As Wikipedia tells us, an AV receiver is a multi-channel amplifier with digital audio stream decoders (DAC - digital-to-analog converter), a tuner and an audio and video signal switch for home use in home theater systems. Can convert audio and video formats.

The receiver is the brain center of our home theater. It is through it that all switching of our system passes. As a rule, they are equipped with a large number of digital and analog inputs, allowing you to connect all your home multimedia, from a Blu-ray player to a game console.

How to choose a receiver for DolbyAtmos? At the moment, DolbyAtmos support is present in all receiver manufacturers, usually in the top segment. Separately, we can highlight the company Onkyo, which relied on a wider range of buyers by releasing a line of mid-price segment receivers with Atmos. The most budget receiver at the moment costs about 36-37 thousand rubles. But, naturally, the presence of Atmos is far from an indicator that the receiver is right for you.

What else should you pay attention to when choosing a receiver?

• Power. The signal to the device is not amplified, but only a few milliwatts, which is not enough for the speaker system to reproduce this signal. This is what a signal amplification system is used for, but power is not only a measure of the volume you can get. Please note that almost all manufacturers in the device characteristics indicate something like - power 100W per channel, 1 channel loaded. This means that the device can only supply this power if only ONE speaker is connected. Naturally, when all speakers are connected, the power will be lower, in proportion to their number.
• Switching capabilities. Before buying a receiver, it is better to decide what you will connect to it, whether you need Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, whether you want to install additional ones. amplifier for the front pair or connect vinyl. At the moment, most receivers are universal devices that can themselves serve as a source of audio signal without additional external devices such as CD or NP players. Also pay attention to the possibility of connecting speakers via Bi-amping> why this is necessary will be explained below.
• DAC. The quality of the digital-to-analog converter directly affects the quality of the sound received from digital sources.
• Current strength. A very important parameter that is not indicated by everyone. It affects the ability to reproduce a low-frequency signal at the same level over a long period of time. For example, the sound of a jackhammer - if the capacitors cannot accumulate the required charge, then this sound will fade, regardless of the volume, and the sound will also begin to merge into a general hum, although as we know, a jackhammer is still repeated low-frequency impacts.

• Wiretap. Since the receiver is only 40% of your final sound, it is better to listen to it with the acoustics you have chosen. Moreover, everyone has individual hearing characteristics; it is best to listen not in the refined conditions of a specially prepared room, since in order to achieve such sound at home, the easiest option would be to build a room for a recreation center.

Acustic systems

In fact, this is your sound. At the moment, there are a huge number of manufacturers on the market that can offer acoustics of all shapes and sizes. In a classic 5.1 system, as a rule, 2 floor-standing front speakers are used, which are responsible for reproducing the main sound, 2 rear bookshelf speakers, which usually serve only for special effects, and a center channel. The subwoofer connected to the receiver must be active, that is, with its own built-in amplifier; passive subwoofers cannot be connected to AV receivers. To reproduce the DolbyAtmos signal, we will need either DolbyAtmos speakers, for example Onkyo SKH-410, or built-in ceiling speakers.

What to pay attention to

• Power. The power of a speaker is not an indicator of its volume, but an indicator of its reliability, that is, what signal it can digest. When selecting acoustics, it is very important to take into account that the power of the acoustics is higher than the maximum power of the amplifier. It is also important that the resistance parameter be either the same or higher than that of the amplifying part of the signal source.
• Sound propagation dispersion of an acoustic system. At the moment, acoustic systems have a sound wave propagation angle ranging from 90 to 160 degrees. The higher this indicator, the more convenient the speaker is to install, since it does not require turning towards the listener. Some speakers are selfish in nature, designed for only one listener, while others, on the contrary, are more friendly.

