Android phones and USB DACs | Page 45 | Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org

wormsdriver · Oct 28, 2012 at 3:04 AM

^thanks for the link

DanBa · Oct 28, 2012 at 5:53 AM

Quote:

bbeg said:
Pending the outcome of a group buy, I'll have a shiny new Meizu MX 4-core smartphone to test stuff with. ,,,. My only DAC/amp is the E17, so I'll be testing it with ... my USB -> SPDIF idea second.

As far as I understand, the Android-powered Meizu MX quad-core uses another type of digital audio, digital MHL audio:

Meizu MX quad-core > digital MHL audio out >> (not yet available) MHL - SPDIF adapter >> SPDIF DAC

(Galaxy S3 > digital USB audio out >> USB DAC)
(Galaxy S3 > digital USB audio out >> USB - SPDIF adapter >> SPDIF DAC)

MHL - SPDIF adapter:
http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/sound-smartphone-meizu-mx-4-core
http://cn.engadget.com/2011/12/20/meizu-mx-dlna-s-pdif-usb-host/
http://www.imjoelau.com/

BBEG · Oct 28, 2012 at 1:01 PM

The MX phone specs also state OTG support, and since it comes with an OTG cable I'm interested to know if I can get two different digital out options: USB audio and SPDIF-through-MHL. According to that Innerfidelity article, the MX handles SPDIF out natively. All I need to do is rig up the adapter, or more likely commission one of our cable modders to make that USB-SPDIF cable I've mentioned. USB audio I'll probably have to set up on my own or find someone capable of kernel modding (my linux-fu is very weak).

Once a board like the MX guys show in the pictures becomes available I can, in theory, use the phone like a portable, impromptu desktop. OTG support lets me use USB peripherals, SPDIF out lets me run audio to a DAC, and MHL-to-HDMI would let me plug into a monitor. Cool thought, that. (Edit: reading the cn.engadget article, it looks like the USB peripherals need to be self-powered, pending a firmware update from Meizu.)

Since the Galaxy S3 also has MHL support, I wonder if it's possible to port over Flyme's native SPDIF out capability. Seems possible, theoretically.

NZtechfreak · Oct 29, 2012 at 12:41 AM

Ray Samuels Audio "The Intruder" confirmed working with my Galaxy Note 2, will test later with US and International S3s (but expect it will work).

DanBa · Oct 29, 2012 at 4:41 AM

DTKZ · Oct 29, 2012 at 8:20 AM

Hi Danba. Govibe Magnum works with my Note 2.

http://jaben.net/shopping2/GoVibe-Magnum-portable-amplifier.html

ProtegeManiac · Oct 29, 2012 at 11:51 AM

Galaxy S3 works with Meier Cantate.2, using Neutron Media Player, however there are SQ issues:

1) Neutron MP X-Feed on, default settings : seems to lack dynamics, a bit too dark-sounding tonally ; some notes sound hollow, vs notebook/desktopPC/iPad2+CCK (all of which sound identical)

2) Neutron MP X-Feed off, Meier analog X-Feed off : sounds too thin and still lacks dynamics; more hollow sound on percussion

3) Neutron MP X-Feed off, Meier analog X-Feed on : closer to normal sources' sound, but is more like a cheaper CDP/DAC using the same DAC chip and similar output stage with lower voltage vs the better version of the CDP/DAC using similar hardware

What gives?! It sounds normal on the D-Zero driving headphones or feeding my Swans 1080MkII, with or without the ambiophonic processing (with it though the stage gets deeper and percussion more solid and images better between the speakers)

DanBa · Oct 29, 2012 at 3:40 PM

Thanks!

Kalabalik · Oct 29, 2012 at 5:25 PM

Has anyone tried Kingrex T20U with Samsung Galaxy S3? Is there any reason to think that it shouldn't work?

