Android phones and USB DACs

hawaiibadboy said:

  Anyone have experience with rooting a Japanese android based phone?
Am looking to put V4A on one
 
Any help would be appreciated

Click to expand...

Check on xda-deveopers.com

Android USB audio
 
Information search:
1. Click on the following link
https://www.google.fr/?gws_rd=ssl#q=%22XY%22+site:http:%2F%2Fwww.head-fi.org%2Ft%2F595071%2Fandroid-phones-and-usb-dacs
2. Replace XY by your search keyword(s).
 
FAQ:
http://goo.gl/A4dCnP
 
A list of USB OTG cables:
http://goo.gl/4JyOe5
 
A list of stock Android-powered devices reportedly interworking with compatible USB DAC:
stock Android device > digital USB audio out >> USB DAC >> amp >> headphones
http://goo.gl/ksoF0d
 
A list of USB Audio Player PRO resources (compatible USB DAC, compatible Android devices, ...):
http://www.extreamsd.com/USBAudioRecorderPRO/
 
A list of standard USB DAC reportedly interworking with the native USB audio of Android 5.0 Lollipop:
stock Google Nexus X running on Android 5.0 Lollipop > digital USB audio out >> USB OTG cable (ID pin grounded) >> USB DAC >> amp >> headphones
http://goo.gl/x3loEQ
 
A list of standard USB DAC reportedly interworking with the Android-powered smartphone Samsung Galaxy S3:
stock Samsung Galaxy S3 > digital USB audio out >> USB OTG cable (ID pin grounded) >> USB DAC >> amp >>headphones
http://goo.gl/yBKivk
 
A list of standard USB DAC reportedly interworking with the Android-powered smartphone Samsung Galaxy Note2:
stock Galaxy Note2 > digital USB audio out >> USB OTG cable (ID pin grounded) >> USB DAC >> amp >>headphones
http://goo.gl/Ga1jYw
 
A list of standard USB DAC reportedly interworking with the Android-powered smartphone Samung Galaxy S4:
stock Samsung Galaxy S4 > digital USB audio out >> USB OTG cable (ID pin grounded) >> USB DAC >> amp >>headphones
http://goo.gl/dIwrqp
 
A list of standard USB DAC reportedly interworking with the Android-powered smartphone Samsung Galaxy Note3:
stock Samsung Galaxy Note3 > digital USB audio out >> USB OTG cable (ID pin grounded) >> USB DAC >> amp >> headphones
http://goo.gl/7Bvkhz
 
A list of standard USB DAC reportedly interworking with the Android-powered smartphone Samung Galaxy S5:
stock Samsung Galaxy S5 > digital USB audio out >> USB OTG cable (ID pin grounded) >> USB DAC >> amp >>headphones
http://goo.gl/zUjud0
 
A list of standard USB DAC reportedly interworking with the Android-powered smartphone Samsung Galaxy Note4:
stock Samsung Galaxy Note4 > digital USB audio out >> USB OTG cable (ID pin grounded) >> USB DAC >> amp >> headphones
http://goo.gl/gnmvuf
 
USB DAC descriptors:
http://goo.gl/pYJbTu
 
The basics:
http://goo.gl/MCFY2x
 

I wanted to go that route. Windows tablet 7-8" with JRiver / Foobar + JPlay. For my portable setup. 
 
Then I went to a fullhouse DAP (Geek Wave).  Hopefully it will play the bill.

O

staxton said:

I tried a Dell Venue 8 Windows 8.1 tablet with an ifi Micro iDSD, and I found that while it was easier to use as far as selecting music etc., I also found the sound to be better from my Samsung Galaxy S4 Android phone using UAPP. On the Dell, I tried foobar2000 and JRiver Media Center, and for some reason I just liked the sound better from the Android phone. It was just more present, more alive. Also, the battery life on the Windows Tablet was poor...

Lately I've been experimenting with a Raspberry Pi 2 running Runeaudio, using either the Android phone or an ipad Mini connected wirelessly to the Pi 2 to select music...

Click to expand...

Interesting.
Is the audio from your Galaxy being enhanced by any Eq. or other effects to sound better?
And - what bit-rate & resolution do you get between Galaxy > iDSD?

Re. Battery life on the tablet -
Can an OTG cable be used with a (Windows) device, to both power it snd source the USB, the same as for an Android device?

Re. Your Raspberry Pi -
What apps do you use to remote control it?

