Spark Mini Pearl - a beautiful paperweight
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I received my Spark Mini Pearl yesterday, stuck a quick unboxing on instagram, as you do when you're showing off, strummed a couple of chords, then tried connecting to the app to do a little demo vid...
"Update me!" it cried. So I did.
Then it kicked me in the nethers for showing off with the insta thing, and bricked. Four flashing LEDs. Further attempts at an update or trying a factory recent result in the same: what I guess should be called the 'four flashing lights of doom'. Nothing else, at all, just four flashing lights. Any Spark 40 owners who experienced the five flashing lights of doom will probably feel my pain.
I opened a ticket, and of course was told to do exactly what I'd told them I'd already done. Like some total sheep, I tried it again, because I like the feeling of nudging insanity by repeating the same things and expecting a different outcome.
I didn't get a different outcome, of course. My new Spark Mini Pearl is still a brick. Huzzah!
Anyone else out there sharing this ride? Maybe we could hold hands and sing kumbaya until PG whip out some .bat files or a new update?
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@ian-0 Mine came DOA. Can't get it to start up. Did you get a replacement?
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I just got mine this morning. The amp works but the Bluetooth and aux inputs do not.
UPDATE:
I was trying to do a software hardware reset from the app, which was not working. The physical hardware reset (holding buttons, etc.) was the fix:
https://help.positivegrid.com/hc/en-us/articles/5987144973453-Factory-Reset-for-Spark-MINIBluetooth audio is now working and sounds great.
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@chriscolonna said in Spark Mini Pearl - a beautiful paperweight:
@ian-0 Mine came DOA. Can't get it to start up. Did you get a replacement?
Did you let it charge for a while? No light?
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@ian-0 Mine was not updating the firmware. I powered it off and went through the steps about 3 times. Finally the firmware updating worked but the headphone output is extremely low volume.
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@tom-aragon, @jon-3, @cabbies-square-0e
It would be helpful to know if you are using an iOS or Android phone/pad for the Spark App, and a PC or MacBook for firmware updates.
I use an iPad/PC combination for my Spark 40 Amp, and had minimal problems. However I have to religiously follow the firmware update instructions (which seem to change slightly with each new update).
Based on a year+ reviewing Spark Amp issues, it appears that there are more Spark App problems with Android, and firmware update problems with MacBooks. Forum members with these devices have been very helpful in solving issues in the past.
To me, it sounds like new Mini Users are experiencing the same issues we Spark 40 Users have experienced over the past several years.
Knowing your specific app/firmware update chain might help other members identify if they can help or not. Any of my PC solutions are pretty much worthless to a MacBook user…
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@dan-lawrence I also own the Spark 40 and had no issues until one day it pretty much just up and died ! Luckily I bought it from Sweetwater who extends warranties an extra two years as this happened after the one year warranty mark of Positive Grid. It did have to go back to Positive Grid (After Sweetwater looked at it) for repair and took 6 weeks to be repaired and returned. Sweetwater only charged me $20.I use an iphone XS to control the Sparks and a Windows PC to update firmaware
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@tom-aragon
Thanks for the info. Other Mini Users on the Forum have indicated that the Headphone Output is noticeably lower than on the Spark 40. Other than that, sounds like you’re up and running (no pun intended) -
@dan-lawrence It's unusable..the spark mini headphone output on mine that is......it needs to go back
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Update Spark Mini to latest firmware raises the Headphone output level
Spark MINI Firmware v1.8.2.19
