................................... 22
5.6.2 Channel label ................................................................................................................................... 22
5.6.3 Level meter and gain control ........................................................................................................... 22
5.6.4 Parametric EQ .................................................................................................................................. 23
5.6.5 Crossover ......................................................................................................................................... 25
5.6.6 Compressor ...................................................................................................................................... 27
5.6.7 FIR .................................................................................................................................................... 28
5.6.8 Invert and mute ............................................................................................................................... 28
5.6.9 Time delay ....................................................................................................................................... 28
5.7 Custom biquad programming .................................................................................................................. 29
5.7.1 What’s a “biquad? ........................................................................................................................... 29
5.7.2 Using custom biquad programming ................................................................................................ 29
5.7.3 Biquad design software ................................................................................................................... 31
5.8 FIR filtering and design ............................................................................................................................ 32
5.8.1 FIR filtering overview ....................................................................................................................... 33
5.8.2 FIR filter design software ................................................................................................................. 33
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5.8.3 Filter file format ............................................................................................................................... 33
5.8.4 Loading filter coefficients ................................................................................................................ 34
5.9 Keyboard shortcuts ................................................................................................................................. 34
6 Additional information ...................................................................................................................................... 35
6.1 Specifications ........................................................................................................................................... 35
6.2 Obtaining support .................................................................................................................................... 35
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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 – Windows
Use of the SPK-4P is currently not supported on Windows.
System Requirements – Mac OS X
• Intel-based Mac with 1 GHz or higher processor clock speed
• 512 megabytes (MB) of RAM or higher recommended
• OS X 10.9 or higher, macOS 10.12 or higher
• Ethernet network connection
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. 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.
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
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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 SPK-4P 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.
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. Displaying this table of contents will make navigation
much easier:
• In Adobe Reader on Windows, click on the “bookmarks” icon at the left. The table of contents will appear on
the left and can be unfolded at each level by clicking on the “+” icons.
• In Preview on the Mac, click on the View menu and select Table of Contents. The table of contents will
appear on the left and can be unfolded at each level by clicking on the triangle icons.
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1 PRODUCT OVERVIEW
Thank you for purchasing the miniDSP SPK-4P DSP-enabled IP speaker and the auxiliary SPK-4 speaker for your
installation. The SPK-4P is a PoE+ full-range loudspeaker combining network audio streaming, Class D
amplification and a powerful Digital Signal Processor (DSP). A single CAT5/6 network cable provides power, low
latency audio and control.
Each SPK-4P provides two channels of power amplification, one for the internal driver and one for a connected
SPK-4 auxiliary speaker module.
1.1 TYPICAL APPLICATION
The Ethernet port of the SPK-4P connects to any AVB-enabled Ethernet switch. Use of AVB allows for flexible
distributed audio applications in any setting. Each powered speaker can be provided with power either from a
12V DC supply or via Power-over-Ethernet.
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1.2 ABOUT AVB
AVB defines a group of network protocols for the distribution of time-synchronized and low-latency audio &
video streams over IEEE802 networks. By leveraging a combination of existing 802 network technologies along
with standards specifically designed for the purpose, AVB technology lays the groundwork for unparalleled
guaranteed media streaming over Ethernet networks. The overall concept of AVB is actually rather simple. In
brief, the three core protocols specify:
1. Timing and synchronization
2. Bandwidth allocation through the Stream Reservation Protocol (SRP)
3. Traffic shaping to ensure that low priority Ethernet traffic does not interfere with AVB traffic.
Engineered from the ground up for media streaming applications, AVB has a definitive edge over legacy Ethernet
technology in the sense that it allows bandwidth allocation and priority rules based on timing. Unlike similar
audio over IP (AOIP) technology, AVB will dynamically assign and defend bandwidth allocation for AVB
streaming, thanks to the Stream Reservation Protocol (SRP).
These are the key terms used for AVB streaming:
Audio Video Bridging (AVB)
General descriptive for a group of protocols providing audio/ video streaming, timing,
synchronization, Quality of service (QoS), control and discovery.
AVB Endpoint
A device capable of transmitting and/ or receiving audio streams using the P1722/P1733
transport protocol.
Talker
An AVB endpoint transmitting audio to the network (source).
Listener
An AVB endpoint receiving audio from the network (sink/destination).
Talker/Listener
An AVB endpoint that is both transmitting and receiving.
Precision Time Protocol (PTP)
The protocol that allows devices on the network to get a notion of global time in order to
synchronize with each other. PTP components in each AVB module can act as a Grand Master
(providing clock) or as a slave (receiving clock). Once a grand master negotiates and is selected
as a sync source, all units will synchronize to it.
Stream ID
Unique 64-bit stream identifier used by AVB transport protocols to identify streams.
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2 HARDWARE CONNECTIVITY
12VDC
12 VDC power input from external power supply. This separate 12 VDC connection is not used if
the speaker is powered over Ethernet (PoE).
USB
USB Audio is not supported for the default SPK-4P configuration. Contact miniDSP directly if you
require a USB-capable firmware for the SPK-4P.
TOSLINK
Digital optical input. Sample rates from 20 to 216 kHz are accepted.
AMP
The channel 2 output of the power amplifier is provided via this connector. Usually, this is
connected to a passive SPK-4.
AVB/ETH
Used for AVB audio and SPK-4P configuration. It must be connected to an AVB-capable switch. If
the switch provides PoE (Power over Ethernet), then the speaker is powered from this connector
and the 12VDC connector is not used.
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3 AVB CONFIGURATION – MAC OS X
Mac OS X 10.9 or later and macOS 10.12 or later natively support AVB, so no driver installation is required.
miniDSP does not currently support use of the SPK-4P with Windows.
Versions of OS X prior to 10.9 do not have inbuilt AVB support. While it may be possible to use third-party
drivers, please note that miniDSP does not support operation of the SPK-4P with earlier versions of OS X.
3.1 ENABLING AVB SPEAKER
1. Open the program Audio MIDI Setup (in Applications->Utilities).
2. Drop down the Window menu and select Network Device Browser.
3. In the Network Device Browser window, you will see one or more AVB devices. The miniDSP SPK-4P
identifies as "AVB PoE+ Speaker". Click the checkbox next a device to enable it. (Shown as the red circle
in the screenshot below).
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4. Drop down the Window menu and select Audio Devices. Enabled AVB devices will appear as audio
output devices in this window. Each miniDSP SPK-4P identifies as "AVB PoE+ Speaker". Select an SPK-4P
to confirm its output properties:
3.2 CONFIGURING MULTIPLE SPK-4P
1. Click on the “+” icon to create an aggregate device:
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