Android phones and USB DACs | Page 14 | Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org

hbkmog · Jul 21, 2012 at 1:53 PM

Quote:

danba said:
The combo "Odac + Neco V3" is very well-praised:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/513233/neco-soundlabs-portable-v-2-amp/105

"ODAC + NECO V.3 + Sennheiser HD580 = A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN.
I can't tell you how beautiful this rig sounds. We all know how well the HD580/600 scales with better sources and amps.. but synergy is often undervalued. The ODAC is beautifully resolving and clean.. but the Neco really steals the show, IMO.
... A DEAD silent background, fantastic dynamic range.. and the artful Sennheiser sound.. on steroids! Treble has spectacular air, crispness, and detail.. the mids are very very transparent and deep.. with the bass coming tight and punchy. One thing I've really noticed the Senn benefits from is the V.3's dual opamp setup.. which provide fantastic channel separation, imaging, and soundstage. It's so immersive.. I can listen to this setup for hours on end. I like this little combo more than my desktop rig (via the tube or SS output!) and the ODAC+O2 (which is a little too clinical). For those one the fence about this amp.. stop waffling.. it's a GEM.
... When driving the HE-500.. I like this combo more than the O2."

The Odac USB DAC can interwork with an Android powered smartphone Samsung Galaxy S III as well as with a PC or a Mac.

Odac USB DAC:
http://epiphany-acoustics.co.uk/our-products/e-dac-24bit-miniature-usb-dac/
http://www.jdslabs.com/item.php?fetchitem=46
http://www.headnhifi.com/index.php/shop/objective/odac

Neco V3 amp :
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/new-V3-DUAL-AMP-portable-headphone-amplifier/140802199484?ssPageName=WDVW&rd=1&ih=004&category=14970&cmd=ViewItem

Have you tried O2 Amp? How does that compare to Neco V3?
I'm asking because I'm thinking about just getting the ODAC+O2 combo.

DanBa · Jul 21, 2012 at 3:47 PM

You should ask the following guys on the Neco thread:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/513233/neco-soundlabs-portable-v-2-amp

amcananey said:
Heh, heh. I know what FlySweep is going to write...

imackler, I've expressed my opinion to you privately, but for the benefit of others...

Let me start by saying that I like the O2 very much. I think its a great amp, very neutral, plenty of power, decent build quality, good price. But in comparison to Neco's amps:

Problems with the O2
1. Sound quality lags behind the Neco, which is just phenomenal in terms of sound quality. My old Neco portable (the pre-cursor to the current 18V v3 amp) is what led me to sell my Burson HA-160D. I'm not kidding. In particular, bass on the Neco is superior to the O2. (Not that I generally found bass on the O2 lacking, but it is definitely noticeable compared to the Neco.)
2. Battery life is pretty poor in practice, which I think is partially related to the next item.
3. No automatic switch to turn off recharging when battery is full.
4. Not exactly small.
5. PSU is OK, but because the O2 can't be charged over USB, it's still an annoyance when traveling.
6. Build quality is good, but not up to Neco's bomb-proof standards.

The new V3 Neco gives me all of the following advantages:

1. Great, great sound. In particular, you need to hear a Neco pair up with a pair of HiFiMAN HE-500s. It's like they were made for eachother. The Neco is phenomenal with other cans, too, but it's mind-blowing with the HE-500s.
2. Smaller size than the O2
3. Available bass boost if desired
4. Much, much longer battery life (with lithium ion battery option)
5. USB recharging (if desired)
6. Automatic recharging stop when battery is full (with lithium ion battery option)
7. Neco build quality

The O2 is a great amp, but the Neco just offers a ton in terms of sound quality, features and build quality. For anyone who is curious, Neco only sells his amps on eBay under his seller name "Neco Soundlab" or "Neco_soundlab", I forget which. He is a true undiscovered genius. Everyone I've recommended his amps to has subsequently written to me and raves about them. I have one of his BOSFET amps as well, which I use with my HiFiMAN HE-6s, among others.

Best,
Adam

flysweep said:
ODAC + NECO V.3 + Sennheiser HD580 = A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN.

... I like this little combo more than my desktop rig (via the tube or SS output!) and the ODAC+O2 (which is a little too clinical). For those one the fence about this amp.. stop waffling.. it's a GEM.

analogue 3 · Jul 21, 2012 at 6:23 PM

Thanks Danba. I'm really liking your useful android + external devices posts on this thread and the other 'droid forum.

