CHORD Poly Wireless Streaming Module User Manual

: June 6, 2024
: chord

User manual
Poly
Wireless streaming module

Introduction

This user manual is intended for Poly users. It contains all the information necessary to safely and successfully use Poly and consists of two sections:
• The user manual describes Poly and provides the essential user instructions.
• The extended manual contains information that is not directly related to everyday use.

Safety

Please take note of the following safety instructions before using the Poly.
• Never allow Poly to come into contact with water or other liquids.
• Never spray cleaner onto Poly. Only use a clean microfibre cloth to clean the Poly.

Warranty

Poly comes with a comprehensive twelve-month warranty. To activate this warranty, please register your Poly via the Chord Electronics website: www.chordelectronics.co.uk/register- product

Product description

Poly is a portable music streamer and player.
Combined with Mojo, it can wirelessly stream from connected devices and playback audio via Roon, AirPlay, or from a Micro SD card, all with smartphone control. Poly provides access to hi-fi sound quality at home or on the go, via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

Main parts

Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with
Poly’s main parts.

A Configuration pin
B Antenna
C P-status LED
D M-status LED| E Micro USB input
F Micro SD input
G Configuration button
H USB cable
---|---

P-status LED
This LED is Poly’s way of communicating feedback.
It does this by emitting 4 colors in different ways:

| Poly is in Hotspot mode and is available as a W-Fi
connection for an external device.
---|---
| Poly is searching for a known Wi-Fi network.
| Poly has successfully read the inserted Micro SD card.
| Poly has successfully connected via Bluetooth audio.
| Poly displays its battery level in a variety of colors when connected to a known network in Network mode. See §3.1 for more information.
| Poly is charging.

Modes

Poly’s functionality is made up of two settings; audio playback modes and connectivity modes. Both modes can be selected in the GoFigure app. See chapters 6 & 7 for instructions and more information.

Audio playback modes	Connectivity modes
• Bluetooth audio	• Bluetooth
• Roon	• Wi-Fi
• Micro SD card	– Network
• Airplay	– Hotspot

Charging Poly

To charge Poly:

Insert the USB cable H into the Micro USB input E .
Insert the other end of the USB cable into a suitable power outlet. This wakes Poly up.
Remove and reinsert the USB cable. Poly now starts charging and the P-status LED will emit a solid white light.

It takes approx. 5 hours to charge Poly with a 5V/2A charger. Poly and Mojo can be charged simultaneously, with an estimated charge time of 8 hours. The devices can be charged while playing back audio, but this increased the charging time.

NOTICE We recommend that you fully charge Poly for 5 hours before using it for the first time.
NOTICE Poly’s microprocessor remains active when the device is switched off. This causes the battery to slowly empty over time.
NOTICE To charge Poly, the charger must deliver at least 1A of current. To charge Poly and Mojo simultaneously, an input of at least 2A is required.
Using a 1A charger to charge both devices simultaneously will result in only Mojo being charged.

Battery level

When Poly is connected to a network, the P-status LED will glow in 1 of 4 colors. These colors indicate Poly’s battery level. The M-status LED will always indicate Mojo’s battery level using the same color code.

TIP Poly’s battery level is also displayed on the GoFigure app’s home screen.

Powering on Poly

To power on Poly:

Attach Poly to Mojo.
Press and hold Mojo’s power button until the buttons start to glow.
Wait approx. 10 seconds.
Poly’s P-status LED will become active when the connection has been registered.

TIP We recommend using a Poly case to protect the connection between the two devices.

Powering off

To power off Poly:

Press and hold Mojo’s power button to turn off both devices.
Wait 20 seconds for Poly to power off.

GoFigure app – Configuration

Poly can be configured with the GoFigure app, available for download on the App Store or Google Play.

Requirements

Your control device must have Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) compatibility.
Your Poly must have firmware 1.0.11 or higher.

If these requirements are not met, see the Extended Manual for the manual configuration method.

First use

When using the GoFigure app to configure a new Poly, the Setup Wizard can be used to quickly set Poly’s most important settings.
When using the GoFigure app for the second time, it will open on Poly’s Near You page. Select your Poly and press Skip This Wizard to go straight to the configuration menu.

