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

[fokta]

Already success with the update. but the issued I post is not yet solved...
ooo welll, back to regular enjoyment....

 

[liquidrats]

Sorry, was there a changelog for this new firmware?

 

[crazyeyes]

Is there anyway to go back to the old firmware? The new one is too buggy for me. I can't scan my SD card in mango app and while tidal unfolds to 192 it is unlistenable. I use tidal a lot and it is making the experience less enjoyable. I tried downloading the old rom but it won't let you install over a newer version. Maybe @Paul - iBasso has some insight or maybe there is going to be another new update really soon to fix the tidal issue?

 

[crazyeyes]

Here is what I saw for a change log.

 

[edwardsean]

Here is what I saw for a change log.

Thanks!

Does anyone know if the old @Lurker0 add on can be installed with this firmware too?

 

[liquidrats]

Here is what I saw for a change log.

thank you for taking the time to put this up.

 

[toughnut]

@Paul - iBasso, thanks to the team for the new update. If possible, update the first page with changelog for latest update.

 

[crazyeyes]

Thanks!

Does anyone know if the old @Lurker0 add on can be installed with this firmware too?

thank you for taking the time to put this up.

You're welcome.

 

[Paul - iBasso]

Is there anyway to go back to the old firmware? The new one is too buggy for me. I can't scan my SD card in mango app and while tidal unfolds to 192 it is unlistenable. I use tidal a lot and it is making the experience less enjoyable. I tried downloading the old rom but it won't let you install over a newer version. Maybe @Paul - iBasso has some insight or maybe there is going to be another new update really soon to fix the tidal issue?

The previous firmware is on our site for Downloads. You can download the previous firmware and update from an SD card. I apologize for the issues you are having.

 

[bahamot]

Is there anyway to go back to the old firmware? The new one is too buggy for me. I can't scan my SD card in mango app and while tidal unfolds to 192 it is unlistenable. I use tidal a lot and it is making the experience less enjoyable. I tried downloading the old rom but it won't let you install over a newer version. Maybe @Paul - iBasso has some insight or maybe there is going to be another new update really soon to fix the tidal issue?

Confirmed stuttering on tidal master. The android mango player unfold just fine though ...

 

[seanwee]

What's the difference between lurker and fideliser rom? Can someone explain the differences?

So I did a bit more research and now I'm even more confused @.@

I do think that the rom used shouldn't affect the sound but I've read some posts that say otherwise.

Here are the posts in question

So, I was invited to try this custom ROM from @WindowsX , Fidelizer ?


Given that it is a custom ROM every time a stock upgrade come out. And this custom ROM will cost money, my invitation will only last for this Oreo firmware. It is more like a trial. I was asked to not necessarily have to write impression about the ROM. But I am a fair person, and will always share my finding, especially if it improves sound quality. So, here it is.


If you purchase it though, @WindowsX confirmed that the firmware will stay for life of the purchase, and he upgrade as soon s possible, license is only to customers, and if you sell your DX200, it won’t be transferable, which is fair.


My point of view on this ROM ? It brings real improvements on sound performances. While @Lurker0 firmware is free and does not tamper with the sound performances, this ROM actually does, and I don’t know how. I am blind in software and coding. Anyways, what I observed is as following


Total improvement is 10-15%: better boot time !! better Dynamic, better transient energy, more musicality and fluidity, which all of them help in improving a better imagines, and so it brings a more realistic timbres with a very very slight touch of warmth (somewhat reminded me of 1Z timbres signature). Less grainy edges texture. This improvement is accross the whole Android OS like web music streaming, YouTube streaming, Mango Player.


Apollo is a good player that comes with it, which bring a little further of the above improvements, the only down side of Apollo is that it interface Need to be worked out, and I am not yet familiar with it. However, I like the search function, the all songs listed with random plays features, and that is enough.

Mango-OS does not have any improvements as I observed no improvements, @WindowsX confirmed that he is working on it, and again, you are purchasing for future upgrades too! For now, with the ROM, AndroidOS is a better performances in comparison to Mango-OS from my observations


So, is it worth it ?


Yes, for the sound quality improvements alone

In fact, I am very satisfied that I may have to download Fidelizer for my Windows PC server

I just got Fidelizer’s Advanced ROM and installed about a few hours ago. So, it was great to come to headfi and see Twister’s post. I cant’ help but think the timing has something do with Whitigir’s recent post. As for me, I was always curious about Fidelizer but what Whitigir wrote tipped it over for me. I did wade into it and flashed the free Purist version first. I think it’s smart of the developer to offer this basic level free and let the work speak for itself.

These are my very early impressions, which I was glad to see somewhat correlated with Twister’s experience. Unlike him I did not flash back and forth with the original ROM and so was constantly second guessing my memory. The difference between a real reviewer and an ordinary enthusiast.

