SOtM smS-200 unveiled at Munich Hi-End

[creativepart]

I have the non-neo SMS200 Ultra and SMS500 power supply. A couple of days ago I updated from 4.6 to 4.7 firmware. I only did so because it was available. Not because of something contained in the update or because there was any issue.

 

To my surprise the very next day the new 4.81 update became available. So, what the heck, I applied that update as well.

 

I heard no sonic difference between 4.6 and 4.7 - nor was any expected. However, "something" has changed with the 4.81 update. I struggle to put my finger on exactly what's different. My best guess is that bass is more pronounced and instruments are more clearly separated and defined.

 

I should stress that I expected no change in SQ. I don't really think there was any reason to believe there would be an improvement when looking over the list of changes in the update.

 

Perhaps... I'm just running the volume a tad higher and that accounts for the changes. But even though I don't think there should be any change or improvement. Something... has noticeably changed and for the better.

 

YMMV

[Zauurx]

Where is the link to download firmware 4.81 , please ?

[stefano_mbp]

If your sotm is working the update is available OTA (on the air).

Under System Setup icon on the eunhasu configuration page you should find a yellow arrow that inform about available updates

If you need tu burn a new card there is non 4.81 download available, afaik, but from here (chapter 1.3)

https://www.docs.sotm-audio.com/doku.php?id=en:eunhasu:burn_sdcard_image

you can download the 4.70 version then you can update to 4.81 as described before

 

[Zauurx]

Thanks

[kelvinwsy]

Just updated 4.81 - took 388seconds on my 1 gb per sec fiber broadband connection. Testing starts NOW!

Hi Hi

 

 

[MGX-UK]

6 hours ago, kelvinwsy said:

Just updated 4.81 - took 388seconds on my 1 gb per sec fiber broadband connection. Testing starts NOW!

Hi Hi

 

 

Well done .........Let us know how it sounds .......

[dgilz]

It sounds good, a very nice present from SOtM to make time fly faster during pandemics...

[kelvinwsy]

First impression is Sound Level is slightly lower for same volume setting. 

As the Software "runs in". .. it is basically my brain adjusting to the sound.

 

1. Smoother than 4.70.. the SMS-200 Ultra Neo now gives better timbre to well recorded piano and string instruments

2. Vocals better defined in the higher registers esp female

3. Bass Drum kick a bit more punch and you can hear the drum skin vibration clearer

 

I am one Happy Covid-19 home bound Audiophile

[kelvinwsy]

Female singers breathing techniques execution in long singing sequences Clearly and beautifully revealed by the newly updated 4.81.. WOW!

[stefano_mbp]

The change log for 4.81 version report that Qobuz id/pwd issue was finally solved.

I therefore tried to enter my login credentials in MPD configuration settings but sadly nothing changed, it is still not possible to login to Qobuz through sms-200.

I checked it with several apps like Lumin app, Linn app and Kazoo on iOS devices.

To be noticed that Tidal login works fine.

Do not consider MConnect as this app manage by itself (for Tidal and Qobuz) login information and playing music too, discovered this as if you play something using MConnect and then you shut down the device Wi-Fi connection music playing stops.

 

Is anyone here facing this same issue?

 

Thanks

[Peter_T]

5 hours ago, stefano_mbp said:

The change log for 4.81 version report that Qobuz id/pwd issue was finally solved.

I therefore tried to enter my login credentials in MPD configuration settings but sadly nothing changed, it is still not possible to login to Qobuz through sms-200.

I checked it with several apps like Lumin app, Linn app and Kazoo on iOS devices.

To be noticed that Tidal login works fine.

Do not consider MConnect as this app manage by itself (for Tidal and Qobuz) login information and playing music too, discovered this as if you play something using MConnect and then you shut down the device Wi-Fi connection music playing stops.

 

Is anyone here facing this same issue?

 

Thanks

 

Hi Stefano,

I had the same trouble before with V4.7 of eunhasu. I reported about that in dec 2019 : see :

 

I tried it again with V8.1 recently : same experience as you reported above. Still does not work. You will have to use Mconnect (Ipad) or BubbleUpNp app (android). The problem lies with the Qobuz API. Qobuz promised me in Dec 2019 that they are still working on it, but apparently it has no priority for them. But I do not understand why SOTM wrote that it will work now with V8.1. Did did they really test it?? 

[stefano_mbp]

2 hours ago, Peter_T said:

 

Hi Stefano,

I had the same trouble before with V4.7 of eunhasu. I reported about that in dec 2019 : see :

 

I tried it again with V8.1 recently : same experience as you reported above. Still does not work. You will have to use Mconnect (Ipad) or BubbleUpNp app (android). The problem lies with the Qobuz API. Qobuz promised me in Dec 2019 that they are still working on it, but apparently it has no priority for them. But I do not understand why SOTM wrote that it will work now with V8.1. Did did they really test it?? 

Thank you Peter for confirming this.

I know that the “workaround” is to use MConnect or Bubbleupnp but I was wondering Like you why SOtM announced to have solved the problem.

