[iFi audio]

Hey just needed to give an immense shout out to the iFi team. Love their products - have Nano BL and HipDac - both great products. Excellent neutral sounding amp / dacs - clarity at its' best. Had a minor issue and willing to pay. European office looked to see if they had a missing part and forwarded to the USA office and they provided replacement. Much appreciation especially during these unprecedented times. Great company to partner with - many thanks. Great group of people.

Much appreciated! Times are odd and we're doing our best to help if we can, so once again a big thank you for noticing that

 

[jwbrent]

@iFi audio, just ordered the nano iDSD BL to use with my iPhone SE. Is the firmware for newly shipped units 5.3 or 5.3c (I think I have that right)?

 

[iFi audio]

@iFi audio, just ordered the nano iDSD BL to use with my iPhone SE. Is the firmware for newly shipped units 5.3 or 5.3c (I think I have that right)?

Yes, it should be 5.3.

 

[jwbrent]

@iFi audio, thank you for your reply. My nano’s box has a black sticker on the sleeve indicating MQA capability, but when I played MQA files, no magenta light. These files are part of my library, not streaming from Tidal. Any ideas?

I do want to say I’m happy with the fit and finish other than the volume knob. When turned, it’s cockeyed with 12 o’clock looking perfectly aligned, but turning the control down or up and the knob very visibly is askew. The operation, though, is silky smooth.

 

[jwbrent]

Really enjoying the nano iDSD with my iPhone SE playing my favorite internet station, Radio Paradise, in lossless mode.

 

[iFi audio]

@iFi audio, thank you for your reply. My nano’s box has a black sticker on the sleeve indicating MQA capability, but when I played MQA files, no magenta light. These files are part of my library, not streaming from Tidal. Any ideas?

Yup, please see this vid:

If your iFi device doesn't go magenta, then audio stream sent to it isn't MQA. Most likely it's about settings in Tidal.

Really enjoying the nano iDSD with my iPhone SE playing my favorite internet station, Radio Paradise, in lossless mode.

Very cool setup! I trust it sounds good ?

 

[jwbrent]

Yup, please see this vid:

If your iFi device doesn't go magenta, then audio stream sent to it isn't MQA. Most likely it's about settings in Tidal.



Very cool setup! I trust it sounds good ?

My MQA files were purchased, they’re not from a streaming service, so the video (link broken) doesn’t apply to my situation. It’s not a big deal to me, but I wonder if native MQA files work with the nano.

In regards to the sound, I’m burning in the nano now, but I have done some listening and my initial impression is quite good ... I’m going by memory here from when I owned the xDSD, but I think the nano sounds better. Maybe all the Black Label components doing their magic!

 

[iFi audio]

Maybe all the Black Label components doing their magic!

Could be

My MQA files were purchased, they’re not from a streaming service, so the video (link broken) doesn’t apply to my situation. It’s not a big deal to me, but I wonder if native MQA files work with the nano.

I understand. nano iDSD BL will handle purchased MQA files as well, but it needs to receive them in their native form. If you're not getting magenta LED, I'd check whether your player of choice sends MQA unaltered.

 

[Rick T.]

Could be

Doesn’t the xDSD have the same parts quality built-in (Silmiics, etc.) as the Nano BL?

 

[BobSmith8901]

My MQA files were purchased, they’re not from a streaming service, so the video (link broken) doesn’t apply to my situation. It’s not a big deal to me, but I wonder if native MQA files work with the nano.

In regards to the sound, I’m burning in the nano now, but I have done some listening and my initial impression is quite good ... I’m going by memory here from when I owned the xDSD, but I think the nano sounds better. Maybe all the Black Label components doing their magic!

Hi jwbrent--

I read what iFi audio said in regards to your question and wanted to add my 2 cents, for what it's worth...

I've got a bunch of MQA test bench track downloads from 2L that render fine with my Nano iDSD BL and I get the magenta light. I'm on Windows 10 with the 5.3C firmware and using the Audirvana for Win 10 player to play these local (not Tidal) MQA tracks.

I don't know anything about iPhones so forgive me if you're way ahead of me on this but...I wonder if what ever player you're using to play your MQA files on your IPhone SE isn't or can't do the required first software MQA unfold before sending it off to the Nano BL for final rendering. Since the Nano is a renderer, the software has to do the first unfold before the Nano BL can do the final rendering/unfold and you get a fully unfolded MQA track and see the magenta light as evidence. I would think that regardless of the origin of the MQA tracks, Tidal or otherwise, you would have to get the first unfold done in software before your Nano BL could do the final unfold.

 

[jwbrent]

Hi jwbrent--

I read what iFi audio said in regards to your question and wanted to add my 2 cents, for what it's worth...

I've got a bunch of MQA test bench track downloads from 2L that render fine with my Nano iDSD BL and I get the magenta light. I'm on Windows 10 with the 5.3C firmware and using the Audirvana for Win 10 player to play these local (not Tidal) MQA tracks.

I don't know anything about iPhones so forgive me if you're way ahead of me on this but...I wonder if what ever player you're using to play your MQA files on your IPhone SE isn't or can't do the required first software MQA unfold before sending it off to the Nano BL for final rendering. Since the Nano is a renderer, the software has to do the first unfold before the Nano BL can do the final rendering/unfold and you get a fully unfolded MQA track and see the magenta light as evidence. I would think that regardless of the origin of the MQA tracks, Tidal or otherwise, you would have to get the first unfold done in software before your Nano BL could do the final unfold.

Thank you for your comment. You’re probably right on my MQA files. I actually used my A&K 240SS as my transport to check MQA compatibility.

I use Audirvana on my MacBook, so I will hook up the nano to see if I get that magical magenta light to come on!

 

[jwbrent]

Doesn’t the xDSD have the same parts quality built-in (Silmiics, etc.) as the Nano BL?

I don’t believe so. The Black Label uses premium capacitors and other such parts which are not used in the xDSD, at least to my understanding.

 

[iFi audio]

I don’t believe so. The Black Label uses premium capacitors and other such parts which are not used in the xDSD, at least to my understanding.

xDSD is pushed quite far as is. Probably in time we'll figure out how to upgrade it substantially enough to introduce i.e. xDSD BL. But at the moment is far too early to tell. BL versions in case of our X series might not happen at all.

I wonder if what ever player you're using to play your MQA files on your IPhone SE isn't or can't do the required first software MQA unfold before sending it off to the Nano BL for final rendering.

All our DACs are MQA renderers with the exception of Pro iDSD, which does everything. So yes, a software suitable to handle MQA is necessary.

 

[Rick T.]

Thank you, both..

I hope an xDSD BL happens, so that would be my next upgrade for the Nano BL..

 

[iFi audio]

I hope an xDSD BL happens, so that would be my next upgrade for the Nano BL..

It will take us a long time to find a way to upgrade xDSD significantly enough to label it as a BL product. It might not happen. But it's good to know that there's demand for such a product