HiFiMAN HM-801 Player Firmware Debug Thread

[MarkTwain]

So is firmware version 0.20 (non-beta) coming to us soon?
 
By the way, I have started seeing PCM1704U chip installed in my friend's recently acquired set - so no more stocks for PCM1704U-K chip?
 
Lucky I got mine earlier.
 
Now waiting for a more stable and better firmware.....
 
Cheers,
Mark

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

Quote:

So is firmware version 0.20 (non-beta) coming to us soon?
 
By the way, I have started seeing PCM1704U chip installed in my friend's recently acquired set - so no more stocks for PCM1704U-K chip?
 
Lucky I got mine earlier.
 
Now waiting for a more stable and better firmware.....
 
Cheers,
Mark

Where do you find which chip is installed?

 

[MarkTwain]

Unscrew the set with the screwdriver provided (open the set with the Gangqi bay side), and you will be able to see the PCM1704 chip on the motherboard!
 
Cheers,
Mark

 

[MarkTwain]

Anyway, like what Fang has mentioned, he has probably done some tweaks to both PCM1704U and PCM1704UK version that both sounded the same - wonderful sound from the Hifiman 801, no matter whether it is with PCM1704U or PCM1704UK chip.
 
Tried "blind-testing" with both sets playing the same songs. Can't tell the difference at all.
 
Psychological effect of wanting the K version only..... Haha....

 

[warp08]

Quote:

On a mac you need to re-partition it with MS DOS FAT and also choose "options", then select Master Boot Record.  The last part is important or it can't be read by the 801.

Thanks, Larry, but Fang has confirmed it since that the HifiMAN doesn't support Class 6 SDHC cards at all.  I have since ordered a genuine Class 4 and will see if that works.

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

Quote:

Thanks, Larry, but Fang has confirmed it since that the HifiMAN doesn't support Class 6 SDHC cards at all.  I have since ordered a genuine Class 4 and will see if that works.

I still don't understand why some devices can't support all SD card types and sizes.  It can certainly be frustrating.  I have four SD card readers for my Mac's USB port, and only one of them can read my 4Gb and 8Gb SDHC cards.  Is this a software or hardware limitation?

 

[khbaur330162]

I can't figure it out. I load up an album of FLAC and half of it plays, the other half bumps me back to the main menu when I try to play them. I've got a slew of mp3's that do the same thing. And it's iffy. I delete the FLAC album, reload it and a couple more tracks play, but the rest are still f'ed. I can only get like 3 albums worth of music to actually play off the SD card. Music has no issue when loaded to the internal memory. Running 0.19Beta with a 32GB class 4 Kingston (bought off eBay, don't know if it's real).
 
This thing is clunnnnky. Feels cheap in the hand and usability sucks. It sounds pretty good, but dude... This thing better get Rockboxed and quick. This is ridiculous for an $800 piece of equipment-borderline gimmick.

 

[AdeAV]

Could be your card, test it with this:
 
Direct Download Of Software For version 1.4 of H2testw
 
I like the way it feels, usability is ok and hopefully will get better. As for Rockbox, it's up to someone interested enough to start a port, perhaps you could do it khbaur330162?

 

[GreenLeo]

This is hardware problem of your card reader.  Old card reader cannot read new large size cards.  
 
I encountered this before and thought that the SD cards were faulty and went to the dealer for replacements.  The guy used his card reader to demonstrate that the cards were not faulty and then told me that old card reader could not read large size cards.  Hope this helps.
Quote:

I still don't understand why some devices can't support all SD card types and sizes.  It can certainly be frustrating.  I have four SD card readers for my Mac's USB port, and only one of them can read my 4Gb and 8Gb SDHC cards.  Is this a software or hardware limitation?

 

[khbaur330162]

No idea on how to port Rockbox, or any clue in coding of any kind for that matter. I'd be glad to help any way I could including donating to whoever had the initiative and know-how to compensate for their time and work.