I asked May of SOtM and she answered that it was working using Bubbleupnp... it seems she doesn’t know what Bubbleupnp is really doing ... but when I told her to use an iOS app she admitted she was facing the same issue using Kazoo and suggested me to contact the app developer .... I don’t really understand this let me say not very professional behavior.

[kelvinwsy]

Just went thru painfully sliw process of downloading 4.70 onto a new 16gd microsd card to do a comparison with the 4.81 updated thru the Eunhasu web interface

 

4.70 too much emphasis on central Sound image .. sounds slightly left and right of the centre is muddied position wise and lumped into the centre.

Highs a tinge of hardness noticeable in massed strings and Female vocalists high registers

 

4.81.. tamed hifreq hardness 

Central image shrinks a little but much more focused. 

As a result sounds left and right of centre much more clearly heard 

Stereo spread from extreme left and right better delineated .. Seems to be wider and deeper at extreme left and right

 

Fantastic free uograde

Thx to SOTM Audio

 

 

[tedwoods]

A new version is available which updates a bunch of stuff!

I've downloaded it through Eunhasu and have tried DLNA and NAA and they both work just fine.😀

[stefano_mbp]

10 hours ago, tedwoods said:

A new version is available which updates a bunch of stuff!

Installed flawlessly (fw ver. 4.9) .... MPD/DLNA is working fine!

 

Change log:

Version : V0.4.9
  - Date : 04-28-2020
  - Upgraded Roonready to the version 1.1.38
  - Upgraded GNU C library with needed few tools for OS system to the version 2.28-9
  - Fixed up Eunhasu version information display method in system config page
  - Upgraded below apps by uninstall and install in Eunhasu
  - Logitech Media Server to the version 7.9.3
  - MPD to the version 0.21.21
  - Upmpdcli(DLNA renderer) to the version 1.4.7
  - HQplayer NAA to the version 4.1.1
  - Shairport to the version 3.3.5
  - LibreSpot to the version 1.1.0
  - BubbleUPnP Server to the version 0.9.update37

[ClothEars]

Yes, this update appears to have no bugs and works fine.

I can't detect any change in sound though - which is probably a good thing seeing v4.81 sounds so good!

[5-pot-fan]

2 hours ago, ClothEars said:

Yes, this update appears to have no bugs and works fine.

I can't detect any change in sound though - which is probably a good thing seeing v4.81 sounds so good!

Agreed - straightforward update, minor oddities from v4.81 sorted, and all sounds good in MPD/DLNA + Squeezelite. Thanks SOTM!

[audiobomber]

The latest update was sorely needed; 4.81 sounded great but MPD/DLNA was a mess in my system. Play a song or two, then stop, hard to restart, play another song, stop, hard to restart...

4.9 is much more stable.

[dgilz]

22 minutes ago, audiobomber said:

The latest update was sorely needed; 4.81 sounded great but MPD/DLNA was a mess in my system. Play a song or two, then stop, hard to restart, play another song, stop, hard to restart...

4.9 is much more stable.

I had the same issue, a bit less annoying because it occurred more rarely.

 

After the OS upgrade, try a kernel upgrade. The last kernel version seems to be 4.18.19-215.fc27.armv7hl 

[audiobomber]

1 hour ago, dgilz said:

I had the same issue, a bit less annoying because it occurred more rarely.

 

After the OS upgrade, try a kernel upgrade. The last kernel version seems to be 4.18.19-215.fc27.armv7hl 

I always do a Kernel update before updating the firmware.

[dgilz]

5 hours ago, audiobomber said:

I always do a Kernel update before updating the firmware.

Before ? Is it better ? As far as I picture linux modules work the system might be less stable if you do it before ?

Perhaps I don't really get how it works...

[creativepart]

I update the Kernal after I update the firmware. Don't know which way is better. That's just how I handle it.

[audiobomber]

50 minutes ago, dgilz said:

Before ? Is it better ? As far as I picture linux modules work the system might be less stable if you do it before ?

Perhaps I don't really get how it works...

I don't know what is better. I do the Kernel first because it appears above the firmware update on the Eunhasu page. This topic has been discussed before with no clear resolution, so I've emailed May Park for input.

[bmoregnr]

I've updated no issues; it did hang up at 29% but I've learned to wait it out then bam ready to reboot.  I have not really listened to it other than to make sure no issues MPD but now maybe 3-4 weeks with 4.81 and it does seem like a difference where to me it is that the mid-range has opened up, become clearer or more articulate; maybe the bass is a little more out of the way somehow; deeper maybe but not encroaching on the midrange as much maybe.  That is the effect I am hearing but it is making it more balanced all around top to bottom where no aspect outweighs the other a little more now and relatively I think that is helping the midrange most; but again I like it very much as I am a midrange out kind of guy.

[kelvinwsy]

Same for me. 29% first time around. Rebooted and did it with a 1 gbs line. This time it went through in 15min or so.

Rebooted, and HQPlayer NAA 4.1.1 installed auto.

So far it sounds as good as 4.81...