[JerseyD]

Like pcsgcs above, I am curious what the purpose of the polarity switch is.

 

[pcsgcs]

As I've explained, micro iDSD doesn't feature a DC inlet and charges via its USB input, so I'm not sure how would be able to connect an external PSU to it. Technically it's possible via an adapter, but very few people bother with that

It wasn't on my plans to connect an external psu to the micro idsd. On the amazon page for example you got that the iPower X is categorized as a dc psu.

It's used as a DAC/amp device then, while your smartphone/tablet etc. are transports for it.

By transports you mean, they just provide the idsd with data, all the dac work will be put fully on the idsd, correct? I wanna make sure there are not gonna be any kind of weird bit/sample rate conversion during playback using apps like f2k or onkyo hf.

 

[pcsgcs]

I'm looking forward to upgrade my living room tv aswell and i would like to know if your portable idsd lineup can be attached to either an LG C2 or a Philips 707/807 and how would the ideal setup look like.

EDIT: If I leave it plugged in permanently using an iPad or android charger just like an iPower X would, will it degrade its sound quality, battery life, pcb, etc?

 

[iFi audio]

On the amazon page for example you got that the iPower X is categorized as a dc psu.

That's correct, iPower X can be used with any DC-powered device, not only our products.

By transports you mean, they just provide the idsd with data, all the dac work will be put fully on the idsd, correct?

That's correct, yes

 

[pcsgcs]

That's correct, iPower X can be used with any DC-powered device, not only our products.



That's correct, yes

Thank you so much for answering each question I've been putting the last couple of weeks.

Could you tell us what's the purpose of the polarity switch? The most expensive installments of the micro iDSD lost it as a feature so my guess is that's not very important.

 

[pcsgcs]

I'm looking forward to upgrade my living room tv aswell and i would like to know if your portable idsd lineup can be attached to either an LG C2 or a Philips 707/807 and how would the ideal setup look like.

EDIT: If I leave it plugged in permanently using an iPad or android charger just like an iPower X would, will it degrade its sound quality, battery life, pcb, etc?

I'd like to get the answers of these too if you don't mind.

I've contacted LG's customer service and they didn't tell me much other than "well... uh... if the amplifier has ports then you have to match them with the correct ones from the tv"

 

[iFi audio]

Could you tell us what's the purpose of the polarity switch? The most expensive installments of the micro iDSD lost it as a feature so my guess is that's not very important.

One of Head-fi users nicely explains it here:

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/ifi...ws-and-comments.728236/page-120#post-11095753

Thanks!

 

[abm0]

Anyone know if the iFi Micro iDSD (silver/original) refuses to charge another device if its own battery is below X%? I've had mine plugged into a PC all the time, I turn it off when not in use and the PC continues to supply USB power even when off, so the iFi should be at 100% or close, but if I plug my phone into it to charge it I only see it charging for about 15 seconds, then it stops. The iFi should be nowhere near empty. The only possible cause I can think of is I may have some arbitrarily old firmware, the kind that keeps going to sleep when not playing back music even for a few tens of seconds, so pre-4.10.

LE:
Yep, I got power back, connected the iFi to its usual USB, lit up blue for some tens of seconds, then turned off. Didn't need to charge, was nearly full. And yet it wouldn't charge my phone in its turn, not for more than 15 seconds at a time. Does it have some max current failure mode maybe, like if my phone is trying to draw too much current (because it has some kind of 2015-era Quick-Charge support)?

 

[iFi audio]

Yep, I got power back, connected the iFi to its usual USB, lit up blue for some tens of seconds, then turned off. Didn't need to charge, was nearly full. And yet it wouldn't charge my phone in its turn, not for more than 15 seconds at a time. Does it have some max current failure mode maybe, like if my phone is trying to draw too much current (because it has some kind of 2015-era Quick-Charge support)?