Purist ROM:
I thought I wasn’t going to hear much of a difference, but the changes were immediate. Of course with everything at this stage of audio we’re taking about tuning. It’s not like changing out a DAC or amp, and you have to have a fairly resolving system downstream to hear all what’s going on. But—it’s good, really good. Just as promised, the sound is more liquid and flowing. This was one of the glaring deficiencies of the DX200 in my opinion. The stock output at times had a grainy, diffuse quality that cheapened its otherwise wonderful reproduction. It was one of the areas where I thought products like the Hugo2 always maintained a large advanatage over the DX200. I always found myself preferring the DX200 over Hugo2 for other things it brought to the table functionally and sonically like soundstage. However, Fidelizer’s ROM goes quite a ways to allowing you to have the best of both worlds. One of the customer comments on Fidelizer’s site said that the ROM update made him rethink stacking the DX200 and Hugo2. If you get the Advanced ROM I think that may be right and you could lose the H2 without missing too much.

Advanced ROM:
At this point I was ready to skip over the Enhanced ROM and go straight to the Advanced ROM, but I kept wishing it was cheaper. I know this is because all you’re getting for the price is code, but I reminded myself I’ve paid multiples more for audio software. So I ordered it and within the stated 24hrs I got the email link and password. As with Twister, I also immediately reinstalled Lurker’s add-on and did my testing with that combination.

Advanced ROM was definitely more clear, so much so that, at first, I found myself missing the extreme smoothness of Purist ROM. As I continued to listen I realized that part of the smoothness of Purist ROM had covered up some detail and dynamics which Advanced ROM revealed. The Advanced ROM, in fact, does not sound more harsh, just more detailed and much more transparent. It is also very smooth, just a more accurate smoothness. Advanced ROM does improve a key audiophile goal: smoothness without smearing.

I agree with Twister that Fidelizer also improves on soundstage. The Advanced ROM has better separation in the imaging and conveys a better sense of dimensional space. This is a main area where it distinguishes itself, not only from the stock FW, but Purist ROM. So it gains in another sought after audiophile aim: expansion without diffusion. You have even more of the DX200’s airiness but the images are simulataneoulsy more definite and localization is more precise.

I think it also continues that ability to separate sonic components in the dynamics. I am listening for that now. The dynamics do seem more open.

As I mentioned before the alterations aren’t on the level of a new DAC or amp, but that’s a good thing too. It preserves the DX200 sound and there is a reason why I chose DX200 in the first place. Advanced ROM takes its strengths further and improves upon its weaknesses. 99USD may be a lot for just a ROM but that also has an upside. If you don’t know your way around a soldering gun and multimeter, but want to take your unit further, you can do all of this by just clicking.

I have to say, it’s early days, but I’m pretty satisfied, and count the cost well spent. I of course haven’t really had a chance to see if the OS is any faster or if battery life is longer. In all honesty, I don’t really care. To at least my subjective sense, the sound is pretty spectacular.

Not to say that I doubt these posts, I generally trust @Whitigir and @edwardsean 's opinion on sound. Hence why I'm even more confused now.

Can anyone with more knowledge on this explain?

Thank you very much.

 

[Paulo Abreu]

Its very difficult to A/B Android mode vs Mango to compare sound quality, apart the volume difference which I tried to match by "ear", Mango seems to have more clarity and better dynamics. I was comparing SE on my full size headphones but will try on balanced with IEMS.
I don't remember seeing something written by iBasso about it but Mango really seems to sound better - is this unanimous?

Btw, just as a note, I did upgrade FW OTA and worked flawlessly

 

[jmills8]

Its very difficult to A/B Android mode vs Mango to compare sound quality, apart the volume difference which I tried to match by "ear", Mango seems to have more clarity and better dynamics. I was comparing SE on my full size headphones but will try on balanced with IEMS.
I don't remember seeing something written by iBasso about it but Mango really seems to sound better - is this unanimous?

Btw, just as a note, I did upgrade FW OTA and worked flawlessly

Buy a second dx220.

 

[seanwee]

Its very difficult to A/B Android mode and Mango concerning sound quality, apart the volume difference which I tried to match by "ear", Mango seems to have more clarity and better dynamics. I was comparing SE on my full size headphones but will try on balanced with IEMS.
I don't remember seeing something written by iBasso about it but Mango really seems to sound better - is this unanimous?

Btw, just as a note, I did upgrade FW OTA and worked flawlessly

Yeah I tried something similar on my N5ii. Some people say that the pure music mode on the N5ii sounds better but personally I can't hear a difference.

It closes all apps, WiFi, Bluetooth and any other non sound related services so that the dap is only focused on music playback. So I guess it's so thing like mango mode

 

[seanwee]

Buy a second dx220.

Well, a cheaper alternative would be to go to a store and use the demo unit there

At least that's what I do.