It's been almost a year since the last update. What's the ETA of the new software release and what do you plan to include? Spotify Connect, Chromecast, etc...

Hi Ian,
Can you comment on what the future holds (or does not hold) for updates to the AA?
Thanks
Nathan

Hi Nathan,

We have been working on a lot of new things for the AA, including new hardware that allows switching between WiFi, Analog, Optical, and BT from the UI with volume control in the UI for all of them. The little volume knob will disappear. The other big feature that has been added is Spotify Connect. We have also written a new Updater. As soon as the Updater software is finished we can start releasing new versions of the AA software with the new features. Obviously the v1 version cannot have the volume control of Analog and Optical from the UI but it can have all the other new features.

Thanks Ian, looking forward to trying it out. Is it possible to change the HW from V1 to V2 (eg through the tinkerers door?)

I don't see any way to make this mod as we have moved a lot of stuff to the back like the Ethernet plug, the USB plugs, and the analog and optical inputs.

Good Idea on moving the ports.

I've been following this thread on the Air for awhile wondering the same thing; when is an update coming.

I've had continued 'bugs' with the interface that continue to stymie me. The latest, how the Air can manage to get an IP address from my Wifi when it doens't have the password to get connected.
As such, when it turns on, it somehow connects to the wifi (which i don't want it to do) and i have no way of getting it to stop connecting to the wifi so i can use it with its own hotspot.
I tried to reset, even went as far as using the usb stick to do a hard reset.
Sometimes when i turn on the Air, it goes into hotspot mode. Other times it stays in wifi connected mode, again not sure how it does this when i've never entered in any passwords in the Axiom app interface to allow it on our wifi.

Frustrating.

My only recourse is to go into my router and blacklist the Air on my home router, but who is to say if it isn't going to have the same behaviour while outside and picking up on any of my neighbors locked down wifi signals.

I might add, there should be a boatload more FAQ in the manual. There are instructions how to get it onto a wifi system, but no instructions how to get it off.
So, if a person uses it on their wifi at home, but for any reason wants to use the hotspot mode, how in the hell do you get it back to hotspot mode?

When we get it working, it is fairly stellar (though it would be nice to connect to a Sonos home setup without having to plug in a Sonos unit directly via the analog cable.

On that note, having the plugins near the bottom of the unit is sketchy when someone goes to lift or move the Air (the analog cable is slow close to the ground that it can get bent and damage the plugin real easy).

I know the hoopla about Bluetooth and all, but really, in some instances this BT connection would be so much easier to deal with the Air just for making interface changes and such.

Should i guess that with the Raspberry Pi v1 that we would eventually need a usb plugin to get BT since there is no BT onboard the v1 (that i recall)?

I would be asking the question of it is possible to transplant the Raspberry Pi2 with a newer Pi3b+ that does have builtin Wifi and Bluetooth and faster processor.

The idea of having a second wifi in the unit would allow you to get the best of both worlds where the unit itself has the connection to your local network to get music off a network source, but still, have a free wifi that can also go into hotspot.

I gather that the Air is built around the application base of Volumio if I remember correctly as that was in a discussion a long while back about the programmer that you had brought onboard to get the app written.

If you hit the gear in the upper right then Network at the bottom of the page is a button to Force Hotspot. This will take your AxiomAir off your network connection.

Hi Ian,

Out of curiosity, is there any date planned ? Or can we beta test?

My AA is sleeping since I cannot make them work with my current WIFI setup. I always have to use them in Analog mode and in the end ends up not being used

I'd really love to put it to good use!

The planned date was a few months ago. But we are getting close now. What is it with your current WiFi that is making your AA unusable?

Just to note, if a person has reset to factory defaults by using the 'reset' on a USB key, it goes WAY back to original firmware (or software?) installation.

I just finally plugged in my Axiom Air via ethernet and checked for updates. Only now can i see this 'force hotspot' option.
Until then i thought Ian had gone plain wacko.

Incidentally, the Air was still somehow trying to connect to my home router and i couldn't get it to stop. You can't contact it with a tablet/phone b/c it is not in hotspot mode, but without a password it also is not on my home wifi.
Hence, my only option was to take the Air out of range of my home wifi and reboot it.

Since the USB reset, it also will not save some past settings. For example, if i click on Analog input, it used to save that setting for the next time i turned on the Air but now i have to use the tablet/phone each time to access the Air and turn on that analog connection. Saving this setting was handy because my daughter uses that plugin all the time for hockey warmup and not needing to make that change two or three times a week is seriously convenient (waiting for bluetooth to make this connection for her easier and not need the analog plug hopefully except for on the deck with the Sonos system).

All the bugs aside, when it does get working, the max SPL and sound quality are top notch. The kids have tested the max SPL (and i did out in the yard for kicks) but listening to some FLAC Buena Vista Social club on the deck tonight was super smooth.

