iBasso DX200 Bug Thread - Post Any Firmware Bugs/Issues Here

[Paco Lopez]

Hi Paco
Thanks for the msg- definitely know now what I need to do. Will get on it later tonight & post feedback assp.
Thanks again

Hi Bedrock,

I have been fiddling with ATF and lets resize the window like any other Finder window and scroll that window (see pictures below). I organize my music (mainly classical) in folders that lets me find a disc easily. Apart from the DX200 reverting to USB for charging (yes, a pain) and having to select USB for FT again and again, functions perfectly. However, copying takes time. Although I use a USB 3 cable I think that the DX200 is an USB 2 device.

Therefore, USB 3 adapters for microcards and ATF for the internal memory. Fiio X7 II that uses a similar ES9028Pro (but Android 5) lets mount the device directly (it looks like it has a routine to let MTP that the DX200 has not).

In the pictures below, they have been resized (in a 27" iMac) and you can see the scroll bar at right.

 

[Lurker0]

lets mount the device directly

See my signature for a firmware for DX200 which allows USB Mass Storage mode, and more.

 

[Bedrock]

Hi Bedrock,

I have been fiddling with ATF and lets resize the window like any other Finder window and scroll that window (see pictures below). I organize my music (mainly classical) in folders that lets me find a disc easily. Apart from the DX200 reverting to USB for charging (yes, a pain) and having to select USB for FT again and again, functions perfectly. However, copying takes time. Although I use a USB 3 cable I think that the DX200 is an USB 2 device.

Therefore, USB 3 adapters for microcards and ATF for the internal memory. Fiio X7 II that uses a similar ES9028Pro (but Android 5) lets mount the device directly (it looks like it has a routine to let MTP that the DX200 has not).

In the pictures below, they have been resized (in a 27" iMac) and you can see the scroll bar at right.

Hello paco

 

[Bedrock]

Hi Bedrock,

I have been fiddling with ATF and lets resize the window like any other Finder window and scroll that window (see pictures below). I organize my music (mainly classical) in folders that lets me find a disc easily. Apart from the DX200 reverting to USB for charging (yes, a pain) and having to select USB for FT again and again, functions perfectly. However, copying takes time. Although I use a USB 3 cable I think that the DX200 is an USB 2 device.

Therefore, USB 3 adapters for microcards and ATF for the internal memory. Fiio X7 II that uses a similar ES9028Pro (but Android 5) lets mount the device directly (it looks like it has a routine to let MTP that the DX200 has not).
TO
In the pictures below, they have been resized (in a 27" iMac) and you can see the scroll bar at right.

Hello Paco, sincere thanks for all the help. The DX is proving to be a trial of persistence & persecution. I am making progress but slowly. So it turns out that the SanDisk micro card I was using had embedded 'tags'(I can post an image later if anyone is interested) which must be from using Disk Utility to erase the card. I'm going to need to use another program to erase my cards, any ide

 

[Paco Lopez]

Hello Paco, sincere thanks for all the help. The DX is proving to be a trial of persistence & persecution. I am making progress but slowly. So it turns out that the SanDisk micro card I was using had embedded 'tags'(I can post an image later if anyone is interested) which must be from using Disk Utility to erase the card. I'm going to need to use another program to erase my cards, any ide

For most of commercial microSD cards there is no need to format them again as they are already in the correct format, that is, exFAT. I have used Disk Utility to format some old cards that were formatted as FAT. This older format type does not let to write files larger than 2 Gb and some DSD256 files are rather huge. The SD Association has a SD card formatter for both Windows and Mac that can be dowloaded from their site (https://is.gd/PcaDOr). I have seldom used it but is recommended in several forums.
If you are to use Disk Utility to format I would counsel following those steps:
1. Ascertain that the card has a format different from exFAT: select the card in the Finder and press command+I. In the resulting window you will see in the fourth line the type of format.
2. Open a card window to ensure is an empty card or one that can be erased.

