Thank you ROSE_LOVE,
I just sent you the email.
Hello @Rose_love ,
Thank you for your quick response; I was even surprised, well done!
I took two days to evaluate the different filters: 1.17, 1.24, 1.34, and 1.41.
- Filters 1.17 and 1.24 are the two best in my system (see my signature) in terms of tonal accuracy and reliability (information on the screen is sometimes missing on 1.34), with a preference for the warmer and more natural 1.17.
- Version 1.34 is the worst of all. The sound is as if loudness has been activated (the sound is fatiguing in the high frequencies, and the bass is, in my opinion, too pronounced; the vocals donât sound natural and are difficult to place in space), and the soundstage loses depth. The filters are more impact than on 1.17 and 1.24, but the sound is off on all of them except for the âsharpâ filter, which is slightly better.
- Version 1.41 is essentially the same as 1.34, but without the display bugs.
I tested it with the RS130 connected to the RD160 via fiber cable, standard USB, and I2S, but also with my Roon server connected directly to the RD160 via USB. The RD160 is connected to my Moon 700i V2 amplifier with high-quality XLR connections, much to the chagrin of someâŠ
Iâm curious to read the comments from TomT and other users who will test the different versions.
In conclusion, Iâm very happy to have been able to test these four versions and especially to have rollback to 1.17, which is clearly the best for PCM. I havenât tested DSD.
Bonjour Patrice,
Personnellement jâai connectĂ© mon RS130 au RD160 en HDMI IÂČS et câest cette connexion qui mâa donnĂ© le plus satisfaction.
Le firmware de mon RD160 est actuellement en version v. 1.26
Quelle est la meilleure version de firmware du RD160 ?
Good evening Dominique,
I used a fiber optic connection (Finisar 1475 + Corning fiber) for a while, then the Amphenol DAC cable which I love, and most recently, I tried and bought a Dragon AQ HDMI cableâitâs absolutely fantastic.
In all cases, firmware version 1.17 is my favorite. Itâs easy to test, it only takes a few minutes to update, and you can easily revert to a previous version.
As always, your ears and your brain will be the deciding factors. Version 1.17 is super stable, and I havenât encountered any problems, except that it seems the DSD sources are reversed (left/right). But 1.34 is also reversed, and I havenât tested 1.41.
PS: You should write in English, because youâre going to get ripped apart by some people who canât stand it when you write in anything other than EnglishâŠ
@PatriceP
Thank you for your insightful advice regarding the RD160.
Sound quality will vary depending on personal preference, but weâll take your feedback into consideration and review it to see if there are any areas for improvement.
Thank you again for your feedback.
Hi @PatriceP and @Rose_love,
I upgraded to the newest version 1.41 two days ago.
I)
Sound-wise, I canât tell if it sounds better or not but it gives me a louder sound impression in general.
II)
I used to turn off the screen completely for screen saver. With the new version, the screen now comes up regularly when I change songs manually or add new songs to the playlist being played, plus other circumstances I donât recall.
I really donât like this change to the screen saver. I set the screen saver to off because I donât want to or I donât need to see the information screen. Now it pops up again and again. Itâs quite annoying.
III)
Within the 24 hours after the update, the device locked up one time after powering up. I needed to press the power button to recover it.
IV)
The Active StandBy now works. It didnât in the 1.24 version. 
I am not sure to keep the new version or roll back to 1.24 yet.
Edit: I just rolled back to 1.24. It sounds more comfortable to my ears.
Hi Patrice,
Sorry if I didnât write to you in English as I usually do.
Have you tested the version 1.26 installed on my RD160 straight out of the box?
Hello Dominique,
I think I tested it when it was first released, but I always end up going back to version 1.17, which suits my tastes better. My RD160 is one of the first ones to come off the assembly line, so with all the Muses02 op-amps (or at least I think so), I donât know if the latest firmware versions are specifically designed for the new hardware.
Yes, you are right Patrice to specify that.
My RD160 was manufactured in February 2025 and its firmware 1.26 should match the component changes.
In my case only later versions can be tested.