• Bass reflex location. The bass reflex provides expansion of the low-frequency range of the speaker due to the resonance of its pipe at a frequency lower than that of the woofer. Its location can be either on the front or rear of the speaker, and it affects its installation. With a front bass reflex, the speakers can be installed close to the wall, which makes the task easier when installing in a limited space; in the case of a rear installation, the closer the speakers are to the wall, the more low-frequency signal there is and the sound becomes muddled. If you still have to place the speakers close to the wall, it is recommended to place noise-absorbing material behind them.
• Number of stripes. Since one speaker cannot adequately reproduce the sound of the entire audible range, manufacturers use different playback speakers for low, high and mid frequencies, that is, 3-way acoustics have separate speakers for reproducing the signal of each range. In 2-way acoustics, as a rule, there is a separate speaker for the low-frequency range and a mid-range, high-frequency speaker.
• Bi-amping. This function allows you to connect the LF, MF, HF cascade to separate amplifiers. What does this give? In this case, we neutralize the negative influence of the LF and MF signals on each other
• Wiretap. Each speaker has its own reproduction nuances, each of them decorates the sound in its own way. Therefore, as I already said when choosing a kit, it is best to listen to it live.

Signal source

What to pay attention to

• Support for the required decoders. This is perhaps the main thing we need from the player, whether it can give us a DolbyAtmos signal or not.
• Connections. As a rule, all players are now equipped with an HDMI input, but it is also important to know whether there is Wi-Fi, for example, in order to transfer control of your devices to a smartphone.

Wires for connection and additional accessories

There is a popular opinion that expensive cables for connecting the entire system are an audiophile whim for those “bitten by the silver cable.” This is not true; the higher the quality of your system, the higher its sensitivity to external factors, including electromagnetic waves distortion. Of course, you shouldn’t buy yourself a cable for $25,000, but you shouldn’t save at all either.

What to pay attention to

• Speaker cable cross-section. The speaker cable must be at least 2.5 mm^2 in order to level out distortion in the signal. The cable is now almost entirely made of OFHC copper with a different number of nines after the decimal point.
• Connector material. Gold-plated connectors on your cable are not only an indicator that you can buy a gold-plated cable. Oxidation of contacts leads to a negative impact on sound quality, creating additional distortion.
• Cable braid. As already indicated, the higher the quality of your equipment, the higher its sensitivity to external factors; high-quality cable shielding will allow you to get rid of signal distortion due to external EM distortions.
• Dampers. When considering how to install your equipment, pay attention to vibration protection. Many manufacturers spend a huge amount of money on damping; sometimes the price of the receiver itself includes a large part in vibration protection. Nowadays you can find many different dampers on the market to suit every taste. I once dampened an amp with cut rubber from an old drum pad.
• Length of cable. It is better to take a spare cable, because the chance that you will need to move speakers and components is very high.

Setup and installation

So, we chose everything we needed for a home theater and brought it home. The most interesting thing remains - connection and configuration.

Preparing the premises

Let's start with the acoustics of the room, the more soft noise-absorbing objects you have in the room, the better. These do not have to be specially purchased and placed items. Sofas, curtains, and chairs are also noise absorbers.

How to position the front pair

The distance between the front speakers and the distance between each speaker and the listener should form an isosceles triangle. From the same triangle, you can calculate the angle of rotation of the speaker towards the listener, roughly speaking, if you imagine that your hands are the sides of the triangle, forming an angle of 90 degrees, then they should visually rest against the front part of the speaker. But in the case of speakers with a wide signal propagation dispersion, the speakers do not need to be rotated. You can choose the distance between the speakers by ear, using stereo sound, preferably with vocals.

How to position the rear speakers

It is better to place the rear speakers a little further from the listening area at the level of the listener’s head (there are special stands or wall mounts for this), opposite the front channel.

How to position the center channel

Here, in fact, everything is very logical and simple, the central channel is located in the center of the screen, which is used for viewing. Naturally, you cannot place it on the floor, as this will disrupt the sound of the human voice.

How to position the subwoofer

It is better to place the subwoofer in the front listening area, close to the wall, in order to achieve louder effects due to the reflection of sound from the wall.

