Android phones and USB DACs - Page 16

btw, I've just received a newsletter from FiiO stating that they would be demo'ing a prototype "Android cellphone DAC Amp" at HKTDC this year. Yay FiiO!

link?

judging from the below link, looks like it will be around October then (for demo). Release to follow at some point after I guess.

 

http://www.hktdc.com/info/trade-events/EX/en/Exhibitions.htm

I hope this gets sorted soon, as I had a Nexus 7 (had screen lift issues so went back) - and the SQ was rather poor compared to my Iphone 4 and Wife's IPAD 3

 

annoyingly poor, was even noticeable with low-bitrate videos etc - so to add a DAC to it would be great :)

 

atm - looks like my best option is an IPAD 3, or for extreme qualty an IPAD 3 + external DAC

 

obviously a Nexus 7 + external DAC would be much cheaper :)

A list of standard USB DAC reportedly interworking with the Android-powered smartphone Samsung Galaxy S III for the time being:

 

Samsung Galaxy S III > digital audio stream >> USB OTG cable with USB Micro-A plug inserted in the S III >> standard USB DAC >> amp >> headphones

 

. AMB Labs Gamma2:

http://www.amb.org/audio/gamma2/

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=27247705&postcount=279

 

. Behringer UCA222:

http://www.behringer.com/en/Products/UCA222.aspx

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f6-dac-digital-analog-conversion/usb-audio-enabled-android-powered-samsung-galaxy-s-iii-12338/#post171651

 

. Beresford Caiman:

http://www.techradar.com/reviews/audio-visual/hi-fi-and-audio/hi-fi-accessories/beresford-caiman-673787/review

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f6-dac-digital-analog-conversion/usb-audio-enabled-android-powered-samsung-galaxy-s-iii-12338/#post171651

 

. C-Media chipset-based sound card Dynamode 7 channel USB 2.0 (USB DAC/amp):

http://www.chinacomputerparts.com/d-p1140199199635616900-cables/

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=27604946&postcount=449

 

. Cakewalk Sonar SPS 25:

https://www.cakewalk.com/support/kb/reader.aspx/2007013101

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f6-dac-digital-analog-conversion/usb-audio-enabled-android-powered-samsung-galaxy-s-iii-12338/#post171651

 

. Corsair HS1 Gaming headset (USB DAC/amp/headphones):

http://www.anandtech.com/show/3989/corsair-hs1-gaming-headset

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=27238117#post27238117

 

. FiiO E7 (USB DAC/amp):

http://fiio.com.cn/product/index.aspx?ID=28&MenuID=020301

http://www.androidnz.net/2012/07/galaxy-s-iii-real-user-review-part-2.html

 

. Furutech ADL Cruise (USB DAC/amp):

http://www.furutech.com/a2008/product2.asp?prodNo=399

http://www.head-fi.org/t/608535/wolfson-dac-confirmed-for-galaxy-s3/585#post_8567838

 

. GoVibe DAC:

http://jaben.net/forums/index.php?topic=2824.0

http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=2440879&st=500&p=53317360&#entry53317360

 

. GoVibe Mini USB DAC:

http://www.jaben.com.au/collections/go-vibe/products/govibe-minidac

http://www.head-fi.org/t/614111/finally-digital-out-for-galaxy-siii/15#post_8525675

 

. GoVibe Petite (USB DAC/amp):

http://www.head-fi.org/t/290711/govibe-petite-dac-amp-appreciation-thread-pics-little-update

http://www.head-fi.org/t/595071/android-phones-and-usb-dacs-how-to-increase-the-issues-priority-with-google/195#post_8552452

 

. HRT Music Streamer II:

http://highresolutiontechnologies.com/music-streamer-ii

http://www.head-fi.org/t/608535/wolfson-dac-confirmed-for-galaxy-s3/465#post_8534856

 

. HeadAmp Pico (USB DAC/amp): (apparently with only US S III for the time being)

http://www.headamp.com/pico/pico_dac_amp/index.htm

http://www.head-fi.org/t/608535/wolfson-dac-confirmed-for-galaxy-s3/480#post_8539705

 

. HeadRoom Total BitHead (USB DAC/amp):

http://www.headphone.com/learning-center/bithead-faq.php

http://www.head-fi.org/t/595071/android-phones-and-usb-dacs-how-to-increase-the-issues-priority-with-google/135#post_8527516