WiR3D · Oct 30, 2012 at 1:51 AM

Quote:

protegemaniac said:
Galaxy S3 works with Meier Cantate.2, using Neutron Media Player, however there are SQ issues:

1) Neutron MP X-Feed on, default settings : seems to lack dynamics, a bit too dark-sounding tonally ; some notes sound hollow, vs notebook/desktopPC/iPad2+CCK (all of which sound identical)

2) Neutron MP X-Feed off, Meier analog X-Feed off : sounds too thin and still lacks dynamics; more hollow sound on percussion

3) Neutron MP X-Feed off, Meier analog X-Feed on : closer to normal sources' sound, but is more like a cheaper CDP/DAC using the same DAC chip and similar output stage with lower voltage vs the better version of the CDP/DAC using similar hardware

What gives?! It sounds normal on the D-Zero driving headphones or feeding my Swans 1080MkII, with or without the ambiophonic processing (with it though the stage gets deeper and percussion more solid and images better between the speakers)

You try a powered hub? Could be power issues

ProtegeManiac · Oct 30, 2012 at 2:03 AM

Quote:

wir3d said:
You try a powered hub? Could be power issues

Nope. According to an email exchange with Dr.Meier the Cantate is a completely self-powered design. In the manual it also says the voltage swing is slightly lower with the USB input than on the RCA input; I jsut assumed it must be because the USB DAC shares the single PSU with the amp. So basically, I never got one; the S3 worked with the D-Zero too, but I only borrowed that one.

All the same I'll see if I can borrow a powered hub; can it feed power back to the S3? Because if its a power issue I'm 99% certain it's not the amp, unless the miniscule current it draws from the USB input to power the indicator lamp in front is too much for the phone. Then again, it wasn't an issue with the D-Zero.

DanBa · Oct 30, 2012 at 5:12 AM

Quote:

protegemaniac said:
Galaxy S3 works with Meier Cantate.2, using Neutron Media Player, however there are SQ issues:

How about Poweramp Music Player (trial)?
https://play.google.com/store/search?q=poweramp

Quote:

protegemaniac said:
All the same I'll see if I can borrow a powered hub; can it feed power back to the S3?

It's possible to charge the S3 while driving a USB DAC:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/595071/android-phones-and-usb-dacs/405#post_8748466

WiR3D · Oct 30, 2012 at 5:31 AM

Quote:

protegemaniac said:
Nope. According to an email exchange with Dr.Meier the Cantate is a completely self-powered design. In the manual it also says the voltage swing is slightly lower with the USB input than on the RCA input; I jsut assumed it must be because the USB DAC shares the single PSU with the amp. So basically, I never got one; the S3 worked with the D-Zero too, but I only borrowed that one.

All the same I'll see if I can borrow a powered hub; can it feed power back to the S3? Because if its a power issue I'm 99% certain it's not the amp, unless the miniscule current it draws from the USB input to power the indicator lamp in front is too much for the phone. Then again, it wasn't an issue with the D-Zero.

Then I really have no idea...

And it sounds fine when using it from a PC?

ProtegeManiac · Oct 30, 2012 at 6:18 AM

Quote:

danba said:
How about Poweramp Music Player (trial)?
https://play.google.com/store/search?q=poweramp

It's possible to charge the S3 while driving a USB DAC:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/595071/android-phones-and-usb-dacs/405#post_8748466

Oooh missed that! Looks like I'll commission a custom DIY dock for it then; at the very least it makes a nice "load the phone on it and start the speakers for BGM" system.

I'll try Poweramp when I get home, but without Crossfeed to see if it does better than Meier's hardware crossfeed, I probably won't pay for the full version considering the iPad has a proper stand. Unless the DIY-ed dock looks better than expected while I get OC enough (white phone+white dock vs black tablet+white dock next to a silver amp - kind of like when I was so annoyed by a champagne Marantz amp next to a black Marantz CDP).

Quote:

wir3d said:
Then I really have no idea...

And it sounds fine when using it from a PC?

And the iPad2. That's what's weird. And if I boost the software volume up to max, even with no processing, it still sounds unnatural. But only on the darned Meier amp, which works fine with everything else. Nuts!

gikigill · Oct 30, 2012 at 6:53 AM

Add a cross against the iBasso DB2.

Tried different ROM,s and kernels but no luck at all. Waiting for a fix if possible.

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