[Taz777]

I have the iFi hip dac and have found an issue that I'm hoping someone on here can recreate. It's an issue that happens on some MQA tracks in Tidal where the hip dac does not decode MQA, and the issue is specific to iPhones:

1. Connect up an iPhone to the iFi hip dac via a CCK cable;

2. Open the TIDAL app on the iPhone;

3. Search for this TIDAL Masters playlist - every track in this playlist is an MQA track: Indie - TIDAL Masters;

4. Play the second track (To The Ground) - this is an MQA track;

5. See what colour the light is on the hip dac. It will very briefly go to magenta and then back to green again with a couple of audible clicks, indicating that MQA is NOT being decoded. The issue happens with many other MQA tracks too. It works fine on my Android phone.

Overall my general impressions of this DAC are very good. I use the 4.4mm balanced output with my headphones. Battery life is poor - around 4-5 hours max on the balanced out. Sound quality is very good. XBass is really impressive.

 

[Manwue]

Has anyone tried the hip dac with fostex 50rp mkIII? Can hip dac push them with power match on?

 

[moisespr123]

Question: Does anyone else Hi-Dac get power from the USB port? Mine is always running on battery power. Tested it with a meter and it still isn't drawing power from the USB. I followed the instruction which states the USB must be connected first and then power on the Hip-Dac, but it doesn't. The result is that it uses the battery.

 

[Taz777]

Question: Does anyone else Hi-Dac get power from the USB port? Mine is always running on battery power. Tested it with a meter and it still isn't drawing power from the USB. I followed the instruction which states the USB must be connected first and then power on the Hip-Dac, but it doesn't. The result is that it uses the battery.

I read somewhere that there is an error in the manual. It makes no difference on whether the iFi hip dac is switched on or off first.

 

[moisespr123]

I read somewhere that there is an error in the manual. It makes no difference on whether the iFi hip dac is switched on or off first.

Thanks. Just went back on the topic and read the same. Guess I'll have to get some kind of adapter to make use of my USB Y cable to keep it charged while connected on the PC.

 

[iFi audio]

Mine is always running on battery power.

That's intentional. hip-dac was designed to run off its internall battery and nothing else.

I read somewhere that there is an error in the manual. It makes no difference on whether the iFi hip dac is switched on or off first.

Correct!

Overall my general impressions of this DAC are very good. I use the 4.4mm balanced output with my headphones. Battery life is poor - around 4-5 hours max on the balanced out. Sound quality is very good. XBass is really impressive.

Thank you very much for your feedback, every word counts!

As for MQA and iPhones, yes, we're aware and we're investigating.

Could you please drop us a message here?

http://support.ifi-audio.com/

 

[Taz777]

@iFi audio A support ticket has been opened for a couple of weeks, Please try this out to see the problem:

1. Connect up an iPhone to the iFi hip dac via a CCK cable;
2. Open the TIDAL app on the iPhone;
3. Search for this TIDAL Masters playlist - every track in this playlist is an MQA track: Indie - TIDAL Masters;
4. Play the second track (To The Ground) - this is an MQA track;
5. See what colour the light is on the iFi hip dac. It will very briefly go to magenta and then back to green again, indicating that MQA is NOT being decoded. You will also hear two rapid clicks in your headphones as the hip dac tries to decode MQA, sees there's an issue and switches back to CD quality.

Those are the exact steps to recreate the problem. The issue exists on every iPhone connected to the hip dac.

That playlist works fine if I use my LG V30+ Android phone connected to the iFi hip dac, and also if I connect the hip dac to my iMac desktop - all the tracks in that playlist light up as magenta when the hip dac is connected to my Android phone or my Mac desktop.

The issue is with iPhones connected to the iFi hip dac via a CCK cable.

 

[lwells]

So I guess mine has about 200h on it now. I dig it!

*It's much more fun than my dragonfly red.
*It's much more convenient for on-the-go with an iPhone as well (even with the increased size).
*It's about 80% of the way to my mojo. It doesn't quite have the imaging of the mojo that sometimes just floors me.

I really like it with my Alclair IEMs (RSM and studio 4s) I don't feel much benefit from using the balanced cable. X-bass makes some music more 'fun' but over all, i feel like it closes in the sound stage more than I like. I really like the look and feel of the unit. It's a nice addition for my work desk.

 

[listasfede]

Has anyone experienced with the different firmwares and filters? i.e.: with/without GTO.
I just received my hipdac and having my first hours of listen. Just burning in beforeI make any judgements.

 

[Taz777]

Has anyone experienced with the different firmwares and filters? i.e.: with/without GTO.
I just received my hipdac and having my first hours of listen. Just burning in beforeI make any judgements.

I cannot find any firmware for the hip dac on the iFi site. I may have missed it, but I've looked a couple of times.

 

[listasfede]

I cannot find any firmware for the hip dac on the iFi site. I may have missed it, but I've looked a couple of times.

It's the same firmware for all the iDSD (micro/nano).

 

[Lalerfy]

It's the same firmware for all the iDSD (micro/nano).

The (5.3c) has a GTO filter and gives a dryer sound like a Sabre Dac (example Topping NX4)
The (5.2B) is more natural but has a little less detail. These new ifi Amp/Dac's handle the treble ess's (Sibilant Sounds) very well.

https://ifi-audio.com/downloads (Other iFi firmware)

Software to change Firmware▼Windows
https://ifi-audio.com/firmware/iFi (by AMR) HD USB Audio Driver 3.20.exe

Firmware(5.2B)▼Windows
https://ifi-audio.com/firmware/Win_iFi_XMOS_V5.20&v5.2A&v5.2B.zip

Firmware(5.3)▼Windows
https://ifi-audio.com/firmware/Win_iFi_XMOS_V5.30.zip

Firmware(5.3C)▼Windows
https://ifi-audio.com/firmware/iFi_XMOS_5.3C.bin

 

[Taz777]

I’m familiar with the Cookies and Cream 5.3c firmware as I used to have a Nano iDSD BL. Does anyone know how to tell which firmware the hip DAC is currently running?

 

[Lalerfy]

I’m familiar with the Cookies and Cream 5.3c firmware as I used to have a Nano iDSD BL. Does anyone know how to tell which firmware the hip DAC is currently running?

I believe it's (5.30)
You have to install this program on you computer to see.
►https://ifi-audio.com/firmware/iFi (by AMR) HD USB Audio Driver 3.20.exe

 

[technobear]

I believe it's (5.30)
You have to install this program on you computer to see.
►https://ifi-audio.com/firmware/iFi (by AMR) HD USB Audio Driver 3.20.exe

... and run C:\Program Files\iFi\USB_HD_Audio_Driver\iFiHDUSBAudio_dfuapp.exe

This will report the firmware version currently on the Hip-Dac.