DX220 A new view to your music. *** LATEST FW: 1.19 Local *** Link for User Guide 1st Page.

[fokta]

According to the Users Manual (linked in first post on first page for convenience) on pages 12 & 13 then 55 & 56 the DX220 will perform USB-DAC functions for Windows, Mac, and Linux computers. Nothing is mentioned of being compatible with Android/Other phones...

I have not tried to use mine for this - maybe someone else has?

Cheers,
Tim

No Go for Android (samsung Note 8, S20, & Note 9)->DX220... just try...

edit: is it only me ? but since last windows 10 update, can't used DX220 as DAC ... .

 

[Leif Bjarky]

Hi all,

I have question about mqa unfolding.

I know that this format is just drm protected flac with weight compression and unfolding without loss (moreover, it is not authenticated master quality =) )

Yesterday I found same track in different formats and decide to check differences between hi-res flac (24\192), mqa (full unfold at 24\192) and dsd256 and found that dx220 doesn't support hardware(native, full decoder) mqa unfold.

As I remember many reviewers said that dx220 have mqa 4x unfolding.

First for all, I tried listen on Mango os. No mqa unfold. MQA showed as flac 24\44. No difference between mqa and 24\192 flac. But have a little differences between hi-res flac and dsd256 (little better for my opinion).

Then tried to listen on android.

Hiby music - no mqa unfold. As i know, hiby music should support mqa unfold, but maybe I'm wrong.

Mango player under android looks like have mqa full unfold, but something strange - mqa showed as 24\352Khz ( this is more that max allowed 24\192 full unfold) 1212 kbps(this is rate for 24\44 flac, so no mqa unfold at all?) and flac showed as 24\176Khz 4152kbps.

Google saying that there no ways for hardware mqa unfold for android devices due android resampling.

Theoretically, I can install Lurker firmware and check mqa unfold with enabled usb-dac option in usb audio app to avoid android resampling, but don't want to install it =)

So, looks like dx220 doesn't have hardware mqa unfold and even with software unfold there no mqa unfold.


Where I'm wrong? Maybe this is only visual issue with showed mqa rates? Or dx220 really doesn't support hardware and software mqa unfolding?

 

[Leif Bjarky]

edit: is it only me ? but since last windows 10 update, can't used DX220 as DAC ... .

Same issue on home pc, but no issue on work pc. Six months ago works, few months ago stop worked. I think there issues on may side, but looks like I'm not alone (tried to reinstall drivers, factory reset dx220, reinstall ibasso audio control pannel). Can connect for file transfer but device doesn't recognize while in usb-dac mode in both mode - mango and android.

Maybe there is issue with last iBasso firmware? I don't use usb-dac for pc, just few times while playing in games with good soundtracks and can't say when usb-dac stop work on pc.


@Paul - iBasso can we check what's wrong and which information do you need for that?

 

[somnarium]

Argh
Thanks for the try but it didn’t work ...
Sigh
Sending it back to China for repair !

I had the same issue some time back.
Ultimately had to return for repair.
Came back fine and volume wheel also felt tighter.
All has been good since repair so nothing left for me but to enjoy the music!
Good luck.

 

[Leif Bjarky]

@Paul - iBasso

Looks like usb-dac (with latest ibasso firmware 1.16.242) stop working in one of this win 10 updates.

• June 16, 2020—KB4567512 (OS Builds 18362.904 and 18363.904)
• June 9, 2020—KB4560960 (OS Builds 18362.900 and 18363.900)
• May 12, 2020—KB4556799 (OS Builds 18362.836 and 18363.836)
• April 21, 2020—KB4550945 (OS Builds 18362.815 and 18363.815)
• April 14, 2020—KB4549951 (OS Builds 18362.778 and 18363.778)
• March 30, 2020—KB4554364 (OS Builds 18362.753 and 18363.753)
• March 24, 2020—KB4541335 (OS Builds 18362.752 and 18363.752)
• March 12, 2020—KB4551762 (OS Builds 18362.720 and 18363.720)
• March 10, 2020—KB4540673 (OS Builds 18362.719 and 18363.719)
• February 27, 2020—KB4535996 (OS Builds 18362.693 and 18363.693)

