TempoTec Sonata BHD Pro Portable DAC & Amp Review

[JanesJr1]

Then write a mail to them and ask for an older firmware to send you. It won't be quick nor very plesent but I believe they will do that much. If that doesn't work they will ask you to send it back to them in China on your own expense so that they can disassemble (read the EPROM on programator) and check it out and they will send you another one but that will take a lot of time.

They have a US office now that functions as a distributor.... that may also mean they have done so in order to provide customer service here as well. See Post #399 above.

PS here is the service contact info from that site:

Contact information​

Trade name: TempoTec
Phone number: +1 6262780810
Email: [email protected]
Physical address: 19823 Vista Hermosa Dr. Walnut, Walnut CA 91789, United States
VAT number: 99-4946208
Trade number: 6387988

​

 

[ultralow]

Apparently there is a new fimware update, version 1.2 as of 20/03/2025.

According to the English website enables DSD 512.

About to give it a try.

FIRMWARE DOWNLOAD

TempoTec Corp. is established by a group of audiophiles. The final format of music is always analog. So besides of the advanced digital audio processing technology, we also listen to the feedback of users, create new product with user-oriented, and share fine listening experience with music lovers.

www.tempotec.net

½Ú×à̹¿Ë TEMPOTEC - Çý¶¯ÏÂÔØ

TEMPOTEC,½Ú×à,Éù¿¨,ÌýÒôÉù¿¨,ÒôÀÖÉù¿¨,HiFi,Hi-Fi,PC Hi-Fi,PC HiFi,PC HiFiÉù¿¨,PC HiFiÉù¿¨,¶þÉùµÀÉù¿¨,USBÉù¿¨,USBÒì²½,Òì²½´«Êä,ÎÞÏß´«Êä,FM Transmitter,СҹÇú

www.tempotec.com.cn

Edit: Flashed successfully, seems that they did away with the whole HMF, HMN, LMT, LMX file scheme and went with a single firmware file.
The device now seems to store in memory the previously selected settings after power is removed.
Everything seems very smooth so far, just like firmware 1.01. Haven't tested DSD yet although I assume 512 now works. Worth updating to IMO.

 

[ears-of-steel]

Apparently there is a new fimware update, version 1.2 as of 20/03/2025.

Just got an email from Tempotec but wait ... 133MB for a firmware upgrade?
Makes me wonder if it includes an AI assistant that analyzes my music collection and adapts the firmware to my eclectic taste.
Think I'll give it a pass.

 

[amanieux]

Just got an email from Tempotec but wait ... 133MB for a firmware upgrade?
Makes me wonder if it includes an AI assistant that analyzes my music collection and adapts the firmware to my eclectic taste.
Think I'll give it a pass.

the reason of large size is because firmware is not 100% code, there is some data also because lookup tables (data precomputation of complex maths) is an optimisation, trading one memory acess for mutiple maths computations, so don't be afraid of firmware size, optimisations in computation lowers power consumption and/or heat generation

 

[ultralow]

Just got an email from Tempotec but wait ... 133MB for a firmware upgrade?
Makes me wonder if it includes an AI assistant that analyzes my music collection and adapts the firmware to my eclectic taste.
Think I'll give it a pass.

The firmware that gets flashed onto the device is actually smaller than the previous ones.

v1.02 = 1.0mb
v1.01 = 1.1mb
v1.00 = 1.1mb

It's the logs in the DFU (upgrade / settings) tool that account for the extra space, apparently Tempotec hasn't deleted the logs before packaging the tool.

You can remove the logs.

For example I have repackaged the firmware and DFU tool with Chinese removed from parts of the tool, plus an English translated guide, 3.1mb zipped.

The previous logs are removed, but the firmware itself is left untouched.

 

[chatnever]

I realized that FW 1.20, you cannot changing volume on Windows anymore, it is either on or off. Means volume 0 is mute, volume 1-100 is the same volume (MAX). So for ease of access, I have to rollback to previous 1.01.

 

[mc.god]

I realized that FW 1.20, you cannot changing volume on Windows anymore, it is either on or off. Means volume 0 is mute, volume 1-100 is the same volume (MAX). So for ease of access, I have to rollback to previous 1.01.

This is the same behavior of my Sonata BHD (non Pro) out of the box, the one and only complaint i can make to the device, since in case of failing of the volume buttons it would become completely unusable,

 

[ultralow]

I realized that FW 1.20, you cannot changing volume on Windows anymore, it is either on or off. Means volume 0 is mute, volume 1-100 is the same volume (MAX). So for ease of access, I have to rollback to previous 1.01.

Good catch.

Just tested this myself in Windows and Linux, I have the same issue. Normally I use max OS volume so didn't notice this. Program volume still works, just not OS level hardware volume unfortunately.

I have emailed [email protected] about this.
Hopefully they put out a fix.

 

[Mark K]

Wow, can't wait any longer

 

[rinderkappajoe]

So i received my Sonata BHD today and quite enjoy it but find it a bit too warm leaning to be honest.
To my ears the bass is boosted and the treble subdued compared to other stuff i own.
Tanchjim Space on the other hand was too thinned out in the midbass and too boosted up top.
Any suggestion for a middleground between those two? (volume rockers is a must)
All i want is something super clean and technical while not sounding artificially boosted.
Clean, controlled, technical, sparkly just how my XP2-Bal sounds (looking for sth like that without battery)....in my understanding thats neutral, but who knows....

 

[jkim]

So i received my Sonata BHD today and quite enjoy it but find it a bit too warm leaning to be honest.
To my ears the bass is boosted and the treble subdued compared to other stuff i own.
Tanchjim Space on the other hand was too thinned out in the midbass and too boosted up top.
Any suggestion for a middleground between those two? (volume rockers is a must)
All i want is something super clean and technical while not sounding artificially boosted.
Clean, controlled, technical, sparkly just how my XP2-Bal sounds (looking for sth like that without battery)....in my understanding thats neutral, but who knows....

Search for questions similar to yours in this forum. You will find basically the same answer. You are not supposed to hear any difference b/w those two UNLESS one has some kind of defect. Just choose one you like b/w the two, and put more time and efforts into headphones/speakers/room and even more into EQ'ing and other kinds of adjustment.

 

[rinderkappajoe]

Space is pretty aggressive in it's presentation and clearly boosted.
But OK i am Not supposed to hear that and better ask somewhere else then
Why are there different firmwares for the sonata with different Sound profiles then?
Thank you anyway

 

[Tiago P]

I realized that FW 1.20, you cannot changing volume on Windows anymore, it is either on or off. Means volume 0 is mute, volume 1-100 is the same volume (MAX). So for ease of access, I have to rollback to previous 1.01.

Same happened here. How do I rollback to previous 1.01? got to have the firmware file from then? Where can I find it?=

 

[Tiago P]

I realized that FW 1.20, you cannot changing volume on Windows anymore, it is either on or off. Means volume 0 is mute, volume 1-100 is the same volume (MAX). So for ease of access, I have to rollback to previous 1.01.

How did you do it?

 

[Tiago P]

Ok, found it already and solved it.
for those trying to find it: https://www.touslesdrivers.com/index.php?v_page=23&v_code=76137&v_langue=en

 

[Krasche]

Does the BHD Pro firmware work on the non pro BHD dongle?

 

[mc.god]

Does the BHD Pro firmware work on the non pro BHD dongle?

I didn't try but I'd say no, they have the same CS43131 dacs but totally different usb bridges and that firmware will most likely brick the non pro one, admitting that the update tool would recognize it at all.