The convenience of having this out on the patio instead of the two speaker and AVR system i had in the gazebo is so much easier.

I'll be selling that spare AVR sometime soon.

This is something i haven't tried too much of yet, to directly hookup the Axiom on the home wifi and see about running my music from the base folders. I did give it a go though.

The main problem i had was finding a good rendering app. Of the ones suggested, I've found huge issues and difficulties with all of them including simple things like being able to make a play list more than 3 songs long (these are free apps after all so perhaps these limitations are gone with paid versions). It has been far easier to use the Sonos system and hook into the Air via analog jack. My daughter connects via analog but plays using her Apple phone which has a decent music renderer (i've tried some Android ones on my Pixel 2 and they're all shit, absolute utter shit).

Sonos is so polished compared to these other dinky apps for phones and tablets. It just doesn't make any sense for our home setup. I'll await better options as the future trods forward with better innovations.

Just noting that since the update process, the setting is now being saved again.

One other wacky note, just having hooked up the Air to my home system using the ethernet cable, my finger can't get in to reach the release tab for the ethernet plug.
The plug is too close to the frame of the Air and i'll need to get something thin like a ruler or tweezers so i can unplug the ethernet cable. I don't even have the fat Homer Simpson fingers either.

Design note for future editions of the Air.

Well it doesn't seem to like my Wifi Setup. Meaning I have multiple AccessPoint, to have a great coverage everywhere (same SSID) But no matter what it seems to have a mind of it's own and pick the weakest link.

So, so far, the only solution has been to use the analog output by hooking a cellphone on it to enjoy streaming services like Spotify

I'm trying to resit the urge of just buying some Google Home Maxs. Looking forward to the SW update....

An update on the update???

Will the new firmware support playlists copied onto a USB?

You can play songs from a USB drive inserted in the front of your AxiomAir now. On the UI if you hit the browse button in the lower left, then Music Library the USB drive will show.

Right, yes I can play from a Library on a USB on the AA but not a playlist copied and on that same USB.

My question was about support to copy a library with a playlist file over to USB and have the playlist work as it should. Today the playlist file isn't supported.

Today this results in having to recreate a playlist that I already have.

If you create your Playlists as files on your USB drive they you should be able to access them from various music players but if you create the playlist using the players "add to playlist" it would only exist in that player.

Any update on when this new version will be available. Could really use the Spotify option!

I can make a Beta version available here that would be loaded from a file on a USB drive. I know on the surface it seems like only a few things have changed, like the addition of Spotify Connect, but we had to make a pile of changes in the background to get to a point where we could add new features like this easily.

Hi Ian, I'd be keen to test and report back.
Thanks
Nathan

I'm wondering how Bluetooth will be set to working on the V1s that don't have built in BT.
I can only guess that owners will have to get a BT 'dongle' similar to the existing Wifi dongle that presently plugs into one of the USB front ports.

Would such a thing be supplied by Axiom?
Would it have to be bought?
I imagine some folks who bought into the original adverts that the Air would be BT compatible might be upset if they were told they now had to buy an add on to get this functionality.

Additionally, with BT units there is usually a button to press to get it searching for a pairing. How will this be implemented given the previous thoughts on using something like a BT dongle?

Any info/insight on this Ian?

Hi Nathan,

We are working on this now. I will let you know as soon as we have file you can load on a USB drive.

Thanks Ian.

Needing Bluetooth sooner than later.
Main reason is because the front analog jack now has that pin problem like the old days of Walkmans where the connection isn't good and it cuts out to a single driver/right side only unless you get the jack in just the right spot.

So, for the kids to use the internet (via wifi) to access something like YouTube, Spotify or Tidal to play through the AxiomAir (via analog cable), they are losing functionality unless i send it back for repairs.
The rear jack is ok....for now.

You know what? I really wish Axiom hadn't built this damned thing. Two speakers 16" apart is never a good thing. Now it's just gonna distract everyone at the factory and the lab from what really needs to get done.

BTW Chess, you need to upgrade to v4.

Is there a list?



Bollocks.
I've got my resistors in place with my Ti versions!

I am however considering some replacements in the relatively near future. OLED has finally come along far enough for me to pull the trigger and replace the very aged Toshiba RPTV. The next unit will likely be 75".
In doing that, i might replace the VP150 with a larger VP160.
In making those changes, i'll also need a new receiver that actually has HDMI connections.

There's a real cascade effect coming soon.

Chess, I am sure there's a list but of course we're not privy to it. However, anything on that list is higher priority than stereo drivers separated by a distance of 16".