2. Launch Disk Utility, select your card at left and press Erase at the top icons. In the window that lowers select exFAT, leave the scheme to MBR and give it a name that has a maximum of 8 characters (some DAC players and cameras give problems with longer names). Press Erase and the card will be formatted as exFAT. The card will mount in the Finder once Disk Utility has finished. Just to be sure, press command+I after selecting the card in the Finder to ascertain it.

The card can now be read in most players and can be mounted in the Finder in Mac or the Desktop in Windows.

 

[Bedrock]

Hi Bedrock,

I have been fiddling with ATF and lets resize the window like any other Finder window and scroll that window (see pictures below). I organize my music (mainly classical) in folders that lets me find a disc easily. Apart from the DX200 reverting to USB for charging (yes, a pain) and having to select USB for FT again and again, functions perfectly. However, copying takes time. Although I use a USB 3 cable I think that the DX200 is an USB 2 device.

Therefore, USB 3 adapters for microcards and ATF for the internal memory. Fiio X7 II that uses a similar ES9028Pro (but Android 5) lets mount the device directly (it looks like it has a routine to let MTP that the DX200 has not).
TO
In the pictures below, they have been resized (in a 27" iMac) and you can see the scroll bar at right.

Hi Paco, thanks for the images & all your help. Update:new SD card used, AFT a lot more stable but still losing connection to DX but as i said it's a lot more stable than before. NOTE to newbies including myself- when you mount the SD card it should show only one folder 'DIR.LOCK'. ( Disc Utility in Mac appears to be leaving files on the erased card that is conflicting with AFT, I have an image of these files if anyone is interested). Loaded ~15Gb of music w/o much of a problem. Disconnected DX & scanned new card, all good. Went to All Music on DX & it's as before ie cannot play all songs from a selected Artist, only an album or a selected song. Similarly you cannot play all songs from a selected Genre only an album or a song within. Is this the same for all DX's or is it just confined to my device? Very annoying.

Worth pointing out to the guru's out there, maybe, when I set up the DX originally I simply dragged & dropped my music(~160Gb) onto the SD card & loaded it no problem to the same result as above ie didn't use AFT at all. I was hoping that by using AFT that I would get more 'play options' but it's not the case. Implications- a hardware issue?

Any suggestions please
Thanks a mil, again.

 

[Bedrock]

For most of commercial microSD cards there is no need to format them again as they are already in the correct format, that is, exFAT. I have used Disk Utility to format some old cards that were formatted as FAT. This older format type does not let to write files larger than 2 Gb and some DSD256 files are rather huge. The SD Association has a SD card formatter for both Windows and Mac that can be dowloaded from their site (https://is.gd/PcaDOr). I have seldom used it but is recommended in several forums.
If you are to use Disk Utility to format I would counsel following those steps:
1. Ascertain that the card has a format different from exFAT: select the card in the Finder and press command+I. In the resulting window you will see in the fourth line the type of format.
2. Open a card window to ensure is an empty card or one that can be erased.

2. Launch Disk Utility, select your card at left and press Erase at the top icons. In the window that lowers select exFAT, leave the scheme to MBR and give it a name that has a maximum of 8 characters (some DAC players and cameras give problems with longer names). Press Erase and the card will be formatted as exFAT. The card will mount in the Finder once Disk Utility has finished. Just to be sure, press command+I after selecting the card in the Finder to ascertain it.

The card can now be read in most players and can be mounted in the Finder in Mac or the Desktop in Windows.

Thanks Paco. Will definitely be downloading your link for formatting the SD cards. I've formatted plenty of storage devices but this is the first time there's being an issue. DX is melting my mind but I'm sure I'll get there eventually- it's so musical, love it to bits. Paco can you tell me this much- can the standard DX play all songs form a selected Artist ( eg 10 albums by that artist, can it play them all? ) & likewise if you select a Genre can you play all songs within that Genre? Maybe I need to look elsewhere for this play function.
I should have asked this from this onset but I just presumed it would be a loaded function.
Thanks a mil Paco.

