[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/

 

[Roscoeiii]

Well played iFi. Well played.

 

[gordec]

I find the best sound quality of using the BL as source is to put it on preamp mode and turn the volume super low and turn your external amp's volume really high. I'm doing that with McIntosh -> HE1000 v2 or HD800s.

 

[ReaperZzZ]

Hey everyone .. I'm trying to figure out the best way to connect my iFi Micro Black Label to my smartphone (Samsung S8+) That has USB-C connectivity. I'd prefer a digital connection rather than using the 3.5mm jack.

Is there a cable that exists that lets me connect the iFi via USB, to the USB-C on my Samsung? I'm used to DAC/Amps that have a micro usb output, instead of a USB-A Female jack

Thanks!

 

[Dobrescu George]

Hey everyone .. I'm trying to figure out the best way to connect my iFi Micro Black Label to my smartphone (Samsung S8+) That has USB-C connectivity. I'd prefer a digital connection rather than using the 3.5mm jack.

Is there a cable that exists that lets me connect the iFi via USB, to the USB-C on my Samsung? I'm used to DAC/Amps that have a micro usb output, instead of a USB-A Female jack

Thanks!

USB Type-C to USB A Adapter if I'm not mistaken

Very cheap, widely available from Amazon and other places

 

[iFi audio]

Hey everyone .. I'm trying to figure out the best way to connect my iFi Micro Black Label to my smartphone (Samsung S8+) That has USB-C connectivity. I'd prefer a digital connection rather than using the 3.5mm jack.

Is there a cable that exists that lets me connect the iFi via USB, to the USB-C on my Samsung? I'm used to DAC/Amps that have a micro usb output, instead of a USB-A Female jack

Thanks!

You need a USB-C OTG adapter. Originally one of these supposedly was included with S8/S8+ Phones in the box.

A USB-C to USB-A adapter that is not OTG (they exist) will not work.

Additionally, here's something worthwhile:

http://support.ifi-audio.com/kb/faq.php?id=556

 

[ReaperZzZ]

USB Type-C to USB A Adapter if I'm not mistaken

Very cheap, widely available from Amazon and other places

Thanks I've tracked one down on a local trading site

You need a USB-C OTG adapter. Originally one of these supposedly was included with S8/S8+ Phones in the box.

A USB-C to USB-A adapter that is not OTG (they exist) will not work.

Thanks for the tip! I've checked my s8+ box and the adaptor was there, so I've tested the blue cable that came with the iFi micro with that and can confirm it works the solution is a little long for day to day use though, so as you've reccomended I've ordered an OTG USB 3.0 female to Type C male which is approx 12cm

As I'm running this purely with a smartphone, to prevent smartphone battery drain I should flash "5.1B disable sleep" firmware from here, right? Or is there a more up to date firmware with this disabled
https://ifi-audio.com/micro-idsd-ifi-xmos-firmware/

 

[iFi audio]

As I'm running this purely with a smartphone, to prevent smartphone battery drain I should flash "5.1B disable sleep" firmware from here, right? Or is there a more up to date firmware with this disabled
https://ifi-audio.com/micro-idsd-ifi-xmos-firmware/

Use the newer 5.2B please.

Our Version numbering system is:

5.X0 - Mainstream & factory shipping version
5.XA - Enable DoP256 for iDSD nano (all versions) and iDAC2
5.XB - Disable sleep on iDSD micro (all versions)

 

[arftech]

Anybody using their Micro BL as a stand-alone desktop solution? If so what are your impressions?

Thanks

 

[Dobrescu George]

Anybody using their Micro BL as a stand-alone desktop solution? If so what are your impressions?

Thanks

Excellent overall desktop unit, excellent DAC and powerful AMP.

What kind of impressions are you looking for?

Can drive anything usual, including LCD-MX4 and Beyerdynamic Amiron

https://audiophile-heaven.blogspot.ro/2017/05/ifi-idsd-bl-pinnacle-of-dac-and-amp.html

 

[RuiPP]

How does this Micro IDSD BL compare with the new xDSD? Any significant difference?

 

[phthora]

Anybody using their Micro BL as a stand-alone desktop solution? If so what are your impressions?

Thanks

I do! Of course, I also use it as a portable amp connected to my DAP for on-the-go, as a pre-amp to my Violectric to add the bass boost, as a warmish DAC for my warmish P5 amp, etc. It's extremely versatile. That, I believe, is it's biggest merit. As a standalone, one-role parked-on-the-desk solution, there are going to be other options that are better in terms of pure sound quality. The option that stands out to me in that regard in the Questyle CMA400i, which seems to have the same sort of lush but detailed, almost analog, very inviting sound but also has features more suitable to desktop use, such as balanced XLR. It's $200 more than the going rate of $600 for the iFi, of course, but it seems to be worth the premium. That said, there are a number of things the iFi does that the Questyle doesn't do: analog inputs, bass boost, impedance matching, 3D boost, polarity switching, to name a few. It really comes down to what you need out of your AIO. Personally, I think the Black is more all-in-one than any all-in-one I have ever seen, and it would be the last piece of hardware that I would ever sell. But, I enjoy the ability to tinker with the sound.

 

[ReaperZzZ]

@iFi audio is there any EQ software you could recommend for eq'ing tidal + Black Label on android?

im ABSOLUTELY in love with how much portable power this beast has ...

 

[RuFrost]

Have anybody compared how BL plays through USB-OTG and USB with PC\laptop? Does it sound the same?

 

[Dobrescu George]

Have anybody compared how BL plays through USB-OTG and USB with PC\laptop? Does it sound the same?

Exactly the same to my ears, no issue either way