How to position speakers for Atmos

If the speakers for Atmos are built into the front pair, then there will be no difficulties with their installation. The same can be said about the additional speakers that are installed on the front pair. But these speakers will not be able to work adequately if you have suspended or suspended ceilings in your apartment (room), in which case it is better to use ceiling acoustics.

Connecting to the receiver

Advice from my personal practice, first of all, connect all the acoustic and video cables to the receiver first, then connecting the wires while digging through a heap of connectors is very difficult. I recommend using banana plugs as connectors to the speaker cable; this will make all connections much easier. Please note that the speaker and network cables do not intersect; in the case of a regular network cable, it can cause severe distortion to the signal passing through the speaker cable.

Auto setup

Now almost every receiver has an auto-tuning function. I recommend using it, as it does a lot of settings for you. This system works like a sonar, checking the location, volume and acoustics of the room. In the future, you can already tune the sound to suit yourself.

Conclusion
So we assembled and set up a home theater. Naturally, what is described here is not a 100% universal recipe; after all, each setting is made to suit the listener. But the nuances indicated here must be taken into account with each setting. Naturally, this is not an ideal option for setting up the system, but not everyone will want to make repairs because of good sound.

In the future, I plan to look at AV receivers in more detail.

Briefly about the article: What is Hi-Fi and Hi-End, why you shouldn’t buy cables for 60 thousand rubles per meter and how to choose a suitable stereo system without getting lost in the whirlpool of beautiful but meaningless definitions - read about all this on the pages of the “World of Fantasy” .

Music of the Spheres

HI-FI - theory and practice

Ah, music! - Dumbledore exclaimed quietly, wiping his eyes. - This is magic stronger than our skills!

J. Rowling, "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone"

Times change. Not so long ago, high-quality sound was available only to bored rich people and self-denying audiophiles, but today it can be obtained for the price of a good camera, video camera or computer. The vast majority of Russians still deal with music centers, built-in sound cards and multimedia speakers. Few people spend their entire salary on vinyl, tube amplifiers, gold cables and vibration-proofing walls. However, between these two extremes there is a niche of affordable high-quality sound, where there is easily a place for you and me.

Is it possible to join the “high sound” club at minimal cost? How to build a home theater without causing excruciating pain later? Today we will certainly answer these and many other questions.

Where to begin

Formally, such a thing as hi-fi (high fidelity, high fidelity), does not exist. There is simply no single standard for it. It is understood that equipment at this level must reproduce sound with maximum accuracy in relation to the original.

Hi-fi is synonymous with the perfect balance between price and sound quality. The best you can buy for reasonable money. Parallel to it there is the concept of hi-end. This name can be translated as “the end justifies any means.” The struggle between quality and price here is obviously unequal. To put it simply, a 10% improvement in sound quality will result in a 200% increase in price.

First you need to decide for what purpose you want to assemble a hi-fi system. The simplest, most affordable and popular option is a home theater. Components of “musical” acoustics will cost significantly more, since higher requirements are placed on them. The budget level implies a bias toward the “theatrical”: a set of good speakers, an inexpensive AV receiver, interconnect and speaker cable. The total cost of such a set will fluctuate around 30,000 rubles. At first, the signal source can be a computer or one commensurate with the overall price of the system DVD-player (in both cases it is desirable to have digital outputs DVI, HDMI or optical Toslink).

Rules of the game

The issue of selecting and connecting hi-fi equipment to each other has broken many copies. There are two general rules. First, your system will play like the worst of its components. There is no point in connecting an expensive receiver to cheap speakers, and vice versa. The second rule: you need to listen to expensive acoustics! If the salesperson in the store refuses to connect the receiver you have chosen to the speakers you like and play your favorite disc (listen only to familiar records), turn around and leave. Hi-fi is always individual. You may like the sound of a system for 60,000 rubles much less than the performance of acoustics for 20,000.

