The LC90 Version 4.8 Firmware Update
Source: choyongradio.com Author: choyong
We're driven by a strong desire to design better products. To us, Choyong devices must offer excellent sound quality, richer content, easier content search options, and more sensitive traditional radio reception. At present, we're still not fully satisfied with these aspects, which is why we will continue improving them—through firmware updates or product iterations.
2025.6.25
Regarding the LC90 Version 4.8 Firmware Update:
1. Now supports multiple operating system languages, including Arabic, Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish, Russian, German, and more.
2. Podcast recommendations are now based on the selected language. For example, if the radio is set to German, only German-language podcasts will be displayed.
3. Fixed several bugs that could cause the device to freeze.
4. Improved standby time after listening to traditional radio programs. After the update, the radio can maintain standby for nearly two months under all conditions.
5. The long Wi-Fi reconnection time could not be optimized. We tried various methods but were unable to improve it. If you wish to hear sound immediately after powering on, we recommend using an eSIM or physical SIM card. This enables instant playback, and once Wi-Fi is connected, the system will automatically switch over. This method uses very little data but significantly improves the user experience.
6. Added the ability to search for music via ChatGPT and Google, supporting multiple languages. Playback priority is as follows: high-bitrate audio sources → low-bitrate audio sources → video converted to audio. This feature will be integrated into the LC90, LC90 Mini, and Choyong speakers.
7. Corrected many systems prompts that could confuse users. The new firmware provides clearer and more intuitive messages.
8. The issue with the A8W's minimum volume being too loud will be addressed in the next version. After completing the LC90 upgrade, we will evaluate whether to release a minor update to fix the volume issue first, followed by the major version upgrade.
If there are other issues you care about that are not mentioned above, please let us know as soon as possible. We aim to make the LC90 as perfect as possible.
2025.6.29
Responses Regarding Music, Volume, and Station Issues:
Following the release of version 4.8, we noticed several posts expressing dissatisfaction with the update. I'd like to clarify the key points here:
1. Why Add Music Functionality?
Some users prefer radio stations, while others enjoy music. We aim to meet the diverse needs of our users. Since Choyong performs well as a speaker—and we're launching a desktop speaker/Internet radio with high sound quality this year—adding music functionality is essential. We also plan to expand music streaming sources based on user search behavior. Admittedly, this is a challenge, as many websites block third-party server access. However, as users search for more music, the Choyong Aggregator will grow. You may already notice more songs are now searchable—this is why we introduced the feature in LC90.
2. Will Upgrading to 4.8 Reduce the Number of Streaming Stations?
No. The Aggregator and firmware are developed by separate teams and operate independently. Firmware updates do not affect streaming station availability.
3. Why Isn't the Volume Linear? Why Does It Cut Off Abruptly at Low Levels?
Users with some basic circuit knowledge may understand that linear analog volume control requires the potentiometer to act as the input resistor for the power amplifier (PA). However, this design causes long-term wear to the carbon film, resulting in clicking noises. To ensure long device life, we opted to convert the potentiometer signal via analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion. This creates a threshold. Before launching the LC90 update, we tested volume levels in an anechoic chamber and found the minimum level to be nearly inaudible. If some users still find the lowest volume too loud, please double-check: is it set to the absolute lowest level, or is it still on level 3–4?
4. Limit on Music Favorites
Currently, the favorite count is limited. We intentionally chose not to expand this feature aggressively due to potential copyright concerns. For extensive music storage, a TF card remains the better option.
2025.7.6
On the Vision and Optimization Direction of Choyong Products
We're noticed that recent Choyong-related posts have sparked a lot of discussion, and several friends reminded us not to abandon traditional radio functionality. We are sincerely grateful for these messages.
We're driven by a strong desire to design better products. To us, Choyong devices must offer excellent sound quality, richer content, easier content search options, and more sensitive traditional radio reception. At present, we're still not fully satisfied with these aspects, which is why we will continue improving them—through firmware updates or product iterations. It's a challenge, but also my personal passion.
Since graduating from university, we have been designing products for other brands—starting with Chinese companies, then for AT&T, T-Mobile, Vodafone, Motorola, and later for Harman Kardon, JBL, and various niche European audio brands. Yet, none of those products ever fully satisfied me. Now, with Choyong, we're finally moving toward our vision, and we won't waste this opportunity.
Lastly, I want to sincerely thank everyone for your feedback and suggestions. In our online community, we see a wide range of opinions, and we read each one carefully. Your insights help us continually improve. Fortunately, we share the same goal with the majority of our community: to make Choyong products even better!