Android phones and USB DACs | Page 144 | Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org

DanBa · Apr 15, 2013 at 4:41 PM

The required 5V power can be supplied by an internal battery of a USB DAC or by an external battery.

Apparently, the Apex Glacier has two USB modes:
. bus-powered mode when the USB charging is enabled
. self-powered mode when the USB charging is disabled
http://www.head-fi.org/t/632019/apex-glacier-amp-dac-review-and-appreciation-thread/15#post_8799316

Coop · Apr 15, 2013 at 6:27 PM

Quote:

danba said:
The required 5V power can be supplied by an internal battery of a USB DAC or by an external battery.

Apparently, the Apex Glacier has two USB modes:
. bus-powered mode when the USB charging is enabled
. self-powered mode when the USB charging is disabled

While power for the DAC can be supplied from a battery, I personally don't know of many devices other than the Apex Glacier that have such a feature. I guess that's because most USB DACs are designed with laptops etc. in mind and not for phones with relatively small batteries.
But of course it is quite simple to test. Maybe we can gather some data and update the device overview with it? I do have a Fiio E7 I can test too.

TekeRugburn · Apr 15, 2013 at 6:42 PM

Quote:

jesterphile said:
To some people it does - that's why all the new smart phones have been getting slimmer at the cost of battery life

ehhh.... it got to the point where that few mm doesn't matter and most people realized that.

rckyosho · Apr 16, 2013 at 2:13 AM

Quote:

danba said:
Interesting!
So the iBasso D-Zero has two USB modes:
. bus-powered mode when the USB charging is enabled
. self-powered mode when the USB charging is disabled

How long does it take to drain your Android device with the bus-powered mode and with the self-powered mode?

A Galaxy S3 can play continuously during 7.5 hours while powering a bus-powered Graham Slee Bitzie USB DAC/amp.
http://www.gspaudio.co.uk/bitzie-usb-dac-external-soundcard.htm

Sorry but I can't really answer you since the D-Zero actually belongs to my brother and I'm using an international S3(LTE version) or to be precise the I9305 with the extended battery(like below pic) so it would not be very useful info.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Coop

Ok, I was too curious, so I just whipped up a quick test setup... (yay for breadboard )

On my iBasso D2+, connected via test-cable (with switchable 5V) to S3 (UM3X connected to HO of D2+):

- Charge switch on, power via USB: DAC working (noise from charging circuit audible).
- Charge switch on, no power via USB: DAC not working (add power over USB, DAC powers up and takes over from S3 onboard DAC).
- Charge switch off, power via USB: DAC working (noise from charging circuit no longer audible).
- Charge switch off, no power via USB: DAC not working (add power over USB, DAC powers up and takes over from S3 onboard DAC).

So I guess it is safe to say that (at least on the D2+), the charge switch only affects the charging circuit. The DAC doesn't run on battery power when no power is coming in through the USB connector. So unfortunately, there is no self-powered mode, only USB powered.

Of course, it might be different for the D-Zero, and if someone has one available for me to test, I'll gladly do so.
But to be honest, I see very few reasons for such an implementation of a powercircuit on pretty much any USB device, as the USB standard itself dictates the presence of 5V power.

The Host(in your case the S3) is using the Vbus line(a.k.a. red wire or pin 1 or Vcc or +5v) to send some current/voltage to communicate and I'm not really sure how your test cable works but if you mean the "switchable 5v" is actually cutting off the connection of the Vbus line than you're test is flawed since if disconnected the Vbus line then would not be able to send or receive signal/info/voltage and communication is lost between them therefore no chance of ever the external DAC taking over the S3 DAC.
I'm not too sure how you would test this but if you can monitor the correct voltages/current of the Vbus line to see if it's always on or actually just pulsing(on and off) for some period of time and then maybe turns off altogether then maybe you could tell if it's powering a device or just communicating with it.

Bloesum · Apr 16, 2013 at 8:38 AM

Hi all,

I am looking for a portable USB DAC amplifier from my Samsung Galaxy Note 2 to my Grado RS-1 and was wondering whether in this set up it would still be possible to use the mono setting in the Android ICS settings. I am singled sided deaf and not that familiar with Alsa/DAC sound architecture.

Cheers,

Bloesum

Jesterphile · Apr 16, 2013 at 8:58 AM

Quote:

bloesum said:
Hi all,

I am looking for a portable USB DAC amplifier from my Samsung Galaxy Note 2 to my Grado RS-1 and was wondering whether in this set up it would still be possible to use the mono setting in the Android ICS settings. I am singled sided deaf and not that familiar with Alsa/DAC sound architecture.

Cheers,

Bloesum

Hey mate,

I'm not sure about ALSA etc but you could go for a practical devices xm6 and use the crossfade adjustment to make it mono.

Just an idea

Theogenes · Apr 16, 2013 at 9:45 AM

Bloesum: you should be able to find an app pretty easily that will sum stereo into mono. I looked quickly at the settings in Neutron (my preferred music player) and although it doesn't have a 'Mono' option that I could find, it has adjustable crossfeed which I believe could be used to make a de-facto mono like Jesterphile was suggesting.

Jesterphile: great avatar!! The first Kvelertak album was just killer. The second one isn't bad either. I actually used that same image as my background on my phone for over a year. Tip of the cap to you, sir :wink:

Bloesum · Apr 16, 2013 at 10:01 AM

Quote:

theogenes said:
Bloesum: you should be able to find an app pretty easily that will sum stereo into mono. I looked quickly at the settings in Neutron (my preferred music player) and although it doesn't have a 'Mono' option that I could find, it has adjustable crossfeed which I believe could be used to make a de-facto mono like Jesterphile was suggesting.

