I'm thinking of using my Nexus 7 as my head unit in my car. I'm wondering what the best USB DAC would be. Would I need to pass the DAC to a DSP and then pass the DSP to my amp? (or get a DSP that provides sufficient power, and use it as my amp) Or do you think going from the DAC to my amp would still be great sound quality?
 
I'd like to keep the DAC's volume maxed out (or near maxed out), hide the DAC behind the dash or something, and control the volume of everything through the Nexus 7. Any suggestions guys?
 
I'm digging around DIYMA right now.
I'm really liking this DAC, then passing it to a DSP, then to an amp. http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/HiFimeDIY-Sabre-USB-DAC-2-external-PSU-96khz-24bit-ES9023-SA9023-Coaxial-Out-/130990669107
 
Any one have experiences or opinions with that DAC?

I'd say N7 > DAC > amp. Not sure you're going to find a DAC that will keep your N7 charged though.

I'd just use some thing like the Dockboss Air, if your stereo you already have has a 30 pin iPod dock input. Then you could just mount your N7 all fancy like and have the charger hooked up all the time. Hidden in the dash of course.

I've decided to go N7 -> Hifimediy Sabre -> MiniDSP 2x8 -> JL Audio 900/5
 
Waiting on a USB ROM port over to N7 2013, so I can load up a bunch of USB goodies.
 
JoyCon Exr for steering wheel controls and back up cam toggle.
Ipod and external HDD connection. More ideas to come.
 
Not sure what front,rear, or subs I'm going to use yet.

Howdy there! Any updates on an inexpensive mini-to-micro usb otg cable? Alternatively can a combo of these work?
 
http://www.ebay.com.sg/itm/161080550820?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649#ht_2174wt_1139
http://www.ebay.com.sg/itm/480Mbps-25cm-USB-A-Male-to-Mini-B-5pin-Male-USB-2-0-Converter-Adapter-Cable-Cord-/180981160719?pt=AU_CablesConnectors&hash=item2a23515b0f&_uhb=1

Fiio should be releasing one soon because one comes with the E18 when it gets released.

Just tried my new HiFimeDIY Sabre U2 Asynchronous USB DAC  (with and without the USB Isolator) but the DAC's indicator light only flickers occasionally.  The OTG cable (EarlyBirdSavings) works OK with a USB stick installed.  I'm running stock 4.3 with vorcer's V7 kernel.
 
DAC and USB isolator work fine.  Using them on my laptop as I type this.
 
Just thought I'd mention it.  Maybe someone has some ideas.  If I get it working, I'll update the thread.
 
Cheers.
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Update: CRAP cable. See above; avoid at all costs.  Hoping the StarTech is better.  I've generally had good luck with them.  Even if the DAC doesn't work (fingers crossed), at least I'll have a decent OTG cable.

Picked up a StarTech OTG cable.  Very solid.  Perfect connection with the 2012 Nexus 7; nice and tight.  Installed USB Audio Recorder Pro trailware, hooked up the USB isolator to the OTG cable (HiFimeDIY Sabre U2 Asynchronous USB DAC already attached to the isolator), launched UARP and it recognized and initialized the DAC straight away.  Tested a 24-bit 96 kHz FLAC.  Flawless.

I'm curious about one thing:
 
If the USB Audio Tester app detects my HiFimeDIY Sabre DAC, should I be able to get sound routed to the DAC with any music player?  I've not had any luck with DeadBeef, AIMP, VLC, VPlayer, Folder Player.  Sound mostly comes out of the speakers or HP jack.  On the first test - with AIMP - there was no sound from DAC or speakers, but when I plugged into the HP jack, then removed it, sound came out the speakers.
 
While I'll probably get UARP, it would be nice to be able to use a different app, too.
 
Any ideas how to get the DAC working?  Am I right in thinking it should, since USB Audio Tester recognizes it.  I assume it wouldn't be recognized if the kernel (vorcers' V7) were to blame.
 
I'm hesitant to install USB ROM, though I might.  I really need CIFS support, and right now I've got it with vorcers' kernel.
 
Thanks for any ideas.

Anyone care to buy my first gen 32gb Nexus 7? It's in excellent condition:http: //anythingbutipod.com/forum/showthread.php?t=72823

thurstonx said:

  I'm curious about one thing:
 
If the USB Audio Tester app detects my HiFimeDIY Sabre DAC, should I be able to get sound routed to the DAC with any music player?  I've not had any luck with DeadBeef, AIMP, VLC, VPlayer, Folder Player.  Sound mostly comes out of the speakers or HP jack.  On the first test - with AIMP - there was no sound from DAC or speakers, but when I plugged into the HP jack, then removed it, sound came out the speakers.
 
While I'll probably get UARP, it would be nice to be able to use a different app, too.
 
Any ideas how to get the DAC working?  Am I right in thinking it should, since USB Audio Tester recognizes it.  I assume it wouldn't be recognized if the kernel (vorcers' V7) were to blame.
 
I'm hesitant to install USB ROM, though I might.  I really need CIFS support, and right now I've got it with vorcers' kernel.
 
Thanks for any ideas.

Click to expand...

