Finally, digital out for Galaxy SIII - Page 2

Samsung Galaxy S III can interwork with a 24/96 ODAC:

http://www.head-fi.org/t/595071/android-phones-and-usb-dacs-how-to-increase-the-issues-priority-with-google/60#post_8468969

 

It seems that the SGS3 - FiiO E10 non-interworking cause is due to a buggy FiiO E10 descriptor:

http://www.head-fi.org/t/595071/android-phones-and-usb-dacs-how-to-increase-the-issues-priority-with-google/75#post_8469751

 

There is a proposed patch to fix this issue: one instruction to be removed and one instruction to be added in the USB core driver of the Android Linux kernel:

http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.linux.alsa.devel/98243

 

The buggy descriptor issue should be confirmed by other dmesg log outputs from other USB DACs which don't interwork with the SGS3.

Then some XDA developer could be asked to build a modded Android Linux kernel including the mentioned patch.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=1566

 

It doesn't prevent Samsung to fix officially the issue on their side.

 

 

 

If the Pico needs too much power, you could test the SGS3 - Pico interworking using a (battery) powered USB hub.

Is it possible to enable digital audio out and charging at the same time, just like it's possible to combine audio line out with charging?

Any comment on how D12 sound through USB out from the S3?

The D12 sounded very nice. Very analogue with refined vocals. I compared it directly with the RSA Predator and preferred the D12. I would have gotten the D12 but held back my emotions as I wanted to try the Porta Tube (which, after all, had many good reviews). Though the Porta Tubes with USB did not work, it managed to tried Go Vibe Mini USB DAC to Porta Tubes Amps. Sounded really good. I didn't managed to do a side by side comparison but from my memory, it seems that the Go Vibe 2-piece set up definitely has more power. It does have a tube signature as well and maybe also a little cleaner (better signal to noise ratio).

 

Comparing SGS3 -> D12 vs. SGS3 alone, I have to say the difference is worlds apart. An external DAC really makes a big difference. I have tried SGS3 -> Porta Tubes Amps (no DAC) vs. SGS3 -> D12. The latter set-up sounded much more refined.

 

I would urge all serious music lovers who owns SGS3 to really make use of the usb digital out capability. The cheapest and most portable set up that I know of is SGS3 -> Go Vibe Mini USB DAC -> headphones. This alone will increase dynamic range and sound quality already as the Go Vibe Mini USB DAC is also kid of a mini amp itself.

 

For reference, my sources are all FLAC files.

 

 

@DanBa

 

Do you think the S3 OTG will work with Audioquest's Dragonfly DAC?

 

http://www.audioquest.com/usb_digital_analog_converter/dragonfly-dac

I'm sorry, I don't know.

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f6-dac-digital-analog-conversion/audioquest-dragonfly-24-96-asynchronous-usb-dac-headphone-amp-12353/index9.html#post166802

Hopefully the standard USB audio-capable Samsung Galaxy S III will interwork with every standard USB DAC, that doesn't need a special USB device driver, after some workaround/ bug fixes.

After all, Android USB audio is still young for the time being.

Hi all --- I cannot speak to the Galaxy SIII --- but I have been testing extensively with the Nokia 808 which has USB OTG (along with its ancestor the N8.).

 

 I can confirm:

 

1) Fiio E7 and Ordnance.25 work perfectly -- they also have switches to turn off USB charging, thus preserving battery on your phone

 

2) The RSA Predator works as well -- but you can not turn of USB charging so it will drain your phone battery by 10% to 15% per hour.

 

3) NONE of  the AMP/DAC offerings from Pico, Ibasso, or GoVibe work.  Neither does the Fiio E17. (I have tried them all :>)   )

 

I am not particularly technical but the following conditions seem to be barriers for not working.

 

1) Excessive Power Consumption when connected to USB  --- It seems like the predator draws less power than the Nokia 808s cut off limit so you will get an error warning but it will still play.  The phone will refuse to recognize other more power hungry DAC/Amps.

 

2) There seems to be issues with 24/96 DACs -- this is only a hypothesis -- there could always be an exception.

 

3) Devices that automatically try to install drivers seem to cause connection errors on USB-OTG

 

I guess this supports some previous posts but I thought I would share my experience here.

 

did you try the iBasso D12 and D5? Both works when I tried.

I believe the D5 is a Japan only product --- I cannot recall ever seeing one -- so no -- that is one I did not test.  I did test the D12 (and its predecessor the D10 which I own) among the others and had no luck.

 

DanBa pointed out my confusion.

 

Your are talking about Nokia 808 while me S3! Sorry!

You say for the time being for the ones that don't work. Would the fix be from phone firmware update or from an update to the dac? I have a Candian S3, which I'm assuming doesn't have the Wolfson since it's North American. I just bought an e17, and can still return it to get an e7 within the next week. Do you think it will be likely that the SIII will work with e17 in the near future, or should I return the e17 and buy an e7? I use the e17 with the e9k from my computer, and I'm more inclined to have a nice home set up than portable, so my second question is, would their be a noticble deifference between the e17 and e7 at home, and would there be a noticble difference between the SIII without the dac and the use of an e7? I would appreciate any input.

I think it has more to do with Google modifying its kernels  (or a manufacturer doing so as Archos did)

Doesn't work just tried today.

My S3 using siyah kernel and Slim rom (ICS) going to flash to JB and try again see if there any luck.

Also I'm waiting for another OTG cable better than current one.