Announcement XMS888 firmware v1.2

[jokiin]

Discrete mapping to the 6 RCAs works, but that's the only analogue mode which works. Right now (Firmware 1.2) there is no mode that I can find in which all the encoded tracks of a 5.1 DVD are reproduced on the left and right analogue outputs. I can't think of a particularly valid reason to throw away subwoofer, and the analogue test tones are unreasonably broken.

I'm still not sure I follow here, do you want the output of each channel redirected to two speakers and not a downmix? Can you explain this in a bit more detail so I can understand what you want it to do.

Based on what I heard before the 1.2 upgrade, it sounded like badly decoded audio, not raw digital stream. But it was fleeting. I'd be interested to retest... is there any practical reason which would make it a bad thing to downlevel the box to 1.1, test, and then uplevel it again?

You can go back to an earlier firmware and then update it again no problem if you want to test.

BTW, I'm working on a product which has analogue and digital audio outputs, and the mantra has been absolutely that both must be active. They won't be the same - the digital will be 5.1 discrete, and the analogue will be coded LT/RT derived from the AC3, but the fact is that both have to be active.... which is the only sensible mode for a consumer device.
There are players out there that do this already but they are not all that common, most players could be made to do it but it would increase the price and the pressure is always on to keep the price down to stay competitive in the market.

Nobody should have to stuff around with a "SPDIF" setting in order to turn analogue audio on and off!! :-)

I would think that in most cases it is setup and then left, not too many people would find it necessary to keep switching configuration of their equipment, that's not to say it doesn't happen just that it's not the common occurence

[LastActionZero]

And here are the results (XMS-888 menu settings are coloured navy):

Can someone with a DTS amp/decoder confirm that the XMS-888 outputs DTS audio?

[/list]

Hi.

I can verify that the XMS888 outputs the DTS stream (have only tried through the coax) to my amp.
The amp's (a Sony STRDB830) display panel correctly shows "dts" and the number of front/rear channels.

Cheers,
Laz.

[jokiin]

Hi.

I can verify that the XMS888 outputs the DTS stream (have only tried through the coax) to my amp.
The amp's (a Sony STRDB830) display panel correctly shows "dts" and the number of front/rear channels.

Cheers,
Laz.

Thanks for that, you saved me pulling half a cabinet apart to check it. I knew that the player supports DTS digital out but I'm pretty sure that DTS decoding is not supported on board though (I have to double check this though, it's not listed as supporting it but I need to confirm)

[andw]

Hi Jok11n, any word yet from China on the problem samples we sent them / aspect ratios / zooming etc.?

[jokiin]

Hi Jok11n, any word yet from China on the problem samples we sent them / aspect ratios / zooming etc.?

Nothing as yet, I'll let you know of course as soon as I hear anything.

[rimmeroz]

Can you provide the settings for coax dds out...
I am having no luck getting coax out to work....;) Optical no problem but I want to have my hd stb and dvd player connected to my amp but the hd stb has only optical out....so I have to use that on the optical and then use coax from the xmx to the amp.

Thanks

[LastActionZero]

Can you provide the settings for coax dds out...
I am having no luck getting coax out to work....;) Optical no problem but I want to have my hd stb and dvd player connected to my amp but the hd stb has only optical out....so I have to use that on the optical and then use coax from the xmx to the amp.

Thanks

Hi,

As I mentioned, I have not yet tested the optical connection, but the coax digital out is working, with the following settings (some may not be relevant and/or defaults):

Speaker Setup
Downmix = Off

Audio Setup
SPDIF OUTPUT = SPDIF/RAW
OP MODE = LINE OUT
DUAL MONO = STEREO
COMPRESSION = FULL
PRO LOGIC = OFF
LPCM OUTPUT = LPCM 96K

KARAOKE
KARAOKE = OFF

Cheers,
Laz.

[andw]

Thanks Laz, I've added it to the website, under 'hints tips workarounds etc', that way, hopefully it will be easier to find for others later.
Anyone got the working settings for optical, so I can add them as well?