 
I'll answer my own questions:
 
According to several posts/threads over at xda developers, USB audio on Android 4.3 is problematic.  People are working on it, but I haven't come across a 4.3 kernel that supports it.  Hopefully that will change.
 
That said, USB ROM is great, even if you're not doing a car install.  It has the bonus of being able to hot-plug the DAC.  According to Timur's kernel page (as opposed to USB ROM, which uses his kernel within the Cyanogen 10.1 framework), hot-plugging is not supported with just the kernel.  And OTG + Charging is great, as long as you understand the order to attach things, and the consequences of unplugging the power (user mode dependent).  And I got CIFS to work (pretty easy, in the end), so I'm pretty happy.
 
All (or most?) players, etc., will use the USB DAC, if it's recognized and attached correctly.
 
HTH.

tds101 said:

Anyone care to buy my first gen 32gb Nexus 7? It's in excellent condition:http: //anythingbutipod.com/forum/showthread.php?t=72823

Click to expand...

 
If you haven't yet, you should post in the Head-Fi classifieds.  It's free.
 
I guess it would go in this thread/forum.  Good luck!

Hi,
I've decided to try fitting my Smart car with a Nexus 7 et al in place of my current head unit. I read in forums about people using a DAC and I'm just wondering why. As opposed to just using the headphone out on the tablet, is there a specific reason for this? Just sound quality? And if so, does it make that much of a difference?

Also, while I'm well versed in electronics and a former sound engineer, I haven't installed a custom car audio system other than a head unit in over 10 years... Are automotive amplifiers called "DSPs" now or does DSP refer to a digital signal processor in addition to the amp? (seems like I keep reading people using these terms interchangeably)

Thank you! J

thurstonx said:

  I'm curious about one thing:
 
If the USB Audio Tester app detects my HiFimeDIY Sabre DAC, should I be able to get sound routed to the DAC with any music player?  I've not had any luck with DeadBeef, AIMP, VLC, VPlayer, Folder Player.  Sound mostly comes out of the speakers or HP jack.  On the first test - with AIMP - there was no sound from DAC or speakers, but when I plugged into the HP jack, then removed it, sound came out the speakers.

Click to expand...

 
When I was working with a developer I was using the tester and it detected my Dragonfly but I couldn't get a way for anything to output audio.  My DF would light up the correct color for the frequency, but it just didn't want to make music  .  After several months we gave it up as a lost cause.  

WRT the Nexus 7 (2013):  I'm ecstatic to the point of incontinence to report that USB Audio Recorder Pro is working with a HiFiMeDIY Android DAC and stock Android 4.3, build JSS15R. 
 
Here's the catch:  The DAC is not hot-swappable.  You have to restart the Nexus 7 with the DAC plugged in and then start USB Audio Recorder Pro for the DAC to be recognized.  Additionally, if your USB connection is flaky, you'll want everything to be in a stable and jostle-free position or else you're going to be restarting every few minutes.  I was able to listen to a few albums in a row at last once I sussed that glitch. 
 
Once I get home, I'll try the same setup with other DACs and an OTG cable (if time permits).
 
Quote:

thurstonx said:

 
I'll answer my own questions:
 
According to several posts/threads over at xda developers, USB audio on Android 4.3 is problematic.  People are working on it, but I haven't come across a 4.3 kernel that supports it.  Hopefully that will change.

Click to expand...

 
As I'm sure you must ken, Ken Thurston, Kit-Kat is slowly getting rolled out to N7 users (wifi only at this point, which does make sense diagnostically), though the pushed version has been captured and can be sideloaded and/or flashed as a customized ROM.
 
Since I'm now setting up a Nexus 7 (2013) -- possibly as a gift -- which I bought at a discount knowing there was a USB audio issue with 4.3, I wonder whether a USB ROM version of Kit-Kat will resolve the issue or not.  
 
I'm hesitant to update my Galaxy S4 (even with a ROM sans KNOX) for the same reason I'm interested in updating the N7 2013: The former works with nearly everything, but the latter refuses and continues to stomp its chartreuse boot like a neon-hued two-year-old with antennae.

scrypt said:

   
As I'm sure you must ken, Ken Thurston, Kit-Kat is slowly getting rolled out to N7 users (wifi only at this point, which does make sense diagnostically), though the pushed version has been captured and can be sideloaded and/or flashed as a customized ROM.
 
Since I'm now setting up a Nexus 7 (2013) -- possibly as a gift -- which I bought at a discount knowing there was a USB audio issue with 4.3, I wonder whether a USB ROM version of Kit-Kat will resolve the issue or not.  
 
I'm hesitant to update my Galaxy S4 (even with a ROM sans KNOX) for the same reason I'm interested in updating the N7 2013: The former works with nearly everything, but the latter refuses and continues to stomp its chartreuse boot like a neon-hued two-year-old with antennae.

Click to expand...

 
I'm a neo-Luddite and will not likely switch from USB ROM on my 1st gen N7, unless someone updates it for 4.3/4.4.  I'm pretty happy with it the way it is, esp. with solid USB functionality.  I did read a thread over at xda-developers where someone posted some log files from Kit-Kat that seemed promising for USB.  No doubt the smart ppl are working on it