Normally, I'd agree but not this time. I have more than a few of iFi's products and have even been critical of them at times.
I didn't want to go into this, but since you insist.
I find it great that you have been critical of iFi when you wished to, I believe myself & the others have the same right.
V5.2 was optional (meaning not required).
Claiming a product is severely flawed because you choose NOT to use the most capable firmware for yours makes little sense.
FOR ME, the improved audio is worth a few seconds of harmless silence.
I detected fanboyism & got triggered, especially since you are not (or are you?) working for iFi and telling me what makes sense or not, when it is me who paid for it, not you.
1. First of all I'm not claiming, I know for a fact that the latest firmware makes this product
less functional, FOR ME.
Apparently I'm not the only one who shares this point of view.
And
even if I were there might still be people who haven't bought this product yet and
wouldn't if they were to find out that the latest (optional) firmware adds a 3-5-x seconds of silence.
I know - again not claiming - for a fact that is/would've been true
FOR ME.
So it's my bad I didn't find out earlier, I'll give you
just that.
2. Where does iFi mention on their website that the latest (5.20) firmware is less capable?
Do they even mention it's optional? The word "optional" or any of its synonyms don't appear
here.
It makes common sense to assume upgrading/downgrading to any firwmare version IS OPTIONAL.
Just as it is buying the product in the first place, especially if you find out certain things about its (optional) features.
I will tell you what is NOT optional
FOR ME, ditching iFi Micro iDSD if this doesn't get fixed, just like subwoof3r did:
Anyway, I had the exact same issue with my previous iDAC2 which I returned due to this.
Getting back on track:
FOR ME, the improved audio is worth a few seconds of harmless silence.
No, I didn't downgrade the firmware version to 5.10 as suggested by the iFi representative above (no, not you).
And no, I won't do that because I'm stubborn but because I appreciate the improved audio in 5.20.
What's the solution for those of us who also appreciate the improved audio in the 5.20 firmware version but can't cope with the dreaded defect/flaw of having to miss the first 3-5-x seconds?
3. I'll tell you what would make sense.
iFi markets this product as being, and I'm quoting from the product's
official website:
It is the only DAC in the world (at any price) to play True Native Octa-DSD512/PCM768/Double DXD.
I think it should be only fair to add to that the following:
It is also the only DAC in the world (at any price) to play 3 to 5 seconds of harmless silence for free (via the optional 5.20 firmware update).
4. Oh, let's not forget this:
Until this is fixed I cannot recommend the iFi Micro iDSD.