Tanchjim Stargate II: DSP CS43131 dongle

[JeffGB]

I received my Stargate 2 yesterday and immediately tried it on my pc. It's an older pc, so I had to use a USB C to USB A adapter a cable connected it to my headphone amp/preamp and then an Aiyima a07.

First result, just a blast of loud static. I suspected a poor connection, so I unplugged it from the pc and plugged it into a powered USB hub after checking the connection of the adapter, which fixed the problem.

It worked as expected so I tried to check out the EQ but my older Iphone only has a Lightning port and I didn't have any special OTG adapter for USB C to Lightning. I then tried the pragmatic website with my Edge browser. I was able to get it to connect but most other stuff didn't work. I then tried with a Google Chrome browser and I was able to connect and push/pull data. The only problem left is I can't set the preamp to -4 as required by my EQ. With Edge, one I imported showed it but I couldn't set it. I tried pulling from the tanchjim which then displayed my correct EQ, so I exported the EQ to my pc as a txt file and then opened it in an editor. The EQ was there, correctly, but the preamp was 0 in the file. I tried editing the file to add the correct preamp setting and then imported it and pushed it to the Tanchjim, but when I pulled it back from the Tanchjim and exported it to my pc, the preamp was 0 again.

So, it works but setting the preamp level of the EQ still doesn't work. I'm using a -4db setting in windows 10 until I can figure out a way of doing it correctly. If I had a new Iphone or an Android phone, I'm sure this wouldn't be a problem. I'm not sure if I will waste money on an "Apple usb to lightning camera adapter" or just wait until the website is updated. The actual device appears to be fine, so it's just a matter of time.

 

[Jeromeof]

So, when supported my DevicePEQ code does calculate the correct pre-amp levels based on the filters but I do know some devices are not exposing the ability to set the preamp when pushing the filters, so I can't set it. The Stargate 2 might actually be different (as it's new) so once I get my hands on one I will see can I automatically push the correct preamp levels also.

 

[CedarX]

So, when supported my DevicePEQ code does calculate the correct pre-amp levels based on the filters but I do know some devices are not exposing the ability to set the preamp when pushing the filters, so I can't set it. The Stargate 2 might actually be different (as it's new) so once I get my hands on one I will see can I automatically push the correct preamp levels also.

It should work fine, like any other WalkPlay-enabled dongle. I don’t think the Stargate-II extra features exposed through WalkPlay break the basic PEQ / Pre-Amp settings and corresponding com. protocol…

 

[Paweł L]

I use Wavelet but HiBy Music player offers very decent PEQ with 10 bands, so if listen to my FLAC files I use the build in PEQ. Also no problem tweaking and saving new settings. It will also import PEQ file from user database. Very decent music player with some nice extras.

 

[Adornix_jitz]

I use Wavelet but HiBy Music player offers very decent PEQ with 10 bands, so if listen to my FLAC files I use the build in PEQ. Also no problem tweaking and saving new settings. It will also import PEQ file from user database. Very decent music player with some nice extras.

I know. I'm also using the USB Audio Player Pro. Same functionality. The problem is: I couldn't equalize imported music (from Qobuz). Because sometimes Streaming isn't possible (e.g. German trains ). so I need a dongle-dac with PEQ, like that Stargate.

I read somewhere, that Wavelet isn't always compatible with some apps and the EQ filters aren't as precise as the other eq options.

 

[Paweł L]

I get it what you mean. It would be nice just to have PEQ that would work the same way as Wavelet, but with features available in some of the music player - EQ tweaking and saving them in additional and separate folder.
Yeah, many of the EQs available for Wavelet, especially for IEMs are not what I consider good sounding. Then if someone uses different tips, the freq. response changes, which requires tweaking. Then your preference might be different than mine. On top, reviewers use different measuring set up or their own preferences which might be different than standard. Speaking of standards, I frankly dislike the Harman 2019 IEM with passion and are more at home with the META and B&K 5128 than 711 coupler.
I will wait until Crin will release his other offerings, since I can't afford something like the Mega5EST, and possibly the industry will follow.

 

[Waldstein74]

Bought one from Audiophonics.

