AIGO EROS Q / AIGO EROS K / IRULU Surfans F20 / AGPTek H3 / HIFI WALKER H2

[speachy]

There's still a bit of jankiness to sort out, and plugin keymaps to fix, but... it lives!

All five of those players have completely identical hardware, albeit with two different case designs, and are currently easy to find in the retail (and secondhand) channel.

Edit:  There is also an EROS Q II.  This uses a completely different internal architecture to the original models, and the firmware images are *not* compatible.

[Milardo]

Hi speachy, are you planning to get bluetooth working in  these players and agptek rocker?

[Telehubis]

Great to hear that!

As for the devices can anyone share if they're robust for a couple of years usage?
(I've read in the net that in some cases people had hardware issues with HIFI player)

[speachy]

Hi speachy, are you planning to get bluetooth working in  these players and agptek rocker?

It's on the to-do list, but I can't give any sort of ETA on this. 

As for the devices can anyone share if they're robust for a couple of years usage?

No idea -- these devices (and their solid metal cases) certainly feel more physically robust than (eg) the AGPTek Rocker.  Suffice it to say I'm not worried about sitting on this.  Or even occidentally driving over it. 

But at the end of the day, it still has a LiIon battery, and those will all eventually fail, especially if exposed to temperature extremes from being left in a car.

[fossphile]

I am very interested in the digital spdif audio output feature . Might spdif be got working in rockbox? Whats this special usb cable needed for spdif output? Can the player be charged/externally powered while using spdif output?

[speachy]

I am very interested in the digital spdif audio output feature . Might spdif be got working in rockbox? Whats this special usb cable needed for spdif output? Can the player be charged/externally powered while using spdif output?

I don't see any references to these devices having a built-in sp/dif output.  If you're talking about using something that attaches via the USB port, if the player already has the necessary drivers built-in, then rockbox should be able to utilize it.   If the drivers aren't built-in, then there's nothing we can do -- We have no source code for these or any of the other Ingenic+Hiby-based players so are not in a position to be able to update or compile any kernel-level code.   (In violation of the GPL, not that anyone here has standing to enforce it.  Bleh.)

As for simultaneously charging while using the device as a USB host -- if the player has a properly-implemented USB-C port, then yes, it is possible.  If it only has micro-usb, then no.

[ddscentral]

For kernel code, I'm pretty sure Hiby OS uses a variant of X1000 reference kernel which is available from Ingenic. Which one can be approximately determined by the compilation date. Reference kernel cannot be directly used to replace device's stock kernel but it should be enough to build additional modules.

[speachy]

For kernel code, I'm pretty sure Hiby OS uses a variant of X1000 reference kernel which is available from Ingenic. Which one can be approximately determined by the compilation date. Reference kernel cannot be directly used to replace device's stock kernel but it should be enough to build additional modules.

Yes, it's a "variant" -- with mostly unknown changes.  We don't even have the kernel .config file, and there are half a bajillion options that would affect the final binary ABI.

This is not a path I have any intention of undertaking.    IMO that time is far better spent making a native Rockbox port to this platform instead.

[ddscentral]

Completely forgot about that.
I wouldn't bother with kernel without a config file either, especially on embedded platforms.
Some firmware developers do leave /proc/config.gz enabled, but that's not the case with hiby.

[fossphile]

I am very interested in the digital spdif audio output feature . Might spdif be got working in rockbox? Whats this special usb cable needed for spdif output? Can the player be charged/externally powered while using spdif output?

I don't see any references to these devices having a built-in sp/dif output.  If you're talking about using something that attaches via the USB port, if the player already has the necessary drivers built-in, then rockbox should be able to utilize it.   If the drivers aren't built-in, then there's nothing we can do -- We have no source code for these or any of the other Ingenic+Hiby-based players so are not in a position to be able to update or compile any kernel-level code.   (In violation of the GPL, not that anyone here has standing to enforce it.  Bleh.)

As for simultaneously charging while using the device as a USB host -- if the player has a properly-implemented USB-C port, then yes, it is possible.  If it only has micro-usb, then no.

Handy to know about charging while in usb host mode hopeful will work with usb-c . i guess its too early to know for sure/ask if that the case with these players?

As ever great shame to here about gpl violations . Fiio seam to publish the source code what gpl software they mod/use . Do they miss anything out? I had wondered. If so i guess there a better brand to buy players from for potently future rockbox support if the hardware is compatible?

By spdif i was taking a guess that was want they meant by digital output over usb port??

Digital (optical) audio output supported. USB-digital output adapter needed (not included).

[speachy]

By spdif i was taking a guess that was want they meant by digital output over usb port??

On these Linux-based players, rockbox uses standard Linux sound APIs, so as long as the OF's kernel already has the drivers for the particular audio dongle you want to use, rockbox will be able to utilize it.

(Most audio dongles use standard USB class drivers, but one can never really know in advance)

That said, rockbox isn't set up to be aware of multiple output/playback devices, much less be able to switch them on the fly.  (That's actually going to be one of the challenges in enabling bluetooth on these things..)

[fossphile]

oh i see. its usb audio interface, not like the audio accessory mode where it some of the pins instead of usb, become analogue stereo signals. i thought digital output was like that but spdif over the usb pins... doh! I understand now, its the option to connect a usb class compliant audio interface to usb host.

[fossphile]

Thanks speachy for the details!  I see. bluetooth means a re-write of a fair bit of audio code.

Is the hardware any better designed than the xduooo x3II? No pop, messy power saving of the dac/headphone amp that leads to delay and/or pop sounds in switching tracks, sample rate changes, turn on/off,etc?

[speachy]

Is the hardware any better designed than the xduooo x3II? No pop, messy power saving of the dac/headphone amp that leads to delay and/or pop sounds in switching tracks, sample rate changes, turn on/off,etc?

I like the Eros Q/Hifiwalker H2 a _lot_ more than the X3ii.     More compact, a better control layout, and so far, no issues with the audio paths.

(I'm actually pretty disappointed with the X3ii, especially after how unexpectedly awesome the original X3 turned out)

[fossphile]

Is the hardware any better designed than the xduooo x3II? No pop, messy power saving of the dac/headphone amp that leads to delay and/or pop sounds in switching tracks, sample rate changes, turn on/off,etc?

I like the Eros Q/Hifiwalker H2 a _lot_ more than the X3ii.     More compact, a better control layout, and so far, no issues with the audio paths.

(I'm actually pretty disappointed with the X3ii, especially after how unexpectedly awesome the original X3 turned out)

Thanks again for the info!

Tempted by Aigo Eros K in blue, else the Q which is £10 cheaper and has wrist strap attachment hole .
https://www.aliexpress.com/af/AIGO-EROS.html?trafficChannel=af&d=y&CatId=0&SearchText=AIGO+EROS&ltype=affiliate&SortType=default&page=5

hmm i may get a old x3 when a good condition one pops on on ebay after all. shame i avoided it thinking there was audio problems. 2x sd card support would have been so helpful this last few years!

i guess theres still tons for you to do still in porting rockbox to these players. Any micro updates would be received with love but otherwise I patiently and keenly wait