Enable Bluetooth on your control device.
Make sure Poly is within range of your control device (< 5 m).
Open the GoFigure app and press Select Device.
The app will scan for nearby Poly’s.
Select Poly once it appears on your screen and press Select Device.
Please wait while the app loads your Poly.
Enter a custom name for your Poly (optional).
Press Audio Playback to continue.
Select Wi-Fi or Bluetooth as the initial connectivity mode. This can be changed later.
– After selecting Wi-Fi, press Connect Normally to connect to a regular Wi-Fi network. Press Create Hotspot to allow your
Poly to create a Wi-Fi hotspot
– Select your Wi-Fi network and enter the password. Press Continue/Submit.
Select Roon Ready or Everything else as your preferred audio playback mode. This can be changed later.
The configuration is now complete! Press-Register Your Device to register your Poly or press Finish to go to the Select Your Device menu.

Connectivity modes

The GoFigure app allows you to select which wireless connection method Poly uses to connect to an external device. All configuration is done in the Settings menu.

Bluetooth

Poly’s Bluetooth connection is always available, no matter which mode is selected.

Select Airplane\ Bluetooth Mode 1 to optimize Poly for Bluetooth playback.

NOTICE Bluetooth is a user-friendly wireless connection method but can result in some loss of sound quality. The use of a Wi-Fi connection is recommended for optimal sound quality.
NOTICE Poly has a maximum Bluetooth range of 5 meters. Sound distortion may occur beyond this range.

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi is Poly’s preferred connectivity method because it ensures the best sound quality. Poly can establish a Wi-Fi connection via two different modes.
TIP For optimal Wi-Fi performance, keep the antenna window B clear of obstacles.
NOTICE Poly communicates only via 2.4 GHz networks and has a maximum Wi-Fi range of 10 meters.

Network mode
Network mode allows the Poly to connect to an available Wi-Fi network. It is active when
Airplane\Bluetooth Mode 1 and Hotspot Mode 2 are deselected.

Press Wi-Fi 3 to select or manually add a
network.
Press Wi-Fi Country 4 to select the country.
TIP The Poly can connect to a Wi-Fi hotspot generated by a smartphone.
TIP You can add multiple networks to the Poly. They will be automatically remembered and connected to when in range.

Hotspot mode
Hotspot mode allows you to connect to a Wi-Fi network created by your Poly. It acts as a replacement for Wi-Fi when no external network is available.

Select Hotspot Mode 2. The Poly will now reset and the app will close.
Enable Wi-Fi on your control device and select the Poly-XXXX* to connect.
If available, select the “use without internet” option on your control device when connecting to Poly’s hotspot.
– On an iOS device, press “cancel” in the top right corner to reveal this option. Repeat this step if necessary.

All digits in the Poly’s hotspot name are unique to each device.
TIP Once your control device is successfully connected, these steps do not need to be repeated when using Hotspot mode again.

Audio playback

The GoFigure app allows you to select which mode is used by the Poly to playback audio. All configuration is done in the Settings menu.

Roon

The Poly can act as a Roon Ready device and playback audio from your personal Roon server.
1. Make sure the Poly is connected to the same network as your Roon remote device.
2. Select Roon Ready 6. The Other Music Services 7 option will be automatically deselected.
3. Navigate to your Roon Output settings and enable Poly. Poly is now a registered output.

Airplay

The Poly supports AirPlay, which allows it to connect to your Apple devices.

Select Other Music Services 7.
Make sure Poly and your Apple device are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
Navigate to your Apple device’s audio output options and select Poly. All audio will now route to Poly.

Bluetooth audio

The Poly can playback audio via a Bluetooth connection.

Micro SD card

This Poly is able to playback music stored on a Micro SD card via DLNA, UPnP or MPD.

Select Other Music Services 7.
Insert a Micro SD card into the Poly’s Micro SD slot F. The P-status LED C flashes green when the card is detected.
NOTICE If the Poly does not detect the Micro SD card, insert the card into a computer and make sure it is formatted to exFAT.
On your control device, open a DLNA, UPnP, or MPD app of your choice (e.g. BubbleUPnP (Android) or 8 Player (iOS).
In the app, select Poly as the audio output.
Select a song from the Micro SD card’s directory and begin playback.

