[hag6]

FW 5.3c is our GTO firmware. It essentially applies our GTO filter to all PCM data, which is why you'll only see yellow LED regardless of PCM type on this firmware. Also, micro iDSD doesn't have a magenta LED and it goes yellow with MQA. This means that PCM and MQA data will engage the same yellow LED on micro iDSD.

To solve this uniform LED situation in any other way, we'd have to rework micro iDSD's internals. But this product is no longer manufactured and that's why we naturally can't.

Thanks again for taking the time to respond to my ongoing queries. I only asked about F/W 5.3c and the LED colours as I thought it may help identify PCM or MQA. The Micro iDSD has magenta if DSD 512 is triggered in F/W 5.2. I assume the decision to eliminate magenta for later F/W was based on the design of the DAC.
Anyway while you are here can I ask about my continuing quest to get either of my DACs to play MQA. I tried the Android route. I bought UAPP for my LG V30 and tried to play some MQA tracks via both the ZEN & iDSD. The tracks play and MQA is signified on UAPP UI but I am required to pay an additional amount to decode the MQA. I though that ifi we’re authorised by MQA and this would allow MQA to be decoded without additional cost. Also, I have been told that Android cannot play bit-perfect over USB. I am still at a loss. Any thoughts?

 

[iFi audio]

Also, I have been told that Android cannot play bit-perfect over USB. I am still at a loss. Any thoughts?

That's the key part. MQA needs to be sent in bit-perfect, otherwise it stops being MQA. But since you have UAPP on your smartphone, it should be able to send clean unchanged MQA stream outside and most likely it does it.

But please take a look here: https://ifi-audio.com/firmware/unified-firmware-for-various-products/

micro iDSD engages yellow LED for MQA. So to clarify: if you use UAPP on your Android and MQA tracks and see yellow LED on micro iDSD, everything is in order.

 

[hag6]

Thanks again for taking the time to reply. However, I dont think you have addressed the issues related to Android LG V30/UAPP. 1) The Micro iDSD F/W 5.3 - yellow led signifies PCM & MQA so I dont know if I am getting bit-perfect playback on MQA tracks. 2). ZEN DAC (F/W 5.3c) only yellow led is illuminated which suggests that only PCM is being output as MQA It should illuminate magenta if true bit-perfect MQA is being received. Do you know why I would need to pay the extra MQA supplement for UAPP? Thanks

 

[iFi audio]

The Micro iDSD F/W 5.3 - yellow led signifies PCM & MQA so I dont know if I am getting bit-perfect playback on MQA tracks.

There's nothing that can be done about that, sorry. As I wrote, this model was discontinued a long time ago, so as far as I know there's no way to have a magenta LED in it set to display MQA playback. You can shoot us a mail here though: support@ifi-audio.com. Perhaps our tech staff would be able to help you somehow.

2). ZEN DAC (F/W 5.3c) only yellow led is illuminated which suggests that only PCM is being output as MQA It should illuminate magenta if true bit-perfect MQA is being received.

ZEN DAC should display MQA playback via magenta LED, yes. If it doesn't happen, then what ZEN DAC is getting isn't MQA in its clean form, which is why I'd investigate data coming out from your smartphone. There are many users who get magenta LED with their Android devices, so if I were you I'd check your smartphone's and involved apps' settings.

Do you know why I would need to pay the extra MQA supplement for UAPP?

That's a question for UAPP

But if I were really interested in MQA, I'd go for that MQA module in UAPP.

 

[erich6]

Do you know why I would need to pay the extra MQA supplement for UAPP?

I suspect they are charging you for the module that allows UAPP to decode MQA (first unfold) then pass it bit-perfect to the DAC. Your Zen DAC renders the decoded MQA to its full sampling frequency.

 

[hag6]

I suspect they are charging you for the module that allows UAPP to decode MQA (first unfold) then pass it bit-perfect to the DAC. Your Zen DAC renders the decoded MQA to its full sampling frequency.

Thanks for your reply. That’s probably correct but the listing for UAPP on Google Play states that MQA decoding is free for LG devices and I believe that Ifi is MQA authenticated so I assumed this combination was good to go one UAPP was installed.

 

[Zeka]

Soon we should have something to share. Stay tuned please!

Two months have passed .... is there any news about Drop Dac?

 

[chortya]

Hi all, I have some DSD music in my collection and want to be able to play it without upsampling. All other formats should be bit perfect es much as possible. What it the best practice configuration for Foobar in 2020?

 

[hag6]

Hi all, I have some DSD music in my collection and want to be able to play it without upsampling. All other formats should be bit perfect es much as possible. What it the best practice configuration for Foobar in 2020?

This website gives some excellent advice. https://diyaudioheaven.wordpress.co...-part-3-new-experimental-sacd-plugin-v-0-9-x/

 

[iFi audio]

Two months have passed .... is there any news about Drop Dac?

Not yet!

This website gives some excellent advice. https://diyaudioheaven.wordpress.co...-part-3-new-experimental-sacd-plugin-v-0-9-x/

 

[zjx1017]

i have a question about playing MQA with Zen dac. Some tracks on Tidal are at higher rates like 192khz/352.8,but my Zen dac could only go up to 96/88.2khz when playing these tracks.my understanding is Zen doing the render as the 2.unfolding,but shouldn't it be able to output the original sample rate 192khz or sth in this case? i think my setting in Roon are correct idk what else could do about it.does anyone else have this issue?

 

[iFi audio]

i have a question about playing MQA with Zen dac. Some tracks on Tidal are at higher rates like 192khz/352.8,but my Zen dac could only go up to 96/88.2khz when playing these tracks.my understanding is Zen doing the render as the 2.unfolding,but shouldn't it be able to output the original sample rate 192khz or sth in this case? i think my setting in Roon are correct idk what else could do about it.does anyone else has this issue?

With MQA, do you get magenta LED on your ZEN DAC?

 

[zjx1017]

With MQA, do you get magenta LED on your ZEN DAC?

yes, LED is Magenta , it just couldn’t up sample

 

[iFi audio]

yes, LED is Magenta , it just couldn’t up sample

MQA can't be upsampled or modified in any other way to be MQA. It has to be sent to a MQA capable product as a bit-perfect stream. So if magenta LED on your iFi device is engaged, this means that MQA stream leaves your smartphone/laptop/etc in its unchanged and therefore correct form. The magenta LED actually informs you that everything is as in order as it can be, and what you're getting is in fact... MQA

If you would i.e. upsample MQA stream, on your iFi device you wouldn't see magenta LED but something else.

 

[chortya]

Hi all, I would like to connect active speakers (Nubert A-100) to the ZEN DAC. What is the better connection option, RCA or back 4,4mm port? Is there a difference?
I don't have a RCA cable yet so running from 6,33mm port, even now this chain sounds really good.
----
OK, based on the official manual balanced port is recommended. Can anybody recommend good and not too expensive 4,4mm -> RCA cable? Or what would be the connectivity diagram? I could solder this myself using existing IEM cable with 4,4mm.
https://media.ifi-audio.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/ZEN-DAC-Ver1.2.pdf