Let me tell you, the v4 is a different animal. Look at my thread on "out with the old in with the new". I suppose it depends on your tastes somewhat. If you don't care about wider and deeper sound-stage and vastly improved clarity and image focus, then don't bother. But last night was very telling. My friend who doesn't give a second thought to sound, found the whole "audition" extremely enlightening. She's gone from not wanting any speakers to thinking about how to best integrate M3s into her space.

I actually thought you had a list.


I've heard the v4. One subtle noticeable difference is the highs aren't as piercing, but my Ti have the resistor in place which tames that mostly. Soundstage and depth comes more from the room and placement than the speaker (note i said 'more' not 'only').
The Ti versions we have don't get used for as much music listening as they used to, and are used more anchor the HT room for which i've found this aspect isn't as sharp on the ears and actually prefer it for dialogue.

One thing i've never liked was the EP350. I still have the original version but will move that on in due time. I haven't settled on whether i'll go with a EP500 or dual, or another sub brand.

No, I don't have a list. I just want "good" sound which I define to be the things I talked about above.

You might have a good reason for not upgrading. I am saying "might" because I haven't listened to movies yet. I can tell you though the 160v4 is fantastic and you should not torture yourself with the 150 which I imagine is v2 or earlier.

Agreed that soundstage (depth, width, height) have a lot to do with placement. I am seeing improvements
with the v4 over the v2. These improvements, along with others, justify the upgrade for me.

There is of course music in movies, but you aren't doing critical listening and small differences mean little.

Given our space limitations, which is to say i don't have the room to move back anymore from the front, or room to move the speakers 3 feet left and right, means i can't do much more for tweaking my room beyond room treatments. I already know the primary limitation is not being able to get that golden triangle concept going (sitting too close to the speakers reduces the sweet spots and you hear too much left or right pull depending on where you sit on the couches).
I have modified the soundstage digitally using the features in the receiver which helps smooth that out, but with a larger tv pending, i want more dispersion across the front and hence i'm leaning toward the VP160 (the VP180 would be too big for our room).

With some DVD-A music though, the individual placement of sound is stellar and makes sense the same as if you were sitting in the audience and something more on your left should sound different and louder than a musician farther off to the right of the stage.
Under those circumstances, you wouldn't realize that part of it might be the artefact of the speaker placement.

Dude, you need to move! Lots of nice homes in and around Winnipeg.

I'm already in a large house. It is the wine cellar and games room that take up the extra space.

Get your priorities straight!

The priority is to get bluetooth on this Air dammit...

I would say it's amazing that kids don't have lots of music locally on their devices, but really, they do all cloud music mostly and their devices instead are filled with useless GB of text messages that contain pics and videos which chew up GB upon GB of garbage.

Waiting for that 1TB cell phone to come out...

Your kids need M5HPs. I am in tears of joy right now as I listen to them.

chesseroo:

My recent post ref OLED. Be careful out there:

Despite its beautiful image, watch out for image retention/burnin on OLED technology.

A new LG OLED at my local BB has developed severe burnin with only a spectacular LG Demo running without any static images. The reddish LG logo on the demo appears for only 10 seconds at the end of the loop & repeats throughout the day; however, there is a very apparent colourful blob right where the LG logo normally appears. Severe screen damage as far as I can see.

From what I've seen, OLED is not for me...

TAM

For those asking for Spotify and Bluetooth, A simple workaround is to connect an Amazon Echo Dot to the analog input. Then you would just connect your tablet/smartphone via Bluetooth to the Echo.

Spotify connect works very well for Echo.

Not a bad idea.
If the analog cable connection issue gets worse with time and use though, then it wouldn't matter that the Echo bridges the BT gap for devices; you still wouldn't get playback with a wonky analog plugin connection.

I tried out the analog vs. wireless the other day for SPL and sound quality.

Hi Ian, Are we closer to testing out the new Firmware?
Thanks
Nathan

Yes, we have the update from a USB drive ready but want to fix a Bluetooth switching bug before I post the link here.

Looking forward to seeing the results of this update.

Thanks Ian.

I received my AxiomAir Update email today.

Since I'm happy with the way that it operates now (only Net Radio & USB Thumb Drive for my music collection) I see no reason to risk updating my machine. The update does not look easy to me, ha!

Can I assume that if I leave it well enough alone that I should be OK with the status quo?

TAM

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
I wanted the Bluetooth functionality and i was having issues with the Air double booting (it would boot once then boot again on its own) and subsequently provide me with connectivity issues.
Any update for me was a welcome update.
Things are working smooth for my purposes on ver 2.09.
The update really is pretty easy.

Hi TAM,

No problem to leave it where it is. If you don't need the extra features then there is a lot to be said for leaving well enough alone. This is a complicated upgrade as we had to change parts of the code that the Update button as it was would not be able to do.

Ian. Thanks for that.

I'll continue using my AA as before - works just fine as is...

TAM