I knew little about fiber until I purchased the RS130. At this time in audio, Iâm looking for stupid things to upgrade. So, why not give upgrading to fiber a try and just see what this really does. My internet provider upgraded my home modem to fiber recently also. Setup:
- Internet Provider => Fiber => House => Modem (modem has only in, no fiber out))
- Modem 5gb RCA => CAT6E => Switch RCA 10gb (switch needs at least one SPF port)
- Switch SPF Module => Fiber Single => RS130 SPF Module (done deal)
I was able to connect the switch via SPF fiber using the following: Purchased from MicroCenter
- TP-LINK TL-SM311LS Mini-GBIC SPF Single-Mode Module (two)
https://www.microcenter.com/product/704077/tp-link-tl-sm311ls-mini-gbic-spf-single-mode-module - PPA 6.6 ft. (2.0 m) LC-LC Multi-Mode OM3 2.0 mm Duplex LSZH Fiber Optic Cable (one)
https://www.microcenter.com/product/673599/ppa-66-ft-(20-m)-lc-lc-multi-mode-om3-20-mm-duplex-lszh-fiber-optic-cable-aqua
Worked perfectly. I was concerned because there is limited info on what you should look for. There is a lot of different variants on SPF modules types and fiber cables that it was a crap shot for me when I finally purchased. This combo worked for me. MicroCenter explained fiber cable types single vs multi which may have messed me up.
So, was it worth it? All I can say is, I am now working on everything and anything that âlowersâ the noise floor. This is what, I think, gives you âblacknessâ. instrument separation. Improving those attributes helps with depth and dimension depending on the strength of the recording.
I do think moving to fiber has helped. Well, the koolad does taste betterâŠ
Hello,
This is my first post here. Due to display issues on my RD160, I had to update to version 1.34 to resolve the problem. Based on comments about this latest version, I would like to revert to version 1.26. Does anyone have this version they could share?
Rose_love donât answer to my request via shim1691@citech.kr.
Regards.
Bonjour,
Ceci est mon premier message ici. En raison de problĂšmes dâaffichage sur mon RD160, jâai dĂ» effectuer la mise Ă jour vers la version 1.34 pour rĂ©soudre le problĂšme. Suite aux commentaires concernant cette derniĂšre version, je souhaiterais revenir Ă la version 1.26. Quelquâun possĂ©derait-il cette version et pourrait-il la partager ?
Rose_love ne rĂ©pond pas Ă ma demande Ă lâadresse shim1691@citech.kr.
@Benjithom
I sent you an email, but it doesnât seem to have been received. If you share your email address, Iâll resend it.
Well received in SPAM.
Many thanks.
@Gardy
Iâve forwarded it to the email below. Please email me if you have any further questions.
jotabasskey@gmail.com
Dear HiFi Rose users
You can also download the new RD160 update Ver1.46 via the link below.
1 Like
I received email, thank you very muchâŠ
Appreciated and very reccommended: V1.46. I came from V.1.20. SACD-Playback via I2S has come to another level in soundquality by using my external masterclock, Mutecâs Ref100, also with that input. Now and for the first time (with V.1.46) also with I2s the external clock can be used in combination with the RD160. And in my case the clock is much more accuratete than the internal clock of my source, my SACD-Player, a PS Audio PST out of the perfect-wave-series. Normally with I2S the clock of the source-player is in use; Now, with V.1.46, you have the choice by selecting source-clock, the internal clock of the DAC insight of the RD160 or an external clock.
Letâs talk about the sound improvement: It has very dark blackground; never harsh, very layered sound details. Fluid and natural. Great ease in sound presentation. But also very dynamic, with attack, if required. I tried for instance some Bach Cantatas for Advent (with La Petite Band under Kuijken) and Jacque Bittnerâs pieces for Lute (played by Andre Henrich). Fantastic natural, fluid and detailed. Holographic soloist with Bach. For this music and in combination with my active loudspeakers, a pair of Neumann KH420, I use Short-Slow-Filter and Upsampling from DSD64 to DSD512. Great experience at Advent. Very much satisfying âŠ