Just wanted to add that nnotis has successfully used the Pico with his AT&T S3:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/608535/wolfson-dac-confirmed-for-galaxy-s3/480#post_8539705

He's also had success using the ibasso D12 with the S3 (also mentioned in the above post and elsewhere in the thread). I think as it stands, those 2 are probably the best portable DAC/Amps confirmed to work with the S3 (please correct me if I'm wrong and there's a better portable option).

DanBa · Jul 21, 2012 at 7:54 PM

Thanks!

Quote:

analogue 3 said:
Just wanted to add that nnotis has successfully used the Pico with his AT&T S3:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/608535/wolfson-dac-confirmed-for-galaxy-s3/480#post_8539705

I mentioned the same link in the following list of USB DAC reportedly interworking with the S3:
http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=24614#c719

sanity8me · Jul 22, 2012 at 12:35 PM

I can confirm that my 4 year old go vibe petite is working with the s3.

DanBa · Jul 25, 2012 at 4:15 PM

NZtechfreak · Jul 25, 2012 at 9:44 PM

Thanks DanBa for keep that list up to date, a great resource.

headfinoob · Jul 26, 2012 at 2:14 AM

The link regarding the Fiio E17 states that the E17 specifically did not work the GS3, but the that the E7 did.

NZtechfreak · Jul 26, 2012 at 2:15 AM

Quote:

headfinoob said:
The link regarding the Fiio E17 states that the E17 specifically did not work the GS3, but the that the E7 did.

Yes, that's right with respect to the S3.

Neither work with the Nexus 7 in Jelly Bean.

sanity8me · Jul 26, 2012 at 10:04 AM

When I connect my DACport via the USB OTG cable to the S3, there seems to be some sort of handshake going on since the power light on the back of the DACport lights up - but there's still no audio output. It's just strange and utterly frustrating.

DanBa · Jul 26, 2012 at 10:33 AM

Do you connect the DACport to the S3 via a self-powered USB hub?

"Yes, just plug it into a powered USB-hub and it will work. I do this with the DACPort." (iPad + CCK + powered USB hub + DACport)
http://www.head-fi.org/t/507559/list-of-dacs-that-work-with-ipad/15#post_6977629

"On a technical note, I’ve purchased this power adapter from Eneloop, which is a Sanyo company. This little white box is basically a Li-ion battery with a USB output. It’s a great complement to our DACport, and allows to play music from iPad through DACport on the go, powering both in the process. What a great idea for only $50."
http://centrance.com/blog/page/3/

sanity8me · Jul 26, 2012 at 12:13 PM

I connected it with the USB OTB cable and no extra self-powered USB hub - the same way I got my Go Vibe Petite to work.

A member tried it here - another futile endeavor unfortunately:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/614111/finally-digital-out-for-galaxy-siii#post_8462772

But because I got the power light in the back of the DACport to turn on without any external power source, I'm kind of skeptical now that the issue has anything to do with the provided power.

DanBa · Jul 26, 2012 at 3:34 PM

USB configuration descriptor of a C-Media chipset-based sound card Dynamode 7 channel USB 2.0 that interworks with Samsung Galaxy S III:
Number of interfaces: 4
Configuration value: 0x1
Attributes: Remote wakeup, Bus powered
Max power: 100 mA

USB configuration descriptor of a FiiO E17 that doesn’t interwork with Samsung Galaxy S III:
Number of interfaces: 3
Configuration value: 0x1
Attributes: Bus powered
Max power: 500 mA

(the USB specification requires that PCs provide power to peripherals (0.5A at ~5V))
"
On-The-Go and Embedded Host Supplement to the USB Revision 2.0 Specification
4.2 A-device VBUS characteristics
4.2.1 VBUS Output Voltage and Current

The rated output current of an A-device [i.e. USB host or Samsung Galaxy S III] shall be within IA_VBUS_OUT, and greater than the bMaxPower of any peripheral on its TPL."
http://www.usb.org/developers/onthego/USB_OTG_and_EH_2-0.pdf

jmcguire525 · Jul 27, 2012 at 5:55 AM

USB audio is working using a custom kernel on the NEXUS 7, I've only tired with an Advantage Micro 2 and it only works when you boot the device with it connected but that should be fixed soon so that it switches over automatically. If anyone wants to try it out here is the link http://androtransfer.com/poitee/Grouper/Kernel/poitee-grouper-v3.zip The guy who did it goes by Poitee on rootzwiki.com, send some donations his way if this helps you out!

jmcguire525 · Jul 27, 2012 at 6:21 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KY7qWIu9bUM

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