Jesterphile: great avatar!! The first Kvelertak album was just killer. The second one isn't bad either. I actually used that same image as my background on my phone for over a year. Tip of the cap to you, sir

Thanks for your reply (and Yesterphile too): I don't think crossfeed will be my option since it 'blends the left and right stereo channels slightly, reducing the extreme channel separation...'. I need 100% mono. This is what I inderstand: you can add up 2 analogue stereo channels to 1 mono channel, but you cannot add up 2 digital stereo together. So the convertion from stereo to mono doesn't take place in my smartfone but in the external DAC I am looking for. Can someone confirm this? Maybe the Fiio E17 has a mono swith, because it also has an equalizer.

Jesterphile · Apr 16, 2013 at 5:25 PM

bloesum said:
Thanks for your reply (and Yesterphile too): I don't think crossfeed will be my option since it 'blends the left and right stereo channels slightly,
reducing the extreme channel separation...'. I need 100% mono. This is what I inderstand: you can add up 2 analogue stereo channels to 1 mono channel, but you cannot add up 2 digital stereo together. So the convertion from stereo to mono doesn't take place in my smartfone but in the external DAC I am looking for. Can someone confirm this? Maybe the Fiio E17 has a mono swith, because it also has an equalizer.

I was under the impression that the xm6 cross feed could do full mono. I'll see if I can find anything to confirm that

@theogenes: thanks man. I love kvelertaks stuff, it's good fun. The artwork is killer too

zynthesist · Apr 17, 2013 at 1:09 AM

Hello everyone,

I have a Galaxy S3 that I want to use as my portable listening device.

I ordered a JDS labs 02+ODAC amp/DAC combo, I also ordered a JDS labs C5. I want to use the mini USB out of the S3, also ordered the cable for this. As far as headphones I have a couple:

Sennheiser HD 600; Beyerdynamic DT 990 premium 250 ohms; Denon AH-D2000; Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 80 ohms.

What would be my best option as far as AMP/DAC, headphones and music player/app set up for listening to music on the S3?

If I wanted to use the C5 with the S3 I will need a DAC as well correct?

I think the 02+ODAC might be too big for using as a portable option, I guess I will know when it arrives later this week.

Also besides the USB output being different could I also use a similar setup with my Nexus 7?

I know there are many amp/DAC options and it can get overwhelming trying to make a decision so I really appreciate to hear your opinions. I read many of the 144 pages of comments on this thread and it is a lot to take in.

I am just a noob but I love music and make some music of my own, mostly electronic techno using Elektron machines and a few others.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Jesterphile · Apr 17, 2013 at 1:17 AM

Quote:

zynthesist said:
Hello everyone,

I have a Galaxy S3 that I want to use as my portable listening device.

I ordered a JDS labs 02+ODAC amp/DAC combo, I also ordered a JDS labs C5. I want to use the mini USB out of the S3, also ordered the cable for this. As far as headphones I have a couple:

Sennheiser HD 600; Beyerdynamic DT 990 premium 250 ohms; Denon AH-D2000; Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 80 ohms.

What would be my best option as far as AMP/DAC, headphones and music player/app set up for listening to music on the S3?

If I wanted to use the C5 with the S3 I will need a DAC as well correct?

I think the 02+ODAC might be too big for using as a portable option, I guess I will know when it arrives later this week.

Also besides the USB output being different could I also use a similar setup with my Nexus 7?

I know there are many amp/DAC options and it can get overwhelming trying to make a decision so I really appreciate to hear your opinions. I read many of the 144 pages of comments on this thread and it is a lot to take in.

I am just a noob but I love music and make some music of my own, mostly electronic techno using Elektron machines and a few others.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

the O2/ODAC combo doesn't have batteries so its no go for portable use for sure.

The Nexus 7 will require a custom kernel to us USB OTG for a DAC

dryvadeum · Apr 17, 2013 at 1:23 AM

Quote:

zynthesist said:
Hello everyone,

I have a Galaxy S3 that I want to use as my portable listening device.

I ordered a JDS labs 02+ODAC amp/DAC combo, I also ordered a JDS labs C5. I want to use the mini USB out of the S3, also ordered the cable for this. As far as headphones I have a couple:

Sennheiser HD 600; Beyerdynamic DT 990 premium 250 ohms; Denon AH-D2000; Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 80 ohms.

What would be my best option as far as AMP/DAC, headphones and music player/app set up for listening to music on the S3?

If I wanted to use the C5 with the S3 I will need a DAC as well correct?

I think the 02+ODAC might be too big for using as a portable option, I guess I will know when it arrives later this week.

Also besides the USB output being different could I also use a similar setup with my Nexus 7?

I know there are many amp/DAC options and it can get overwhelming trying to make a decision so I really appreciate to hear your opinions. I read many of the 144 pages of comments on this thread and it is a lot to take in.

I am just a noob but I love music and make some music of my own, mostly electronic techno using Elektron machines and a few others.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Get a Stoner Acoustics UD100 DAC to use with your C5. They're only $50 shipped if he's still selling them.

DanBa · Apr 17, 2013 at 3:28 AM

Custom Nook Color & USB audio:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=33338738

"Nook Color -> OTG USB cable -> USB hub (powered or un-powered) -> External USB DAC (Calyx Audio - Coffee) -> Preamp (Clarion EQS746) -> Amp (Pioneer GM-6500F) -> Speakers (Front: Boston Acoustics RC41; Rear: NX67)"

DanBa · Apr 17, 2013 at 3:28 AM

zynthesist · Apr 17, 2013 at 7:27 AM

Has anyone tried the Apex Glacier with the Samsung Galaxy S3?

Since I already ordered the JDS Labs C5 amp, I think I am going to pair it up with the JDS stand alone ODAC for my portable rig and see how that sounds with different headphones.

If I am not happy with the sound then it's on to the Apex Glacier.

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