iFi Releases FW5.30 Update for MQA Compatibility
iFi is just too damn awesome. When they unveiled the details on the Nano iDSD BL, the question everyone wanted to know was if iFi would extend MQA compatibility to the rest of their devices. Up until recently the official word from iFi was that they were “looking into it”. Well, they have looked, and they have produced. It very nearly seemed like an April Fool’s joke, but alas the FW5.30 update no joke at all. It’s great to see a company continuing to pour time and resources into their older products.
What’s new in FW5.30?
Well, of course, there’s the compatibility with the MQA format, and apparently this required more than 1000 programming hour’s worth of development by the MQA and iFi software developers to be attained.
However, there are some small sacrifices that had to be made. With the firmware version 5.2/5.2B (nicknamed ‘Limoncello’), iFi’s devices were capable of decoding PCM formats of up to 768kHz, and DSD formats up to DSD512, whereas with FW5.30 (nicknamed ‘Cookies & Cream’), the maximum supported PCM formats is now limited to 384kHz, and DSD formats limited to DSD256.
Other changes within FW5.30 include:
- Totally replacing the customised core code
- Re-apply tuning/core loading and
- Further fine tuning the firmware for even more precise allocated resource use in order to allow us to support MQA and 384kHz.
Within iFi’s statement regarding the new firmware update, they have also expressly stated that the update is compatible with all of their current and legacy devices, except for the original Nano iDAC, iLink, and the Nano iOne.
Technically speaking, FW5.30 is compatible with the Nano iOne, but it cannot be flashed by the users, and so the device will need to be sent to iFi in order to update the device.
Get the Update
To get the update for your compatible device, just head over to iFi’s support page and click on the correct link for your specific device (located towards the bottom of the page).
