[iMemphis]

I recently purchased the fiio k9 pro desktop ess to run on my Windows 10 computer. I am seeing some driver issues (please see screen shots)

Window's doesnt seem to be recognizing Fiio as the audio source. Listening to music, it works, but when I swap audio sources from Youtube to Tidal for example, it stops playing music. The wheel color starts changing from solid blue (when its working) --- the Blue,green,purple. The colors just change and no music is playing through the unit.

I am not sure what the issue is and wondering if you can help me with this? My current firmware ver. is 1.0 according to the app. When I try to update via the app it says my firmware is up to date, but online I saw there was a v1.3, but I am unable to download it, since the website has a broken link.

.

Anyone using this for PC, have any suggestions on how to fix this?

Thanks

 

[msing539]

Did you install the DAC driver?

https://forum.fiio.com/note/showNoteContent.do?id=202105191527366657910

Apparently, this needs to be installed before the firmware can be upgraded per this page:

https://www.fiio.com/newsinfo/557554.html

Word of caution, make sure you get the ESS-specific firmware.

 

[hmscott]

I don't have the K9, but from your description, I think you've missed that Tidal has it's own interface to setup to use an output device.

I only have time for a quick answer, but I think it is enough to get you going

K9 does support MQA Rendering, so I'll describe how to set up Tidal with a DAC that does MQA decode/renderer, and add what to change if your DAC doesn't do MQA decode/rendering itself - instead Tidal will do all of that in software and present a PCM pre-decoded stream.
https://fiio.com/newsinfo/557559.html

First, get into the Tidal Settings => Streaming Tab.

Select the Steaming Quality (based on Tidal subscription), I use Master Quality as set below in the dialog screen grab.

Then explicitly select the K9 device in the Sound Output drop down under Sound Output Devices. Don't use the "System Controlled" selection - which is often the Default selection. The Tidal app doesn't have as good of sound - as the System Controlled sellection doesn't by "default" use Exclusive Mode or use any settings input for decoding MQA .

Then Click the "More Settings" drop down inline with the Sound Output line, and for MQA decoding in the D90 MQA I Enable all 3 options, "Use Exclusive Mode", "Force Volume" (100% output from Tidal App, no reduction in Digital bits to reduce volume), and of course enable "Passthrough MQA" so the Tidal software sends the Raw Unprocessed MQA data to the D90 MQA to handle.

Also, I should mention that if you do use MQA you need to disable "Loudness Normalization" above in the Playback settings, also in that same "Streaming" Tab.

IDK if the others DAC's that are reading this offer MQA - or if they/you want to use the DAC's MQA facilities, so I'll here is how to let Tidal do the MQA heavy lifting:

Simply disable "Passthrough MQA" in "More Settings" to let Tidal handle the MQA data and allow your DAC to get the MQA pre-processed PCM Stream.

If you don't want the MQA part of recordings that have Master set on their description/title, then instead of setting Master quality, Select Hifi Lossless CD Quality, and in the Tidal "More Settings" disable "Passthrough MQA" - that may not be necessary, but to be "safe" (not get MQA part) I'd disable MQA Passthrough.

If you have any questions, please ask and I will try to come back later today.

Have Fun!

Click on images to expand/zoom in:


And, you don't necessarily need the FiiO Driver installed, but if you do have it installed this is how I set the Buffer Settings Values - seems to work fine
Here is are 2 separate items shown. The Software Device Driver Details shown through Device Manager => Properties, and open dialogs for both of my Maker Specific Device Driver Control Panels - opened via respective Task Bar System Icons:


And, in case you haven't done it before, open the Sound Control panel and select your Device => Advanced => Enable both Exclusive Mode Settings:


Update: I didn't get that warning about downloading when I went to the links below, taken from the K9 Pro Product page, also linked below:

At the FiiO K9 Pro Support page I found there is a USB driver download, but no Firmware update for the ESS model - it is pretty new so I am not surprised that FiiO hasn't posted a new firmware update for the ESS version.

