Music Path
Previously known as hm22music.
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iFi micro iDSD Black-Label - In-Depth Review
- Thread starter earfonia
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Affirmative, that's the one!
Sorry for german in the 1st screenshot ... but do you know why I do not get a higher rate than 96 kHz? Regardless which track, I do get just up to 96 kHz.
I tried it with firmware 5.3 and 5.3c - same result. I also used different USB ports (USB 2.0, 3.0 and 3.1). Windows driver is V 3.20.0.
The BL shows the MQA LED.
Anyone an idea?
Edit:
2nd screenshot is with MacOS. Same result
It seems that the micro iDSD BL is the root cause and not the OS.
The album which you can see on the 2nd screenshot should have a bitrate of 352kHz, but my BL is just at 88,2kHz
I tried it with firmware 5.3 and 5.3c - same result. I also used different USB ports (USB 2.0, 3.0 and 3.1). Windows driver is V 3.20.0.
The BL shows the MQA LED.
Anyone an idea?
Edit:
2nd screenshot is with MacOS. Same result
It seems that the micro iDSD BL is the root cause and not the OS.The album which you can see on the 2nd screenshot should have a bitrate of 352kHz, but my BL is just at 88,2kHz
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When can we buy the new one?
And "how much is the fish"?
The iFi micro iDSD Signature is available later this month from selected retailers, at an RRP of £649, (€699, US$649).
Just to clarify, does this happen on MQA files and magenta LED is engaged?
Yes. The micro iDSD BL shows magenta LED, but the ifi Control Panal just says 88,2 / 96 kHz but I know, that the tracks have 352 kHz (https://tidal.com/browse/album/59527094).
Maybe it is because the folding / MQA renderer?
Hehe ... I just esitmated exactly 699€. I think the update from the iDSD BL does not make sense, but I will recommend the new iDSD Signature as much as I can
Best audio swiss knife
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If you're getting magenta LED, no internal processing happens in micro iDSD BL as otherwise you'd get a different non-magenta color and no MQA stream. In your case micro iDSD BL works on what it gets from your player.
TooFrank
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Hi all,
Got the most recent FW to play MQA. Question: What are the optimal settings in Roon? Does it matter whether the led is magenta on the BL? If I set the Roon settings to give a lossless signal, then the led is green(ish) on the BL. Any experience with the difference in SQ depending on the settings?
many thanks for any input
Got the most recent FW to play MQA. Question: What are the optimal settings in Roon? Does it matter whether the led is magenta on the BL? If I set the Roon settings to give a lossless signal, then the led is green(ish) on the BL. Any experience with the difference in SQ depending on the settings?
many thanks for any input
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Magenta LED is what indicates that what you're listening to is in fact MQA. If you see green LED on your BL and have MQA on your playlist, this means that what leaves your device is not clean MQA and some form of digital processing happens somewhere along the road.
TooFrank
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Thanks, Got it. So this means that it is the idsd that determines (LED) which quality it is playing and not Roon - I guess....
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If you use Roon, then Roon determines what it plays and sends out. iDSD's LED is there for you to know what it receives from a device/platform before it.
Hi,
Is there a chance to use the BL with the optical input and the USB input at same time? I have a bought a B-stock unit. When i first tried it at home I had it connected from my soundcard (my main computer) trought the optical input and as well trought the usb (from my laptop).When i played music from the computer it worked. When i played music from my laptop it worked (i had to move the voulme pot for it to work). And could switch between the two (i always had to move the volume pot after the change). I volume matched the them and they sounded the same to me.
Since that first time Im not able to do the same. If the usb is connectet to the BL, the optical input is not working.
Maybe someone can help me how to do it again.
Is there a chance to use the BL with the optical input and the USB input at same time? I have a bought a B-stock unit. When i first tried it at home I had it connected from my soundcard (my main computer) trought the optical input and as well trought the usb (from my laptop).When i played music from the computer it worked. When i played music from my laptop it worked (i had to move the voulme pot for it to work). And could switch between the two (i always had to move the volume pot after the change). I volume matched the them and they sounded the same to me.
Since that first time Im not able to do the same. If the usb is connectet to the BL, the optical input is not working.
Maybe someone can help me how to do it again.
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Let me first ask what changed (if anything?) that what previously worked now doesn't.
I cant switch between the two things. If the usb is used (with the laptop) I cant get the audio signal from the optical input. If i remove the usb cable, it works as it should.
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Its USB input might actually override S/PDIF by design. I'll check this and will get back to you.
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