Amp3 Pro2 and the STUDIO - Page 35

Remember to reformat the micro sd card using the Panasonic SDformatter software when installing the new FW. I'm not sure it will help, but worth a try.

Although my PRO.2 failed to initialize the external card, after running the USA version of the new firmware, I did find the volume in the USA version to at a setting of 31 to be less than my PRO.1 at a setting of 29

I then reformatted and ran the updater to the Standard version. It does initialize my 16gb card, and again the volume seems to be about the same as above, with the PRO.1 being noticeably louder, and a richer sounding SQ.

Perhaps some of this is due to the "Standard" version, which is supposed to have less dynamics and gain than the US version. It could also be due in part to the difference in playing time that has been accumulated on the players.

There are still some things I do not like about the PRO.2 firmware, even following the update:

1. The player boots to the "Pause" position, requiring one to keep looking at the screen during the long bootup time.

2. When pressing for a longer time to select the main menu screens, the PRO.2 jumps to the Internal Media submenu of the Source Manager. This requires 2 keybacks to get back to the main menu.

3. Boot times are still quite long, usually running around 2 1/2 minutes in the Normal play mode.

4. The player still locks up when selecting a song from the Media Manager Menu. Perhaps this Menu setting should be eliminated.

Overall, I am much happier with the sound from my PRO.1 than the PRO.2. Perhaps this will change if I can re-install the USA firmware version and get it to recognize my cards.

PRO.2 still not ready for prime time, IMO.

The first fFW 5.26 from pro.1 had the highest amount of gain, I would say around 5-10% more gain than the newest FW. The next FW 5.31 at level 29 the gain was reduced and maybe it's still higher than the FW. 5.42, I haven't compared these two directly. In the two versions of FW 5.42, gain and dynamic seems to be very similar, at least on my player. The gain on FW 5.42 vs. FW 5.41 is higher.

1. FW 5.26 is the only FW version that boots directly to the play position, none of the others do. I believe the reason for the change is that when you initated the AMP3 as an amp you could faintly hear a song playing in the background, by letting it pause for startup they eliminated this issue.

2. Or if I press too long it turn off.

3. Boot time seems to be individually from player to player, size of sd card and how many files is on the player. Mine, with a 8gb card half full and an almost full internal card, boots in less than 30 sec. Without SD card, it takes
3-4 sec.

4. I don't experience this issue.

You can easily re-install the USA FW, just remember to push the + and play button before connecting usb and it will recognize. Format and reformat your external cards once again, I know it's a pain somewhere to go through these stages, but I believe it's the best to do.

Hiss

Although the volume increase seems nominal in the new FW it is very noticable that the hiss is louder. I have a pair of se530's which I could use with 5.41 and only notice the hiss in quite moments. With 5.42 the hiss is far louder and can be heard during some of the louder passages of music now.

I feel the update would be more for people using higher impedance cans, maybe not for IEM's. Craig, release it please.

I tried out my new Pro 2 last night, and it seems I may not install the first FW upgrade, since it sounds fine with the Grados and S4s, and gain is acceptable (UM3X still very hissy). But it does some wacky things when I try to navigate using the new button (see below), things my Pro1 does not do. I need some time to write it down, but it seems to require a lot more clicking around. I do like the click button better, since it has a more tactile feel. And SQ-wise, out of the box it sounds very good, better than the Pro 1 out of the box (but not necessarily better overall). I am going to A/B some tracks later today.

Update: Okay, when I use the pause/play and right arrow combo to get into the menus while a track is playing, instead of now playing or music menu screen, it takes me to the delete/cancel screen for the track playing. I have to backtrack three clicks to get to the menus (and wind up on the Resources Manager screen, not music or now playing). Also, when I use the + to boost volume, half of the time it pauses the track, so the click must be very precise. If I push a little to the right of the + sign, the volume works 100 percent of the time, and no pause. So the button alignment must be a little off.

No major headaches, but the first problem is annoying, and means a lot of unnecessary clicking around. Also, HiFlight, is the Media Manager and the Resources Manager the same screen (mine is called Resources Manager?).

On the upside, I can play tracks using the music menu (not on my Pro1), and the amp using HP out works (not on my Pro1).

Time for more pure listening comparisons.

It appears to me that the Pro.2 firmware updates are still in the beta testing stage. Even after re-installing the USA version for the second time, my PRO.2 fails to initialize any size external card. SQ using the internal memory only is quite good, better than my PRO.1.

Volume of the US version at the max setting of 31 about equals my Pro.1 with the updated firmware at the max setting of 29.

Standard version SQ is noticeably brighter, like listening to white noise rather than pink noise when compared to the USA version.

My guess is that the Standard version has been equalized to completely flat frequency response which often is not a very listenable SQ.

When using a long press to select the Menu function, the PRO.2 with both firmware versions still jumps to the internal memory sub-menu of Source Manager, which is rather useless, as the player freezes when Source Manager is used for music selection. It takes 2 back presses to return to the main Menu interface. With a long press, the player should go to the main Menu screen as does the PRO.1.

Just listened to a few more tracks, and the Pro2 SQ (no FW upgrade yet) sounds excellent with my Amp3-friendly phones, better than I remember the Pro1 sounding at this early stage of use. Again, none of us would even be here without that awesome SQ. But I will stay away from the Standard FW, for sure.

Thanks for the update.

Yea, no firmware update for me either. Not without hearing better results than I've been hearing. For now, I'm going to thoroughly enjoy my Amp3 Pro2 "as is".

That's all I need to hear. Definitely going to pass on updating firmware.

Yes, it is called "Resource Manager" in both players. I don't know where I got Media Manager from!!

I still have not been able to get the PRO.2 to initialize any of my external cards. I really do like the SQ of the US version, but not the software aggravations that are inherent in the PRO.2 but not the PRO.1.

I agree that the Menu jumping to the internal list sub-menu is a major PIA. They did, however fix the resume play. The PRO.2 now boots to the last playing tune. My original firmware booted to the beginning of the playlist.

I HATE the booting to "Pause". Since boot time is so long, it requires "waiting for the pot to boil" watching of the display to know when it has booted, rather than just being able to start listening.

I formatted all of my external cards using the Panasonic formatting program. I do not feel there should be any need to reformat external cards a second time especially after filling the card with music files. Interchangeability is one of the big advantages of using external cards.

The PRO.2 initializes my external cards with the Standard firmware update, but despite reloading the US firmware twice, it has never initialized any of my cards.

HiFlight, thanks for responses & impressions, much appreciated Looks like I'll wait a bit before updating firmware, probably till Craig, you and others give more of a thumbs-up on the developments, particularly on things like initializing micro-SD cards and gain issues. Nonetheless, still enjoying the Pro.2

It still puzzles me why the PRO.2 will initialize an external card with the Standard firmware update and refuse to do so with the US version of the same update.

IMO, the SQ of the Standard version will not find favor with those who are used to the rich SQ of the Pro.1