Hey guys, I'm curious about the different firmwares. From the description I can understand that you'd need "Limoncello" for DSD512, "Cookies & Cream" for PCM768kHz & "Sub-Version' for GTO, but do these firmwares effect sound quality in any other way or for lesser sample rate files?
I've been listening to my Signature flashing different firmwares and toggling different filters and so far I can tell that there is a difference between GTO vs other firmwares but I'm not sure between Limoncello & Cookies & Cream. Same with filters, I notice a difference between bit-perfect & standard but cannot reliably say the same between standard & minimum phase.
I'm using Sundara for testing purposes but I'd appreciate it if someone else can shed some light on this, maybe I need better Headphones to hear the difference?
I have tested all Firmwares yesterday, including the new "XMOS" (1.5) FW. I could not tell a diffence between the filter selection on all non GTO FW's (Bit Perfect, Minimum Phase, Standard), inluding the 1.5/XMOS FW.
There seems to be a slight difference when using the GTO FW (seems a little more velvety, if that makes sense), but it could be that this is imaginary because reliabe A/B Testing is impossible without having 2 units.
Edit: Also I have noticed a bug in ALL FW's: when using Apple Music on Android with "High-Res Lossless" enabled and the device switches to >96 KHz if a accorinding track is played, the track is totally muffled. When setting Apple Music to only use "Lossless", e.g. a sample Rate Limit to max 48 KHz, the same track sounds totally correct. This can only be observed on Android, as iOS or MacOS does not switch sample rate automatically according to the track. I have used a Pixel 2 XL running Android 11. Also the LED indicating sample rate does not always switch back to green from yellow on non GTO FW's, even though sample rate has definetly changed back to <=96 KHz.
Please refer to this track for the issue with muffeld tracks when playing High-Res Lossless vs Lossless, Lossless not beeing muffled:
https://music.apple.com/en/album/%E3%83%86%E3%82%A4%E3%82%AF-%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%82%A4%E3%83%B4/993155167?i=993155180
For all users facing the same bug on Android: set the max Quality to "Lossless" in Apple Music.
Edit 2: I have rechecked the features of v1.5 (the one reffered to as "XMOS" in the download section). It indeed seems to be the launch firmware, as it is NOT working with my PS5. The only FW that is are 7.2B (which does not support MQA) or 7.2C (which is the GTO Variant). Also, I cannot see 7.2 as an download option, which would be 7.0 but with PS5 support. I think I will just stick with 7.2C.
Edit 3: The problem with "High Res Lossless" is caused by the Android ROM not implementing USB OTG correctly. Lineage OS fixed the issue for me.