FYI -- I just created a listing for my DF Black in the Amps for sale section. $75. I pay paypal fees, you pay shipping. NYC local pickup always encouraged. 

good sound said:

Yes, the promised update for DFR/DFB. This update will supposedly fix the volume issue when running direct from Android to the Dragonfly without a third party app such as UAPP.

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Hallelujah. 

estreeter said:

good sound said:

Yes, the promised update for DFR/DFB. This update will supposedly fix the volume issue when running direct from Android to the Dragonfly without a third party app such as UAPP.

Click to expand...

Hallelujah. 

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Yes, but it's not here yet. Hopefully very soon.

nirudhap said:

  I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for Android to fix USB audio support. A lot of headphone amps have physical volume control knobs and the user base is small enough that it'll probably be considered good enough as it is.

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I still maintain that the problem isnt with AQ - all the DF does is convert a digital signal to an analog signal. Their work went into finding chips that would run from the low power output by mos portablet Android devices, not trying to 'fix' Android USB audio implementations from HTC, Huawei, Samsung and others. If they can indeed release an update which does what the commercial solutions seem to be doing in this area, great, but I didnt see this as AQ's problem on day one and I still dont. 

estreeter said:

   
I still maintain that the problem isnt with AQ - all the DF does is convert a digital signal to an analog signal. Their work went into finding chips that would run from the low power output by mos portablet Android devices, not trying to 'fix' Android USB audio implementations from HTC, Huawei, Samsung and others. If they can indeed release an update which does what the commercial solutions seem to be doing in this area, great, but I didnt see this as AQ's problem on day one and I still dont. 

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AQ told me that they could have designed the DFR to have default of full power when connected to an Android Phone (That could not access the DFR's volume control): But AQ was worried about people blowing out their ears, or headphones, if they did not turn volume down on their selected player, or hardware...       Now the DF's default to a low/mid level output; which is too low for some earphones.    Change to full output might make some people happier...
 
Anyway a firmware change that would allow more Android Phones, and Players on those phones work better with the AQ DF's would be nice.

nangs said:

 
Thank you guys for the replies! A bit unfortunate that there are a few flaws with android currently. I don't think it'll be worth it since I'm just driving some mid tier IEMs but should probably upgrade my iems first then get the dragonfly. Hopefully by then there will be full android volume integration.

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I am sure a good android volume management will come as the customer base is simply too wide to be ignored.
Do not underestimate the value of a good DAC, though. I was very surprised by the huge difference in sound between my good-old Cowon Iaudio X5L and my HTC One M8 using just 70EUR IEMs (Hifiman RE-400). First I thought it was the internal headphone amp, so I tried a Fiio A1 and my old Corda portable amp, but the result was disappointing. Yes, it was a bit better, but still not really enjoyable. The DFR is at least at the level of my X5L.
On a side note, the Hifiman are better than my defunct UE Super.fi 5 pro at one third of the price (ok, the UE are also 10 years older...). I really like the sound, but I miss the better isolation of the UE and I could live with less treble.

estreeter said:

   
I still maintain that the problem isnt with AQ - all the DF does is convert a digital signal to an analog signal. Their work went into finding chips that would run from the low power output by mos portablet Android devices, not trying to 'fix' Android USB audio implementations from HTC, Huawei, Samsung and others. If they can indeed release an update which does what the commercial solutions seem to be doing in this area, great, but I didnt see this as AQ's problem on day one and I still dont. 

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And I still disagree :-D
I have a great idea for the "evolution" of this usb-stick-sized DACs with headphone amplifier: Put some buttons on it and include remote control functions and include a long USB cable. I am 100% positive that the DFR will evolve this way. It would be really convenient. Just for completeness: no, I do not want to give up any bit of sound quality for this and yes, I am sure it can be done :-D Does this post count for claiming royalties when they release the product?

DFR + Jitterbug + Fender FXA7 + Type 2 OCC Litz SPC cable = Life. Changing.

That is all.

Done - with HE-400i, bloody great sound
 
Hooked up to Galaxy Edge S7 as well, using USB Audio Player Pro, to run CD rips, and stream Tidal
 

@west0ne hopefully Audioquest will release the modified firmware sooner rather than later. This should be quite a small change and would also allow us to see the firmware updater app which they talk about on their site.
 
Having said that I do hope Android fully implement the USB Audio functionality since that would remove the need for OEM specific implementations. I read that there is a new USB audio spec coming out soon.
 
One more thing to consider is that Nougat (Android 7) might not allow UAPP's built in driver to function. I think I saw that on their forum. Need to check again.

I suspect that when AQ finally release the update all it will do is default the output to 100% in the same way that other USB DACs do with Android; that leaves you to use the software volume controls built into Android. I am guessing that most users would prefer this as it would mean getting the full volume range on the device when used with system audio, any drop in quality that comes from using software volume control over hardware volume control is likely to be minimal and for bit-perfect playback will full internal hardware volume control there will still be UAPP.
 
It wouldn't be impossible for proper USB drivers to be included within Android but as each device manufacturer does their own thing with the software implementation would still be patchy, the USB drivers that come with UAPP seem to work well for quite a broad range of USB DACs, even the built-in drivers on many devices know how to work with DACs but there is no built in way to interact with the DAC, again it wouldn't be impossible for device manufacturers to give us hardware level control in App form using Alsa as the backend.

Hi all. Audioquest states that the USB 3.0 CCK offers improved audio performance over the older CCK adapter. Has anyone being able to hear any audible improvements as compared to the older adapter?

wwyjoe said:

Hi all. Audioquest states that the USB 3.0 CCK offers improved audio performance over the older CCK adapter. Has anyone being able to hear any audible improvements as compared to the older adapter?

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I found both worked similarly and the with iOS 10 and even the new cck there is still some audible clicking noise only with dfr and not other USB dac/amps that I've tried so I think audioquest needs to update something to better work with iOS 10 and from the sound of it with android as well.

pkcpga said:

I found both worked similarly and the with iOS 10 and even the new cck there is still some audible clicking noise only with dfr and not other USB dac/amps that I've tried so I think audioquest needs to update something to better work with iOS 10 and from the sound of it with android as well.

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What I was afraid of. I've had the DFR & DFB with my iPhone 6S, and I got clicking/popping with both on iOS 9. Sounds like the new iOS didn't help. Sort of curious to me that AQ advertises this product as iOS compatible... I suppose I still hear music, but the clicking/popping stuff make it rather un-enjoyable... Why would I spend $$$ on a DAC/amp that's going to make my music sound worse than it does straight from the headphone-out?

I have DFR on the latest iOS...playing through an iPhone and an iPod touch with the newest CCK...through IEMs and headphones...and it sounds fantastic and not once have I heard any clicking, popping or otherwise.