Official X5 2nd gen beta firmware download and discussion thread--version 1.27: library search function, replaygain, filter options

[HK_sends]

   
I have been using it since this morning, and it is awesome. Great job!
 
I want some clarifications on what 5 does. 

And 6, please.
Cheers!

-HK sends

 

[Canaudio]

I'm really hoping for a cross feed function similar to that found in the Neutron player app. It would be a big improvement.

 

[nekromantik]

Will USB OTG ever be enabled again?

 

[Dobrescu George]

It keeps bugging me, but did they wanted to make it born for music and happiness? I mean, music and happiness, or something like "I am born for music and I am happy" ?
 
I mean, I am sure that they have enough good translators to do this, but it still bugs me about how it sounds. 

 

[JaZZ]

Nice new features, although I haven't tried them yet.
 
But I have one issue since firmware 1.21 (the introduction of the alphabetic search function): The Resume function doesn't work anymore. I only get it working again with firmware 1.20 or older. Does nobody else experience that? It would be less of a problem if deep sleep mode would also work with attached charger.

 

[dookins]

Replaygain seems to be working fine for the most part, but it doesn't seem to be applying to mp3 files, at least when switching back and forth between them and flac.

 

[HK_sends]

  Replaygain seems to be working fine for the most part, but it doesn't seem to be applying to mp3 files, at least when switching back and forth between them and flac.

Welcome to Head-Fi!  Sorry about your wallet! 

Silly question, did you apply replay gain from an external program (mediamonkey, foobar, etc.) or does the player itself apply replay gain between the tracks (does it analyze them first)?  Thanks for the help,
I've never used replay gain before.
Cheers and Thanks!

-HK sends

 

[dookins]

Hah, thanks. Yeah, my wallet has been suffering lately, go figure.
 
As for replaygain, I just tested it with 2 copies of the same file, one with replaygain data and one without. The non-replaygain version was noticeably louder, so it looks like the X5 just applies existing tag data rather than analyzing on the fly.

 

[HK_sends]

  Hah, thanks. Yeah, my wallet has been suffering lately, go figure.
 
As for replaygain, I just tested it with 2 copies of the same file, one with replaygain data and one without. The non-replaygain version was noticeably louder, so it looks like the X5 just applies existing tag data rather than analyzing on the fly.

Great!  Thanks for the info!
Cheers!

-HK sends

 

[Chaz1952]

2016-01-30
Beta firmware version 1.27 for the X5 2nd gen now available!
Download link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ugs1xw2o72a8byl/X5%202nd%20gen%20FW1.27beta.zip?dl=0
After downloading the update, please unpack (unZIP) the package and read the update instructions contained within.

Please note that all firmware posted in this thread are beta firmware--please post in this dedicated thread if you have any issues with these versions, and if you encounter serious problems, consider flashing back to a stable release.

Stable firmware can be found here: http://www.head-fi.org/t/776861/official-x5-2nd-gen-stable-firmware-thread
The following changes and improvements have been made to FW1.27beta compared to FW1.21beta:

1. Thai and Russian language options added;
2. Added support for ReplayGain;
3. Increased USB storage transfer speeds (≥8MB/s);
4. Added Recently Played playlist (via Play by Category);
5. Added DAC output reconstruction lowpass filter options (steep and gentle slope)
6. Added DoP and D2P options to S/PDIF output;
7. Added Line Output level options (fixed or variable level);
8. Optimized UI operation and speed;
9. Fixed gapless playback problems;
10. Fixed issue with hidden files stored by a Mac OS computer accessing the cards on the X5 2nd gen;
11. Fixed issue where changes to play mode in Play Settings may not be immediately registered;
12. Added play mode: play single track and stop
13. Added option to delete a track (outside of Now Playing);
14. Changed startup animation
15. Added option to manually clear media library database file (via System Settings);
16. USB OTG function (which had never been compatible with many USB devices) has been disabled to improve device detection in storage and DAC modes by the computer;
17. Miscellaneous bug fixes.

 

Hello.
 
I have just installed FW 1.27beta.  UI is much speedier!!  Media Library update appears faster, too.
There are a few new menu settings/features I am not familiar with.
I would appreciate any additional information on the function of these:
 
PLAY Settings:
< Digital Filter<Steep Drop/Slow Down
 
SYSTEM Settings
<S/PDIF Output<D2P/DOP
<Reset Media Library
 
Also what is REPLAY GAIN?  Is it a form of volume level normalization?  And would all my previously ripped FLAC music files have been tagged with this data on db poweramp?  Or must I go back & re-rip music enabling this feature?
 
Thanks.
 
Charlie
 
PS
Sorry if the answers are obvious...

 

[dookins]

Can't comment on the other features, but yes, replaygain is basically volume normalizing. You apply replaygain metadata (like tag information, nothing that actually changes the file permanently) through an external program like foobar. Once that's done, if replaygain is enabled it adjusts the volume of a file upwards or downwards as needed to achieve a certain loudness. So yes, you have to pre-tag your music, but you don't have to re-rip it.

 

[Dobrescu George]

  Can't comment on the other features, but yes, replaygain is basically volume normalizing. You apply replaygain metadata (like tag information, nothing that actually changes the file permanently) through an external program like foobar. Once that's done, if replaygain is enabled it adjusts the volume of a file upwards or downwards as needed to achieve a certain loudness. So yes, you have to pre-tag your music, but you don't have to re-rip it.

I just deleted all replaygain data from all my files. It seemed to make everything rather dull. Why would scan per track result in -11 ~ -13 db for all my songs? I like my music this way. 
 
Seems like that digital filter affects SQ, or at least I think so, and setting it to steep makes bass tighter, while the other prolongs bass notes. Maybe. I am not sure.

 

[Chaz1952]

Thanks for the info about replaygain.
I found Foobar2000 has quite a complete online manual at this link:
http://eolindel.free.fr/foobar0.9/Replaygain.php
I don't think I'm going to do much with this feature anytime soon.
 
It also appears that the two digital filter slopes are for DAC mode. [ 5. Added DAC output reconstruction lowpass filter options (steep and gentle slope)]
Missed that in Joe's original list of changes.
 
I like this new fw a lot so far!  (I found a few *very* minor "typos" which I corrected using the custom mod tools.)
 
Charlie

 

[Dobrescu George]

  Thanks for the info about replaygain.
I found Foobar2000 has quite a complete online manual at this link:
http://eolindel.free.fr/foobar0.9/Replaygain.php
I don't think I'm going to do much with this feature anytime soon.
 
It also appears that the two digital filter slopes are for DAC mode. [ 5. Added DAC output reconstruction lowpass filter options (steep and gentle slope)]
Missed that in Joe's original list of changes.
 
I like this new fw a lot so far!  (I found a few *very* minor "typos" which I corrected using the custom mod tools.)
 
Charlie

 
I think that the filters are for the DAC in X5II, not when used as DAC. They seem to change sound somewhat then used as a DAP. 

 

[dookins]

  I just deleted all replaygain data from all my files. It seemed to make everything rather dull. Why would scan per track result in -11 ~ -13 db for all my songs? I like my music this way. 
 
Seems like that digital filter affects SQ, or at least I think so, and setting it to steep makes bass tighter, while the other prolongs bass notes. Maybe. I am not sure.

 
I think the reason replaygain was created was to deal with the brickwall sound trend in recent music releases, so it uses a purposely low target sound level to ensure there isn't clipping and to make it nearer old music sound levels. Basically the only reason to use it is if you listen to playlists with tracks that play at pretty differeng levels so you don't have to mess around with the volume switch. Also, no need to erase the data, just switch off replaygain and you're done.