Ask yourself a question: how many people in the world have a musical education? A paradoxical situation has arisen: citizens who, at best, have received a radio engineering diploma, express a “qualified” opinion about the quality of hi-fi sound. An aerodynamics engineer might as well be trying to fly a Boeing he built. Many people strive to classify themselves as audiophiles, but there are few real specialists in this field.

You don't have the hearing of a bat, you didn't go to music school and you don't know how to tune a piano? This will not prevent you from distinguishing truly high-quality sound from mediocre one. Likewise, we are always able to distinguish a good book from a bad one, although we are completely unable to write novels. Everyone perceives sound differently - just as they evaluate artists’ paintings differently. Some people like Aivazovsky, others like Chagall. However, unlike painting, hi-fi music is literally surrounded by consumer myths.

If an unprepared person buys a glossy hi-fi magazine or visits the corresponding forum, he may decide that he has entered a symposium of drug addicts. "Professional" descriptions of acoustics are at best like pulp fiction, and at worst like text generated by a computer program from a small dictionary of meaningless phrases.

Real examples: “air between instruments”, “intelligibility in the mid frequencies”, “muscular sound”, “elastic transparency”, “lots of adjective”, “lack of pressure, attack”. Try to extract useful information from here and get an idea of ​​the consumer properties of a particular set of acoustics. Have you ever bought an iron that irons “categorically, but sublimely”, or a TV with a “fascinating, convex” picture? Audiophiles find such descriptions comprehensive, while ordinary music lovers simply call them “glitches.”

Hi-fi systems are still perceived not as a necessary phenomenon, but as a status accessory. If you buy a Bentley, you are unlikely to put old newspapers under your feet - no, you will have to buy branded floor mats at completely cannibalistic prices. In a similar way, hi-fi manufacturers sell audiophiles expensive accessories to improve their sound, which, to put it mildly, are not worth the money. Sometimes it comes down to outright quackery - for example, PWB Electronics sells special stones, which, when placed anywhere in a room, can improve its acoustics.

Nouveau riche who bought speakers for one and a half million rubles will feel subconscious discomfort when using a cable that costs 60 rubles per linear meter. Don't delude yourself that a cable for 6,000 rubles will provide a 100-fold increase in sound quality. Forget that wires should cost at least 10% of the price of the entire system. It is a myth.

Some citizens are seriously discussing the impact of stands, surge protectors and electrical outlets on sound quality. This is called “psychoacoustics” - self-deception in which a person convinces himself that he hears something that does not exist. Why has no one yet thought of charging audiophiles money for arranging speakers according to Feng Shui? It is also strange that people listening to the sockets do not pay attention to interference from the gravitational field of the Moon or from the subtle etheric interactions within the Crab Nebula.

The best of the best

From theory to practice. Microlab V3650- the flagship of the family of acoustic systems of the famous American-Chinese company. Before us is an inexpensive “hodgepodge” of solid technical solutions (he took part in the development Peter Larsen, worked as chief engineer Dynaudio , Vifa And JBL ).

The V3650 speakers are designed for home cinema. Their strong point is clean mid frequencies (the frequency response graph can be used as a ruler) and powerful bass. The latter is explained by the presence of large low-frequency speakers in the floor-standing pair. You don't have to spend money on a subwoofer, but this is also a minus. With a standard arrangement of components, the bass is localized at the edges of the stage, and weakens in the center where the viewer sits. Price - 22,000 rubles for a set of five speakers.

Wharfedale Diamond 8- entry-level classic. British company Wharfedale has been on the hi-fi market for 75 years, 20 of which have been selling speakers from the family Diamond. A standard set of five components for the junior 8-series will cost the buyer 27 thousand rubles. For this money you get a music-oriented system with excellently balanced characteristics. Without a subwoofer, the low frequencies are a bit weak, but in most cases this is not noticeable. The speakers are valuable because they sound excellent, regardless of the genre of music.