TIP The Poly supports an unlimited amount of Micro SD storage capacity.
Quickplay
The Quickplay option allows you to look at any MPD playlists stored on the Micro SD card. See §10.3 for more information.

Press the LAUNCH QUICKPLAY button on the app’s home screen.
Select one of the available playlists and begin playback.

Manual configuration

If your Poly or control device does not meet the requirement for configuration via the GoFigure app, the connectivity and audio playback modes can be manually configured.

Connecting Poly

Poly can be wirelessly connected to external devices in three ways: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi network, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. Bluetooth is always available, while the other two connectivity modes can be manually selected via the Config button G.

TIP The use of a headset is necessary while progressing through the options. This allows you to receive spoken feedback and instructions during the process.

Use the provided pin A to reach the Config button G .
Press the Config button once to start the sequence:
“ ****mode: press for mode”
Press the Config button repeatedly to progress through the options:
“mode: current mode” “mode: enter Hotspot mode” “mode: enter Network mode” “mode: Hotspot password reset” “mode: Bluetooth PIN reset” “factory reset” “firmware update”. After reaching the desired option, wait 5 seconds.
Press the Config button one last time when instructed:
****“mode: press to enter XXXX mode” “mode: entering XXXX mode”

TIP Selecting “mode: current mode” will prompt the Poly to tell you the current connectivity mode.
TIP Selecting one of the three reset options requires you to hold the Config button for several seconds.

Bluetooth connection
Poly’s Bluetooth connection is always available, no matter which mode is selected.
NOTICE Bluetooth is a user-friendly wireless connection method but can result in some loss of sound quality. We recommend using a Wi-Fi connection for optimal sound quality.

Enable Bluetooth on your control device.
Select Poly from the list of available devices.
When asked, enter 0000 as the input code.
TIP The P-status LED flashes purple when connected via Bluetooth.
TIP The PIN can be changed in the GoFigure app.

Wi-Fi network mode
Network mode allows Poly to connect to an available Wi-Fi network.

Select Network mode by using the Config button G .
Poly is available for Wi-Fi connection when the P-status LED C starts to flash blue.

Poly will automatically look for or connect to a known Wi-Fi network. A new Wi-Fi network must first be added in the browser configuration menu. See §9.1 on how to connect to a Wi-Fi network.
Wi-Fi hotspot mode
W-Fi hot spot mode allows you to connect to a Wi-Fi network created by your Poly. It acts as a replacement for Wi-Fi when no external network is available.

Select Hotspot mode by using the Config button G using the instructions above.
The P-status LED C will flash blue and green when the Poly is in Hotspot mode.
Enable Wi-Fi on your control device.
Select the Poly-XXXX* to connect to the hotspot.

All digits in the Poly’s hotspot name are unique to each device.

Factory reset
The factory reset option allows you to erase all user adjustable information from Poly’s memory (e.g. Wi-Fi networks, passwords, and playlists).
NOTICE Remove your Micro SD card from Poly before running a factory reset. Poly will otherwise re-index the card as soon as the reset is complete.

Select Factory Reset with the Config button G .
NOTICE Your Poly’s name may not have reset when re-connecting Poly to a previously connected control device. The name will reset once the Bluetooth cache is updated.

Browser configuration

As an alternative to the GoFigure app, Poly can also be configured in a browser menu. This menu is only available on a control device that is connected to the Wi-Fi hotspot generated by Poly.

Make sure Poly is in Hotspot mode. See §8.1 for instructions.
In the network settings, select Poly’s WiFi network and select the URL (http://192.168.1.1).
OR
Open your browser and go to www.poly.audio
The configuration menu has three sections:
Wi-Fi settings
Manage Connections
Play Mode settings

Wi-Fi settings

The Wi-Fi settings section allows you to:

Name your Poly.
Enter the network name and password of the
WiFi network you wish to use.
Save a Wi-Fi network to add it to Poly’s memory
Assign a password to the Wi-Fi hotspot created by your Poly when in Hotspot mode.
Select the country that matches the used Wi-Fi network.

