Downloads

Important notes

Fi XMOS firmware Pro iDSD v2.08, dated 10 October 2019, is ready for public download.

This latest firmware v2.08 is unified and is suitable for ONLY the Pro iDSD.

Please read before upgrading firmware:

• MAC USERS: USB C will not work for firmwares, you must use a USB A port
• Do not use the following firmware on any other iFi product. Use only on the Pro iDSD.
• Firmware updates inherently carry the risk of damage to the unit and of voiding your warranty.
• As the iFi XMOS firmware is heavily customised by iFi in-house, under NO circumstances attempt to use this firmware on any other non-iFi XMOS platform.
• As with all such firmware upgrades, there is a risk of bricking your iFi product if something goes wrong during the upgrade. If your iFi product is bricked, you need to send it back to the dealer/distributor for re-flash.

Step 2: Download the latest firmware from below:

No	Version	Date	Description	Mac	Windows
2	2.08	11 Oct 2019	Minor Bug Fixes and Optimisations Optimised transistor/tube settings to improve operational parameters as measured and calibrated on Audio Precision Fixed the invert of the ‘Pro’ and ‘HiFi’ settings Other minor optimisations and bug fixes
1	2.01	27 Feb 2019	Major Optimisations Adds MQA Decoding and Rendering Modifies the invalid problem of USB feedback Adds DARS and WLCK clock synchronisation Resolved some previously identified bugs Notes/Considerations: Playing MQA songs needs to be adjusted to the maximum volume to recognise MQA. In MQA, filters and DSD do not work. External time synchronisation is only possible with USB input Clock synchronisation rules: PCM: Frequency range of 44.1/48kHz+4K Frequency offset range of 88/96 kHz+2K Frequency range of 176/192kHz+1K Frequency offset range of 352/384 kHz+500 Hz • Frequency offset range of 768 kHz + 250 Hz DSD: Clock synchronisation is not supported.

Step 1: Important notes

iFi XMOS firmware version 5.30 ‘Cookies & Cream’ is ready for public download.

It is unified and works on the following machines:

• micro iDAC2
• micro iDSD and BL
• nano iDSD original, BL and LE
• nano iONE*
• Retro Stereo 50
• xDSD
• ZEN DAC

Magenta is the official MQA LED colour on iFi machines. When MQA is being played on legacy machines without the magenta LED option, the LED colour will be white/yellow corresponding to the 384kHz file being played.

The actual LED colour is cosmetic – once firmware v5.30 is installed, the correct MQA filter is activated during MQA playback.

micro iDAC2	White
micro iDSD	Yellow
micro iDSD BL	Yellow
nano iDSD	White
nano iDSD BL	Magenta
nano iDSD LE	White
nano iONE*
RETRO Stereo 50	Magenta
xDSD	Magenta
ZEN DAC	Magenta

PLEASE READ BEFORE UPGRADING FIRMWARE:

• iFi XMOS Firmware versions 5.30/5.20 are NOT suitable for: iDAC, iLINK and AMR DP-777. Please do NOT FLASH these machines.
• Only use the following firmware on those products listed above.
• Only use sub version 5.2A on the micro iDAC2, nano iDSD, iDSD LE, iDSD BL,  iOne and xDSD.
• For firmware versions v4.06 and earlier, the above firmware versions are NOT unified. Please check carefully that the version is suited to your model.

IMPORTANT

• The iFi XMOS firmware is heavily customised by iFi in-house. Under NO circumstances use this firmware on any other non-iFi XMOS platform.
• Firmware updates inherently carry risk of damage to the unit and of voiding your warranty.
• As with all firmware upgrades, there is a risk of bricking your product if something goes wrong during the upgrade process. If your iFi product is bricked, please send it back to the dealer/distributor for repair.

We do not recommend upgrading or downgrading the firmware just for ‘fun’, only when necessary.

