Audalytic AH90 - All in one Streamer, DAC, Heapphone Amp

[camrector]

How does one get HDPlayer?

https://www.signalyst.com/consumer.html

 

[Zhangshan]

I would be grateful to you if you would please send me the instructions you used to make the update. I am not experienced and do want to turn my machine into a brick. Thanks in advance,

When you run the update program in Windows, all instructions are immediately displayed in front of you.

At the same time, this program can not only update the device, but also save bricks.

 

[Puffoff]

I would be grateful to you if you would please send me the instructions you used to make the update. I am not experienced and do want to turn my machine into a brick. Thanks in advance,

Just run AH90_CT_m1.05beta_with dsddirect.exe and you'll see all instructions. Don't forget to install CH34X_DRIVER in advance. I successfully updated FW in a couple of minutes.

 

[Puffoff]

I'd like to report a bug: sometimes when you plug headphones or switch output to them in menu there is no sound until you adjust volume to Fixed position. If something is playing at that time it may damage your headphones and it's too loud (!) for your hearing.

 

[Deutschefach]

When you run the update program in Windows, all instructions are immediately displayed in front of you.

At the same time, this program can not only update the device, but also save bricks.

So I simply start the exe program and turn on the DAC to the update mode. Then it runs copies the code to the AH90 and performs the update?

One can not save a bricked system, one has to prevent ever bricking or breaking that system.
When I wrote brick, I meant killing my own system. Bricking a system means overwriting the code which powers the device you are trying to update. If you brick a system means you KILL it. There is no way to save a brick. One must avoid at all costs ever BRICKING or BREAKING the system they intend to update. So my words were the highest level of fear possible. So the software running on the windows side prevents the improper overwriting of the existing software on the AH90. Is that correct?

 

[camrector]

Yes
You are not going to ruin anything.
Just follow the instructions.

 

[Puffoff]

and turn on the DAC to the update mode

You don't need to do it in the menu. Just follow the instructions.

 

[Zhangshan]

I'd like to report a bug: sometimes when you plug headphones or switch output to them in menu there is no sound until you adjust volume to Fixed position. If something is playing at that time it may damage your headphones and it's too loud (!) for your hearing.

We receive your feedback and we will update the next version when we have collected enough

 

[Deutschefach]

I'd like to report a bug: sometimes when you plug headphones or switch output to them in menu there is no sound until you adjust volume to Fixed position. If something is playing at that time it may damage your headphones and it's too loud (!) for your hearing.

Report it to Gustard here on the group.

 

[bogi]

How does one get HDPlayer?

You can start with trial downloaded from bottom part of https://www.signalyst.com/consumer.html
You can find HQPlayer thread on this forum https://www.head-fi.org/threads/hqplayer-impressions-and-settings-rolling-thread.968141
Wider discussion appears on Audiophile Style forum.

 

[Puffoff]

lps cable connector is 2.5 or 2.1?

 

[Deutschefach]

Update accomplished. The programming did not remain stable during the use. The file presented itself in English and Chinese at the same time. The process switched in the middle of the process from English to Chinese and as a result was non-readable. If I were not an IT person, that would have scared me to death. The AH-90 took several starts and stops, but the updated the menu. The headphone does not work when DSD processing is selected. Was that the intention? DSD / NOS Goes only to the output section of the device, rather than the original routing to either the headphone or output stage. That seems to be a bit of improper coding. Can anyone put forward another explanation?

 

[Deutschefach]

Yes
You are not going to ruin anything.
Just follow the instructions.

Worked but buggy. Remarks to follow.

 

[bogi]

The headphone does not work when DSD processing is selected. Was that the intention?

Yes in direct DSD mode: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/aud...dac-heapphone-amp.970134/page-3#post-17815284
It has clear reason. DSD signal is a bit stream and DAC chips are not capable to perform volume control in that data format. So there is no way to lower volume level digitally using DAC chip volume control in direct DSD mode. No other volume control is implemented in AH90. So you would get full volume on headphone output in direct DSD mode if that output would not be disconnected.

I have no more information how the updated firmware works, if direct DSD mode is switchable on/off. If you could switch it off, then a digital filter of AK4191EQ performing data format conversion and volume control would come into action and the result would yet go through delta sigma modulator of AK4191EQ, only then to AK4499EX chip. No direct DSD path, but volume control possible.

You could use volume control in HQPlayer set to DSD output, regardless on if you would play PCM or DSD source content. HQPlayer is the only player capable of doing DSP (not only volume control, but also resampling, convolution and parametric EQ) with DSD content without intermediate conversion to lower PCM sample rates. So HQPlayer volume control works with any DAC regardless on source content (PCM or DSD) and regardless if DAC direct DSD mode is set or not.

From audiophile perspective, I prefer a headamp with analog volume control. You can connect one to AH90 line outputs.

 

[Zhangshan]

lps cable connector is 2.5 or 2.1?

Its 2.1