 

. HiFiMan Express HM-101:

http://www.head-fi.org/t/571330/hifiman-express-brand-and-hm-101-portable-usb-dac

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=27284184&postcount=291

 

. iBasso D-Zero (USB DAC/amp):

http://www.ibasso.com/en/products/show.asp?ID=73

http://neutronmp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=314&start=20#p1636

 

. iBasso D2 Boa (USB DAC/amp):

http://www.ibasso.com/en/products/show.asp?ID=30

http://www.head-fi.org/t/552014/pictures-of-your-portable-rig-part-xv/5535#post_8509186

 

. iBasso D2+ Boa (USB DAC/amp):

http://www.ibasso.com/en/products/show.asp?ID=42

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f6-dac-digital-analog-conversion/usb-audio-enabled-android-powered-samsung-galaxy-s-iii-12338/#post171651

 

. iBasso D5 (USB DAC/amp):

http://www.head-fi.org/t/556490/ibasso-d5-hj-yet-another-usb-dac-amp

http://www.head-fi.org/t/614111/finally-digital-out-for-galaxy-siii/15#post_8498377

 

. iBasso D12 (USB DAC/amp):

http://www.ibasso.com/en/products/show.asp?ID=63

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=29069294&postcount=924

 

. KingRex UD-01:

http://www.kingrex.co.uk/dac.html

https://www.facebook.com/headfonia/posts/352787358128700

 

. Microsoft Philips Digital Sound System 80 (USB DAC/amp/speakers):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Sound_System_80

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1703218

 

. NuForce Icon HDP (USB DAC/preamp/amp):

http://www.nuforce.com/hp/products/iconhdp/index.php

http://www.head-fi.org/t/608535/wolfson-dac-confirmed-for-galaxy-s3/585#post_8567838

 

. Objective DAC (ODAC):

http://epiphany-acoustics.co.uk/our-products/e-dac-24bit-miniature-usb-dac/

http://www.jdslabs.com/item.php?fetchitem=46

http://www.headnhifi.com/index.php/shop/objective/odac

https://plus.google.com/107354758331405644147/posts/PCaM42irMeU

 

. ODAC+O2 (USB DAC/amp):

http://epiphany-acoustics.co.uk/our-products/ehp-o2d-miniature-desktop-headphone-amplifier-with-usb-dac/

http://www.jdslabs.com/item.php?fetchitem=48

http://www.headnhifi.com/index.php/shop/objective/o2120527192048

https://plus.google.com/107354758331405644147/posts/PCaM42irMeU

 

. Ordnance .25 (USB DAC/amp):

http://jaben.net/forums/index.php?topic=9984.0

http://www.head-fi.org/t/614111/finally-digital-out-for-galaxy-siii#post_8462693

 

. Topping D1 Mark 2 (USB DAC/amp):

http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&langpair=zh-TW%7Cen&rurl=translate.google.com&twu=1&u=http://www.tpdz.net/produce.asp%3Fid%3D25&usg=ALkJrhhte1Q6A1NnVWodszs9J4x85vGfDg

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=28673076&postcount=871

 

. Topping TP30 (USB DAC/amp):

http://news.cnet.com/8300-5_3-0.html?keyword=Topping+TP-30

http://www.androidnz.net/2012/05/samsung-galaxy-s-iii-usb-audio.html

Edited by DanBa - 8/7/12 at 3:55am

Apparently "Galaxy S III + (some) USB DAC" and "(some) computer + (some) USB DAC" have at least the same sound quality:

"How about the SQ of the S3 + NuForce Icon HDP? What headphones do you use?"

"It's quite good. Slightly, not very noticeable, better than it was connected to my computer.
So if you wanna know more about this, you can just simply refer to those review of HDP.
P.S. I am using HD600 & UM1 for testing"
http://www.head-fi.org/t/608535/wolfson-dac-confirmed-for-galaxy-s3/585#post_857179
7
 

A custom Nexus 7 interworks with a standard USB DAC FiiO E10 (that doesn’t work with stock Samsung Galaxy S III for the time being):

 

custom Nexus 7 > digital audio stream >> USB DAC/amp FiiO E10 >> Sennheiser HD-380

 

Instructions for customizing a Nexus 7:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=29805237&highlight=asound#post29805237

http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?82110-Instructions-for-connecting-USB-DAC-to-Touch&highlight=Udev

 

"Code:

 

Back up your asound.conf and add this (or for simplicity sake, replace it with this)

 

This allows me to use my Nexus 7 to play over my Fiio E10 USB DAC, N7 + E10 + HD380 == fun.

