[garcsa]

Hi guys,
Listening Tidal MQA tracks through nano idsd black. The LED indicators color is green not magenta . Am I missed something in settings?

 

[435279]

Hi guys,
Listening Tidal MQA tracks through nano idsd black. The LED indicators color is green not magenta . Am I missed something in settings?

Uncheck "Passthrough MQA" and you should be good to go.

 

[gLer]

Hi guys, new to this thread. Just wanted to check from those who know: if using an ifi as a DAC ONLY (i.e. analogue line out to an amp), is there a notable difference between the iDSD Micro (original), iDSD Micro BL, and iDSD Nano BL, since they all seem to have the same dual-chip 1793 DAC built-in? Also, what are the chances of ifi providing balanced line out on a future ifi Micro/Nano product, given the DACs are already essentially balanced internally? Thx - and apologies for any inaccuracies in my assumptions.

 

[garcsa]

Uncheck "Passthrough MQA" and you should be good to go.

Thanks, but originally was unchecked. Still green

 

[Demo3]

Thanks, but originally was unchecked. Still green


When I was playing MQA file on Tidal, I unplugged the usb cable and repluged it... then Tidal saw a MQA divce and it changed color, of course it still needs pass-through off and the other 2 options checked on my setup.

 

[435279]

Thanks, but originally was unchecked. Still green


When I was playing MQA file on Tidal, I unplugged the usb cable and repluged it... then Tidal saw a MQA divce and it changed color, of course it still needs pass-through off and the other 2 options checked on my setup.

Yes, that works for me, I should have mentioned Exclusive mode needs to be on too.

 

[iFi audio]

For some reason, when upsampling I just get DSD128 and not DSD256. It just show up 64DSD and 128DSD.

For now to get DSD256 via DOP it is needed to flash the firmware version 5.2A, in this case MQA is not available.

For now only version 5.3C beta firmware is released. It decodes and displays MQA correctly and upsamples all PCM audio to 352.8/378kHz using a minimum phase, minimum ringing filter.

We are still working on 5.30 - which will be standard iDSD nano operation with MQA for iDSD nano Black Label and 5.3A which will allow DoP DSD256 and include MQA.

 

[iFi audio]

Many thanks for that. I think iFi should make this clear to avoid confusion for idiots like me

Pity the 2.5mm trrs wasn't adopted here.

There is only so much space on the front panel. We had to make the choice. It was either two balanced 3.5mm connectors fully compatible with standard TRS terminated headphones (which are 99 out of 100 out there), one with iEMatch or the alternative of one 3.5mm and one 2.5mm (or 4.4mm) socket and no iEMatch.

Following discussions with our distribution & retail channels as well as potential customers the choice fell on using two 3.5mm for providing the most utility to the largest number of potential customers.

 

[j4100]

Fair enough, though it wasn't obvious to me (self-confessed idiot) that both connections were both trs and trrs.

 

[iFi audio]

Is there a notable difference between the iDSD Micro (original), iDSD Micro BL, and iDSD Nano BL, since they all seem to have the same dual-chip 1793 DAC built-in?

The difference between micro iDSD BL and micro iDSD is substantial.

since they all seem to have the same dual-chip 1793 DAC built-in?

It's not only about the chip itself but rather what one does with it

Also, what are the chances of ifi providing balanced line out on a future ifi Micro/Nano product, given the DACs are already essentially balanced internally?

Not going to happen, there's no room for XLRs in our micro/nano range. The pro family is a different story, these products have these.

 

[DarwinOSX]

Yes, that works for me, I should have mentioned Exclusive mode needs to be on too.

Isn’t passthrough for devices that do the full MQA decoding like a Meridian Explorer 2?
Since this device is a renderer and does not do the full MQA decode I believe it needs Tidal to still do the first decode in software.

 

[DarwinOSX]

For now to get DSD256 via DOP it is needed to flash the firmware version 5.2A, in this case MQA is not available.

For now only version 5.3C beta firmware is released. It decodes and displays MQA correctly and upsamples all PCM audio to 352.8/378kHz using a minimum phase, minimum ringing filter.

We are still working on 5.30 - which will be standard iDSD nano operation with MQA for iDSD nano Black Label and 5.3A which will allow DoP DSD256 and include MQA.

I don’t see these caveats on your web site.
It also doesn’t mention it is an MQA renderer not a full decoder.
IFi customer support said full MQA decoding is in their higher end models but I don’t see any that list that.

 

[435279]

Isn’t passthrough for devices that do the full MQA decoding like a Meridian Explorer 2?
Since this device is a renderer and does not do the full MQA decode I believe it needs Tidal to still do the first decode in software.

Yes that is correct.

 

[iFi audio]

And if someone would like to know how nano iDSD BL looks, here's some additional material:

 

[kevin_jazz]

I'm trying to wrap my head around this exciting new device. I own a iFi nano iDSD, iPhone, Sennheiser Momentum Over-Ear, Mac, and Audirvana+. Like everyone else, I'm subscribed to Tidal Hifi, which is one of the main ways I listen to music (including the very exciting ECM catalog now available). When I listen to Tidal through my Mac, then A+ is doing all of the decoding and rendering for MQA, so I don't see an inherent advantage for the nano iDSD BL. If I just have my iPhone+iDSD BL, then we currently can't use the MQA as it is not supported by the iPhone Tidal app.

The first question is whether we could reasonably expect that MQA *will* become available on the iPhone Tidal app in the relatively near future. In this case, this new iDSD BL would be one of the few truly portable MQA solutions. I'm not sure if I understand the difference between decoding and rendering in this case.

Otherwise, I guess it comes down to how much better this new nano iDSD is better than the previous generation. The two gain stages should help with more sensitive headphones like the Momentums. The built-in camera kit removes some extraneous cords. But it loses SPIDF and RCA outs.

Are there any other differences that I'm missing?