And what type of audio out interface spec. are you using on the Raspberry Pi -side?
I remember seeing some nice hi-resolution stereo CODEC piggyback boards somewhere but cannot remember if they're for the Pi or Arduino, or both.

nozomi said:

Interesting.
Is the audio from your Galaxy being enhanced by any Eq. or other effects to sound better?  No EQ or effects at all

Click to expand...

And - what bit-rate & resolution do you get between Galaxy > iDSD?  I've played pretty much everything from PCM 16bit/44.1khz to 24bit/192khz, as well as DSD64.

Click to expand...

Re. Battery life on the tablet -
Can an OTG cable be used with a (Windows) device, to both power it snd source the USB, the same as for an Android device? Dell makes a special cable that allows you to charge the Dell Venue 8 Pro and source the USB at the same time. I don't know if it works with other Windows 8 tablets. With the Galaxy S4, however, most standard OTG cables will not power the phone and enable you to use the DAC at the same time. You need a special cable. See DanBa's post #6560 in this forum, p. 438. He's the real expert on these things.

Re. Your Raspberry Pi -
What apps do you use to remote control it? With Runeaudio, you control it from any web browser from any device - iPad, Android Phone, PC, etc. Just type in the ip address of your Pi. Of course, that's pretty much all you can do when using the Runeaudio distribution on the Pi --there's no GUI or anything. JRiver has a beta application that works more like a traditional application within a Pi GUI.

And what type of audio out interface spec. are you using on the Raspberry Pi -side?
I remember seeing some nice hi-resolution stereo CODEC piggyback boards somewhere but cannot remember if they're for the Pi or Arduino, or both. My iDSD is hooked up to a USB port on the Pi. There are no drivers or other hardware involved. There is a relatively cheap DAC add-on for the Raspberry Pi called Hifiberry DAC+, which eliminates the need for a separate DAC. I haven't tried it so I can't comment on the sound quality, but I think others here on Head Fi have used it and like it.

Click to expand...

 
 
 

I can now confirm that Fiio E7 works with both Moto G and Nexus 7 2013
 
I have no idea why I couldnt get it to work previously, but suddenly it all just started working.
 
Playing through Spotify extreme quality using E7, and can tweak the treble/bass with E7
 
I'm stoked

What’s new in Android M?
http://liliputing.com/2015/05/whats-new-in-android-m.html
...
Adoptable External Storage Devices
Google Android has a somewhat complicated history with external storage devices. One of the key things that set early Android phones apart from iPhones was Google’s support of microSD cards… but over time Android has been modified to limit the ways you can actually use a microSD card.
That makes sense, since SD cards tend to be slower than built-in storage and more prone to failure, so you might not want to store all of your important data on those cards.
But some folk really like the option to use external storage… and they might be happy to know that Android M includes support for adoptable storage devices.
 

 
This lets you treat an external storage devices like an SD card as if it were internal storage. This lets Android encrypt and format the device to behave just like built-in storage, letting you move apps and other data between storage devices.

Android M embraces USB Type-C 
http://www.cnet.com/news/android-m-to-support-usb-type-c-for-faster-charging/
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/what-is-usb-type-c/
 
"At its I/O event on Thursday, Google announced support for the USB Type-C standard. That means you'll be able to plug the new type of USB cable into a new phone or tablet in any direction, sparing you from having to fiddle with it. The USB Type-C port is the latest update to the standard USB port that lets you charge and connect different devices, such as phones and PCs.
More importantly, your device will charge faster thanks to the new USB connection. And with Android M, you'll be able to use your phone to charge another device at the same time.

New Android devices will come with the new USB Type-C port. But what about existing devices? Those are backward compatible, but you'll need a special adapter to make Type-C hosts and devices work with all of those existing devices."

danba said:

   
. Lava STS-3U SimulCharge 3-port USB hub:
http://lavalink.com/sts-3u/

"The LAVA STS-3U Hub for Galaxy Tab, provides three USB-ports, and the ability to use the tablet in USB OTG/Host mode while being powered."

Galaxy Tab S 8.4 >> Lava STS-3U SimulCharge 3-port USB hub powered by a 5V power supply >> USB DAC
                                                                                                                                          >> USB hard drive
                                                                                                                                          >> USB video camera
 

Click to expand...

 
I posted a mini-review of this here. It's working great for me so far:
http://www.diymobileaudio.com/forum/car-pc-forum/186425-%5Bmini-review%5D-lava-sts-3u-3-port-usb-hub-samsung-galaxy-tablets-charging.html

Anyone got a Z1/Z1C and got the USB audio working since Lollipop update?

nozomi said:

  I only check this topic every other week and get a head-ache when I try to catch up.
 