 

It's too late for me to work on combining this with the stock asound.conf.

 

It's in /etc/ on stock rom and works once replaced."

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=29830741&postcount=472

"We are lucky, no such file or luck on GN or SGS3 yet, need to first understand how alsa works on those phones.

 

Yes, double check you need the alteration. 
I never got sounds out the USB DAC without it. 
And now with it, plays fine with DAC, but also when DAC is not plugged, plays sounds as if I never changed anything. 
Which is nice either way, not needing to change the file all the time. 
Need to find out if/how I can modify the default device for np and sgs3 now, they neither had nor sorry the file. 
No support meaning adding the file doesn't change anything there."

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=29857696&postcount=497

If we wanted to have our phone charging while using a usb dac, what usb splitter would you guys recommend?

I wonder how long will it take for Android device to support true 24bit USB DAC like the Ibasso DX100. Currently there is just no option to get the nice interface of an application like Poweramp and the quality of a true 24bit player.

My understanding is that Android OS resamples everything to 44.1 16 stereo. Unless some way similar to ASIO or kernel streaming is implemented, I don't see this changing soon since USB audio was just recently added.

Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk 2

Indeed. 44.1kHz was mentioned here as well:

 

http://neutronmp.com/faq.html

 

Sometimes I just wanna ask myself what good is using USB DACs when the OS itself will always convert the audio to a fixed sampling rate.

 

But I could also get a tablet based on Allwinner A10 and simply install Linux rather than running Android. I kept looking for something nice and found this one recently:

 

http://www.soomal.com/doc/10100003215.htm
http://www.soomal.com/doc/10100003263.htm
http://mid.pconline.com.cn/review/1208/2886613_all.html

 

1499 / 1999 RMB for 16GB / 32GB respectively. There will be quite a few options to play with Colorfly CT971:

 

1. Built-in headphone amp, same as the one from Pocket HiFi C4 Pro.

 

2. Line-out to an external headphone amp.

 

3. USB OTG to an external USB DAC.

 

4. USB OTG to digital audio interface like M2TECH hiFace Two.

 

Granted that would cost $315 for 32GB tablet from China while options #3 and #4 might only work under Linux. $235 for 16GB could be a better deal.

 

Alternatively, there are even cheaper Allwinner A10 choices such as Onda VX580W with 5-inch display. Smaller and lighter to boot:

 

http://www.ebay.com/ctg/Onda-VX580W-8GB-Wi-Fi-3G-5in-Black-/109833822

 

Basically we might have better luck with Linux developers instead of asking Google to do us a favor IMHO.

Android relies on Linux for core system services as driver model.

 

The Linux kernel of Android 4.x includes the USB audio driver for ALSA (Advanced Linux Sound Architecture) which can be compliant with USB Audio Class 2 (UAC 2) devices allowing for 24 bits / 192 kHz among others.

https://github.com/sgs3/GT-I9300_Kernel/blob/master/sound/usb/card.c#L2

http://thewelltemperedcomputer.com/HW/USB_Audio.htm

 

Modders have enabled the standard USB audio feature on Allwinner A10 tablets among others:

http://www.slatedroid.com/topic/33373-rom-cm9-nightlies/

http://www.slatedroid.com/topic/29289-usb-audio-cards-support-drivers-and-libs/

 

Hopefully Google and Android device manufacturers will enable the standard USB audio mode along with the Android-specific USB audio on their stock Android 4.1 devices.

It should be available to everyone, and not only for a few ones hacking their Android device.

Has anyone get google nexus one to work? with customized ROM/kernel maybe?

A custom Google Nexus One interworks with a Plugable UD-160-A USB 2.0 Universal Docking Station based on a C-Media CM-6300 USB audio chip:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=694427

http://sven.killig.de/android/N1/2.2/usb_host/#x11