Interesting new Moondrop product- DSP equipped IEM cable

[CedarX]

So how would I proceed if I want the compatible parameters for the Kefine Delci? Or TE Zero Red? To the Harman target.

Just checked autoeq.app - if you select custom PEQ you can specify the number of peak filters available and max and min gain values- cant recall what the Free DSP restrictions are but if you set max gain as 0 it will give you negative peak filters to EQ to target.

EDIT- actually no that doesnt work- it doesnt like having max gain limits of 0db- doesnt get close to target. So you would have to model it manually on either squiglink or Crinacles comparison tools

I use AutoEQ quite often with FreeDSP: I select “Custom Parametric EQ”, delete the default shelf filters, and add some to get 9x peak filters. On each one I set the min & max gain to -3 & +13dB +12dB(FreeDSP constraint) and, in the Optimizer section, I enter 40-10,000 as Freq. range.
This is what it gives me for the Kefine Delci (Super Review) with the AutoEQ-in-ear default target:

I then load this using the Link app, rounding the gain values to the nearest integer of my choice (another limitation of FreeDSP).

Some manual work but works very well IMO.

 

[Karu]

Thanks! And needing to go with integers and no preamp is no issue?

 

[Jimbob54]

Thanks! And needing to go with integers and no preamp is no issue?

That was my concern.......no preamp

Does having the cable at less than full output give you headroom? I didnt think it did but I may very easily be wrong.

 

[CedarX]

Thanks! And needing to go with integers and no preamp is no issue?

It is an issue as it modifies the presets calculated by AutoEQ, but since AutoEQ is an optimization calculation based on an average target and an imperfect HP/IEM measurement, it is close enough IMHO, and makes it for a very good baseline to start messing around with…

 

[CedarX]

That was my concern.......no preamp

Does having the cable at less than full output give you headroom? I didnt think it did but I may very easily be wrong.

I have not noticed any clipping issue (I may have missed it!). I suspect that’s why the FreeDSP app limits the filter gain to +3dB: they may have a built-in, default, -3 or -4dB preamp gain.

 

[jaakkopasanen]

I use AutoEQ quite often with FreeDSP: I select “Custom Parametric EQ”, delete the default shelf filters, and add some to get 9x peak filters. On each one I set the min & max gain to -3 & +13dB +12dB(FreeDSP constraint) and, in the Optimizer section, I enter 40-10,000 as Freq. range.
This is what it gives me for the Kefine Delci (Super Review) with the AutoEQ-in-ear default target:
View attachment 367725
View attachment 367726
View attachment 367728


I then load this using the Link app, rounding the gain values to the nearest integer of my choice (another limitation of FreeDSP).

Some manual work but works very well IMO.

There's Moondrop Free DSP as an existing option in the eq apps. No need to configure these things manually. You can use the preamp slider to bake the preamp into the filters themselves.

 

[CedarX]

There's Moondrop Free DSP as an existing option in the eq apps. No need to configure these things manually. You can use the preamp slider to bake the preamp into the filters themselves.

Great! And apologies to @Karu for missing this...

 

[Jeromeof]

I see Moondrop will be releasing a new "Quarks 2" - for US$16.99!

- Enhanced closed front cavity design for improved reliability and superior sound isolation
- LCP dome composite flexible suspension diaphragm dynamic-driver
- Cutting-edge 40nm high-performance USB audio SOC chip enabling support for 32bit/384kh lossless audio

https://twitter.com/x/status/1818211171373363369

I do hope they open it up to the Moondrop App and allow EQ 'fun'

 

[CedarX]

I do hope they open it up to the Moondrop App and allow EQ 'fun'

Per marketing verbiage, Quarks 2 appears to have a DSP but its exact capabilities are not clearly defined. It is possible that, like the OG Quarks DSP (as well The Droplet), Quarks 2 has a fixed preset EQ not exposed through the Link app.