Basically I'd like to get an el-cheapo 7" tablet and / or an Android phone, that can stream audio files from my home-network. Use as a DAP > (OTG cable for power) > DAC.
There's a lot of cheap Android devices @ v4.x, some can  be upgraded, some not.
So I would like to know the 'bottom line' of which version to search for.
What is the current minimum Android version that can pump audio out over USB?
 

Click to expand...

 
Android 3.1!
 
music files stored on local folder > UAPP running on compatible Android 3.1+ powered Android device > digital USB audio out >> USB OTG cable >> compatible USB DAC >> headphones
or
music files stored on SMB / Samba network access server >> Wi-Fi link >> UAPP running on compatible Android 3.1+ powered Android device > digital USB audio out >> USB OTG cable >> compatible USB DAC >> headphones
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/595071/android-phones-and-usb-dacs/3465#post_9991738
http://www.head-fi.org/t/595071/android-phones-and-usb-dacs/5955#post_11166587
 
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/595071/android-phones-and-usb-dacs/6735#post_11639134
Android USB Audio
FAQ
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3XYy1FuzDUea3U3aTJ1RkpQdW8/edit?pli=1
 
How to enable USB audio support on my Android device?
Plug & Play, if every USB audio-required component is functional:
 
Required software
It depends on your Android device:
 
1. Native USB audio:
...
2. User space USB audio (third-party USB audio): USB Audio Player PRO, HibyMusic or Onkyo HF
 
 

 

 
 
Music player with User space / Third-party USB audio soft driver like USB Audio Player PRO (UAPP) interfaces with the USB Host API, available from Android 3.1, to drive compatible USB DAC.
http://www.head-fi.org/t/595071/android-phones-and-usb-dacs/1260#post_9020197
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/595071/android-phones-and-usb-dacs/6735#post_11639134
Android USB Audio
A list of USB Audio Player PRO resources (compatible USB DAC, compatible Android devices, ...):
http://www.extreamsd.com/USBAudioRecorderPRO/
 
 
 

nozomi said:

  ... or is it dependent on the manufacturer brand?
 

Click to expand...

 
Google delivers the Android source code to manufacturers.
It is up to a manufacturer to customize Android for a given device.
For example, some rare manufacturers decide not to include the USB Host API on some rare Android devices:
 
"Mainly for developers: These models also support the Android USB host API = can be used to control USB Host devices from Android apps" [Sony]
http://www.head-fi.org/t/595071/android-phones-and-usb-dacs/2745#post_9662836
http://memsdiag.blogspot.fr/2015/01/usb-otg-host-mode-api-issues-with-some.html
 
A list of Android devices including USB Host API (i.e. a list of UAPP compatible Android devices):
http://www.head-fi.org/t/595071/android-phones-and-usb-dacs/6735#post_11639134
Android USB Audio
A list of USB Audio Player PRO resources (compatible USB DAC, compatible Android devices, ...):
http://www.extreamsd.com/USBAudioRecorderPRO/

I bought a Sony Z3c the other day, when I updated to Lolipoo and some apps stopped working properly so I returned the phone for a new one and will NOT be updating the software. BTW it works great with the Calyx PaT DAC/amp!

Someone else got Lollipop for Z1 Compact and some features were also going south
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/770236/xperia-phone-update-kills-amp-link
 

---

 
Meanwhile, Sony just released 28.0.A.4.8 and 28.0.B.0.466 for their latest models
 
Open source download for Xperia Z3+ (E6553), Xperia Z3+ Dual (E6533), and Xperia Z4 Tablet (SGP771 and SGP712); software version 28.0.A.4.8.
 
http://www.handsetdetection.com/properties/viewheader/Generic/Android%205.0%20Mobile/5565befa1d53562ec05bfda7
https://github.com/fxpdev/android_kernel_sony_msm8994/commit/71d3627ba8bd80e54e222cabfc72e63c45e78b24
http://developer.sonymobile.com/downloads/xperia-open-source-archives/open-source-archive-for-28-0-a-4-8/
http://www.digi-wo.com/thread-31024-1-1.html
 
Let's see if Z3+ and Z4 were doing any better than previous ones.

 
 
If this phone can play flac why not just use an otg cable straight to the amp?
 
Sorry for the noob question but I'm charging it up before I root it and was wondering why an inline dac would be needed ?