[bcasteng]

Can someone tell me what is the purpose/function of the "Compression" knob?

[jokiin]

Can someone tell me what is the purpose/function of the "Compression" knob?

The compression function is sometimes reffered to as 'night mode' on some other brands of players, it's meant to reduce large output peaks in volume that happen often in surround sound soundtracks. Not sure how well it works though, it's not something I use.

[LastActionZero]

The compression function is sometimes reffered to as 'night mode' on some other brands of players, it's meant to reduce large output peaks in volume that happen often in surround sound soundtracks. Not sure how well it works though, it's not something I use.

Hi.

How I understand this is that COMPRESSION = FULL, means that the "full" dynamic range is passed through, i.e. NO compression.
I know it seems back to front.
Maybe if the label was "Dynamic range" it would make more sense.

Cheers,
Laz.

[jokiin]

Hi.

How I understand this is that COMPRESSION = FULL, means that the "full" dynamic range is passed through, i.e. NO compression.
I know it seems back to front.
Maybe if the label was "Dynamic range" it would make more sense.

Cheers,
Laz.

These things seem to get lost in the translation sometimes unfortunately.

[KennyC]

Hi,

Who that is involved in the firmware for the XMS-888 can I email to ask if there is another firmware available, other than 1.1 or 1.2.

I have 2 XMS-888, different ages and they out of standard play AVI's differently, one with sound and the other with no sound.

:confused: :confused: :confused:

[andw]

There is no newer firmware than 1.2 available as yet.
When the new firmware is available, it will first appear at ftp://ftp.jokiin.com, and after that a copy will also appear at www.xms888.tk .

[andw]

I've emailed ESS regarding upgrades to their 'base' firmware again, asking them if there are actually changes on the way, and if so, what they would be.
As you can imagine, they aren't too forth coming with information to an average user, but at least their is some hope.
This was their response...
All the updates will be provided to the supporting channel periodically,
but, Sorry, I don't have any detailed status to share with you.
Best regards,

As you can see, not a lot to go on, but at least not a 'No, there will be no more updates' or anything like that.

[buts]

I have a simple question :) If the player is made in China and only they produce the basic unit and can modify firmware then how come that Strathfield put XMS string displayed on the logging screen ? Any chance
to change that logging picture ? It is displayed during MP3 playback
all the time in equalizer mode and I would like to change it.

[andw]

I have a simple question :) If the player is made in China and only they produce the basic unit and can modify firmware then how come that Strathfield put XMS string displayed on the logging screen ? Any chance
to change that logging picture ? It is displayed during MP3 playback
all the time in equalizer mode and I would like to change it.
I believe that when they order them from China, they tell them what logo they want, what face plate they want, what outputs they want, and stuff like that.

[jokiin]

I believe that when they order them from China, they tell them what logo they want, what face plate they want, what outputs they want, and stuff like that.

Correct, all players are spec'd like this.

[bernie]

Ok, I'm really impressed that this thing plays AVIs. Most of them, anyhow. Now wouldn't it be nice if it played all the hundreds of VCD and MPEG movies I've got? It plays most of them, for sure, but often at wrong aspect ratio or with hiccupping sound. Often the movie will turn to coloured blocks halfway through and that's that. No fixing it other than starting over. The only bug that got fixed by new firmware is the stupid counter you couldn't get rid of. Really, this is not a job for patches. The whole firmware needs to be rewritten from scratch. I had to take this player out of service and reinstall the old one. It's just flaky in all respects. Only use I might have for it is as dedicated MPEG4 player or for dubbing. So, what chance have we got to get them to do a total rewrite? Not much, I think, although it could be interesting playing with firmware from another machine using same chip. Dangerous, but. You'd want a socketed flash chip so you could restore the original. I've never seen a socket for one of those tiny packages.

Any ideas here? That's what we're all here for.

bernie
+

[Scaramouche]

good luck waiting for a firmware. They wont waste time & money correcting major problems like that, when already much newer chipsets and models are out. The ESS chipset in the XMS is old old old as these things go....