iFi iDSD Micro DSD512 / PCM768 DAC and Headphone Amp. Impressions, Reviews and Comments.

[gr8soundz]

Upgrading is always a risk but figured I'd try it for the "supposed" better audio capabilities of 5. Plus I had a few apps that no longer worked properly under 4.4.
 
Wish there was an eval version of UAPP so I could test it first. Have my doubts it'll resolve the issue that happens with multiple other music software.

 

[technobear]

Upgrading is always a risk but figured I'd try it for the "supposed" better audio capabilities of 5. Plus I had a few apps that no longer worked properly under 4.4.

Wish there was an eval version of UAPP so I could test it first. Have my doubts it'll resolve the issue that happens with multiple other music software.

A yellow LED implies that everything is being upsampled to 192k. Your phone probably can't cope with that.

Check if there is a setting somewhere in Android 5 to reduce it to 96k or a setting to increase buffer size.

 

[gr8soundz]

A yellow LED implies that everything is being upsampled to 192k. Your phone probably can't cope with that.

Check if there is a setting somewhere in Android 5 to reduce it to 96k or a setting to increase buffer size.

 
There is no option/setting for changing the bit rate anywhere in the device or app settings.
 
Seems there was a trial version of UAPP sometime last year. May try to find it if still avail.
 
I may also open a support ticket with iFi just to see if they can help. I occasionally had the fast playback problem even under android 4.4 and I also experienced the popping noise on my pc until I lowered the usb sample rate.

 

[jagu]

  Just upgraded my T-mobile note 3 to stock android 5.0
 
My ifi idsd micro played mostly fine over usb using the stock music player on android 4.4 prior to upgrade.
 
Now getting either:
choppy, superfast playback
or (when it plays ok) constant clicking and popping noises
 
Stopping/starting the music or turning the idsd micro off/on cures the fast playback issue but the clicks n pops are still there.
 
I've tried the stock music player and Jet Audio Plus
tried rebooting the note 3
also tried 2 different usb otg cables
 
The idsd sometimes shows a blue light like its charging but the light is yellow during playback.
 
Any ideas?

I experience the same thing randomly. I have som tricks to make it work randomly 

: 1. make sure that the micro is on BEFORE connecting. 2. otg cable in phone and then connect to micro. I use WiMP/Tidal and toggle between offline and online and i noticed that in offline mode it works more often. If I get it to work offline, I can go online and get the music rocking in most cases. I am not sure where the problem is if it's in the andriod software or WiMP. I also have UAPP which works flawlessly. I am on LG G3 and 5.0. I know that in 5.0 the USB audio has been addressed.

 

[gixxerwimp]

 

gr8soundz /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
Seems there was a trial version of UAPP sometime last year. May try to find it if still avail.

 
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.extreamsd.usbaudioplayerpro&hl=en

Note: free trial here: http://www.audio-evolution.com/downloads/USBAudioPlayerPROTrial_2.0.2.apk Rename the file to .apk if the file got renamed to .man after download! Android 5 users: although Android 5 has some support for USB DACs, it is limited to 16-bit and sample rates of 44100/48000Hz. For high quality playback, you still need this app to enjoy 24-bit music at any sample rate your DAC supports.

 
I tried this trial version with my Note 3 (4.4.2 rooted) and the HA-2 to test the DSD playback capabilities. You can read about my less than satisfactory experience with UAPP "Trial" here:

http://www.head-fi.org/t/704065/usb-audio-recorder-pro-uapp-24-and-32-bit-playback-ubiquitous-usb-audio-support-for-android/330#post_11492914
 
The new beta firmware is supposed to support system audio with an S4 running 4.4.2. But my personal experience with UAPP (bad) makes me leary about having to rely on it to be able to use the micro iDSD and might affect my ultimate buying decision.

 

[gr8soundz]

  I experience the same thing randomly. I have som tricks to make it work randomly 

: 1. make sure that the micro is on BEFORE connecting. 2. otg cable in phone and then connect to micro. I use WiMP/Tidal and toggle between offline and online and i noticed that in offline mode it works more often. If I get it to work offline, I can go online and get the music rocking in most cases. I am not sure where the problem is if it's in the andriod software or WiMP. I also have UAPP which works flawlessly. I am on LG G3 and 5.0. I know that in 5.0 the USB audio has been addressed.

 
Thanks for the info.
 
Already tried powering the Micro before and after but I'll try some of the other tips you mentioned (I don't stream much though).
 
Just tried connecting my Fiio E17 to the Note 3 and somewhat smoother. Had to restart phone to correct audio playing much too slow but the e17 stays at 24-bit/96khz no matter the sample rate being played. Lot less skipping but it still happens.
 
This tells me that Lollipop is outputting a fixed bit rate no matter the dac, app, or usb adapter. On paper, thats better than the 44khz it was stuck on in some 4.4 apps but the fix (whenever or how its done) must be focused there.

 

[gr8soundz]

   
 
I tried this trial version with my Note 3 (4.4.2 rooted) and the HA-2 to test the DSD playback capabilities. You can read about my less than satisfactory experience with UAPP "Trial" here:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/704065/usb-audio-recorder-pro-uapp-24-and-32-bit-playback-ubiquitous-usb-audio-support-for-android/330#post_11492914
 
The new beta firmware is supposed to support system audio with an S4 running 4.4.2. But my personal experience with UAPP (bad) makes me leary about having to rely on it to be able to use the micro iDSD and might affect my ultimate buying decision.

