[cedou97yon]

There are no changes in Android 4.4 which improves USB Audio, and Google has not gone public on any such improvements in the future. Basically, it is up to chip suppliers and OEM's to do such changes, which is difficult since the whole Android framework is buiot upon resampling into 48kHz/16 bits.

However, Sony Mobile presented two new products yesterday, the Xperia Z2 phone and T2 tablet, which offers high-res audio over USB, through what we call "Direct mode". Basically we completely bypass the audio framework and send the decoded audio data directly to the USB driver without any processing or any mix-in of notifications, ring signals, et c. We also replace the USB driver and the FLAC decoder, to support 192kHz and asynchronous USB Audio Class 2. The only thing we change in the data stream is that we pad 16 bits to 24 and 24 bits to 32 when required by the DAC. Together this gives us the ability to support replay of FLAC and WAV at any sample rate from 44.1 to 192kHz at either 16 or 24 bits.

This is part of the overall Sony High-Res initiative, by which we want to bring back the excitement of high quality music reproduction and leave hard-compressed MP3 behind us.

As product owner for this feature I will be available in this forum to try to answer your questions and note any criticism we can use to improve our products.

 
Hi,
 
do you have some news about high res files and the xperia range.
I am using xperia z with a usb dac,
today i must use the app usb audio player pro tio get the files played at their native sample rate.
Just got an update on the walkman app but nothig about usb output in it (as seen on z2)
 
Is it coming with 4.4 maj for xperia z owners ?

 

[DanBa]

Still no Sony xperia ray on your list!

 
Updated!
Thanks!

 

[cat6man]

Hi Danba
 
It seems the LH Geek Out DAC has an issue with UAPP, even when powered separately to get around OTG cable limitation.
Any idea what the issue is?
 
http://www.head-fi.org/products/lhlabs-geek-out/reviews/10882

 

[DanBa]

I think he should contact the developer of UAPP.
 
Quote:

   
What is the procedure for reporting an interworking issue?

 

 
Simply email me at info AT audio-evolution.com for any issue you have.

 
Alongside the best sound quality rendering, one of the other advantages of UAPP is that its developer can be contacted and its USB audio soft driver could be adapted to be compatible with some USB DAC.
 
 
EDIT:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/711267/light-harmonic-geek-out-em-1000-impressions-and-appreciation-thread/360#post_10485428

 

[erikiksaz]

Just tried the Hifimediy Sabre U2 USB DAC on my Moto X and it was mostly a no-go.  Whether I use a normal USB OTG cable or the Y-split OTG cable with it being powered at the other end, I only get audio for about 3-4 seconds on UAPP before it cuts out and the usb device is no longer detectable. 
 
Already contacted the dev of the app, but no response in a couple days.
 
I am on the stock rom (but have tried faux123's kernel), but I will try CM now.

 

[Davy Wentzler]

  Just tried the Hifimediy Sabre U2 USB DAC on my Moto X and it was mostly a no-go.  Whether I use a normal USB OTG cable or the Y-split OTG cable with it being powered at the other end, I only get audio for about 3-4 seconds on UAPP before it cuts out and the usb device is no longer detectable. 
 
Already contacted the dev of the app, but no response in a couple days.
 
I am on the stock rom (but have tried faux123's kernel), but I will try CM now.

Apologies, we have quite a large email backlog since our large update of Audio Evolution Mobile last week, but we replied now. Basically, it can be a power issue, it's hard to tell from the log. Note that some people have issues with OTG-Y cables, so I'd try a powered usb hub if you have one.

 

[bhazard]

 
Apologies, we have quite a large email backlog since our large update of Audio Evolution Mobile last week, but we replied now. Basically, it can be a power issue, it's hard to tell from the log. Note that some people have issues with OTG-Y cables, so I'd try a powered usb hub if you have one.

The U2 does work though on my Nexus 5.

 

[DanBa]

The USB audio soft driver of UAPP does drive the HiFimeDIY Sabre U2 asynchronous USB DAC:
http://www.homecinema-fr.com/forum/post178059606.html#p178059606

ZTE V965 / V967S using UAPP > USB audio stream >> HiFimeDIY Sabre U2 asynchronous USB DAC

 

[DanBa]

XMOS Multi-Function Audio Design Reference:
. speed up the development of a USB DAC compatible with Android, PC and Mac
. tested against Samsung Galaxy S3, S4, Note[3], Sony Xperia Z1, HTC One.
https://www.xmos.com/support/downloads/xkits/Reference%20Designs?product=17498
 
The XMOS people should also test their XMOS Multi-Function Audio Design Reference against the USB audio soft driver of USB Audio Player PRO, anyway very likely compatible.
 
 

 

 

 

[kantana]

Anyone find any android app to support DSD playback using USB out?  Tried usbapp but according to the dev not supported.

 

[Q Mass]

There a several ways.....snip..... to get this prioritized.

Sorry about the savage editing, but I restricted myself to removing only the parts of your post which went over my head
 
If Sony were to turn the Xperia Z1 Compact into an 'audiophile phone' by making it a bit thicker you'd sell truckloads of them, I guarantee it.
 
I don't want a stack.
I'd just like better quality 'native' audio to maximise my enjoyment of Spotify etc, etc.
 
I realise that this specific thread re' USB DAC's might not be the ideal place to launch my newly minted campaign/assault to achieve the above device, but Sony already have HUGE expertise in both the DAP field, and the cell-phone field, so this seems like a no-brainer to me.
 
So, so summarise:
Xperia Z1 Compact (Audiophile edition).....please
 
I had to ask

 

[Joe Bloggs]

So I was browsing the list of supported devices and was wondering whether anyone has a suggestion for a good cheap smartphone under $200 that supports USB Audio out of the box without USB Player Pro (for my application it's vital that the Android audio processing framework should NOT be bypassed.) Seeing as the megalist does not include prices for each phone, and I'm not really up to date on the smartphone market...

 

[zachchen1996]

So I was browsing the list of supported devices and was wondering whether anyone has a suggestion for a good cheap smartphone under $200 that supports USB Audio out of the box without USB Player Pro (for my application it's vital that the Android audio processing framework should NOT be bypassed.)

Seeing as the megalist does not include prices for each phone, and I'm not really up to date on the smartphone market...

 
This phone is supposed to be crazy good for the asking price:
 
http://oneplus.net/one
 
You can also wait for the next nexus too

 

[Joe Bloggs]

This phone is supposed to be crazy good for the asking price:

http://oneplus.net/one

You can also wait for the next nexus too

Sorry, way out of my price range for the intended purpose (as a music player only for a headphone comparison tour).

 

[lukeap69]

Moto G.