 

[Paco Lopez]

Hi Paco, thanks for the images & all your help. Update:new SD card used, AFT a lot more stable but still losing connection to DX but as i said it's a lot more stable than before. NOTE to newbies including myself- when you mount the SD card it should show only one folder 'DIR.LOCK'. ( Disc Utility in Mac appears to be leaving files on the erased card that is conflicting with AFT, I have an image of these files if anyone is interested). Loaded ~15Gb of music w/o much of a problem. Disconnected DX & scanned new card, all good. Went to All Music on DX & it's as before ie cannot play all songs from a selected Artist, only an album or a selected song. Similarly you cannot play all songs from a selected Genre only an album or a song within. Is this the same for all DX's or is it just confined to my device? Very annoying.

Worth pointing out to the guru's out there, maybe, when I set up the DX originally I simply dragged & dropped my music(~160Gb) onto the SD card & loaded it no problem to the same result as above ie didn't use AFT at all. I was hoping that by using AFT that I would get more 'play options' but it's not the case. Implications- a hardware issue?

Any suggestions please
Thanks a mil, again.

Probably the first time you used the microSD card was directly connected to the Mac using an adapter and you were able to copy music from the Mac to the card. Both Windows and Mac write hidden files that do not affect the DX200 (in some previous firmware some dstore mac files were seen in the DX200 but they are no longer visible). These files are written by the operating system not the formatter. If you are seeing these files you have selected to see hidden files in the Mac. In Sierra and High Sierra is easy to show/hide these files pressing command+shift+. [period]. I should hide them as they are just useful for developers only.

In relation to selecting Artist or Genre, you have "not" mentioned that you scan the card when you introduce it for first time or change its contents. Mango does not know the contents until you scan the card (actually scans the metadata of the music files). Once scanned, Mango has a lists of Artists, Genre, etc. And will reproduce accordingly.

You can also force a scan sliding the screen of Mango to the right (slide a finger from right to left). In the last screen select Rescan Library.

One problem however. Your files must have the correct metadata. That is, if a file does not contain a Genre or Artist tag, the DX200 (or any other player from Fiio, A&K, Denon, Onkyo or Sony) will not know which genre that song belongs to. Therefore you have to display the metadata to ensure that is complete and adapted to your needs. One solution is to use iTunes that lets you review the tags included in the file. However, iTunes does not read DSD files (but can read any format in PCM).

Although one could expect that purchased music files would be properly labelled, that is not the case. I have found that a lot of commercial downloadable music come with little or no metadata. For example, WAV files do not contain metadata (due to the format not the record company) and AIFF format should be preferred. Some have no genre included. Some include an artist that does not correspond to the disc. Therefore, there is a little work to be done before having a proper experience with genre and artists. There are 2 programs for Mac that I normally use: Dapper (https://itunes.apple.com/es/app/dapper/id903223330?mt=12) for making lists from iTunes and Metadatics (https://itunes.apple.com/es/app/metadatics/id554883654?mt=12) to correct tags in batch mode (all the files of a disc in one go) of a folder of music files.

Like other DAP, the DX200 is a computer with an operating system (Android) that reproduces high definition music (and mp3 for that matter) and will require time to master it. In my opinion and having listened to other players, it is the best sounding device I have heard. Perhaps, it is not an all tasks device as some of the reports in reproducing Tidal show. But Tidal streams PCM that can be reproduced by any capable Android or iPhone device. The clicking noises were present in the DX200 some time ago. They were due to FLAC/ALAC files changing bit rates from song to song and the DAC Sabre chips adjusting the changing rate. They are no longer present in FLAC/ALAC (that are lossless compressed formats and have variable bit rates for every file) but can be present for Tidal that uses a similar lossless compressed format. A question however, if Mango eliminated the clicking sounds, does Tidal app let them?