Monitor Audio Bronze R- one of the best options in its price range. An absolute all-rounder, flawlessly performing both high-precision musical and dynamic theatrical tasks. There are two downsides - the speakers are demanding in terms of placement (near the walls the sound becomes sloppy) and due to the softness of the sound, they are unlikely to suit lovers of harsh electronic music. The price of “shelf” components is high, so it is better to purchase “floor standing” units and a central satellite (approximate price is 21,000 rubles for everything), and choose simpler rears. When watching a movie, the main load falls on the front line of acoustics, but for music a good stereo pair is sufficient.

Kef IQ5- the most elegant and euphonious speakers in today's test. Wharfedale's compatriots deliver a sound that's hard to fault. There are no problems with localization in space. They look stylish. Placed anywhere in the room. The only “but” is that the IQ5 will not play at full strength immediately, but only after several weeks of work (warm-up is required). And now about the sad thing - the cost of a set of two floor-standing speakers, a center and rear satellites is off the charts for 46,000 rubles. The advice is the same as in the case of Monitor Audio - try to save on the rear.

KEF IQ5. Two Stradivarius violins among native drums.

* * *

Pablo Picasso said: “There are artists who depict the Sun as a yellow spot, and there are those who are able to turn a yellow spot into the Sun.” This is true for music too. Ordinary acoustics can turn a melody into a set of sounds, and only hi-fi can turn a set of sounds into a melody.

Just think about it: the term Hi-Fi, which essentially personifies the latest achievements of progress in the field of audio technology, is 90 years old! It is clear that at the time of its appearance these were rather theoretical research, and mass production of such equipment was still a long way off. However, 70 years ago, the world's first specialized publication on audio technology, the American Audio magazine, appeared.

But in 1962, the beginning of the end began, metaphorically speaking, namely, Justin Gordon Holt, the founder of another American publication, Stereophile, coined the term high end audio, thereby giving rise to the current price stratification. Good sound became more and more expensive, available systems became overgrown with... hmm... functionality. And mind-blowing power numbers on the boxes.

It would seem, what's wrong with that? Let’s put it this way: for a person who loves music and is wealthy at the same time, it’s practically nothing, because he can still afford to buy high-quality audio equipment. Nothing has changed for consumers of “canned music”: hardworking Asians have mastered the production of audio consumer goods, where the penny cost is accompanied by approximately the same quality. But the good initial Hi-Fi segment, unfortunately, turned out to be, as they say, in the pen.

I would venture to suggest that this happened, including for a banal reason, characteristic of any golden mean - the highest price/quality ratio, and, as a consequence, the lowest profitability. The main profit comes from the mass segment; premium models are often made to demonstrate capabilities and maintain status, but there is no time or effort left for “workhorses.” Almost everyone does. With rare exceptions. One of which is the British company Cambridge Audio.

Budget Hi-Fi components from Cambridge Audio

A balanced set of main speakers, a “smart” subwoofer with convenient settings - ELAC Debut will pleasantly surprise both movie lovers and music lovers

“Debuts” are notable for the fact that despite the more than moderate cost, the series includes two subwoofers, 10 and 12 inches in caliber, as well as Atmos speakers, which allows you to equip even the most modern home theater with them. In addition, the series naturally has a central channel, a pair of floor-standing models and two shelf units, which, even if a classic 5.1 system with floor fronts is created, allows you to choose from 16 (!) possible configuration options.

It is curious that the subwoofers do not have class D amplifiers, which are powerful, but let’s say, not particularly musical, but use BASH technology, in which class AB final stages are powered by a PWM-based power supply. In addition, in the S10EQ and S12EQ models, according to the index, an auto-calibration system for room acoustics is used, using a mobile device not only for control (via Bluetooth), but also as... a calibration microphone!

What happens?

But it turns out that if you wish, you can assemble a full-fledged stereo system or recreation center for the cost of a wireless speaker :-), or even significantly cheaper, if you wish.