Step 2: Download the latest firmware from below

No.	Version	Date	Description	Important	Pros	Cons	Windows Download	MAC Download
8	5.3c (sub-version)	10 Sept 2018	Gibbs Transient Optimised Digital (GTO) Filter implemented – This replaces the Minimum Phase Filter.	All PCM LED colours will be the same colour due to GTO filte MAC: USB C connections will not work for firmware updates, please use USB A	GTO filter which upsamples USB audio (please read here for more information) MQ DSD256 (Windows), DSD128 (Mac 384kHz	SPDIF output disabled (on USB to SPDIF capable units No GTO for SPDIF signal No DSD512 No 768kHz
7	5.3 ‘Cookies & Cream’	27 March 2018	Full MQA Major code optimisation	MAC: USB C connections will not work for firmware updates, please use USB A SPDIF output disabled (on USB to SPDIF capable units)	MQA DSD256 (Windows) DSD128 (Mac) 384kHz	SPDIF output disabled (on USB to SPDIF capable units) No DSD512 No 768kHz
6	5.2 ‘Limoncello’ 5.2a & 5.2b (sub- versions)	13 May 2016	All-new XMOS ‘deep-core processes’ software for different behaviour of SPDIF (after XMOS previously modified the USB section). Fixed issues surrounding DoP standard; including ‘clicks’ when changing tracks and sonic differences to native DSD. Small code optimisations from previous firmwares.	MAC: USB C connections will not work for firmware updates, please use USB A. Sub-version (A) – The PCM audio settings must be correctly altered manually (especially for MAC), otherwise, there will be no audio output at all. When playing PCM files, the sample rate must NOT be set higher than 384kHz. Only set the sampling rate to 768kHz when you want to play DSD256(DoP).	DSD512 (Windows), DSD256 (Mac) 768kHz (on capable machines) SPDIF output activated (on capable machines) Sub-version (A) – Allows for SPDIF signals and USB charging simultaneosuly for the iDSD micro / iDSD micro BL ONLY. Sub-version (B) – Disables sleep mode for the iDSD micro / iDSD micro BL ONLY.	No MQA
5	5.1 ‘Gelato’ 5.1a (sub-version)	18 Feb 2016	Major optimisations  All-new XMOS ‘deep-core processes’ software for different behaviour of SPDIF (after XMOS previously modified the USB section). Version 5.1a enables DSD256 for 48kHz based sample rates up-conversion when using DSD256 in DoP mode. Fixed issues surrounding DoP standard; including ‘clicks’ when changing tracks and sonic differences to native DSD and other minor bug fixes. Minor updates/fixes.
	5.1b (sub-version)		Minor optimisations – micro iDSD and BL only This is for smartphone users ONLY. Do NOT to use 5.1b on the micro iDSD and BL unless you use a smartphone. The micro iDSD and BL will try to recharge while in Sleep Mode (e.g. when connected to a PC). If connected to a smartphone which is ‘seen’ as a computer, it will recharge via the smartphone. 5.1b disables the Sleep Mode within the micro iDSD and BL; hence it will no longer try to recharge during Sleep Mode and flatten the smartphone’s battery. Do NOT use 5.1b on any other products other than micro iDSD and BL.
4	5.0 ‘Vanilla’ 5.0a ‘Strawberry’ 5.0b ‘Choc Chip’	19 Aug 2015	Major optimisations Various code optimisations. For micro iDSD only v5.0a allows for SPDF signal input and USB charging simultaneously. 5.0b ‘Choc Chip’ disable sleep. Minor updates/fixes.
3	4.10	24 July 2015	Major optimisations DoP playback enhancements, better XMOS ‘Star Clocking’ and core load distribution
2	4.06	Sept 2014	Major optimisations Workaround for DoP playback which exhibits clicks/pops during track changes
1	4.04	July 2014	Original launch firmware for customised XMOS

MQA & 5.3C notes

The MQA Renderer on all iFi DAC’s except Pro performs unfolding to 8x rates. When using the MQA filter engine with our GTO filter coefficients, all PCM audio is oversampled to 8x Rate. Thus the sample rate indication is always for 8x, whatever the specific unit has for 8x. GTO overrides ALL PCM filters. At this point we feel that the GTO Filter is superior to all previous filter choices, including non-oversampling/Bit Perfect PCM.

However, firmware versions 5.30 and 5.2X remain available for those preferring the original behaviour and for future firmware releases we will retain the 5.X0 fork which keeps the original filters for the foreseeable future.

Instructions to update firmware on Mac OSX

1. Download the macOS firmware update program/s
2. Double click on the disk image to mount it
3. Double click on the firmware updater program
4. If you receive a message that the program is blocked from running, please use option or alt + click on the program to get the menu and select ‘Open’, you can then choose to unblock the program
5. Please do not shut down your Mac or disconnect the iFi device from your Mac while the firmware update program is running. Depending on your system speed it should complete within a few minutes at most.
6. Once your iFi device has been successfully updated, you will see the following message on screen:
   
7. If for whatever reason the Firmware update is not successful, you will see:
   
   In this case, please check all connections, make sure your iFi USB audio device is connected to your Mac and recognised as sound device. Make sure you are not currently playing music or other sounds via your iFi USB audio device. Please try again. If the error persists, contact support.

Addendum

How to check firmware version of iFi products on Mac OSX?

1. Click on the apple icon on the system bar
2. Select “About this Mac”
3. Click the “System Report” button
4. Find “USB” under “Hardware” and select it
5. Find “iFi (by AMR) HD USB Audio” and select it
6. Look at “Version:”

Instructions to update firmware on Windows

Preparation

1. Ensure you have the latest iFi Windows driver (v2.20 or above)
2. Connect the device to a Windows computer

Step 1: Run the upgrade program

• It is NOT possible to double-click on the “xxxxx.bin” (it will NOT autorun).
• Locate the file: C: Program Files>iFi>USB_HD_Audio_Driver
  (C:Program FilesiFiUSB_HD_Audio_DriveriFiHDUSBAudio_dfuapp.exe)
  
  

Step 2: Load the firmware file

Load the firmware file by pressing the “Browse…” button and locating the ‘xxx.bin’ file.

Step 3: Upgrading the firmware

Upgrade the firmware by clicking “Start”.

When it is done, it will say “Firmware upgrade finished successfully.”

After the upgrade, please unplug the iFi device from your computer and completely power it OFF before first use.

Note: On some computers, one needs to perform the upgrade process twice for the upgrade to be successful. After the first go, the firmware version may still report it has the original version, in which case, press “Start” again to perform another upgrade (sometimes it just takes two attempts).

If you have any further questions, please open a support ticket here: https://support.ifi-audio.com/.

Please note, MQA is subject to change on different operating systems and devices, the videos are a guideline – if you have any questions please open a support ticket: support.ifi-audio.com