 

[Bedrock]

Probably the first time you used the microSD card was directly connected to the Mac using an adapter and you were able to copy music from the Mac to the card. Both Windows and Mac write hidden files that do not affect the DX200 (in some previous firmware some dstore mac files were seen in the DX200 but they are no longer visible). These files are written by the operating system not the formatter. If you are seeing these files you have selected to see hidden files in the Mac. In Sierra and High Sierra is easy to show/hide these files pressing command+shift+. [period]. I should hide them as they are just useful for developers only.

In relation to selecting Artist or Genre, you have "not" mentioned that you scan the card when you introduce it for first time or change its contents. Mango does not know the contents until you scan the card (actually scans the metadata of the music files). Once scanned, Mango has a lists of Artists, Genre, etc. And will reproduce accordingly.

You can also force a scan sliding the screen of Mango to the right (slide a finger from right to left). In the last screen select Rescan Library.

One problem however. Your files must have the correct metadata. That is, if a file does not contain a Genre or Artist tag, the DX200 (or any other player from Fiio, A&K, Denon, Onkyo or Sony) will not know which genre that song belongs to. Therefore you have to display the metadata to ensure that is complete and adapted to your needs. One solution is to use iTunes that lets you review the tags included in the file. However, iTunes does not read DSD files (but can read any format in PCM).

Although one could expect that purchased music files would be properly labelled, that is not the case. I have found that a lot of commercial downloadable music come with little or no metadata. For example, WAV files do not contain metadata (due to the format not the record company) and AIFF format should be preferred. Some have no genre included. Some include an artist that does not correspond to the disc. Therefore, there is a little work to be done before having a proper experience with genre and artists. There are 2 programs for Mac that I normally use: Dapper (https://itunes.apple.com/es/app/dapper/id903223330?mt=12) for making lists from iTunes and Metadatics (https://itunes.apple.com/es/app/metadatics/id554883654?mt=12) to correct tags in batch mode (all the files of a disc in one go) of a folder of music files.

Like other DAP, the DX200 is a computer with an operating system (Android) that reproduces high definition music (and mp3 for that matter) and will require time to master it. In my opinion and having listened to other players, it is the best sounding device I have heard. Perhaps, it is not an all tasks device as some of the reports in reproducing Tidal show. But Tidal streams PCM that can be reproduced by any capable Android or iPhone device. The clicking noises were present in the DX200 some time ago. They were due to FLAC/ALAC files changing bit rates from song to song and the DAC Sabre chips adjusting the changing rate. They are no longer present in FLAC/ALAC (that are lossless compressed formats and have variable bit rates for every file) but can be present for Tidal that uses a similar lossless compressed format. A question however, if Mango eliminated the clicking sounds, does Tidal app let them?

Hi Paco, thanks again for the quick & detailed reply, it's going to take me a while to assimilate but I don't know if my answer is in the above. I used dBPowerAmp to rip my CD's so 'all' the metadata should be present, you're familiar with the program?
So I just had a look at my iPod to try & clarify my issue. I think it's a hierarchy problem though my use of hierarchy may be incorrect. All my CD's have been tagged by Artist & Genre. What is missing is the 'root' folder. We'll take Genre as an example as this has an extra step-

On the iPod if you choose 'Classical' > All Albums (first option with albums listed below) > All Songs (first option with songs listed below); you can choose either one & use whatever play option you wish, ie. shuffle, straight through etc. The DX is missing 'All Albums' & 'All Songs'
iPod if you select Artists > All Albums > Artist > All Songs- again you have the choice of selecting any of the last three with the various play options.
The DX has all my CD's tagged & located correctly within their genres. So I'm missing that top line( referring to the iPod here)- am I making sense? I feel like I'm going round in circles so I can post some images if you need them. I don't expect the DX to behave like the iPod but I would expect that versatility when it comes to playing songs of an artist or songs within a genre.
Sorry for all the posts & thanks again for all your help.

