[iFi audio]

Bummer. I had to put in a ticket because both of my computers will not detect the iDSD micro. Just a flashing blue LED when off and a flashing green one when on. The USB software will not install because it says my device has to be plugged in...when it IS plugged in. I've read through about 200 pages here without finding an answer. 64-bit Windows 7. USB 2.0 and 3.0.

I'm at a loss. I guess I'll see what they say. I've never had a problem connecting anything to either machine.

 
Hi,
 
Am sure one of our staff will revert to your support ticket but in the meantime, your LED status can be checked here:
 
 
What the different Battery LEDs mean
http://ifi-audio.com/audio_blog/smartpower-please-feed-the-meaty-monster-part-1/
 
From your description, the battery needs a major charge from a high power (BC1.2, not Apple standard) port.
 
1) The iDSD micro cannot turn with flat battery, unless the USB port provides more than 0.5A current AND (crucial) is recognised as such by iDSD micro. So Apple is NOT recognised, so iDSD micro will not take more than 500mA.
 
2) If running in Eco mode with a full battery there will usually just about enough current from a USB port to run the iDSD micro, but it may on occasion nudge above 500mA, any other mode will need a BC1.2 port or it will take power from the battery. Such as running with HE-6.
 
 
Charging suggestions
http://ifi-audio.com/audio_blog/orico-high-power-usb-hub-one-sure-way-to-feed-the-meaty-monster/
 
You do not have to buy the Orico but it is one we have tested and recommend as we receive quite a few of these requests.
 
Also, if you have an iPad or Android charger check the rating as they are "higher power" than the standard iPhone charger and will get your micro iDSD up and running sooner.
 
The battery is very big and so it needs a major charge once out of the box.
 
Cheers.
 
 
For sure, one of our staff will get back to you on your support ticket.

 

[EVOLVIST]

   
Hi,
 
Am sure one of our staff will revert to your support ticket but in the meantime, your LED status can be checked here:
 
What the different Battery LEDs mean
http://ifi-audio.com/audio_blog/smartpower-please-feed-the-meaty-monster-part-1/
 
From your description, the battery needs a major charge.
 
Charging suggestions
http://ifi-audio.com/audio_blog/orico-high-power-usb-hub-one-sure-way-to-feed-the-meaty-monster/
 
You do not have to buy the Orico but it is one we have tested and recommend as we receive quite a few of these requests.
 
Also, if you have an iPad or Android charger check the rating as they are "higher power" than the standard iPhone charger and will get your micro iDSD up and running sooner.
 
The battery is very big and so it needs a major charge once out of the box.
 
Cheers.
 
 
One of our staff will get back to you.

 
Thank you so much for your reply. So, you're saying that, in theory, getting it fully charged then the machines should start detecting it?
 
My wife and kids have iPads, so I could try hooking it up that way, although I don't know much about Apple products. But look here! - wow, I've already gotten a response back from customer service!
 
You guys seem like a class act, all the way! I can't even believe a manufacturer spends this much time and care in the forums.

 

[iFi audio]

   
Thank you so much for your reply. So, you're saying that, in theory, getting it fully charged then the machines should start detecting it?
 
My wife and kids have iPads, so I could try hooking it up that way, although I don't know much about Apple products. But look here! - wow, I've already gotten a response back from customer service!
 

 
Hi,
 
Slight update above.
 
Yes - we recommend a full charge and from thereon, (unless you use hungry headphones like HE-6) things should be okay.
 
Think of it as like a petrol tank. It needs to start off full (ideally full) and then whichever headphone is connected to it will deplete the battery as it is of course a serious headphone amp too (as well as being a DAC).
 
Depending upon the headphones, they may sup the petrol faster then the little USB port can replenish it at, then eventually it will go flat of course.
 
Also, the micro iDSD has SmartPower which means if it detects a USB port, even though it has been initiated on battery, it will tap from the USB power line just because it is there.
 
So pure battery, HE-6 works for ~6 hours. Running battery with USB power line, HE-6 works for ~8 hours. (all approx).
 
But from the outset, the battery or petrol tank needs to be full to run.
 
Hope you get the gist.

 

[EVOLVIST]

   
Hi,
 
Slight update above.
 
Yes - we recommend a full charge and from thereon, (unless you use hungry headphones like HE-6) things should be okay.
 
Think of it as like a petrol tank. It needs to start off full (ideally full) and then whichever headphone is connected to it will deplete the battery as it is of course a serious headphone amp too (as well as being a DAC).
 