It is very light and compact, and runs cooler than my Hidizs S9. Hopefully less battery-hungry (have an iPhone Pro Max, the Hidizs depletes it fairly quickly).

The Stargate sound is very good, as expected (I did not even try to compare the two, they probably sound the same to my ears).

Warning to potential buyers: the Tanchjim App does not work with an iPhone:
- registration requires a Chinese phone number (+86 country code)
- alternative registration method using an email address is not good either (I get an error message)
- in any case, the company informed Audiophonics that equalisation does not work on iOS right now and they are working on it

Will update if something changes.

Best regards

 

[CedarX]

Warning to potential buyers: the Tanchjim App does not work with an iPhone

Clarifying: it does work on iPhones… for BT devices, not USB devices. This is an iOS limitation—nothing Tanchjim (or any other OEM) can do until Apple removes this constraint.

 

[Waldstein74]

Clarifying: it does work on iPhones… for BT devices, not USB devices. This is an iOS limitation—nothing Tanchjim (or any other OEM) can do until Apple removes this constraint.

Ok thank you for the clarification, very helpful.
The email sent by the company to Audiophonics said: "It can be registered by using a Email address*. But anyway IOS version is not working for equalising. We are working for it." From what you say, I guess the iOS limitation cannot be overcome by Tanchjim or others.

* Upon further enquiry, I found out that in order to register using an email address, such address cannot have dots "." in prior to the @

Will keep the dongle as both form factor and sound are beyond reproach.

Best

 

[CedarX]

Ok thank you for the clarification, very helpful.
The email sent by the company to Audiophonics said: "It can be registered by using a Email address*. But anyway IOS version is not working for equalising. We are working for it." From what you say, I guess the iOS limitation cannot be overcome by Tanchjim or others.

* Upon further enquiry, I found out that in order to register using an email address, such address cannot have dots "." in prior to the @

Will keep the dongle as both form factor and sound are beyond reproach.

Best

It is rumored that Apple may lift this restriction in the near future…

 

[raif71]

 

[JanL]

I was trying to sign up on the Walk Play website to use the EQ functionality of the Stargate dongle, but I can't get past the registration screen. What is Vcode and where do I obtain it? It won't let me register without entering it.

 

[cscs54cs]

I was trying to sign up on the Walk Play website to use the EQ functionality of the Stargate dongle, but I can't get past the registration screen. What is Vcode and where do I obtain it? It won't let me register without entering it.

View attachment 448524

I have better luck with their android app. otherwise just use https://www.pragmaticaudio.com/headphones/?share=FiiO_FT1 tool. If it is walkplay it should just work.

 

[JeffGB]

I messed mine up pretty well with an early version of the pragmaticaudio website, but it's fixed now. After using the early version it started having bursts of extremely loud distortion, which was my fault because the website was not complete yet . I tried it with the EQ turned off but apparently the website was not actually disabling it and the distortion continued. When I tried the latest version of the website, it connected right away (it took multiple attempts with the older version) and I was able to disable the EQ and go back to using my EqualizerAPO software. After a few days of having it work ok without EQ, I decided to "roll the dice" and enable it again. I had changed speakers so I entered the values manually into the website, being careful to keep ALL slots with valid values, even the one I didn't need. For that one I set the gain at .1db so it's virtually inaudible. I pushed that to the Tanchjim and then pulled back from the Tanchjim to check that it really had been uploaded to it, which it was. It seems to work fine with no blasts of distortion now. The final thing is the pre-amp level. Uploading a file that has it does not affect the Tanchjim, however. I opened the pulled version from the Tanchjim in a text editor and it has a preamp of -2.8db that didn't change when I tried to modify the value and then upload it. I'll assume that perhaps the developer of the website has set a default of -2.8db but I'm not sure that it actually decreases the level by -2.8 or just says that in the file. I may experiment some more but I'm a bit worried I'll end up breaking it again and I don't have an Android phone to use.
All in all, the Tanchjim is going to work out fine for me. Thank you so much for the website, Jeromeof ! Without it, the lack of a working app for Windows or Apple would have been a deal breaker for sure!