 

[Bedrock]

Probably the first time you used the microSD card was directly connected to the Mac using an adapter and you were able to copy music from the Mac to the card. Both Windows and Mac write hidden files that do not affect the DX200 (in some previous firmware some dstore mac files were seen in the DX200 but they are no longer visible). These files are written by the operating system not the formatter. If you are seeing these files you have selected to see hidden files in the Mac. In Sierra and High Sierra is easy to show/hide these files pressing command+shift+. [period]. I should hide them as they are just useful for developers only.

In relation to selecting Artist or Genre, you have "not" mentioned that you scan the card when you introduce it for first time or change its contents. Mango does not know the contents until you scan the card (actually scans the metadata of the music files). Once scanned, Mango has a lists of Artists, Genre, etc. And will reproduce accordingly.

You can also force a scan sliding the screen of Mango to the right (slide a finger from right to left). In the last screen select Rescan Library.

One problem however. Your files must have the correct metadata. That is, if a file does not contain a Genre or Artist tag, the DX200 (or any other player from Fiio, A&K, Denon, Onkyo or Sony) will not know which genre that song belongs to. Therefore you have to display the metadata to ensure that is complete and adapted to your needs. One solution is to use iTunes that lets you review the tags included in the file. However, iTunes does not read DSD files (but can read any format in PCM).

Although one could expect that purchased music files would be properly labelled, that is not the case. I have found that a lot of commercial downloadable music come with little or no metadata. For example, WAV files do not contain metadata (due to the format not the record company) and AIFF format should be preferred. Some have no genre included. Some include an artist that does not correspond to the disc. Therefore, there is a little work to be done before having a proper experience with genre and artists. There are 2 programs for Mac that I normally use: Dapper (https://itunes.apple.com/es/app/dapper/id903223330?mt=12) for making lists from iTunes and Metadatics (https://itunes.apple.com/es/app/metadatics/id554883654?mt=12) to correct tags in batch mode (all the files of a disc in one go) of a folder of music files.

Like other DAP, the DX200 is a computer with an operating system (Android) that reproduces high definition music (and mp3 for that matter) and will require time to master it. In my opinion and having listened to other players, it is the best sounding device I have heard. Perhaps, it is not an all tasks device as some of the reports in reproducing Tidal show. But Tidal streams PCM that can be reproduced by any capable Android or iPhone device. The clicking noises were present in the DX200 some time ago. They were due to FLAC/ALAC files changing bit rates from song to song and the DAC Sabre chips adjusting the changing rate. They are no longer present in FLAC/ALAC (that are lossless compressed formats and have variable bit rates for every file) but can be present for Tidal that uses a similar lossless compressed format. A question however, if Mango eliminated the clicking sounds, does Tidal app let them?

 

[Bedrock]

Hi Paco, can I give you a s simple illustration, hopefully it will help.

Example: I have only two albums by Van Morrison, Moondance & Bright Side of the Road. Can you select to play his albums together in shuffle mode or straight through for that matter? I can't on my DX

Thanks a mil, again

 

[Paco Lopez]

Hi Paco, can I give you a s simple illustration, hopefully it will help.

Example: I have only two albums by Van Morrison, Moondance & Bright Side of the Road. Can you select to play his albums together in shuffle mode or straight through for that matter? I can't on my DX

Thanks a mil, again

Hi Bedrock
I now see what you are intending and I think Mango cannot do it (I normally do not use lists or genre/artists). You have albums/folders for each disc and DX200 cannot go through folders (most of Fiio DAPs have this in settings). Therefore will play one folder and will stop. In genre, say you have four albums and select the first one and that folder will be the only one reproduced. An alternative is to have all music inside just one folder. The DX200 will reproduce all songs from an artist/genre given that it will be just one folder.

