FiiO has released the USBDAC JA11, with an initial price of only $9 (69RMB) and support for PEQ DSD128 PCM384

[dr.strange]

I don't know why but when I try to read the values at this addresses it outputs some totally different values , and also random and different from time to time
some values that at I Got at 0x35:
0x0651b658
0x04c640a8
0x064bf3b0
0x0a90fa90
0x064af5c0

I don't know what is the issue or what i am doing wrong but every time I read it gives a new random value, Is there a certain way to open and use the tool or what

 

[CedarX]

I don't know why but when I try to read the values at this addresses it outputs some totally different values , and also random and different from time to time
some values that at I Got at 0x35:
0x0651b658
0x04c640a8
0x064bf3b0
0x0a90fa90
0x064af5c0

I don't know what is the issue or what i am doing wrong but every time I read it gives a new random value, Is there a certain way to open and use the tool or what

I don't know why you get these values... If they appear random, you're probably peeking at a memory section (pseudo-RAM? I think these chips have a unique memory address space, used for RAM, configuration registers, and even binary code).

I just checked a brand new, unopen, KZ cable—VID 0x31b2 / PID 0x1132 which is, I believe, the same as your:


Here is what I read in the "REG" section of the KTmicro tool for register 0x35 in the left R/W box, and registers 0x35, 0x36, 0x37, 0x38, 0x39 on the five R/W boxes on the right:

Values are: 0x003D0000 on the left box (hexadecimal); 3997696, 700, 7995392, 700, 12058624 on the right boxes (decimal).

The directions from my previous post are incorrect: the KTmicro tool only accepts hexadecimal for register addresses, but the values can be entered in either hexadecimal or decimal depending on which entry box you use—Hex. for the left R/W single box, or Decimal for the 5x R/W boxes on the right.

 

[dr.strange]

Here is what I read in the "REG" section of the KTmicro tool for register 0x35 in the left R/W box, and registers 0x35, 0x36, 0x37, 0x38, 0x39 on the five R/W boxes on the right:

I don't know what is happening but this is what i get:

It seems random no idea why , this is the values i read on 2 separate times

Is there some thing I may be doing wrong ?

 

[CedarX]

Is there some thing I may be doing wrong ?

It is possible that they have changed something... For example, I noticed that the mic. on your cable is not the same as the one I have. I ordered a couple of cables on AliExpress, but it's going to take a few weeks.
If you have time to spare , you could explore the registers map, starting at 0x00 and going up until you find these 0x000002BC/700 values repeating every other address... It's tedious, but that's how I found the PEQ addresses for the KT0231H—well... at least the version I have.

 

[dr.strange]

Quick / strange update:

I was having issue with the inline button suddenly not working and after some fiddling around with it i got it to wok and now it reads properly , I don't what was the issue it just worked suddenly

May it be a QC or shorting wire issue ?

 

[ulumid]

I am still trying to figure out all these volume/gain settings for the JA11 and how they impact or not these "crackles" issues. It seems that the 'global gain control' parameter in the FiiO Control WebApp plays a big role... More tests needed.

Spoiler: More stuff about KTmicro

I also noticed an interesting feature of the KTmicro config tool:

• JA11, JM12 w/ JA11 fw: the volume and DRC settings (noise gate & limiter) "stick". If you click 'SAVE' (you need to enable them first, by making sure the 'EN' button is green). The settings carry over if you connect JA11 to another source. I had not noticed that as I was mostly playing with the PEQ: the PEQ settings entered in the KT micro config tool are "live", but they do not "stick". Clicking the 'SAVE' button saves the volume and DRC settings, but not the PEQ settings.
• JM12 OG fw, JM12 w/ TinHifi fw, KBear TC12 (JM12 with different marking?), Veclan (Monk) Odo (3.5mm & 4.4mm), TinHifi C2 IEM: all of these are based on the KT02H20 chip an all the settings entered in the KTmicro config tool "stick". You can set the volume parameters, ADC & DAC PEQ parameters, DRC (need to "enable" all of them first), and click "SAVE". I need to verify, but it looks like closing the communication ('CLOSE' button) also saves these parameters. The interesting point is that this KTmicro tool is a potential alternative to the FiiO Control WebApp for these dongles/IEMs. It is not as slick as the FiiO webapp, but it exposes more settings... Oh and it's a self-contained '.exe' (does not install anything on your PC). I updated a JM12 w/ JA11 fw (swapping fw) to the TinHifi fw with no issue.
• Simgot EW100 DSP IEM: same as above, all the settings entered into the KTmicro config tool "stick". This one was interesting to me as it is based on the (uncommon?) KT0211L chip. It has balanced (differential) outputs and has the separate L/R volume function enabled (so you could correct a L/R IEM imbalance). The Simgot EQ presets are exposed and can be modified. You can play with the DRC as well.

