[Chibs]

At our site you should see this:

• 7.0c – GTO Filter / MQA / DSD256 (Sub-version)
• 7.0 – MQA / DSD256 (Cookies & Cream – core firmware)

Hey,
So I have a new(ish) Signature but it's under the " 2014001021" according to the box sticker. When I look at my device as I'm connected to my Windows 10 machine the sn reads "0000000000"
So I should NOT upgrade my 5.3 firmware, correct?
Am I missing out on anything in the v7.0c?

Chibs

 

[531412]

Hey,
So I have a new(ish) Signature but it's under the " 2014001021" according to the box sticker. When I look at my device as I'm connected to my Windows 10 machine the sn reads "0000000000"
So I should NOT upgrade my 5.3 firmware, correct?
Am I missing out on anything in the v7.0c?

Chibs

Haha, yes. If I check the Sn via ifi's software, I also see just "0000000000"

 

[Sebastien Chiu]

Hey,
So I have a new(ish) Signature but it's under the " 2014001021" according to the box sticker. When I look at my device as I'm connected to my Windows 10 machine the sn reads "0000000000"
So I should NOT upgrade my 5.3 firmware, correct?
Am I missing out on anything in the v7.0c?

Chibs

Haha, yes. If I check the Sn via ifi's software, I also see just "0000000000"

You should go off the serial number you see on the box sticker!

 

[Chibs]

You should go off the serial number you see on the box sticker!

Figured lol

So my serial number is 20140005XX. Still under requirements for new v7.0c.
So I should NOT upgrade my 5.3 firmware, correct?
Am I missing out on anything in the v7.0c?

Chibs

 

[yiauta]

Figured lol

So my serial number is 20140005XX. Still under requirements for new v7.0c.
So I should NOT upgrade my 5.3 firmware, correct?
Am I missing out on anything in the v7.0c?

Chibs

Firmware version 5.3 appears to work the same as version 7.0. Version 5.3c appears to work the same as version 7.0c. The reason for different versions appears to be a change in XMOS chips from what I can see.

 

[Sebastien Chiu]

Figured lol

So my serial number is 20140005XX. Still under requirements for new v7.0c.
So I should NOT upgrade my 5.3 firmware, correct?
Am I missing out on anything in the v7.0c?

Chibs

This is a no from us for both!

 

[mblain]

If you go back a few pages on this thread, @yiauta has screenshots of everything and screenshots of his interactions with the support team.

yeah, I saw those images. That's the USB driver on a windows machine which makes sense it's v1.5. The firm on those screenshots show 5.3. I was curious since you're running it on your mac what you see when you check your version?

 

[Chibs]

Firmware version 5.3 appears to work the same as version 7.0. Version 5.3c appears to work the same as version 7.0c. The reason for different versions appears to be a change in XMOS chips from what I can see.

This is a no from us for both!

Thank you both!

 

[robopanda]

yeah, I saw those images. That's the USB driver on a windows machine which makes sense it's v1.5. The firm on those screenshots show 5.3. I was curious since you're running it on your mac what you see when you check your version?

No the usb driver version on the windows machine is v3.2. The same image actually shows the firmware version to be v1.5. It shows v1.5 when I check on my Mac and on my windows.

 

[iFi audio]

Firmware version 5.3 appears to work the same as version 7.0. Version 5.3c appears to work the same as version 7.0c. The reason for different versions appears to be a change in XMOS chips from what I can see.

To make it crystal clear:

FW5.3 = FW7.0
FW5.3c = FW7.0c

That said, FW7.0/7.0c aren't upgraded 5.3/5.3c versions, but FW specifically for products above serial numbers listed at our website.

 

[iFi audio]

Also folks, one announcement:

We are very proud of the AMR/iFi Support Ticket System (STS). It is run by real people based in the UK and USA who work around local office hours. And some even pop in at the weekend too, but this is purely voluntary.

Throughout our team, we have different levels of technical knowledge.

As of today, we receive approximately 70:30 iFi and non-iFi audio related questions. Please bear in mind the questions are usually quite technical and a simple first reply seldom means a ticket can be closed.

Hence, we have to spend time helping each and every customer be they an iFi or non-iFi audio customer.

Our turnaround time is 24-48 hours and we try our best to meet this but from time to time, we can be extremely busy with many tickets.

So, we thank you and ask for your patience during busy periods as we will get around to answering each and every one of you.

Thank you!

 

[robopanda]

To make it crystal clear:

FW5.3 = FW7.0
FW5.3c = FW7.0c

That said, FW7.0/7.0c aren't upgraded 5.3/5.3c versions, but FW specifically for products above serial numbers listed at our website.

When are we going to have a FW5.2 equivalent?

 

[kion]

Question for @iFi audio and @Sebastien Chiu, it looks like the new models are compatible with both 5.3 and 7.0 and from my understanding of earlier posts they have the same functionalities, so why do you release a new version specifically for the new model?

I want to know this as someone who just bought it 2 weeks ago from your official storefront on Amazon and just found out it is the old model.

 

[robopanda]

Question for @iFi audio and @Sebastien Chiu, it looks like the new models are compatible with both 5.3 and 7.0 and from my understanding of earlier posts they have the same functionalities, so why do you release a new version specifically for the new model?

I want to know this as someone who just bought it 2 weeks ago from your official storefront on Amazon and just found out it is the old model.

The “new” models are not compatible with v5. At this point they are not even DSD512 compatible because v7 has no DSD512 ability. Your “old” model actually has better functionalities with the same sound. The only reason they had to release firmware version 7 is because they didn’t realize that there was a change in the chipset that is not compatible with version 5 and now they are scrambling to fix the oversight.

 

[Currawong]

If you ask nicely maybe somebody will open theirs up for you and take pictures, I would have done if I'd decided in the end not to buy one due to a change of tack in the hobby.

I have done this too, though not posted them. I think Penon audio probably edited the pictures out of respect to the manufacturer who might not want them revealed. That being said, nobody is really missing anything special. PC1793 DACs with a TPA6120A2 headphone driver, and depending on serial number, one or another XMOS USB chipset.

cool, still no dsd 512. I don't know why ifi should be ignorant of the chipset changes in their own product.

What's your obsession with DSD512? It can't have any possible benefit with a device at this level. If you're up-sampling, just use DSD256. That being said, I just switched to 5.2 and the BitPerfect (NOS) mode sounds glorious, especially with high-res material. Much better than the mushed transients you get from DSD.

Same question here @iFi audio . I too have received early serial number less than 2014001021 for the Signature unit. Is it fair to make changes / upgrade internal components for the same model with different serial numbers? I would never pre-order again an ifi product if this is how the early buyers are treated differently.

You didn't realise that just about every component manufacturer out there changes parts internally and does silent-upgrades without announcement?

Sensibly iFi put the USB on a daughter board so that they wouldn't be constrained by the USB chip going EOL and them having to re-design the main board.

Lastly though, iFi, you really need to get it together with manuals and web page info.