With this update usb-dac works
February 11, 2020—KB4532693 (OS Builds 18362.657 and 18363.657)

With high chances one of these updates broke usb-dac support
March 10, 2020—KB4540673 (OS Builds 18362.719 and 18363.719)
June 9, 2020—KB4560960 (OS Builds 18362.900 and 18363.900)
Both have updates to improve security when using external devices (such as game controllers, printers, and web cameras).
Unfortunately, these updates can't be deleted in win 10.

 

[Lurker0]

Google saying that there no ways for hardware mqa unfold for android devices due android resampling.

Forget it: iBasso has modified Android audio path in all their DAPs.

As for different apps, please bear in mind: the information about MQA encoding is kept in an audio file metadata (tags). So, MQA decoding is only possible if the app, that reads the audio file, understands and correctly handles this metadata (=is MQA-certified and performs the first unfold). MQA decoding is not possible (by design) for the parts of the audio path that takes raw PCM stream as the input without additional "clues". So, for full MQA decoding, the app that reads the file shall

1. read its metadata and perform the first unfold, then
2. provide a "clue" (from the metadata) to the next stage for the second unfold.

Mango (Android) and Tidal do both steps. AFAIK UAPP+MQA plug-in does only the 1st step. Neutron reads metadata and processes the audio stream, but not the way it should be (uncertified). Any other app does nothing in this direction, but it does not mean that DX220 is not MQA-capable.

Where I'm wrong?

In your (mis)understanding how MQA works.

 

[iMongui]

Forget it: iBasso has modified Android audio path in all their DAPs.

As for different apps, please bear in mind: the information about MQA encoding is kept in an audio file metadata (tags). So, MQA decoding is only possible if the app, that reads the audio file, understands and correctly handles this metadata (=is MQA-certified and performs the first unfold). MQA decoding is not possible (by design) for the parts of the audio path that takes raw PCM stream as the input without additional "clues". So, for full MQA decoding, the app that reads the file shall

1. read its metadata and perform the first unfold, then
2. provide a "clue" (from the metadata) to the next stage for the second unfold.

Mango (Android) and Tidal do both steps. AFAIK UAPP+MQA plug-in does only the 1st step. Neutron reads metadata and processes the audio stream, but not the way it should be (uncertified). Any other app does nothing in this direction, but it does not mean that DX220 is not MQA-capable.
In your (mis)understanding how MQA works.

Short answer or ELI5 for someone like me? xD Its capable but it needs to enable something via update or what?

 

[Lurker0]

Its capable but it needs to enable something via update or what?

It's capable with a proper player (Mango Android, Tidal).

 

[Lurker0]

Sorry, wrong thread!

 

[fokta]

It's capable with a proper player (Mango Android, Tidal).

Sorry, wrong thread!

Interesting....
sorry Dude, u just open the pandora Box... now lets charge to the next thread...

 

[Lurker0]

Interesting....
sorry Dude, u just open the pandora Box... now lets charge to the next thread...

The "wrong thread" was deleted this post. Nothing related to MQA.

 

[fokta]

The "wrong thread" was deleted this post. Nothing related to MQA.

ooo... expected too much then... well, back enjoy the music then

 

[BobJS]

I haven't tried yet, but does anyone know if the DX220 can be run with NO amp in place to provide longer battery life for running an external dac/amp, say the PAW S1?

 

[fokta]

I haven't tried yet, but does anyone know if the DX220 can be run with NO amp in place to provide longer battery life for running an external dac/amp, say the PAW S1?

Hmm.. I dont know if this count... using TWS with DX220 via bluetooth... almost 8 hours battery left 32%. offline mode, player UAPP

 

[lantian]

I haven't tried yet, but does anyone know if the DX220 can be run with NO amp in place to provide longer battery life for running an external dac/amp, say the PAW S1?

If you are using the spdif/optical or bleutooth amp part is already turned off and not consuming any power.