First of all, you must ask yourself the most important question - why do you need a Hi Fi system. Are you the happy owner of a unique vinyl collection? Or are there stacks of tattered boxes of rainbow-colored CDs and an impressive DVD library gathering dust on the shelves? We have decided. Now you need to decide where in the room it is best to place new acoustic speakers and what size they can be. We will not consider wireless options; after all, the purpose of this article is to save money, but to choose the most optimal HiFi system with the best sound. And the sound quality of a system connected by wires will always be higher than its wireless counterpart. By the way, at the same cost.

The next stage is the budget. HiFi can be bought for a hundred, even the sound will be of a quite decent level... But true music connoisseurs will have to shell out at least a thousand conventional units from their wallet. About half of this money will be spent on purchasing acoustics, the rest on an amplifier and a CD player or vinyl turntable.

Don’t rush to make a purchase; you should test the equipment first. If there is an electronics store in your city with a good assortment, call there and discuss your needs and wishes with a specialized seller, and then arrange a visit with him. It is advisable to take your favorite pieces of music with you to the “listening” - obviously, playing familiar recordings will greatly facilitate your choice.

If there is no opportunity to test the equipment live, then start reading reviews. There is no need to study the entire range of HiFi components. Save not only money, but also time by focusing on studying acoustic models under 500 USD. per pair, amplifiers up to 300 USD and CD players up to 200 USD

Beginning hobbyists waste a lot of time trying to find the “best” acoustics, the “best” turntable, etc. But the truth is that the “best” component that is universally recognized simply does not exist. There are too many nuances. For example, in the case of acoustics, it is necessary to take into account such factors as the size and appearance of the speakers, the size of the room, physical restrictions on placement, the expected volume of sound, the strength and richness of the bass, the type of amplifier, and the musical preferences of the owner. Therefore, a pair of speakers for 500 USD. Not the most prestigious manufacturer may ideally satisfy all the needs of one person, but be far from the best option for another. If you can’t personally hear the sound quality of the models you’ve chosen, try to “evaluate” it based on reviews compiled by experts and reading reviews from other users.

The choice of amplifier and turntable follows a similar algorithm - clearly define your needs, indicate the desired functions of the device and its main technical characteristics (power, etc.), as well as your budget. The choice will be made in no time and without unpleasant overpayments.

About ten years ago it seemed that the era of ordinary (non-professional) players was approaching its end. In a world where an advanced smartphone or tablet can easily replace a computer, people willingly listen to music on their phones or on a player with an operating system (ipod touch).

Alas, due to the design features, it is impossible even to install components in a smartphone that will allow you to get really good sound quality. The device will turn out to be too thick and very expensive, and simply will not be in demand.

Therefore, if you want to enjoy music, and not just listen, then these very outdated classic players will come to the rescue. Which can do little except play music. But they play really well.

This article will review one really good player. There will also be firmware for the much-desired RockBox.

So what is this budget Hi-Fi? Let's move on to the review

First, let's look at the specifications

• Case: metal
• Color: black or gray
• Screen: LCD IPS 167 million colors
• Protective glass: tempered glass panel
• DAC Chip: Wolfson WM8740
• Filter: Ad823 (jfet Amplifier)
• Amplifier: Max9722 Formats: 24Bit / 192KHz
• Software support (balance / power / line output): Yes
• Connector 3.5mm combined A Soft mode / line output
• Connector 3.5mm B elegant pattern
• MicroUSB
• MicroSD up to 128GB
• Reset button
• Output power: 120mw+120mw/32ohm
• Player output: 3.6v
• Signal to noise ratio: ≥ 103 dB (A weighting)
• Channel unbalance: ≤ 0.5dB (1KHz)
• Channel Separation: ≥ 92dB (1KHz)
• Frequency range: 20Hz ~ 20KHz (+0/-2.5dB)
• Total harmonic distortion plus noise: ≤ 0.006% (1KHz)
• Working time: about 12-14 hours
• Audio formats supported: WAV(8-192k) APE(8-48k) FLAC(8-48k)ALAC OGG MP3(8-320k) WMA (8-48k)
• Memory: built-in 8GB + memory card up to 128GB
• Battery: Li-ion
• Dimensions: 108 x 59 x 12 mm.
• Weight with packaging: 315 g.