 

[dj nellie]

Quote:

I can't figure it out. I load up an album of FLAC and half of it plays, the other half bumps me back to the main menu when I try to play them. I've got a slew of mp3's that do the same thing. And it's iffy. I delete the FLAC album, reload it and a couple more tracks play, but the rest are still f'ed. I can only get like 3 albums worth of music to actually play off the SD card. Music has no issue when loaded to the internal memory. Running 0.19Beta with a 32GB class 4 Kingston (bought off eBay, don't know if it's real).
 
This thing is clunnnnky. Feels cheap in the hand and usability sucks. It sounds pretty good, but dude... This thing better get Rockboxed and quick. This is ridiculous for an $800 piece of equipment-borderline gimmick.

 
I understand your frustration, but I've used a class 4 Kingston and haven't had any of those problems.  I can see why there's a backlash against this product, given its ambitious claims and the high price tag, but after the (mostly) free amp upgrade, I'm happy.  The gain could still be lower for my JH16s, and I would prefer digital volume control.  I'd also like navigation by folder, like on the Cowon S9 and Clip+.
 
But in terms of pure sound quality, I can't see how any other portable can compare.  You may argue diminishing returns and lack of value, but in absolute terms, I haven't heard any portable setup that sounds better.
 
It may just be me, but does anyone else notice that the HM-801 feels lighter after the amp upgrade?  Also, I'd like to hear from anyone who has the upgraded amp about how the volume control is with sensitive custom IEMs.

 

[warp08]

Quote:

I can't figure it out. I load up an album of FLAC and half of it plays, the other half bumps me back to the main menu when I try to play them. I've got a slew of mp3's that do the same thing. And it's iffy. I delete the FLAC album, reload it and a couple more tracks play, but the rest are still f'ed. I can only get like 3 albums worth of music to actually play off the SD card. Music has no issue when loaded to the internal memory. Running 0.19Beta with a 32GB class 4 Kingston (bought off eBay, don't know if it's real).
 
This thing is clunnnnky. Feels cheap in the hand and usability sucks. It sounds pretty good, but dude... This thing better get Rockboxed and quick. This is ridiculous for an $800 piece of equipment-borderline gimmick.

Same thing happened to me at Can Fest two weeks ago.  Fang was standing right there when I tested it because I complained about the same problem.  It's not the player, your card is a fake.  I have bought it off of Ebay, too, and got the seller to refund most of my money.  Now I have another on the way for $80 sold directly by Amazon.com (not a seller).  One way you can tell is that sticker on the fakes is dimmer, the colors are not as vivid as on the original ones.
 
Fang has promised he would try to find a factory direct source in China and make those available to us at reasonable cost.  Not sure if he'll succeed, but I'm sure he will try.
 

 

[MarkTwain]

Perhaps we could create an updated list of 32GB card that confirm working for our Hifiman 801?
 
Mine is using Sandisk Ultra 32GB (Class 4). Very consistent performance in all card readers, digital cam, and no single issue with my Hifiman 801.
 
Cheers,
Mark

 

[warp08]

Quote:

Perhaps we could create an updated list of 32GB card that confirm working for our Hifiman 801?
 
Mine is using Sandisk Ultra 32GB (Class 4). Very consistent performance in all card readers, digital cam, and no single issue with my Hifiman 801.
 
Cheers,
Mark

The issue with that, Mark, is even genuine cards change between batches, due to the manufacturers routinely updating their embedded controller chips within their cards.  So a scenario sometimes presents itself that you have seemingly two exact cards in every visible aspect, yet one works properly, the other doesn't.
 
So, pretty much the only recourse at this point remaining to ensure that you order from a reliable source or brick-and-mortar store with a liberal return policy so you can exchange the card if it turns out to be incompatible with your player(s).
 

 

[Edwood]

There are issues with the fact there is really no standard as to how the memory controller is set up with the different types of flash memory they use.  Older SDHC's seem to work better because they are SLC based NAND, but the faster, cheaper ones are MLC based NAND.  I'm wondering if that's what's causing the problems.
 
-Ed