Hello, what was the usb firmware version of your M500 before you update to 2.01 ?
1.05 ?
1.07 or 1.08?
Thanks for your answer.
I've just bought it and..... I successfully upgraded it to v2.01 (from 1.07 to 108 and 1.08 -> 2.01) but i can't enable "purple" M500 encoding in Tidal. I tried various settings.
Do you have any idea how to make it "work"?
There seem to be 3 hardware revisions, the latest one 1.0.3. Probably the latest firmware is only compatible with the latest version.
If they track serial numbers it should be easy for them to tell which firmwares are compatible by SN range.
This is one of the things that I don't like from some manufacturers, frequent silent revisions that may be necessary to fix problems, but should be documented.
Yes it is certainly true for the DAC firmware but not for the USB firmware...
And there seem to be only two hardware versions sold to consumers.
It seems to me that no one has a HW 1.1 version ...
SW: 1.4 HW: 1.2 2019-07-28
SW: 1.5 HW: 1.2 2019-10-9
SW: 1.6 HW: 1.3 2020-3-2
The USB firmware is only for the USB interface and XMOS XU-216.
I have version SW: 1.5 HW: 1.2 2019-10 and I can't update to 2.01.
Users who have the same version can update to 2.01 but not all...
The problem is that the updates don't work every time. And after it is no longer possible to make any update and the dac is stuck in 1.05...
Look at your DAC tabs in XMOS Control Panel. When my hardware was on v1.7 i had the "Volume" tab.
With v1.8 it disappeared while it appeared again on v2.01
View attachment 61299
Do you miss one tab while being on lower software/hardware rev.?
@Jeriko That explains a lot!
Does 32 bits show under device properties in Windows?Yes, "volume tab" isn't present on 1.08.
On my first M500, I used 1.05 firmware for 2 weeks and updated it to 1.07. After I used 1.07 firmware also for 2 weeks.
Then I was never able to update this unit to 1.08...
The first M500 recovered in 1.05 during the 1.08 update...
I bought a second M500 (1.05 Factory) and updated it to 1.08.
I used it for 4 months with 1.08 firmware.
Then I wanted to update the second unit to 2.01 but the update did not work and my second unit is again downgraded and blocked on 1.05 firmware.
And unfortunately this firmware is full of bugs : 32 bits files cannot be played / DSD >128 is broken.
I'm not the only one with these update issues... and it is painful...
Does 32 bits show under device properties in Windows?
How have you sourced the unit? What guarantee did you have re the above specs?No 24 bits max
But it does not matter... I just received a new unit with firmware 2.01
SW: 1.6 HW: 1.3 2020-3-2
Now 32 bits show under devices properties in Windows.![]()
I have reported this to Tidal support several times, the core decoder in Tidal is basically broken with this device, once it detects the device can decode MQA it doesn't bother with the core decoding no matter if you enable it or not.I've just bought it and..... I successfully upgraded it to v2.01 (from 1.07 to 108 and 1.08 -> 2.01) but i can't enable "purple" M500 encoding in Tidal. I tried various settings.
Do you have any idea how to make it "work"?
EDIT: Very strange things happens with Roon tho....
When normally connected -> View attachment 61187
Through SMSL Asio settings but still blue instead of purple -> View attachment 61188
EDIT 2: I've managed to get magenta but only while using SMSL (Renderer Only)
Still Blue in Roon tho...?? -> View attachment 61189
So what happens to mqa content then? Full decode on the m500 (blue or green light)? Not the magenta?I have reported this to Tidal support several times, the core decoder in Tidal is basically broken with this device, once it detects the device can decode MQA it doesn't bother with the core decoding no matter if you enable it or not.
The problem is Tidal core decoder with this device doesn't work the way its supposed to when you want it to so you can't use this device as an MQA renderer at will with Tidal except you go through the hassle of turning off and on the device or unplugging and plugging in the usb cable.So what happens to mqa content then? Full decode on the m500 (blue or green light)? Not the magenta?
Ah, right. PiTA then! I use Roon normally but might try some MQA on the Tidal desktop app over USB , see what happens.I just did the same thing today, the windows stock driver seems to work the best. I also noticed there is a volume difference between the windows stock and the xmos driver from the XLR out. The windows driver sounds quieter and the volume intensity is somewhat equal from the xlr out and rca, it might just be the gain is lower with the windows stock driver but I prefer it this way.
The problem is Tidal core decoder with this device doesn't work the way its supposed to when you want it to so you can't use this device as an MQA renderer at will with Tidal except you go through the hassle of turning off and on the device or unplugging and plugging in the usb cable.
I have created a ticket for this twice but I still haven't gotten any meaning response from them. I also even noticed that MQA playback on my LG V40 isn't done right on the most recent versions of the Tidal app on android. The most recent version of the app on android that did it right was the version 2.21, it sent the bits directly to the quad dac and the analog signal cannot be altered. With the versions of Tidal after that including the latest release, applying volume normalization, dtx:x or changing the equalizer, sound preset, and digital filter modify the sound during MQA playback meaning its basically not MQA anymore. I reached out to Tidal about this as well but no meaningful response so far, now I have to rely on UAPP for clean sound on my phone.Have you created a ticket for Tidal support? Any response? Will they repair it or just simply forget about it? I don't want to buy lifetime audirvana license or roon just because Tidal failed with their job :/
The M500 can be used on both Windows and MAC, but the USB DAC Driver firmware update tool is provided by XMOS and is only for Windows. It cannot be executed by MAC. I think it's probably Apple's reason.Are most of you having issues with getting the M500 to update properly using Windows or Mac? I'm curious as I'm considering this dac and use a Mac.
The M500 can be used on both Windows and MAC, but the USB DAC Driver firmware update tool is provided by XMOS and is only for Windows. It cannot be executed by MAC. I think it's probably Apple's reason.