As you can see, everything is quite serious

Box and accessories

The player comes in a rather unremarkable box made from recycled cardboard.
On it you can see basic information about the device, which is located on the back of the box.

Included in the package

- Player
- Sync cable
- Pocket style leather case
- Silicone bumper case
- SanDisk memory card with a capacity of 16GB
- Two protective films
- Various types of papers

As you can see, the equipment is quite rich. For example, in the box with the Xduoo players that I had and still have, the manufacturer only included a cable.

A little more about the configuration

From a leather (most likely leatherette) and silicone case, I opted for the silicone one. It looks simpler. But I found it more practical and convenient.

The complete cable provides a current of 1.75A

The box contains two identical protective films. One of which I have already ruined due to hands-on behavior. I glued it so much that I didn’t put a protective matte film on the screen, but a film that protects the protective film :) And even that came with bubbles.

The manufacturer was not too lazy to include a 16GB flash drive in the kit. It's a small thing, but nice.
The speed is quite low. Works good. No stuttering or slowdown was noticed during playback.

Design and construction

The body is metal, entirely made of aluminum. The front panel is glass.
The build quality is excellent. There is not even a hint of backlash or scripts.
The design is also excellent. The subject looks stylish and is simply pleasant to hold in your hand.

The right and lower ends of the body are empty.

On the left side there is a micro SD card slot and a hidden RESET edge.

At the top end there is a power button, a micro USB port, and two 3.5mm audio jacks.

Why do you need two connectors? Well, for example, you can connect a pair of headphones and listen to music together.
But the main purpose of this solution is that we can get different sounds.
The first 3.5 mm jack (zero resistance) produces a dark sound. It is also combined with a linear output. Line Out can be enabled in the player settings.
The second 3.5 mm connector (impedance 10 Ohms) produces bright sound.
I really liked the idea of ​​two headphone outputs with different sounds. This is my first player with this feature. And this “feature” is really useful. The player is compatible with most headphones. If you have bright headphones, you can connect them to the DARK connector. And thereby avoid excessive harshness, while obtaining a pleasant sound. If the headphones are dark, you can optionally connect them either DARK or BRIGHT, depending on your genre preferences.
There are also two screws on the top end. They must be unscrewed if you need to remove the cover.

I tried to take it off. But it didn't work out. It feels like someone is holding something inside her. There is either some kind of glue or double-sided tape.
Below you can see a photo (from the Internet) of the filling

The front part of the case is covered with a glass panel.
At the top there is a colorful IPS screen with a diagonal of 6 cm
There are six touch buttons at the bottom.

The buttons perform the following functions (first column, second and third)
First: “play/pause”, “confirm”, long press brings up the “playback menu”.
Second: “menu”, “back”, long press “lock”.
Third: “pre song”, “up”.
Fourth: “trace song”, “down”.
Fifth: “increase the volume.”
Sixth: “lower volume.”

Player menu

Main menu

- Return to playback.
- All music (there you can select a folder with music on a flash drive or in internal memory

Playback menu

- Repeat mode
- Sound (random or in order)
- PlayFx (software sound enhancer)
- Equalizer (no manual settings)
- Wallpaper selection

Sound

Sound tested on headphones

- Dunu Titan 3
- Ostry kc06a
- Diy PK 1

Tracks from this collection were selected for listening
http://forum.doctorhead.ru/index.php?showtopic=2944

The player's sound output is quite neutral.

The player was tested by connecting headphones to the first audio output. It produces a more “correct”, even sound. At the second audio output, the sound is more flavorful. It is not very suitable for fittings or bright dynamic emitters.