 

[Jimbob54]

Per marketing verbiage, Quarks 2 appears to have a DSP but its exact capabilities are not clearly defined. It is possible that, like the OG Quarks DSP (as well The Droplet), Quarks 2 has a fixed preset EQ not exposed through the Link app.

My complete guess (it looks the same) is this uses the dac /DSP from the Jiu. Which I am pretty certain is the same as the Chu 2 dsp.

 

[CedarX]

My complete guess (it looks the same) is this uses the dac /DSP from the Jiu. Which I am pretty certain is the same as the Chu 2 dsp.

The alleged 32bit/384kHz capability is what makes me think it could be a different chip…
KT02H20 like the FiiO/Jade JA11?
Same as FreeDSP?

 

[CedarX]

I do hope they open it up to the Moondrop App and allow EQ 'fun'

Per Moondrop comments on Head-Fi, Quarks 2 “doesn't support DSP tuning setting through APP”:

Quarks Updates to Quark2

Three years later, the entry-level market has changed dramatically. To meet the needs of the market and current usage scenarios, We have leveraged its cutting-edge technology platform and hardware development infrastructure to create a brand-new Quark2, and is priced at US$16.99! Follow us to...

www.head-fi.org

So, it’s a fixed, factory preset EQ, like the original Quarks DSP. No indication whether it’s due to a chip limitation—e.g. can’t expose DSP settings through HIDs—or it was a deliberate design choice from Moondrop.

EDIT: Various stores/websites talk about 3x switchable presets.

EDIT-2 08/09/24: Just received Quarks 2. Works and sounds fine. I also updated Link 2, the Android app, to the latest version, and nope… Quarks 2 is not recognized as a “device” in the app, and has no adjustable feature.

 

[Jeromeof]

OK I have a Moondrop Quarks 2 and did a quick measurement and it's pretty good. I think @amirm should do a review soon

So here is what I measured the Quarks 2 against harman on my 711 clone coupler:

And Distortion was looks great also:

 

[phoenixsong]

Moondrop appears to target the CDSP at the Chu-II which, unlike Chu, has a detachable cable. Chu-II + CDSP = Jiu-II.
But CDSP is also an interesting option for all these KZ/CCA’s I have in some drawers. Ordered two…

How is the CDSP cable and its mic quality? Asking for a friend

 

[CedarX]

How is the CDSP cable and its mic quality? Asking for a friend

I don’t recall ever using the mic on the CDSP, and although I do notice a good quality cable, I’m not very picky…
For me, the 5-band “set and forget” PEQ (I leave the CDSP permanently attached to the IEM) and the USB-C convenience are what I value the most.

FreeDSP is better but more expensive.

FiiO JA11 is another option if you want to keep the original cable and accept to add a compact PEQ-enabled adapter…

 

[phoenixsong]

I don’t recall ever using the mic on the CDSP, and although I do notice a good quality cable, I’m not very picky…
For me, the 5-band “set and forget” PEQ (I leave the CDSP permanently attached to the IEM) and the USB-C convenience are what I value the most.

FreeDSP is better but more expensive.

FiiO JA11 is another option if you want to keep the original cable and accept to add a compact PEQ-enabled adapter…

I see, thanks for sharing your experience! That friend however is not an audiophile and is mostly concerned about the quality of the microphone

 

[CedarX]

Found this post on Reddit:

https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/1hc91kx/moondrop_quark2_eq_app_walk_play

This is interesting to me… as I have been trying to learn more about TTGK (https://www.szttgk.com/en), their DSP-enabled modules, and their ‘Walk Play’ app (Android apk https://www.szwalkplay.com/en.html). There are a few posts about ‘Walk Play’ in the CS43131-dedicated and JM20 review threads.

So first I re-confirmed that the latest version of Moondrop Link 2.0 app does not support Quarks 2: confirmed, nothing has changed, Link 2.0 does care about Quarks 2.
Then, I fired up ‘Walk Play’ (latest version 2.1.0, it’s updated regularly), and it indeed works: ‘Walk Play’ does recognizes Quarks 2 as a customizable DSP module.