"!!!Please do not update [by using] this firmware [download link] if you are using the K9Pro ESS."

I've left out the AKM firmware download link due to this above [modified] warning from FiiO on their K9 Pro Product page, so if you have an AKM model you can get the firmware download from that page - near the bottom, search for "USB DAC driver" and the AKM firmware download link is above this line, where you can download the OS driver software:

USB DAC driver download link: Click here (USB DAC instruction: Click here)

Here is where I found the download links, it is the FiiO K9 Pro Support page:
https://forum.fiio.com/note/showNoteContent.do?id=202111121442092568973

And, here is the "top level" above that, where all of the FiiO products have an image and link to their respective support page:
https://forum.fiio.com/firmwareDown.do

 

[iMemphis]

Did you install the DAC driver?

https://forum.fiio.com/note/showNoteContent.do?id=202105191527366657910

Apparently, this needs to be installed before the firmware can be upgraded per this page:

https://www.fiio.com/newsinfo/557554.html

Word of caution, make sure you get the ESS-specific firmware.

Thanks, I just installed the dac driver, but i do not see anywhere for the latest firmware for the ESS model. Do you have a direct link?

 

[iMemphis]

I don't have the K9, but from your description, I think you've missed that Tidal has it's own interface to setup to use an output device.

I only have time for a quick answer, but I think it is enough to get you going

K9 does support MQA Rendering, so I'll describe how to set up Tidal with a DAC that does MQA decode/renderer, and add what to change if your DAC doesn't do MQA decode/rendering itself - instead Tidal will do all of that in software and present a PCM pre-decoded stream.
https://fiio.com/newsinfo/557559.html

First, get into the Tidal Settings => Streaming Tab.

Select the Steaming Quality (based on Tidal subscription), I use Master Quality as set below in the dialog screen grab.

Then explicitly select the K9 device in the Sound Output drop down under Sound Output Devices. Don't use the "System Controlled" selection - which is often the Default selection. The Tidal app doesn't have as good of sound - as the System Controlled sellection doesn't by "default" use Exclusive Mode or use any settings input for decoding MQA .

Then Click the "More Settings" drop down inline with the Sound Output line, and for MQA decoding in the D90 MQA I Enable all 3 options, "Use Exclusive Mode", "Force Volume" (100% output from Tidal App, no reduction in Digital bits to reduce volume), and of course enable "Passthrough MQA" so the Tidal software sends the Raw Unprocessed MQA data to the D90 MQA to handle.

Also, I should mention that if you do use MQA you need to disable "Loudness Normalization" above in the Playback settings, also in that same "Streaming" Tab.

IDK if the others DAC's that are reading this offer MQA - or if they/you want to use the DAC's MQA facilities, so I'll here is how to let Tidal do the MQA heavy lifting:

Simply disable "Passthrough MQA" in "More Settings" to let Tidal handle the MQA data and allow your DAC to get the MQA pre-processed PCM Stream.

If you don't want the MQA part of recordings that have Master set on their description/title, then instead of setting Master quality, Select Hifi Lossless CD Quality, and in the Tidal "More Settings" disable "Passthrough MQA" - that may not be necessary, but to be "safe" (not get MQA part) I'd disable MQA Passthrough.

If you have any questions, please ask and I will try to come back later today.

Have Fun!

Click on images to expand/zoom in:


And, you don't necessarily need the FiiO Driver installed, but if you do have it installed this is how I set the Buffer Settings Values - seems to work fine
Here is are 2 separate items shown. The Software Device Driver Details shown through Device Manager => Properties, and open dialogs for both of my Maker Specific Device Driver Control Panels - opened via respective Task Bar System Icons:


And, in case you haven't done it before, open the Sound Control panel and select your Device => Advanced => Enable both Exclusive Mode Settings:

Wow thanks, ill check that out and see if problem persist.

 

[msing539]

Thanks, I just installed the dac driver, but i do not see anywhere for the latest firmware for the ESS model. Do you have a direct link?

