*NEW* Esoteric N-05XD

Bfmcosta said:
@wklie, after updating the various firmwares on my N05xD (USB, NET module, I/F, etc), I cannot detect it with general UPnP-based apps (e.g., BubbleUPnP) from my iPad. Strangely, the official Esoteric Sound Stream app also does not detect it in my Android phone (but works fine on my iPad). I already tried the "usual" troubleshooting approaches (e.g., restart the entire newtwork from the router up to the Esoteric N05xd and android + iOs control devices; uninstall the apps and fresh reinstall; etc), with no success. Do you have any idea why this may be happening?
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Make sure you're not getting a Network Error display on the N-05XD front panel when switched to its network input.

You did the right thing to power cycle the network starting from the router and include both Android and iOS devices.

This kind of symptoms usually indicates router operational instability from multicast. What router brand and model are you using? Did it update itself automatically (although non common this could occur)? Also describe your whole network, especially if you use mesh or any WiFi access points or powerline network.

In WiFi router set different SSID (name) for the 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi. Set the mobile devices to connect to each of them, see if it makes any difference to the detection.

Please try Lumin app, Tidal app (if you have a paid Tidal account), and Spotify app (both paid and free accounts should work).
 
wklie said:
Make sure you're not getting a Network Error display on the N-05XD front panel when switched to its network input.

You did the right thing to power cycle the network starting from the router and include both Android and iOS devices.

This kind of symptoms usually indicates router operational instability from multicast. What router brand and model are you using? Did it update itself automatically (although non common this could occur)? Also describe your whole network, especially if you use mesh or any WiFi access points or powerline network.

In WiFi router set different SSID (name) for the 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi. Set the mobile devices to connect to each of them, see if it makes any difference to the detection.

Please try Lumin app, Tidal app (if you have a paid Tidal account), and Spotify app (both paid and free accounts should work).
Click to expand...

Thanks Peter. Concerning the points you suggested:
- "Network error display on the N-05XD front panel when switched to its network input": No.
- "What router brand and model are you using": Hitron Chita Hub5. It is supplied by my ISP in Portugal. I believe it occasionally undergoes automatic firmware updates, but I cannot confirm it as the log is not visible to me. Also, I do not use mesh nor wifi access points. My current setup is: Router (Hitron Chita Hub5) - ethernet cable to Switch (Silent Angel N8 Bonn) - ethernet cable to streamer (Esoteric N05-XD).
- Wifi names for 2.4 and 5GHz are already different. I also had tried connecting to each one of them, but did not help.
- Other apps like Lumin app (in Android) and Tidal also do not detect the Esoteric.

What I find very strange, is that I have problems occuring both in iOS and Android. In summary, this is what I have at the moment:
- iOS 15.4 on iPad Pro: The Esoteric Sound Stream app and Lumin app work fine. However, a UPnP-based app (JPlay) stopped detecting the Esoteric streamer.
- Android 9 on Lenovo Z6 Pro: Nothing works: neither the Esoteric Sound Stream app, nor the Lumin app, nor other UPnP-based apps (e.g., BubbleUPnP).

All of the above apps in iOS and Android used to work fine until a few weeks ago...

Thanks again
 
Assuming you have login and password access to the router settings:

- Disable firewall and guest mode in the router
- Power cycle the router, switch, Esoteric and all devices including iPad and Android devices
- On iPad, launch YouTube app and check whether you can AirPlay to the Esoteric
- Create a free Spotify account and try Spotify app on iOS and Android

As a last resort, check whether the router allows you to set it to run in bridge mode. If it can, set it to bridge mode after you have purchased a normal WiFi router such as TP-Link or Asus (enable Multicast Routing).
 
Have you tried the factory reset procedure (page 33 of the OM)? Failing that it seems you've tried everything else. Maybe it's time to involve the dealer.
 
wklie said:
Assuming you have login and password access to the router settings:

- Disable firewall and guest mode in the router
- Power cycle the router, switch, Esoteric and all devices including iPad and Android devices
- On iPad, launch YouTube app and check whether you can AirPlay to the Esoteric
- Create a free Spotify account and try Spotify app on iOS and Android

As a last resort, check whether the router allows you to set it to run in bridge mode. If it can, set it to bridge mode after you have purchased a normal WiFi router such as TP-Link or Asus (enable Multicast Routing).
Click to expand...

Peter, another round of attempts based on your suggestions:
- Firewall cannot be disabled in my router. Guest mode also does not seem to be an option.
- Power cycle all devices has been tried several times. I even did a factory reset on my router, as well a factory reset on my Esoteric N05-XD. Nothing seems to help.
- On iPad, I cannot Airplay anything to the Esoteric.
- Spotify is the same, does not "stream" to the Esoteric, either on Android phone or iPad.

What is very strange and frustrating is that all these issues started after updating to the latest firmware on the Esoteric, so it would be nice to confirm if it is nothing related to that. Is it at all possible to revert the firmware to the previous version, to see if it helps?
 
brodricj said:
Have you tried the factory reset procedure (page 33 of the OM)? Failing that it seems you've tried everything else. Maybe it's time to involve the dealer.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestion. I already tried this and did not help. I can involve the dealer but anticipate he won't be able to help a lot. These appear to be related to network issues in this last firmware version, so not sure how he would be able to help. Hopefully Peter Lie will be able to sort this out via a different firmware?
 
