[iFi audio]

Indeed, my bad. Apologies for the spam on this issue. Changing to the Zen then!

All good!

 

[zolom]

Just got the iFi Hip DAC. Connected to my windows PC.

On PC Tidal playing MQA tracks, iFi indicator light is green, rather than magenta.
I did install the PC MQA driver "iFi (by AMR) HD USB Audio Driver 3.20 .exe".

With my android phone's Tidal via UAPP (same track) it shows magenta color (the sound is much better)

Please advice
Thanks

 

[jsmiller58]

Just got the iFi Hip DAC. Connected to my windows PC.

On PC Tidal playing MQA tracks, iFi indicator light is green, rather than magenta.
I did install the PC MQA driver "iFi (by AMR) HD USB Audio Driver 3.20 .exe".

With my android phone's Tidal via UAPP (same track) it shows magenta color (the sound is much better)

Please advice
Thanks

while I don’t have the Hip DAC, I have seen similar behavior with other MQA certified DACs... out of my DAP or phone USB if I play a song with a UAPP the external DAC will complete the full unfold (up to 192 is what I have seen, but I haven’t tried higher encoded tracks). But the same track played out of the Tidal app to the same external MQA capable DAC shows on that DAC as 96... a If you want to take advantage of full unfold on an MQA capable external DAC you have to use UAPP... now my experience is only with Android based phone and DAP. But all of this is from memory... I can sit down later today and experiment.

 

[Taz777]

Just got the iFi Hip DAC. Connected to my windows PC.

On PC Tidal playing MQA tracks, iFi indicator light is green, rather than magenta.
I did install the PC MQA driver "iFi (by AMR) HD USB Audio Driver 3.20 .exe".

With my android phone's Tidal via UAPP (same track) it shows magenta color (the sound is much better)

Please advice
Thanks

I found that the same Masters track can light up magenta on the hip dac depending on which device it is connected to. I had lots of problems using an iPhone with the hip dac as I was only getting the magenta light on some Masters tracks. Those exact same tracks worked perfectly on my Android phone.

These days I don't bother with MQA and prefer HiRes music in Qobuz.

 

[zolom]

Thanks
I wonder how can I check which firmware version is installed on my new iFi hip.
I did install "iFi (by AMR) HD USB Audio Driver 3.20.exe" it noted me that it is installed on "C:\Program Files\iFi\USB_HD_Audio_Driver", but I cannot find it there (even with show hidden files and directories). In that directory I should have "C:\Program Files\iFi\USB_HD_Audio_Driver\iFiHDUSBAudio_dfuapp.exe" that should enable me to either check the firmware version and even upgrade to 5.3 if required.

Thanks

 

[iFi audio]

Just got the iFi Hip DAC. Connected to my windows PC.

On PC Tidal playing MQA tracks, iFi indicator light is green, rather than magenta.
I did install the PC MQA driver "iFi (by AMR) HD USB Audio Driver 3.20 .exe".

With my android phone's Tidal via UAPP (same track) it shows magenta color (the sound is much better)

Please advice
Thanks

hip-dac's magenta LED shows that what the product gets is MQA. This means that what your PC sends out isn't MQA. I'd check your Tidal settings and I'd make sure that what comes out of your PC doesn't manipulate audio data somewhere along the way.

 

[Gamerlingual]

hip-dac's magenta LED shows that what the product gets is MQA. This means that what your PC sends out isn't MQA. I'd check your Tidal settings and I'd make sure that what comes out of your PC doesn't manipulate audio data somewhere along the way.

Hi there ifi. Do you have a DAC that does the same as the HIP or close to it with the 4.4mm balance cable where you can listen to it while it is charging?

 

[iFi audio]

Hi there ifi. Do you have a DAC that does the same as the HIP or close to it with the 4.4mm balance cable where you can listen to it while it is charging?

For desktop use that would be our ZEN DAC.

 

[zolom]

Could not play Audirvana Tidal MQA without an error message stating "Audirvana exited unexpectedly"
Also the iFi Hip was not recognized as an output ASIO device

Problem resolved.

After installing "USB Audio Driver 2.26" (from the iFi support site) instead of "USB Audio Driver 3.20" version; I can play Audirvana Tidal MQA with no issue.
Now the iFi Hip is recognized as an output ASIO device, by Audirvana.

Thanks

 

[iFi audio]

Could not play Audirvana Tidal MQA without an error message stating "Audirvana exited unexpectedly"
Also the iFi Hip was not recognized as an output ASIO device

Problem resolved.

After installing "USB Audio Driver 2.26" (from the iFi support site) instead of "USB Audio Driver 3.20" version; I can play Audirvana Tidal MQA with no issue.
Now the iFi Hip is recognized as an output ASIO device, by Audirvana.

Thanks

That's good to hear, enjoy!

 

[Kotalus]

Hey guys. quite intrigued by the Hip dac but was wondering whether you, Ifi, are planning some point in the future a Hip dac 2.0 with Bluetooth and additional usb powered capabilities (not only but also battery powered)... This would be a perfect Product in my eyes

Stay Healthy!

 

[iFi audio]

Hip dac 2.0 with Bluetooth and additional usb powered capabilities (not only but also battery powered)... This would be a perfect Product in my eyes

We have an affordable desktop product with Bluetooth, ZEN Blue!

https://ifi-audio.com/products/zen-blue/

 

[Gamerlingual]

We have an affordable desktop product with Bluetooth, ZEN Blue!

https://ifi-audio.com/products/zen-blue/

So it's a Hip Dac done better with more options?

 

[iFi audio]

So it's a Hip Dac done better with more options?

Available functions also set these two products apart, but SQ wise ZEN Blue is a wireless desktop equivalent of our hip-dac.

 

[Gamerlingual]

Available functions also set these two products apart, but SQ wise ZEN Blue is a wireless desktop equivalent of our hip-dac.

Love the Hip DAC, but it really needs a longer battery. 5 to 6 hours average is far off the advertised 12 hour battery life. Sometimes I get 7 with my iPhone 11 Pro.