Manage Connections

The Manage Connections section allows you to:

Delete a previously saved Wi-Fi network from
Poly’s memory.

Play Mode settings

The Play Mode settings section allows you to:

Select an audio playback mode.
Information about these options can be found at the bottom of the page or in chapter 7 of this manual.
Select Roon Ready to use Roon as the audio playback mode.
– Select DSD to use Roon DSD mode.See §10.2 for more information.
Select Other to use Micro SD, Airplay or Bluetooth audio as the audio playback mode.
– Select MPD Bit Perfect Audio if you wish to only use Mojo for volume control.
– Select Keep in Hotspot Mode if you wish to stay connected to Poly’s hotspot.
Save your settings.
TIP Deselect Keep in Hotspot Mode if you want to connect to a newly added Wi-Fi network.

TIP When switching between Hotspot mode and Network mode, press Save and Reboot to ensure Poly reboots in the new mode.

GoFigure app – Extra features

The GoFigure app’s Settings menu has some additional modes that allow you to customize your Poly audio playback experience.

Bit Perfect

Adjusting the volume with the physical controls of your control device can compromise the quality of the digital signal. Bit Perfect mode disables the physical volume control on your control device and prevents this from happening.

Select Other Music Services 7 . The Bit Perfect playback mode now becomes available.
Select Bit Perfect 8 .
TIP Bit Perfect mode will not disengage the digital in-app volume control.

Roon DSD

This mode must be enabled for DSD playback via Roon.
NOTICE Enabling Roon DSD will disable the in-app volume control.

Select Roon Ready 6. The DSD model becomes available.
Select Roon DSD 8.

Quickplay
The Quickplay option allows you to look at any MPD playlists stored on the Micro SD card.

Select Quickplay Controls 9.
On the app’s home screen, press LAUNCH QUICKPLAY.
Select one of the available playlists to begin playback.

TIP Quickplay uses the BLE connection between Poly and your control device, so no Wi-Fi connection is required.
TIP MPD playlists can be created in applications such as MPDeluxe (iOS), Glider (iOS) or M.A.L.P. (Android).

General Settings
The General Settings 10 menu contains information about Poly’s networks and the contents of its MicroSD card.

Press Refresh DLNA Database to retrieve information about a newly inserted MicroSD card.

Device Settings
The Device Settings 11 menu allows you to change Poly’s settings.

Press Re-run Wizard to repeat the initial configuration process.
Press Factory Reset to reset Poly back to its default factory settings.

Registering Poly

Registering your Poly is important because it activates the free 12 month warranty period that comes with the purchase of Poly.
Register your Poly in one of these two ways:

Register your Poly via the Chord Electronics website: www.chordelectronics.co.uk/register-product
Register your Poly after completing the Setup Wizard in the GoFigure app. See §5.2 for instructions.

Updating Poly

New firmware is periodically issued to guarantee high performance and introduce new features to Poly. These updates can be found in the GoFigure app.

In the GoFigure app’s Settings menu, press Device Settings.
Press Firmware Update and select the update you wish to install. Poly can also be updated via manual configuration.

Select Firmware Update by pressing the Config button G . See §8.1 for instructions.

NOTICE The GoFigure will not actively notify you of new updates. Check the app regularly to keep your Poly up to date.
NOTICE Updates cannot be downloaded when Poly is connected to a network with internet access.

Technical Specifications

We are invested in keeping Poly up to date. Please refer to www.chordmojo.com or www.chordelectronics.co.uk for the most recent specifications.

Dimensions	50 x 62 x 22 mm
Weight Poly	91 g
Total weight	180 g
Playback time	Approx. 9 hours
Charging time	Approx. 5 hours
Charging input	5V / 2A
Wi-Fi	2.4 GHz
Bluetooth	4.1 / A2DP
PCM sample rates	44.1 kHz – 768 kHz
DSD via DoP	DSD64 – DSD256
Storage	MicroSD (unlimited capacity)