Depending upon the headphones, they may sup the petrol faster then the little USB port can replenish it at, then eventually it will go flat of course.
 
Also, the micro iDSD has SmartPower which means if it detects a USB port, even though it has been initiated on battery, it will tap from the USB power line just because it is there.
 
So pure battery, HE-6 works for ~6 hours. Running battery with USB power line, HE-6 works for ~8 hours. (all approx).
 
But from the outset, the battery or petrol tank needs to be full to run.
 
Hope you get the gist.

 
Yeah...I'm pretty sure I get the gist. Makes sense. I also purchased the iUSB power, so that helps, I suppose. My cans are HD800s, which are relatively difficult to drive. So, I just need to be full up on battery power first.
 
Thanks!

 

[senorx12562]

Evolvist, I had the same problem, which was solved by uninstalling and reinstalling version 2.20 of the driver,and going through the set up process again. I was warned off of using v.2.23.

 

[Turrican2]

Evolvist, I had the same problem, which was solved by uninstalling and reinstalling version 2.20 of the driver,and going through the set up process again. I was warned off of using v.2.23.

why warned off?

 

[iFi audio]

why warned off?

 
Hi,
 
v2.23 doesnt work on some particualr PC setups. So v2.20 there to cover those for whom v2.23 does not work. Just making sure everyone is covered!
 
Cheers.

 

[EVOLVIST]

Evolvist, I had the same problem, which was solved by uninstalling and reinstalling version 2.20 of the driver,and going through the set up process again. I was warned off of using v.2.23.

 
Yeah, but I can't get the thing to take an initial charge to even get to that point. I mean, I'm sure everything will work out, even if I've gotten a bad unit, so we'll see.
 
I was told by customer support that I could try my USB charger that I use with my android phone, but when I try that the blue light goes to black and it's not charging.
 
I certainly don't want to break it! I'll try my wife's apple charger when I get home. * crosses fingers *

 

[senorx12562]

Yeah, but I can't get the thing to take an initial charge to even get to that point. I mean, I'm sure everything will work out, even if I've gotten a bad unit, so we'll see.

I was told by customer support that I could try my USB charger that I use with my android phone, but when I try that the blue light goes to black and it's not charging.

I certainly don't want to break it! I'll try my wife's apple charger when I get home. * crosses fingers *

Every USB charger I've tried has worked so far.

 

[semeniub]

I have a renewed appreciation of the DSD capabilities of the Micro iDSD.
 
Recently I began experimenting with upsampling all my PCM music (cd and hires) to DSD in realtime using HQPlayer (I could reliably upsample to DSD256 using my Macbook). This sounded just lovely... but it's not the solution for everyone due to the computing demands and the clunkiness of the HQPlayer interface. Definitely try it out if you have the opportunity.
 
What was really interesting was the even tone and spaciousness this setup provided with some HiFiMAN RE-600 IEM's I recently acquired at a nice reduced price. I may have even preferred this to my Audeze LCD2's.  

 

[EVOLVIST]

Every USB charger I've tried has worked so far.

 
Every USB charger I've used so far has not.
 
It's not like iFi has a rep for bad units, but I believe I have one of the few.  Oh, well, it happens. Right now I'm burning in my iCAN and iTube, so it's not like I don't have gear to play with. In fact, I'm about to turn on my little Aune T1 and run that out to the iFi gear and see how it sounds, along with my iUSB Power and my SPL Auditor. Yay!

 

[senorx12562]

Every USB charger I've used so far has not.

It's not like iFi has a rep for bad units, but I believe I have one of the few.  Oh, well, it happens. Right now I'm burning in my iCAN and iTube, so it's not like I don't have gear to play with. In fact, I'm about to turn on my little Aune T1 and run that out to the iFi gear and see how it sounds, along with my iUSB Power and my SPL Auditor. Yay!

I'm sure ifi I will take care of you.

 

[Edric Li]

So I can use the blue cable to hook up my iPhone/iPad little white charger with the iDSD to charge it, correct?

 

[Dithyrambes]

So I can use the blue cable to hook up my iPhone/iPad little white charger with the iDSD to charge it, correct?

Correct. Plug the blue cable into the charger and it shoudl charge

 

[Bilbow]

I was going to ask if What Hi-Fi? has reviewed the iDSD Micro, but after a search on their site my wider question is really: Has What Hi-Fi? actually reviewed anything from IFI Audio?  It appears they are not even listed as a brand.