[SqureSky]

For the owners using Tidal, how's MQA decoding working from your IOS, Android sources?
I have made the experience that on the current ESS based low tier DACs there's some hickup occurring once you skip towards some MQA song and the song starts playing.
Same can happen once skipping within an MQA track.
On DAPS I haven't commonly found this issue.
Can anyone report if H7 is behaving seamlessly here without such hickups?

I recently received my H7 and tried it out, and I do indeed have the same symptoms.

When play MQA on Tidal, the H7 side starts the process of determining if it is MQA or not.
The "MQA/magenta lamp" will light up. In this time, a hiccup occurs.

This symptom disappears when the volume on the smartphone is lowered or loudness normalization is turned on,
as it is no longer MQA direct playback.

Note that in my environment, hiccups occur frequently during MQA playing on Tidal. (Pixel7Pro).
Hopefully a firmware update will improve this....

 

[McCol]

I will try a trial of Tidal over the weekend to test this as I have a decent network connection

 

[FooFighter]

I recently received my H7 and tried it out, and I do indeed have the same symptoms.

When play MQA on Tidal, the H7 side starts the process of determining if it is MQA or not.
The "MQA/magenta lamp" will light up. In this time, a hiccup occurs.

This symptom disappears when the volume on the smartphone is lowered or loudness normalization is turned on,
as it is no longer MQA direct playback.

Note that in my environment, hiccups occur frequently during MQA playing on Tidal. (Pixel7Pro).
Hopefully a firmware update will improve this....

Thx!
I assume though that this issue is generic to external DACs using XMOS chips for the MQA unfolding and the driverless nature of IOS or Android USB connections in contrast to Windows ASIO drivers.
In case of some demo Topping DX5 a friend tweaked some buffering settings in the Windows driver of his Topping DX5 and the stutter was gone.
Unfortunately on IOS and Android streaming sources this buffer isn't configurable neither on app level like Tidal apk nor in the OS itself.
If using DAPs it seems that manufactures can work around that as there's also software decoding involved and not only that XMOS chip in the external DAC/dongle.

 

[lordearl]

@Shanling is there a way to remote control the volume if the RCA outputs are being used to drive a stereo power amplifier?

 

[Shanling]

@Shanling is there a way to remote control the volume if the RCA outputs are being used to drive a stereo power amplifier?

Just keep it at maximum and it will work fine.

 

[Ruslanimus]

H7 or Q7?What do you think?Which of them would be better for Progmetal and Classical music?

 

[hooniebear]

@Shanling According to the manual it states that “7. The USB port is only for data transmission or charging. Please try to avoid using this device when it is charging.”
Though if I use the device when charging what happens? Reduced battery life?

 

[Shanling]

@Shanling According to the manual it states that “7. The USB port is only for data transmission or charging. Please try to avoid using this device when it is charging.”
Though if I use the device when charging what happens? Reduced battery life?

It's basic recommendation for most battery powered devices, for the optimal long term battery life.

 

[hooniebear]

It's basic recommendation for most battery powered devices, for the optimal long term battery life.

Many thanks for the reply. So I presume that it is not very different from other portable dac amps such as IFI Gryphon or Fiio Q7 etc. I asked this because it seems these companies don't state avoiding usage while charging in their manuals.
Also, I am thinking that if it is standard 18650 battery, then I may replace the batteries after the warranty period has passed. I would like to ask if it is difficult for the user to replace it by himself, such as soldering is required?

 

[Massacare]

Any details on the voltage level on headphone out on every gain level?

 

[FooFighter]

Any new sound impressions, comparisons to the likes of gryphon, go bar gold?

 

[McCol]

I'm not the best reviewer but here's my effort at reviewing the H7.

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/sh...r-wired-and-wireless-connection.26278/reviews

 

[Shanling]

Any details on the voltage level on headphone out on every gain level?

Roughly 1.6V / 3.2V / 6.4 for the balanced out.

 

[nvs019]

Received my H7 today. The unboxing experience was very minimal, would have been very happy if it was with a leather case which is definitely required for this master piece.

Intial sound impressions: Got the wow factor after many months probably after a IERZ1R and now again. Every song I played put a smile on my face.

Paired with SENN IE 900, FIIO FDX, FINAL AUDIO E5000. All 3 sounded well and bought the glory back for my picky IE900 which was not having synerygy with chord mojo 2.

Excellent SQ, sound stage and very powerful.

I previosly owned SHANLING M8, Ibasso DX300 - amp 11, amp 12, amp 13. At present, I own chord mojo 2, Fiio K7.

Out of all, I loved shanling M8 the most, now H7 which is a much upgrade for me interms of SQ from M8. H7 is not as warm as M8, but this will be the upgrade for any one who loves M8 to the core of the heart ( atleast for me ).

 

[German Expat in Vietnam]

Received my H7 today. The unboxing experience was very minimal, would have been very happy if it was with a leather case which is definitely required for this master piece.

Intial sound impressions: Got the wow factor after many months probably after a IERZ1R and now again. Every song I played put a smile on my face.

Paired with SENN IE 900, FIIO FDX, FINAL AUDIO E5000. All 3 sounded well and bought the glory back for my picky IE900 which was not having synerygy with chord mojo 2.

Excellent SQ, sound stage and very powerful.

I previosly owned SHANLING M8, Ibasso DX300 - amp 11, amp 12, amp 13. At present, I own chord mojo 2, Fiio K7.

Out of all, I loved shanling M8 the most, now H7 which is a much upgrade for me interms of SQ from M8. H7 is not as warm as M8, but this will be the upgrade for any one who loves M8 to the core of the heart ( atleast for me ).

You think really that H7 is a upgrade to M8?? I had before also DX300 and 320. With amp 12 W and amp 12 EXN S with ADA4625 from NP Audio. But i sold everything. M8 is my favourite. Yesterday i herd M8 with VE EXT. Amazing!!!