Some messages above you have one from Lurker0 that has prepared an alternative firmware that will use other players as his own HilbyMusic (free) or USB Audio Player (not free). It is a little imposing of applying (as you must use either Windows or the Terminal in Mac and install Xcode, Xcode command files and some other files (Homebrew); i.e., can be limiting in a Macbook due to lack disk space). Both programs detailed above behave as an iPod. Also, the program I wrote before, Dapper, lets you make lists or prepare a microcard in the format you want (al music files together in folder, etc.)

Alternatively, we could ask Paul to have this facility in the next update of the firmware.

 

[Bedrock]

Hi Bedrock
I now see what you are intending and I think Mango cannot do it (I normally do not use lists or genre/artists). You have albums/folders for each disc and DX200 cannot go through folders (most of Fiio DAPs have this in settings). Therefore will play one folder and will stop. In genre, say you have four albums and select the first one and that folder will be the only one reproduced. An alternative is to have all music inside just one folder. The DX200 will reproduce all songs from an artist/genre given that it will be just one folder.

Some messages above you have one from Lurker0 that has prepared an alternative firmware that will use other players as his own HilbyMusic (free) or USB Audio Player (not free). It is a little imposing of applying (as you must use either Windows or the Terminal in Mac and install Xcode, Xcode command files and some other files (Homebrew); i.e., can be limiting in a Macbook due to lack disk space). Both programs detailed above behave as an iPod. Also, the program I wrote before, Dapper, lets you make lists or prepare a microcard in the format you want (al music files together in folder, etc.)

Alternatively, we could ask Paul to have this facility in the next update of the firmware.

Thanks Paco so much. Yes came to the same conclusion last night. Need a third party app, maybe download the Hiby music app from Google- this might work in the interim until Paul comes back hopefully with an update. Was also looking at the LurkerO FW update but yes looks intimidating so will hold off for now going down that route.
Thanks again for all your help. You don’t have a link to the last FW update & what members want on the next update- the site is a challenge when your looking for something specific. The search engine I’ve found to date is practically useless though I understand the site only lately had a makeover.
I know Paul has passed on the issue to Software so fingers crossed it will be in the next FW update; I think it would be great as well if you could copy a song from your SD to the DX’s internal memory IMO.
Anyway thanks again for all your help. Happy listening

Hi Bedrock
I now see what you are intending and I think Mango cannot do it (I normally do not use lists or genre/artists). You have albums/folders for each disc and DX200 cannot go through folders (most of Fiio DAPs have this in settings). Therefore will play one folder and will stop. In genre, say you have four albums and select the first one and that folder will be the only one reproduced. An alternative is to have all music inside just one folder. The DX200 will reproduce all songs from an artist/genre given that it will be just one folder.

Some messages above you have one from Lurker0 that has prepared an alternative firmware that will use other players as his own HilbyMusic (free) or USB Audio Player (not free). It is a little imposing of applying (as you must use either Windows or the Terminal in Mac and install Xcode, Xcode command files and some other files (Homebrew); i.e., can be limiting in a Macbook due to lack disk space). Both programs detailed above behave as an iPod. Also, the program I wrote before, Dapper, lets you make lists or prepare a microcard in the format you want (al music files together in folder, etc.)

Alternatively, we could ask Paul to have this facility in the next update of the firmware.

 

[Bedrock]

Hi Paco, many thanks for all the help & advice. Came to the same conclusion last night, that's it not supported so going to check out Dapper next. Paul hopefully will sort it & in the meantime going to try HilbyMusic from Google Play as a stopgap. I thought it would be good if you could copy a song over to the internal drive from the SD while OTG, what do you think? I'm sure there's lots of requests . Anyway Paco sincere talks again.

 

[Bedrock]

See my signature for a firmware for DX200 which allows USB Mass Storage mode, and more.

Hello Lurker0, looking at your latest FW upgrade V2.8.198. Can you tell me does it have the play functionality that I'm after? In the meantime I'll keep reading the material on the rebuild.
Thanks a mil.