 
Thanks for the link.
 
I've gone this far so I'll try the eval and see if it helps.

 

[Dickies]

when I'm using my idsd micro with my mac I'm running itunes into Amarra, would that make bitperfect mode overkill?

 

[gr8soundz]

Gonna try UAPP tomorrow; gotta get some sleep.
 
But trying my old e17 reminded why I got the idsd micro.......
 
The e17 is okay but nowhere near the Micro's sound output.

 

[Sound Eq]

guys so sorry to ask but i do not understand what the firmware update is all about
 
do i still have to use uapp player on android with that update, as i am really wishing i could use any player on android and some sound processors as all the uapp only has eq

 

[ClieOS]

  guys so sorry to ask but i do not understand what the firmware update is all about
 
do i still have to use uapp player on android with that update, as i am really wishing i could use any player on android and some sound processors as all the uapp only has eq

 
If you need UAPP before, then you'll still need UAPP after the firmware update. That's because it is that particular Android implementation in your smartphone that is limiting the function, not iDSD.

 

[h1f1add1cted]

   
If you need UAPP before, then you'll still need UAPP after the firmware update. That's because it is that particular Android implementation in your smartphone that is limiting the function, not iDSD.

No. iFi wrote that they use a Samsung S4 with stock Android 4.4.2 and they can use the micro iDSD without 3rd party apps like UAPP with this beta firmware. Before the micro iDSD firmware beta upgrade the S4 don't support the micro iDSD without 3rd party apps like UAPP. I write this lines, because I own a S4 and the micro iDSD and with regular iDSD firmware I need UAPP, now you can use without UAPP.
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/728236/ifi-idsd-micro-dsd512-pcm768-dac-and-headphone-amp-impressions-reviews-and-comments/3405#post_11489963
 

 
Devices tested so far Sony Xperia Z Ultra and Samsung Galaxy S4, allows system audio, including Games and Android Music Playback via iFi iDSD etc.

 

[gixxerwimp]

 

h1f1add1cted /img/forum/go_quote.gif

iFi wrote that they use a Samsung S4 with stock Android 4.4.2 and they can use the micro iDSD without 3rd party apps like UAPP with this beta firmware. Before the micro iDSD firmware beta upgrade the S4 don't support the micro iDSD without 3rd party apps like UAPP. I write this lines, because I own a S4 and the micro iDSD and with regular iDSD firmware I need UAPP, now you can use without UAPP.

 
Have you updated the firmware on your micro iDSD? Can you confirm that your S4 can now send system audio to the micro?

 

[ClieOS]

 
No. iFi wrote that they use a Samsung S4 with stock Android 4.4.2 and they can use the micro iDSD without 3rd party apps like UAPP with this beta firmware. Before the micro iDSD firmware beta upgrade the S4 don't support the micro iDSD without 3rd party apps like UAPP. I write this lines, because I own a S4 and the micro iDSD and with regular iDSD firmware I need UAPP, now you can use without UAPP.
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/728236/ifi-idsd-micro-dsd512-pcm768-dac-and-headphone-amp-impressions-reviews-and-comments/3405#post_11489963
 

 
As far as I know, S4 actually does support OTG USB DAC on stock firmware, so I guess this is more of an unique case between iDSD and S4 on older firmware. For most others, if the Android itself doesn't come with USB host for audio and must rely on UAPP's internal USB DAC driver to work, the new firmware on iDSD really won't make much of a difference, as noted by iFi:
 
 

....  
1) Version 4.8 Beta - Output audio for Android if you encounter lack of compatibility with Device X and Spotify/Tidal* etc., USB Host mode remains required. 
 

1. Devices tested so far Sony Xperia Z Ultra and Samsung Galaxy S4, allows system audio, including Games and Android Music Playback via iFi iDSD etc.
2. We have developed a Firmware workaround that enables this for several Android Phones in our possession, but need wider testing.

 
...

 

[h1f1add1cted]

   
Have you updated the firmware on your micro iDSD? Can you confirm that your S4 can now send system audio to the micro?

 
No I don't want to install a beta, I wait for the offical release from iFi. But I fully trust iFi statements about this.

   
As far as I know, S4 actually does support OTG USB DAC on stock firmware, so I guess this is more of an unique case between iDSD and S4 on older firmware. For most others, if the Android itself doesn't come with USB host for audio and must rely on UAPP's internal USB DAC driver to work, the new firmware on iDSD really won't make much of a difference, as noted by iFi:
 
 

 
Sure most of my USB DACs working out-of-the-box with my Samsung S4 on Android 4.4.4 (5.0.2 don't change anything). But the micro iDSD uses XMOS which needs proper driver support (you need to install on Windows drivers too, it's not plug & play - the same with Anroid). USB Host mode only mean basic need for USB audio, but dosn't mean all DACs will run. The drivers are the problem. My Sony Z1 needs UAPP as well, like my Samsung S4. For example with the Sony Z3 or the Samsung Note 4 the vendors put some OEM driver into this devices for USB audio, so e.g. a Note 4 with Android 4.4.x is able to play trough all apps to the micro iDSD without problems an no need for UAPP.