What I'm testing...

VP Electricity · 02-02-2012, 10:29 PM

Not configured completely yet... hoping to get it working tomorrow...

Mobridge DA2 MOST to analog/MOST to Toslink gateway:

- MOST input
- 8 RCA outputs (2 pair fading, 2 pair non-fading)
- Toslink S/PDIF digital output
- internal DSP EQ controlled by 7-band EQ UI in BMW head unit
- 24-bit Burr-Brown DACs
- 4V RMS analog outputs
- USB programming (no more SD card!)

THE TECH · 02-03-2012, 11:17 AM

Now if I just knew what this does.

IrishCoffee · 02-03-2012, 11:48 AM

You can configure this thing to allow the EQ in the BMW UI to adjust the EQ in this unit??? I suppose that would make sense if the signal processing is done in the factory unit as well, but that is awesome!

Can you assign different frequencies and Q's to the eq bands? I would assume you woulnd't be able to change what it says on the screen though...

This thing looks seriously promising for a badass system.

kmarei · 02-03-2012, 07:20 PM

Maybe now I can find some used mobridges for sale

VP Electricity · 02-03-2012, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IrishCoffee

You can configure this thing to allow the EQ in the BMW UI to adjust the EQ in this unit??? I suppose that would make sense if the signal processing is done in the factory unit as well, but that is awesome!

Can you assign different frequencies and Q's to the eq bands? I would assume you woulnd't be able to change what it says on the screen though...

This thing looks seriously promising for a badass system.

The stock eq is in the Top HiFi amp. This uses the controls which appear on the head unit when it is coded for Top HiFi, and uses its internal eq to do what you're telling it to do with the head unit's eq controls.

This weekend I will test exactly what that means, with the RTA.

It isn't customizable at all... But it's better than bass and treble controls.

The head unit recoded today, not sure how it happened or what I did "right". But I have EQ on the iDrive now and my analog outputs are dead, and I have output from the DA2 now.

I currently have the Toslink out feeding a Helix DSP, feeding an Arc amp. No noise, no hiss, clear as day.

Technic · 02-04-2012, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VP Electricity

The stock eq is in the Top HiFi amp. This uses the controls which appear on the head unit when it is coded for Top HiFi, and uses its internal eq to do what you're telling it to do with the head unit's eq controls.

This weekend I will test exactly what that means, with the RTA.

It isn't customizable at all... But it's better than bass and treble controls.

The head unit recoded today, not sure how it happened or what I did "right". But I have EQ on the iDrive now and my analog outputs are dead, and I have output from the DA2 now.

I currently have the Toslink out feeding a Helix DSP, feeding an Arc amp. No noise, no hiss, clear as day.

What is the price of this unit?

VP Electricity · 02-04-2012, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Technic

What is the price of this unit?

Not been announced. DA1 was 699 MSRP. We will see if that price holds - a few factors in play, but no announcement yet.

808MGuy · 02-04-2012, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VP Electricity

I currently have the Toslink out feeding a Helix DSP, feeding an Arc amp. No noise, no hiss, clear as day.

In this configuration, is it basically acting as a MOST to toslink converter? Since you have a DSP downstream, would you be EQing the signal 2x? Would the OEM volume control still work when using the toslink output?

VP Electricity · 02-04-2012, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 808MGuy

In this configuration, is it basically acting as a MOST to toslink converter?

That is how I'm using it. Mobridge already had the DA1, which had ONLY Toslink out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 808MGuy

Since you have a DSP downstream, would you be EQing the signal 2x?

I would be, but I'm only viewing the iDrive EQ as a fancy tone control - the P-DSP is for the advanced tuning. So far I haven't touched the iDrive EQ anyway, but I think having access to it is cool.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 808MGuy

Would the OEM volume control still work when using the toslink output?

Yes, it does, and the DA1 to a BitOne worked too. We posted an install some time back with a DA1 to a BitOne to the client's McIntosh amps. Getting the BitOne to work with the Toslink is kind of a pain, and if you have to talk with Audison US "support" you might as well hit yourself in the head with a brick. This was dirt simple as far as the DA2 Toslink-into-P-DSP was concerned.

Now as far as why, I'm not sure. The original Sony/Philips specification for S/PDIF doesn't define volume control specifically. There are some "words" reserved for some possible volume state data, and perhaps those have been defined in a later version of the specification which I haven't read.

