Then I will assume that there is no issue.
I was lucky that I didn't rush to change the stock firmware like others to get the EQ feature.
Although the price of the JM12 is very cheap (half the price of the JA11 here).
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FiiO has released the USBDAC JA11, with an initial price of only $9 (69RMB) and support for PEQ DSD128 PCM384
I was lucky that I didn't rush to change the stock firmware like others to get the EQ feature.
Although the price of the JM12 is very cheap (half the price of the JA11 here).
I assume you know that EQ (and other features) can be set on the JM12 stock FW using the KTmicro configuration tool…Then I will assume that there is no issue.
I was lucky that I didn't rush to change the stock firmware like others to get the EQ feature.
Although the price of the JM12 is very cheap (half the price of the JA11 here).
It’s Windows only (.exe), and not as polished as the FiioControl WebApp/Android, but it does the job.
Yes, I have read all the posts in this thread and of course your post about the KTMicro Tool.
It's just that for EQ I use Wavelet (Android) and EasyEffect (Linux) so I don't need those EQ features.
But maybe I will try KTMicro Tool to turn off the microphone (if possible).
HissingFree
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Then I will assume that there is no issue.
I was lucky that I didn't rush to change the stock firmware like others to get the EQ feature.
Although the price of the JM12 is very cheap (half the price of the JA11 here).
JM12 with JA11 firmware works about the same to me, rumble crackling but no hiss, so you will get EQ that way. But of course, if for some reason it doesn't work as well for you, then you have no chance of reverting the firmware back to stock.
Isn't there an issue of audio skipping about 0.5 seconds at the beginning on ja11 firmware?
I guess I don't need to change the firmware, it's good enough for me considering the price.
I have flashed the JA11 firmware on a TC12 with the exact same specs as the JM12 and have confirmed that the symptoms occurred.
The stock firmware is more stable and can use the tools mentioned above, so it is better to leave it as is.
Now that JM12 is available on AliExpress for $4, it may be faster to buy another one now that there is no way to revert to stock firmware.
My stock JM12 has artifacts on the Hans Zimmer OST clip available here. I haven’t heard it while not going out of my way to look for it, but I don’t use it much. I mostly bought it in anticipation of going to the Akihabara headphone store next time I’m in Japan.
It is similar to the rumble test https://www.audiocheck.net/audiotests_polaritycheck.php
Of course, it's because the sound of the drums produces a rumble.
Yeah, the point I was trying to make is that the Zimmer sample is actual recorded music, not test tones, so the flaw has an impact in “real listening.”
Maybe it's because I don't own or listen to songs like that so I didn't experience it myself until you gave the test clip.
I doubt I'd hear that problem on a song with busy instruments.
Thanks a lot for sharing the utility and all the comprehensive information from your research - very valuable stuff for the hardcore nerds among us!
One observation from my side: JA11 firmware has inverted polarity (sometimes referred to as "phase").
It would be great if someone who owns the actual JA11 device could check its polarity to understand whether this is "by design" to match JA11's HW implementation or simply a mistake. All JA11 FWs available for download incl. the latest v2.1 have inverted polarity. JM12 stock and Tin HiFi FWs are correct (at least on JM12 hardware).
What's the problem with that, one may ask? Well, if you have noticed that your JM12 has weaker/lower/weird low frequency response with some of your headphones/iems after flashing JA11 FW, that's the culprit.
It is possible to inverse the polarity/phase in some players like Neutron and get the correct output. Also there might be a way to permanently change the polarity of the FW in the REG section of KT utility but I have no info on how to do it.
Absolute phase orientation has no effect on frequency response. While it may be noteworthy deviation from normal operation it won't have an audible effect.Well, if you have noticed that your JM12 has weaker/lower/weird low frequency response with some of your headphones/iems after flashing JA11 FW, that's the culprit.
Frankly, I was expecting this comment.
But truth be told, inverted polarity definitely does have a very clear audible effect, but only noticeable in low frequencies with percussive sounds such as bass drum or/and dynamic bass guitar. Here's a great track for you to play with polarity/phase switching: Lee Ritenour - Maybe Tomorrow (feat. Zamajobe, Tal Wilkenfeld & Vinnie Colaiuta). Pls, share your findings! And why did you expect this comment? Could it be because it contradicts established principles in psychoacoustics and properties of linear time-invariant systems? Or that you are drive-by posting unverified audio claims in an objectivist-oriented forum?Frankly, I was expecting this comment.
Please, do the the polarity testing first with the provided track before continuing any further discussion on that matter. Make sure to use headphones or iems while testing.
Believe it or not, the audibility of absolute phase orientation has been debated for years, and I have personally tested it using a more robust protocol than the one you're suggesting: ABX testing with clips from a variety of genres. Since your premise challenges a settled issue, comparable to the audibility of Hi-Res audio, I suggest starting a separate thread. Just don’t expect your premise to gain acceptance without solid evidence.
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And that's exactly the answer to why I expected this comment.
Not really, the settled issue you mentioned is "On the Audibility of Midrange Phase Distortion in Audio Systems" on a speaker system in a room and I agree that it's very hard if not impossible for human ear to hear any difference with such setup, especially in the mid range and high frequencies. But it is a very different story when it comes to the low frequencies through headphones and iems. The change in sound is very clear with dynamic, low frequency content. And this is not something debatable and subjective, this is a very easily reproducible fact.
I don't know what type of evidence is expected but below I attached a zip-file with short samples of that song. One file is normal, the other has inverted polarity. Take a listen, ABX-test it, and share your findings!
JA11 firmware affects JM12 output in the exact same way.
multiformous
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Still crackles (JM12 with JA11 2.2 firmware).
