Most Recent Firmware Update | Version 2.2.5 | June 17, 2106This purpose of this update is the addition of 2 new features that users have requested plus one minor bug fix that only applies to balanced preamps. As such this is not a critical update. This update skips a version (2.2.4) which was shipped in only a single preamp and included the Fix discussed below.
Hope springs eternal but I really think this will be the last iteration of the version 2.2 series for a while now. We've gone through the usual post-release bug kill and everything appears to be stable.
New: Fast Input Switching - While in Input adjust mode, user now has option to do use fast switching between inputs by using the Left/Right buttons on the remote rather than the normal Raise/Lower followed by Enter. When using the Left/Right buttons the inputs transition within less than a second without any muting/unmuting. When using fast switching the volume will immediately go the volume level last associated with the selected input.
New: Display Timeout - When in Display adjust mode user can now optionally set the time (in seconds) before display turns off after last user input. Adjustment is between 1 and 99 seconds using the Left/Right remote button. Setting timeout to zero (0) disables the timeout feature. Display timeout only works when in volume adjust mode and is disabled when in any other control mode such as input adjust, impedance adjust, display adjust etc. After updating you should check this setting since it may not be zero (off) by default.
Fix: Turn Off (Balanced Preamps) - The new preamp turn off function by pressing/holding the Menu button that introduced in version 2.2.3 was not working properly for balanced units. This update fixes that.
More Info On Fast Input SwitchingFast Input Switching was introduced at the request of users who wanted to be able to do A/B testing with difference sources. Fast input switching overrides the normal automatic and relatively slow sequence of first muting the current input, switching inputs, and then ramping the volume back up. Fast switching has only been tested with Tortuga preamps that use LDRs for input switching - we have not tested this with our DIY relays and kits. LDRs are inherently slow switches compared to relays. While they turn on relatively quickly, they are much slower to turn off. Because of the slow turn off time, fast switching includes a brief transition delay of 200 milliseconds. This delay is barely perceptible but avoids any potentially harmful artifacts such as pops or bumps to your speakers. Users are cautioned to avoid switching between inputs where the current input is at a low volume level and the new input was previously at a high volume level. The preamp will abruptly go to the volume level last associated with the new input. As it does so the volume of the current input may surge slightly before it fully turns off.
Firmware info and downloads can be found here:
http://www.tortugaaudio.com/downloads/