Sorry, I found the non-ESS firmware but it'll probably brick your Fiio.

There's also this note--

Due to file server upgrade, the prodcut firmware and drivers cannot be downloaded from our website right now.
If you need any assistance regarding the products, please kindly contact our support.

Online support: visit www.fiio.net on a computer then click "Online chat" at the bottom right.
email: support@fiio.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FiiOAUDIO/

We're sorry for any inconvenience this might bring to you.

Best regards,
FiiO Electronics Technology Co., Ltd.

 

[hmscott]

Wow thanks, ill check that out and see if problem persist.

Great!, I do wish Tidal would do more in the App to help members set up correctly, but Tidal does have info, and a tidal.com site directed search turns up a few links with helpful info:
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=site:tidal.com+tidal+windows+settings

These articles aren't really very well organized, but they do have the info in them, if you can read them and betwen the lines, or look at my examples above

Optimizing HiFi
https://support.tidal.com/hc/en-us/articles/360005773698-Optimizing-HiFi-

Changing the Sound Quality on Desktop
https://support.tidal.com/hc/en-us/articles/115003663065-Changing-the-Sound-Quality-on-Desktop

TIDAL Masters and Master Quality Audio
https://support.tidal.com/hc/en-us/articles/115000397069-TIDAL-Masters-and-Master-Quality-Audio

Listen to MQA with the TIDAL app
https://support.tidal.com/hc/en-au/articles/360000251305-Listen-to-MQA-with-the-TIDAL-app

I thought there was a better description "all-in-one" at Tidal, but I cannot find it right now, please post it if you do find it

Thanks, I just installed the dac driver, but i do not see anywhere for the latest firmware for the ESS model. Do you have a direct link?

See Update below...

You should be ok to run without the driver unless you want to use DSD format, and often the software to process DSD files/streams have their own settings overriding the makers specific driver - but some do need / can use it.

I went looking for driver links in FiiO's Owner Forums, they used to have different/additional download links on occasion, I didn't find one for the K9 yet, but found this interesting article describing the product development and model differences:
https://forum.fiio.com/note/showNoteContent.do?id=202201201101505920052

And, I went looking for the main FiiO K9 Pro Thread, and found your post
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/fiio-k9-pro-hi-fi-deskdop-dac-bluetooth-amplifier，xlr-rca-4-4-optical-coaxial-interface.952664/post-16891924

Perhaps there is an alternative download link in that thread somewhere... I'll check later myself if you don't find a solution - please post what you find!

Sorry, I found the non-ESS firmware but it'll probably brick your Fiio.

There's also this note--

Due to file server upgrade, the prodcut firmware and drivers cannot be downloaded from our website right now.
If you need any assistance regarding the products, please kindly contact our support.

Online support: visit www.fiio.net on a computer then click "Online chat" at the bottom right.
email: support@fiio.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FiiOAUDIO/

We're sorry for any inconvenience this might bring to you.

Best regards,
FiiO Electronics Technology Co., Ltd.

Update: I didn't get that warning about downloading when I went to the links below, taken from the K9 Pro Product page, also linked below:

At the FiiO K9 Pro Support page I found there is a USB driver download, but no Firmware update for the ESS model - it is pretty new so I am not surprised that FiiO hasn't posted a new firmware update for the ESS version.

"!!!Please do not update [by using] this firmware [download link] if you are using the K9Pro ESS."

I've left out the AKM firmware download link due to this above [modified] warning from FiiO on their K9 Pro Product page, so if you have an AKM model you can get the firmware download from that page - near the bottom, search for "USB DAC driver" and the AKM firmware download link is above this line, where you can download the OS driver software:

USB DAC driver download link: Click here (USB DAC instruction: Click here)

Here is where I found the download links, it is the FiiO K9 Pro Support page:
https://forum.fiio.com/note/showNoteContent.do?id=202111121442092568973

And, here is the "top level" above that, where all of the FiiO products have an image and link to their respective support page:
https://forum.fiio.com/firmwareDown.do