It's also possible that they are doing some transform where they are changing the amplitude of the signal in the digital domain based on some algorithm they have created, which looks at the volume knob state of the HU. If they do that, they are essentially compressing the dynamic range of the digital signal, but that's not a horrible thing, since in a car - especially a moving car - the dynamic range of a CD is useless, and Ken Pohlmann - an early advocate of digital audio - long advocated a "compression" button for CD players for cars for this reason.

But it seems great so far.

kaigoss69 · 02-14-2012, 06:28 PM

OK, so the weekend is over...

VP Electricity · 02-14-2012, 10:34 PM

I have not yet received a firmware version which would allow the device's RCA outs to be used with any degree of fidelity. I do not knows for certain if the issue is firmware or hardware. Wish I had different news, but I will keep you posted. I would like to use these in that manner too...

Technic · 02-15-2012, 05:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VP Electricity

I have not yet received a firmware version which would allow the device's RCA outs to be used with any degree of fidelity. I do not knows for certain if the issue is firmware or hardware. Wish I had different news, but I will keep you posted. I would like to use these in that manner too...

I have seen this movie before and it sucked the first time... I really do not understand what the hell is going on with mObridge and the BMW MOST converter in particular.

thedrknows · 02-15-2012, 08:13 AM

I shouldn't have clicked on this thread...my head hurts now.

02-02-2012, 10:29 PM	#1
VP Electricity Brigadier General 289 Rep 3,201 Posts Drives: F34 xDrive Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: portland oregon iTrader: (3)	What I'm testing... Not configured completely yet... hoping to get it working tomorrow... Mobridge DA2 MOST to analog/MOST to Toslink gateway: - MOST input - 8 RCA outputs (2 pair fading, 2 pair non-fading) - Toslink S/PDIF digital output - internal DSP EQ controlled by 7-band EQ UI in BMW head unit - 24-bit Burr-Brown DACs - 4V RMS analog outputs - USB programming (no more SD card!)
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

02-03-2012, 11:17 AM	#2
THE TECH BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 307 Rep 13,093 Posts Drives: BPMsport 2012 E92 M3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Kansas iTrader: (45) Garage List 2013 Nissan GTR [0.00] 2019 Sierra Denali ... [0.00] 1999 Nissan Silvia [0.00] 1999 Nissan Skyline ... [0.00] 1998 Toyota Supra [0.00]	Now if I just knew what this does.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-03-2012, 11:48 AM	#3
IrishCoffee Lieutenant 79 Rep 446 Posts Drives: 2020 M4 Join Date: May 2011 Location: Orange County iTrader: (0)	You can configure this thing to allow the EQ in the BMW UI to adjust the EQ in this unit??? I suppose that would make sense if the signal processing is done in the factory unit as well, but that is awesome! Can you assign different frequencies and Q's to the eq bands? I would assume you woulnd't be able to change what it says on the screen though... This thing looks seriously promising for a badass system.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-03-2012, 07:20 PM	#4
kmarei Major General 686 Rep 6,845 Posts Drives: 2018 Audi RS5 coupe Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Reston, VA iTrader: (34) Garage List 2018 Audi RS5 [0.00]	Maybe now I can find some used mobridges for sale __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-14-2012, 06:28 PM	#10
kaigoss69 Brigadier General 300 Rep 3,969 Posts Drives: '08 335i Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: JAX iTrader: (6)	OK, so the weekend is over... __________________ Mobridge DA2 > JBL MS-8 > ARC XDi 600/4 > JBL Gti 408 Mids & Vifa OT19 Tweeters; PG Ti2 1600.5 > Morel HCW-10 & IDMax 15
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-14-2012, 10:34 PM	#11
VP Electricity Brigadier General 289 Rep 3,201 Posts Drives: F34 xDrive Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: portland oregon iTrader: (3)	I have not yet received a firmware version which would allow the device's RCA outs to be used with any degree of fidelity. I do not knows for certain if the issue is firmware or hardware. Wish I had different news, but I will keep you posted. I would like to use these in that manner too...
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-15-2012, 08:13 AM	#13
thedrknows Captain 36 Rep 665 Posts Drives: 2018 Tesla Model 3 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: CO iTrader: (17)	I shouldn't have clicked on this thread...my head hurts now. __________________ Current - 2018 Tesla Model 3 SOLD - 2008 135i CR, 2010 135i LMB, 2012 M3 MR, 2008 M3 JZB
	Appreciate 0 Quote