Spoiler: Simgot EW100 DSP (KT0211L) Config

Screenshot showing the "DACL / DACR" separate L/R volume settings available on the KT0211L:
View attachment 433574

Screenshot of the (fairly simple) Simgot EQ preset:
View attachment 433575
It's always interesting to see what the OEMs "correct" on their own IEM: what they could not achieve with traditional tuning?

Screenshot of the Simgot DRC Noisegate settings. They appear to have changed the low threshold from -45 dB to -40 dB. The other parameters are the default ones:
View attachment 433576

Screenshot of Simgot DRC limiter settings (default):
View attachment 433577

I also confirmed that this version of the KTmicro tool does not work with the (very common) KT0210. As the Windows title indicates, it seems to only work with the KT0211L & KT02H20 chips (are these two SoC related?).

EDIT: Well... The KTmicro tool does not really work with the KT0210... but it is usable (I tested it with my KZ upgrade cable). The tool is "confused" because the registry map of the KT0210 is different from the KT02H20 one. That's why the EQ curve from the KT0210 is completely goofy: the tool pulls the stored settings from the wrong registers.
For example, on the KT02H20, the DAC PEQ settings are stored in Registers 0x26 to 0x2F (5x filters), whereas on the KT0210, they are stored on Registers 0x35 to 0x40 (6x filters! I assumed it was limited to 5x filters...).

How the KTmicro tool can be used for the KT0210:

• If I write 0x00C80050 (13107280 dec) in Register 0x35, and 0x000302BC (197308 dec) in Register 0x36, I set a Low-Shelf filter at 200 Hz, with a gain of +8.0dB and a Q of 0.7. It is live (effect is immediately audible) and if I click 'SAVE', it saves that filter onto the KT02010 and triggers a reset/restart.

I have not checked if every PEQ filter type is available (they all appear to be here), nor the Volume controls, ADC PEQ, DRC features. But the KTmicro tool is definitely usable if one wants to access & program the KT0210 DSP features. What's needed is the full registers map and some formulas to calculate the settings hex. values.

how to set eq

 

[CedarX]

View attachment 499124

how to set eq

Is it a question?

 

[dr.strange]

EDIT: here you go...

KT0231H DAC PEQ Register Addresses:

Addr. Dec.	Addr. Hex.	Default Dec.​	Default Hex.​	Description
53​	0x35​	3997696​	0x003D0000​	DAC #0 Freq & Gain
54​	0x36​	700​	0x000002BC​	DAC #0 Type & Q
55​	0x37​	7995392​	0x007A0000​	DAC #1 Freq & Gain
56​	0x38​	700​	0x000002BC​	DAC #1 Type & Q
57​	0x39​	12058624​	0x00B80000​	DAC #2 Freq & Gain
58​	0x3A​	700​	0x000002BC​	DAC #2 Type & Q
59​	0x3B​	16252928​	0x00F80000​	DAC #3 Freq & Gain
60​	0x3C​	700​	0x000002BC​	DAC #3 Type & Q
61​	0x3D​	20709376​	0x013C0000​	DAC #4 Freq & Gain
62​	0x3E​	700​	0x000002BC​	DAC #4 Type & Q
63​	0x3F​	25690112​	0x01880000​	DAC #5 Freq & Gain
64​	0x40​	700​	0x000002BC​	DAC #5 Type & Q

Is this register values used in Device PEQ on squiglink ?

When I tried to use @Jeromeof 's squiqlink it showed the same values that appears when using the kt tool made for KT02H20 , If anyone could implement these values in squiglink it will be much easier to use

 

[CedarX]

Is this register values used in Device PEQ on squiglink ?

When I tried to use @Jeromeof 's squiqlink it showed the same values that appears when using the kt tool made for KT02H20 , If anyone could implement these values in squiglink it will be much easier to use

AFAIK no, the KT0231H is not supported by @Jeromeof headphones graph tool. Could it be? Most likely yes… but I’m sure Jerome would want to test & validate it first!

I believe the KT0231H is progressively replacing the KT0211L in balanced headphones cables, but I don’t think it is widely used yet—besides this KZ cable. The KT0211L uses the same register addresses as the KT02H20 so it is suipirted by Jerome’s tool. It is a quite common chip found in USB-C IEMs (Tanchjim, Simgot, and many more!).

 

[dr.strange]

Ok, so it’s not the “M2”, but the other KZ cable using a KT0231H chip (the “M2” USB-C connector is slightly larger, with a little glass window and a button for the presets).

The version of the KTmicro tool from the TinHifi website (I assume that’s what you use) is for the KT02H20 & KT0211L. But the tool registry R/W feature works and can be used with the KT0231H.

Let me look in my stuff for the DAC PEQ registry addresses & settings for the KT0231H…

EDIT: here you go...