Here I should ask how long does the battery last in your product? The first thing that comes to mind is that it may have developed a fault and/or doesn't hold a charge due to age, but that's just my guess at this point.

 

[abm0]

Here I should ask how long does the battery last in your product? The first thing that comes to mind is that it may have developed a fault and/or doesn't hold a charge due to age, but that's just my guess at this point.

Yeah, that was my next thought. It's hard to say without some standardized test, but I think it can play for 3-4 hours on Eco via speakers (RCA), with volume at 10 o'clock, no bass or 3D, whenever I accidentally have it running purely on battery (turn it on before the PC, and PC wasn't supplying power while off; happens with every new BIOS/mobo before I remember to change it).

 

[iFi audio]

Yeah, that was my next thought. It's hard to say without some standardized test, but I think it can play for 3-4 hours on Eco via speakers (RCA), with volume at 10 o'clock, no bass or 3D, whenever I accidentally have it running purely on battery (turn it on before the PC, and PC wasn't supplying power while off; happens with every new BIOS/mobo before I remember to change it).

Thanks for this update. Either the battery is the issue, or a part of the circuit that oversees its work. It's difficult to say more remotely, as in, without installing a new battery and seeing whether that changes anything or not. You may want to let our support know about this here: https://support.ifi-audio.com/

 

[abm0]

You may want to let our support know about this here: https://support.ifi-audio.com/

Hmm, OK, not sure how that's gonna go as I'm not the original owner. I should really try a few different cables and chargeable devices before that, just to make sure it's not some low-IQ "have you tried turning it off and on again" support case.

But if I look back at older discussions on autonomy it seems this 3-4 hours in Eco mode suggests an already heavily degraded battery vs. the advertised 12h it would've lasted when new. Probably has a lot to do with why it's not much of a power bank these days.

 

[iFi audio]

Probably has a lot to do with why it's not much of a power bank these days.

That would be my first guess. micro iDSD BL devices are robust and built to last for years, but the only thing that needs changing are their batteries and that is normal.

Hmm, OK, not sure how that's gonna go as I'm not the original owner.

That's not a problem. We take care of products out of warranty too and we'll continue to do so as long we have spare parts. The odds are that our support staff still has batteries for micro iDSD devices. If it turns out that your product will need one, you'll know about the cost before anything happens, so you will be able to decide whether you'd like to proceed or not. Hope this helps, thanks!

 

[abm0]

You may want to let our support know about this here: https://support.ifi-audio.com/

OK, I tried to go through some of those preliminary steps like getting the latest firmware via https://ifi-audio.com/support/download-hub/ but if I select the Micro iDSD I get asked for a 10-digit serial number of the device.

I see no such number anywhere on the device, or on its box or in any leaflet inside. I think those weren't invented yet when my shiny dinosaur was made - the yellowish barcode label I do have on both device and box says "MIDD1S15G..." and 4 more digits. (Well, I should say *had on the device, as I ripped it off thinking it might have been put there by some seller and maybe covering the 'real' one but there was nothing but metal underneath, so this had to be the 'real' label itself.)

 

[iFi audio]

OK, I tried to go through some of those preliminary steps like getting the latest firmware via https://ifi-audio.com/support/download-hub/ but if I select the Micro iDSD I get asked for a 10-digit serial number of the device.

I see no such number anywhere on the device, or on its box or in any leaflet inside. I think those weren't invented yet when my shiny dinosaur was made - the yellowish barcode label I do have on both device and box says "MIDD1S15G..." and 4 more digits. (Well, I should say *had on the device, as I ripped it off thinking it might have been put there by some seller and maybe covering the 'real' one but there was nothing but metal underneath, so this had to be the 'real' label itself.)

IIRC firmware versions had no impact on battery life, so doing this won't help you, but you're right that silved micro iDSD devices had different serial numbers. I can't recall whether all firmware versions for micro iDSD BL would work with silver versions such as yours and that's why my suggestion would be to ask our support. Thanks!