LF

The subject does not have the same bass boost as some hifiman. But you definitely won’t notice the lack of bass like the Fiio X1. There are exactly as many low frequencies as there should be. Although if there are people who like hypertrophied bass. Then you will have to choose the appropriate headphones.

midrange

Probably the strongest point in the sound of the ihifi 770c.
There's not much to add.

HF

Well detailed. We can hear every background instrument perfectly. There is no slight “dirt” inherent in the Xduoo X3. Overall the sound is very pleasant and airy

Not much about management yet

For me, the only negative of this player is the lack of mechanical buttons.
If on the right side of the IHIFI 770C there were such buttons as on the Fiio X1, it would be absolutely gorgeous.
Therefore, there is a desire to sew a leather case for the player. Cut holes in the case for the touch buttons. Yes, this will not completely replace mechanical buttons. But the main thing is that it will be possible to control the player without taking it out of your pocket every time.
In general, you need thick, non-elastic skin. When I have time, I’ll get the material and make a case.

RockBox firmware

We will need a computer running Windows XP or Windows 7. You need to connect the player to USB 2.0.
You can get creative and try to flash it on a computer with Windows 10 and USB 3.0. But I still don’t recommend experimenting like this.

Instructions

1: First, install the program for flashing by running the file RK27Image_Upgrade.exe
2: Connect the device to the computer using a USB cable, select the “File Sharing” mode
3: Launch the flash driver program. The indicator in the program (1) will display that the Mass Guard device “RK27 MSC Device” has been found.
4: Press the “Switch” button (2). If this happens for the first time, the computer will start searching for a driver, offer it the driver by specifying the path to the RK27Driver folder. If everything went well, the “RK27 Loader Device” device will be displayed inside the program
5: Select the path to the firmware image by clicking the button next to the Image Path window (3).
6: To the message »Found new boot. Do you want to replace?" we agree by clicking OK.
7: Press the “Upgrade” button (4), the process of flashing the device to the new software will begin.
The following messages will appear on the screen in turn:

NFO:Download Boot Start
INFO:Download Boot OK
INFO:Test Device Start
INFO:Test Device OK
INFO:Download IDB Start
INFO:Download IDB OK
INFO:Reset Device Start
INFO:Reset Device OK
INFO:Test Device Start
INFO:Test Device OK
INFO:Download Image Start
INFO:Write image to flash,Image Size:61440K,Written:61440K
INFO:Check image,Total:61440K,Checked:61440K
INFO:Download Image OK,Elapsed(22948MS)
INFO:Upgrade OK

Warning! Make sure your device's battery is fully charged. If an accidental shutdown occurs during the firmware, the consequences can be quite dire. Do not press any buttons in the RK27Image Upgrade program other than those described above that you do not know or understand. You may accidentally completely erase the bootloader and turn your device into a regular piece of hardware.
It is highly advisable to connect the device directly and not through a hub.

The rockbox folder should be placed in the root of the memory card.

If, after flashing the firmware, everything on your stock is in Chinese, you need to select the last menu item, then select the third item from the end, and the languages ​​will appear there.

There are two ways to switch to stock firmware
First: Turn on the player, and as soon as the touch buttons light up, press and hold one of the buttons.
Second: Connect the turned off player to the computer via USB.

Official site
http://i-hifi.com/index.php/en/class3.html

You can download Rockbox and drivers here
http://xvtx.ru/rockbox/

You can download themes for Rockbox here
http://themes.rockbox.org

Discussion ihifi 770/770c http://player.ru/showthread.php?t=136340

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages

- Great sound
- High-quality case
- Good equipment
- Low price
- Rockbox support

Flaws

- No side volume buttons
- The stock firmware does not see the cue

conclusions

A wonderful player for an affordable price, as for Hi-Fi. The only significant disadvantage I found for myself was that there are no side mechanical volume buttons. You'll have to get used to the sensor.