KT0231H DAC PEQ Register Addresses:

Addr. Dec.	Addr. Hex.	Default Dec.​	Default Hex.​	Description
53​	0x35​	3997696​	0x003D0000​	DAC #0 Freq & Gain
54​	0x36​	700​	0x000002BC​	DAC #0 Type & Q
55​	0x37​	7995392​	0x007A0000​	DAC #1 Freq & Gain
56​	0x38​	700​	0x000002BC​	DAC #1 Type & Q
57​	0x39​	12058624​	0x00B80000​	DAC #2 Freq & Gain
58​	0x3A​	700​	0x000002BC​	DAC #2 Type & Q
59​	0x3B​	16252928​	0x00F80000​	DAC #3 Freq & Gain
60​	0x3C​	700​	0x000002BC​	DAC #3 Type & Q
61​	0x3D​	20709376​	0x013C0000​	DAC #4 Freq & Gain
62​	0x3E​	700​	0x000002BC​	DAC #4 Type & Q
63​	0x3F​	25690112​	0x01880000​	DAC #5 Freq & Gain
64​	0x40​	700​	0x000002BC​	DAC #5 Type & Q

​

How it works...

Register 0x35 default value is 0x003D0000: 0x003D means 61Hz; 0x0000 means 0dB Gain.
Register 0x36 default value is 0x000002BC: 0x0000 is for type "0" (Peak); 0x02BC is for "700" or Q=0.700.
The five main types of filters are: 0x0000 (Peak), 0x0001 (Low-Pass), 0x0002 (High-Pass), 0x0003 (Low-Shelf), 0x0004 (High-Shelf). There may be more filter types (I haven't looked).

So let say, you want to set Filter #0 with a 200Hz / 6dB / Q=0.7 low-shelf, you'll write 0x00C8003C in register 0x35 (or, if you use the decimal notation also supported by the KTmicro tool, 13107260 in register 53) and 0x000302BC in register 0x36 (or, in decimal, 197308 in register54). 0x00C8 is 200Hz, 0x003C is "60" or 6.0dB, 0x0003 is for low-shelf, 0x02BC is "700" or Q=0.700.

Another example, let say, you want to set Filter #4 with a 3,000Hz / -3.5dB / Q=4 peak filter, you'll write 0x0BB8FFDD in register 0x3D (or, if you use the decimal notation, 196673501 in register 61) and 0x00000FA0 in register 0x3E (or, in decimal, 4000 in register 62). 0x0BB8 is 3,000Hz, 0xFFDD is "-35" or -3.5dB, 0x0000 is for peak, 0x0FA0 is "4000" or Q=4.000.

It's a little cumbersome to calculate & enter, but 1/ that's why these tools exist... and 2/ nothing an Excel spreadsheet or a small script couldn't solve (I hope my above examples are correct!). I personally use these PEQ-enabled dongles or cables permanently attached to an IEM, or easy to drive HP. I "explore" PEQ on a more user-friendly device (e.g. Qudelix 5K), and it's only when I'm happy with the results that I enter the PEQs in these devices—or KZ cable in our case.

The KT02H20 & KT0211L are similar, but with 5x DAC PEQ filters in registers 0x26 to 0x2F. The ADC PEQ filters are in registers 0x1A to 0x23, the PGA ADC vol. is in register 0x3A, the PGA DAC L&R vol. is in register 0x3B, etc.

Sorry for annoyance , But do you know the DAC L&R address for the KT0231H , and should i set the preamp value to it ?
I did recently write my eq values to the cable and it works fine , But I'm worried it would introduce some distortion in the boosted areas in my eq

 

[CedarX]

Sorry for annoyance , But do you know the DAC L&R address for the KT0231H , and should i set the preamp value to it ?
I did recently write my eq values to the cable and it works fine , But I'm worried it would introduce some distortion in the boosted areas in my eq

No, I don’t. I’ll take a look when I find some time…

 

[CedarX]

No, I don’t. I’ll take a look when I find some time…

I looked at the KZ cable again, and it appears it only let you write something in the 0x34-0x4D address range, the 6x DAC PEQ and 6x ADC PEQ. I don't think there is way to set preamp values on this version of the KT0231H fw. I guess we'll have to assume it is smart enough to adjust based on the PEQ filters max gain...

 

[jp_asr]

hi, i just bought Fiio JA11. i cannot find where/how to change DAC filter settings in FIIO CONTROL app. pls is there such an option? i was not able to find the answer here or on google. thanks
(asking just from my curiosity, i don't expect changing DAC filter settings to have any real audible effect)

 

[CedarX]

hi, i just bought Fiio JA11. i cannot find where/how to change DAC filter settings in FIIO CONTROL app. pls is there such an option? i was not able to find the answer here or on google. thanks
(asking just from my curiosity, i don't expect changing DAC filter settings to have any real audible effect)

You can’t change these. The KT micro SoC used on the JA11 doesn’t offer a choice of multiple reconstruction filters or, these settings are not exposed and are n/a in FiiO Control.