The network module firmware update is done via the SoundStream App. The only choice you have with that is the latest version, there is no provision in the App to roll back to the earlier firmware. The way I see it you should involve the dealer to address these issues via the Esoteric support channel.
 
Bfmcosta said:
These appear to be related to network issues in this last firmware version, so not sure how he would be able to help. Hopefully Peter Lie will be able to sort this out via a different firmware?
Click to expand...

No one else has reported similar symptoms. This does not look like a streamer firmware issue.

If there is a fundamental firmware flaw that prevents AirPlay and Spotify from working, it could not have passed Esoteric QC.

You could, however, do a network board reset. Power down the N-05XD. Use a pin to insert into the reset hole near the network port at the back. Power up the unit while holding the pin. Do not release the pin until 20 seconds later.
 
Hello. Do you guys think it would be a worthwhile improvement to add the ES-Link analog card to my Esoteric F-07?? The card retails for 1k. Any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks
Tony
 
wklie said:
No one else has reported similar symptoms. This does not look like a streamer firmware issue.

If there is a fundamental firmware flaw that prevents AirPlay and Spotify from working, it could not have passed Esoteric QC.

You could, however, do a network board reset. Power down the N-05XD. Use a pin to insert into the reset hole near the network port at the back. Power up the unit while holding the pin. Do not release the pin until 20 seconds later.
Click to expand...

Tried the "network board reset" twice. Still the same problem.

Peter, while not other people have reported problems so far, I wonder if many people have been using UPnP apps or AirPlay or Spotify to access their Esoteric N05XD, as opposed to the original SoundStream app, in the last few weeks. I just noticed the problem because I also use other apps other than SoundStream in iOS. While I cannot certainly guarantee that this is related to the recent firmware update, it is certainly a remarkable coincidence that raises suspicion. The fact that the issue occurs not only in the iPad (with 3rd party UPnP apps, or via AirPlay, or via Tidal or Spotify), but also on the Android phone (with the original Esoteric SoundStream app, or other 3rd party UPnP apps, or via Tidal or Spotify), seems to point to the Esoteric, right?

I can always try to pack the Esoteric and take it to a friend's place and set it up there to completely rule out problems in my home network, but would like to avoid all that hassle...
 
Bfmcosta said:
Tried the "network board reset" twice. Still the same problem.

Peter, while not other people have reported problems so far, I wonder if many people have been using UPnP apps or AirPlay or Spotify to access their Esoteric N05XD, as opposed to the original SoundStream app, in the last few weeks. I just noticed the problem because I also use other apps other than SoundStream in iOS. While I cannot certainly guarantee that this is related to the recent firmware update, it is certainly a remarkable coincidence that raises suspicion. The fact that the issue occurs not only in the iPad (with 3rd party UPnP apps, or via AirPlay, or via Tidal or Spotify), but also on the Android phone (with the original Esoteric SoundStream app, or other 3rd party UPnP apps, or via Tidal or Spotify), seems to point to the Esoteric, right?

I can always try to pack the Esoteric and take it to a friend's place and set it up there to completely rule out problems in my home network, but would like to avoid all that hassle...
Click to expand...

Have you notified your Dealer of these issues? Or was this a used unit?

There is only so much that Peter can do here. You need Esoteric to get involved and the Distributor as well. Perhaps even exchange the unit for a new one.
 
I bought new in January. I have not yet notified the dealer, will do it now just for the record, as I am not sure how helpful they can be at this stage, since it still works fine in the "official" Esoteric Sound Stream app in the iPad. The fact that the dealer is 400km away also does not help. Anyway, since Peter, a very knowledgeable person, believes this is a router problem, I will try to sort that our first.
 
wklie said:
From my point of view, all these point to the router.
Click to expand...

Peter I just remembered to mention a few additional details.

My iPad, which does not Airplay from youtube to the Esoteric, is able to Airplay perfectly to my Apple TV.

My Android phone, which does not “cast” from Tidal or Youtube to the Esoteric, is able to “cast” perfectly to my Sony Smart TV and my Google Chromecast.

Not sure if this is of any further help. I just remembered you may be assuming that Airplay and Tidal Connect did not work at all with my devices, but they do.
 
How is the Apple TV connected? WiFi, wired to router, or wired to the switch?

Also try connecting the N-05XD directly to the router, bypassing the switch.
 
Hi Peter,

Just a brief follow-up to let you know I bought an Asus AX-86S router, and it solved the problems I was experiencing with the Esoteric connecting to various apps. Thank you again for your help!
 
Bfmcosta said:
Hi Peter,

Just a brief follow-up to let you know I bought an Asus AX-86S router, and it solved the problems I was experiencing with the Esoteric connecting to various apps. Thank you again for your help!
Click to expand...

Glad to hear you’ve got it sorted out.
 
Trying to decide whether the N-01XD is worth an extra $9,000 over the N-05XD. I won’t be using the pre-amp/headphone amp in the N-05XD, but don’t mind them being there if there isn’t much noticeable difference in sound quality AND I can save $9,000.
 
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