 

[JeffGB]

A little update on my experience with the Tanchjim Stargate 2. The Pragmaticaudio web app must have been updated in the last day or so. I now get a confirmation of both a Push and Pull from the device of the EQ data. There was no confirmation earlier. I tested the lack of values for unused EQ slots and found that out of range values of frequency caused a complete breakdown of the device. Very loud bursts of noise and distortion but if the value of the frequency is above 20hz, and presumably below 20khz, it is fine. The value in db can be left at zero with no issues. The website is now setting the Q to .8 by default so no issues there.
I was concerned that possibly it wasn't actually doing the EQ because it was sounding very bright, which my speakers can if not EQ'd. I pushed a 3khz value of -10 and it is working fine, but I'm not sure it didn't start working since the confirmation of push started to appear. This is made more difficult to determine because it sounds quite different from my other DAC's. I guess it's possible that is the difference between hardware EQ and using my old computer for software EQ. In the past I used software decoding for DVD's on my PC and found the image quality was not even close to that of a cheap DVD player, so I'm considering it as a possiblity.
At this point my only issue is the lack of pre-amp volume in the EQ settings (this is the website limitation. I don't have an Android phone to test with) but I'm simply reducing windows volume by 4db so it still works.

At this point I would recommend the device even for a desktop DAC, if you can work around the lack of pre-amp volume (it should work fine if you have an Android phone to set it). Thank you again to Jeromeof. His website is making it possible to use a very cheap device with PEQ. No more testing EqualizerAPO after a windows update!

 

[Heinzfi]

I was trying to sign up on the Walk Play website to use the EQ functionality of the Stargate dongle, but I can't get past the registration screen. What is Vcode and where do I obtain it? It won't let me register without entering it.

View attachment 448524

Change the language to Chinese on the top bar, put your email and password, click on "Send" then you'll receive the code in your email (check your spam folder too), and it will work.

At this point my only issue is the lack of pre-amp volume in the EQ settings (this is the website limitation. I don't have an Android phone to test with) but I'm simply reducing windows volume by 4db so it still works.

You could try to change it here https://peq.szwalkplay.com/
Just follow the steps in my reply above to register, and you're set.

 

[JeffGB]

Change the language to Chinese on the top bar, put your email and password, click on "Send" then you'll receive the code in your email (check your spam folder too), and it will work.

View attachment 451634

You could try to change it here https://peq.szwalkplay.com/
Just follow the steps in my reply above to register, and you're set.

Thank you, Heinzfi! I was able to get the Walkplay app registered and, after messing with it a bit, figured out how to make a custom EQ and save it to the Tanchjim Stargate 2. It seems to be working properly now, including a pre-amp setting for EQ. It was a bit confusing because it asked for a name for the preset in both english and chinese. I had to copy a word of mandarin and then use it.

 

[ThisOne]

The app has both English and Chinese language versions, so the preset needs to be named in both languages for both versions to display the name.

 

[ThisOne]

BTW, on my side, I only see 7x PEQ with the Tanchjim app. I do see the 8x PEQ (+ Class AB/H, Gain etc.) with the WalkPlay app.

I think the KTmicro will stay when OEMs look for an inexpensive SoC. What the CB5100-Pro gives is interfaces to any DAC/Amp—e.g. TTGK has a CB5100-Pro + AK4493S module (+two OpAmp), so it’s not CS431xxx only. The new KT0234S may target the same application (don’t know any using that chip).

As for Moondrop, the RAYS IEM is usping a SpaceTouch SPV6040. I should receive it soMetime next week, but I suspect it’s not going to be WalkPlay compatible: the WalkPlay CBHT chips are custom versions of SpaceTouch chips. So the SPV6040 is from the same family, a more advanced chip, but it may lack the TTGK/WalkPlay customization. So they may not continue with WalkPlay and do their own thing instead…

Same for Tanchjim: if they were looking for a higher end dongle for the Stargate-II, then yes, a CB5100-Pro + CS43131 is probably a better choice than a KTmicro SoC.

walkplay can support RAYS

 

[CedarX]

walkplay can support RAYS

I just updated to the latest v2.2.1 apk (Android) of WalkPlay, and it does not support RAYS.