[mitchmalibu]

The news post is a bit more comprehensive : https://ifi-audio.com/audio_blog/mqa-firmware/
The trade off is that DSD512 and PCM 768 is lost on 5.30, but you can rollback on 5.2 if needed (but frankly I never came across these formats ...).
And I forgot to thank ifi for making such a great piece of hardware. Such a significant update on a 4 years old product is quite amazing.

 

[latios507]

Mever got my hands on DSD files so it's a great trade off I guess.

Dsd files are still rare. At most i can find is FLAC.

 

[iFi audio]

Folks, you probably know already that our big MQA update is here already. We still have some aces left up in our sleeves, but for the sake of spreading the good word, we'll post our official release here as well:

Extra Ordinary MQA Easter Egg

Introduction

With Easter just around the corner, iFi audio has delivered an eagerly anticipated upgrade option as a very special Easter gift.

iFi first introduced MQA into its product mix with the nano iDSD Black Label in November 2017. Since then, iFi customers across the globe have been asking when this option would be available in other iFi products. The good news is that the latest improvements to the nano Black Label firmware version 5.30, ‘Cookies & Cream’, does just that.

Mqa for all

This latest firmware flavour not only adds the latest scoop to the nano iDSD Black Label sundae but it also dishes out MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) audio to the full range* of iFi audio products going back to 2013!

This ‘legacy’ update means that you can now download the MQA upgrade (PC and Mac) straight from the Support section of iFi’s website at no extra cost.

Mqa optimised

Firmware version 5.30 will optimise your device for MQA and can handle up to DSD256 and PCM384. Enjoy the MQA magic like never before.



And Finally…

None of the above would have been possible without the MQA software engineers who worked tirelessly alongside the iFi software team to make this unique opportunity happen. Thank you.

Go to https://ifi-audio.com/audio_blog/mqa-firmware/ to enjoy your upgrade.

This firmware provides MQA rendering as this is the ideal solution for portable products and those with power considerations. This means the workload is shared between the host (the computer) and the client (the DAC). The listener will still enjoy full MQA experience.

For more information on MQA, go to http://www.mqa.co.uk/customer/how-it-works

Legacy

*The only exception is the original iDAC.

 

[iFi audio]

Easter ‘Bug Bounty’ Hunt.
Hunt 'em, wherever they are...



Introduction

Our just announced firmware v5.30 is MQA capable and in one fell swoop, elevates legacy iFi products* with MQA capability for even more sonic enjoyment.

The MQA integration was a little difficult. It involved:

1. Totally replacing the customised core code
2. Re-apply tuning/core loading and
3. Further fine tuning the firmware for even more precise allocated resource use in order to allow us to support MQA and 384kHz.

To bring all this to fruition required the combined efforts of the MQA and iFi software developers or a total of +1,000 programming hours to deliver firmware v5.30 (excluding testing on all iFi legacy units).

Notwithstanding, there may still be one or two software bugs we have not quashed – hence we would like to involve you, the customer – in the Easter Bug Hunt.

More details are to be found in this thread:

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/ifi-audio-easter-‘bug-bounty’-hunt.876057/

 

[iFi audio]

Oops, double!

 

[vintinfinity]

Edit: curiously enough, it has started working now at 192kHz. Previously it was doing it even after a reboot.

Disregard this* The new 5.3 MQA firmware stops the iPhone camera connection kit from outputting high res files from Onkyo HF player. It will read the 192kHz file but output 48. I think it also outputs 48 for 44.1 files too, but I’d have to double check.

Firmware 5.2A works fine for this use.

For MQA on the Micro Black Label, the light turns yellow for me when MQA is being preprocessed by Tidal and being fed to the DAC.

Can anyone else with a micro black label confirm MQA light color as yellow? I had read it should be magenta but ifi told me that was for the nano and other models could be yellow. It would show green if it wasn’t rendering the 96kHz file additionally.

 

[harpo1]

The new 5.3 MQA firmware stops the iPhone camera connection kit from outputting high res files from Onkyo HF player. It will read the 192kHz file but output 48. I think it also outputs 48 for 44.1 files too, but I’d have to double check.

Firmware 5.2A works fine for this use.

For MQA on the Micro Black Label, the light turns yellow for me when MQA is being preprocessed by Tidal and being fed to the DAC.

Can anyone else with a micro black label confirm MQA light color as yellow? I had read it should be magenta but ifi told me that was for the nano and other models could be yellow. It would show green if it wasn’t rendering the 96kHz file additionally.

That is the correct color for the micro iDSD BL. Magenta is for the new nano, xDSD and Pro iDSD.

 

[WilliamLeonhart]

.

Didn't realize the micro iDSD was discontinued till now. That DAC hold so much memories for me.

Perhaps it's time to save up for the BL.

 

[rickyleelee]

As op said, really nice customer service. Windows seems becoming easier to use when higher rates are involved. Tidal runing MQA seems better on pc than mac. I may change.

 

[iFi audio]

That is the correct color for the micro iDSD BL. Magenta is for the new nano, xDSD and Pro iDSD.

That is correct, yes.

 

[X-Frame]

Hi everyone!

I today placed an order for a Micro Black Label to use with my iPhone and MacBook.

I currently have the larger USB3 to Lightning Camera Adapter. Looking at pictures of the side of the Micro, the larger USB3 end won’t fit. Do I need to grab the skinnier USB2 version of the Camera Adapter to use with my iPhone?

Thank you!

 

[vintinfinity]

Hi everyone!

I today placed an order for a Micro Black Label to use with my iPhone and MacBook.

I currently have the larger USB3 to Lightning Camera Adapter. Looking at pictures of the side of the Micro, the larger USB3 end won’t fit. Do I need to grab the skinnier USB2 version of the Camera Adapter to use with my iPhone?

Thank you!

The appropriate adapters come in the box. The Camera Connection kit has a standard female USB type A port. You plug the blue cable that comes with the iFi into it and the female end into the DAC. It also comes with a female plug to female type B cable so you can use your own A-B cable. Certain long usb 2.0 cables didn’t work for me, but a short usb 3.0 cable did.

 

[technobear]

Looking at pictures of the side of the Micro, the larger USB3 end won’t fit.

The USB port on the side of the micro is used for charging a phone when the iDSD is turned OFF.

The port you need is on the rear and is a USB Type A male. A standard lightning to USB Type A female should fit straight in.

 

[iFi audio]

The USB port on the side of the micro is used for charging a phone when the iDSD is turned OFF.

The port you need is on the rear and is a USB Type A male. A standard lightning to USB Type A female should fit straight in.

That is correct.

 

[X-Frame]

Just got my iDSD Micro BL! Using with my LCD-2 Classic's I am very surprised how powerful this is. With it on Normal Mode, I can only listen at 9 o'clock. I need to drop it to Eco Mode so that I can get it to about 10-11-ish. Very amazed!

Apologies if this has been asked and answered already in this 557 page thread, but is there any difference in the power going to my headphones if I am on Eco Mode with IEMatch Off (which gets me to 10-11 o'clock) versus going to Normal Mode w/ IEMatch set to High Sensitivity (also gets me to 10-11 o'clock). I am trying to find the combination that would provide the most power yet give me the biggest amount of volume control, if that makes any sense. Thank you!