Quarks 2 may use a TTGK module, but it is definitely customized for Moondrop, as indicated (in Chinese) in the ‘Walk Play’ device information page:

Now, why Quarks 2 DSP can be customized through ‘Walk Play’ but not Moondrop’s own app….??? There might be some technical reasons, although I suspect some deep thinking about product positioning and bla-bla-bla—the Marketing equivalent for BS…

The default PEQ, “Pure” appears to be flat per ‘Walk Play’:

If it's indeed flat, it means Moondrop didn't attempt to correct/re-target Quarks 2 FR, and they just wanted to add the USB-C connectivity feature.

‘Walk Play’ gives you access to 8x Peak filters to play (walk?) with:

You can adjust the slider for the center Freq gain, or manually enter the Freq, Gain, and Q-factor values for each filter. There are also some cloud sharing features.

More importantly, if you save your PEQ settings to the device (Quarks 2), they “stick”: they remain active regardless of where you plug Quarks 2 into. So, at this point, you no longer need the 'Walk Play' app:

Also note that changing the filters on the fly through the app is immediately audible—accompanied with a mild, but annoying, pop.

If that Reddit OP is correct, the TTGK DAT412BHM-TT module (https://szttgk.com/en/product/conversionaudiomodule/685.html) is built around a CB1200AU SoC. This chip and the CB5100 USB-bridge/DSP used on the JCally JM20-Pro (feeding a CS43131 DAC/Amp) are made by CBHT Audio, most likely a fabless Company, which appears to be quite low-profile… I have seen some comments linking CBHT to Bestechnic (https://www.bestechnic.com/en/) but nothing I could definitively confirm.

The CB1200AU SoC is also used on these inexpensive "Hi-Max" dongles ($3 to $6 a piece on AliExpress), showed here next to Quarks 2:

I have a few of these dongles (starting to use them for blind-testing the effect of various PEQ filters ). They are 'Walk Play’ enabled and expose the same 8x PEQ filters as Quarks 2.

 

[ZolaIII]

Sorry to brake this up to you like this. Until they use very well documented DSP from alike Tensilica for example no one will be able to program it nor want to try. Even if one day there is such it still wouldn't justify time and effort as it would work only eventually on that line/generation of DSP's from that manufacturer. What will happen however is support for doing it on general purpose core's eventually helped with standard architecture vendor (in this case ARM) DSP for embedded (on M cores). Cutting leading edge 40 nm... This is best joke I heard in the while. Even embedded industrial automation went to smaller node and lost of QC and other vendor SoC's for BT or audio made on Finfet and even under 10 nm while still not exactly expensive. Tho with pretty much very similar 5 band GEK that's not very useful.
From Chinese vendors the Hiby is probably still leading (regarding software) and all do using better known IP's still far from I would like to see. Tho they did had some hit's regarding mini DAP's like R3 Pro (CS version) with embedded OS and 10 (only basic filters so for headphones only and from recent) PEQ's but those are legacy (discontinued). FiiO, Shanling, Moondrop and such follow with their own and many including even some of mentioned from time to time use Hiby software on their own products. As initially that should have been unified software stock from consortium of Chi manufacturers but they failed to deliver at start snd neadles to say lots of partners where not satisfied and some little bigger ones like FiiO decided to go their own way.
As it is just use DSP-ing on capable and accessible source or mid point and do it proper.

 

[CedarX]

v2.1.1 apk:

WalkPlay_v2.1.1_release_2110_1230_20241230193500A002.apk

drive.google.com

 

[Pe8er]

v2.1.1 apk:

WalkPlay_v2.1.1_release_2110_1230_20241230193500A002.apk

drive.google.com

Thank you! I deleted my original post asking for the APK because I managed to find it on another site, via a Baidu search.

Having said that - the app seems to be more reliable than the MOONDROP app. I set up EQ for my a12t without a hitch and everything seems to work very well. What a steal for $5!