Android phones and USB DACs | Page 214 | Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org

m-i-c-k-e-y · Oct 2, 2013 at 10:39 AM

Success!!

Now that I have my Headstage Arrow 4T my setup is complete!

A portable 32/384 - DXD player. Well 24/384 actually, UARP recognizes my DAC upto 24/384 only.

Had me smiling the whole time.

Smartphone: Sony Xperia Z
DAC: M2tech Hiface DAC
Amp: Headstage Arrow 4T
IEM: Phonak Audeo PFE232

pwwaring · Oct 2, 2013 at 10:48 AM

nazo said:
So I have a question that might have already been answered, but which I couldn't find: does CyanogenMod not support USB audio? When I first got my Samsung Galaxy S3, I tried a little super-cheap USB DAC I had, a Syba SD-AUD20101 which actually worked with the stock ROM way back then (and which I believe I posted in this very thread way back then.) Basically just an uber-cheap design built around the Via VT1602A chipset (which, for all of its simplicity, is pretty neat for what it does.) I like it because it has a SPDIF connection which I was able to run to my Fiio D3 to act as the real DAC rather than the output section of the uber-cheap "soundcard" in turn run to my CMoy amp. Thus giving me a higher quality sound despite the low quality of the actual USB DAC itself since it was almost more just a software-to-hardware interface than any sort of audio conversion (in particular, no DAC from it.) Overall I was very satisfied with the sound quality of the SGS3 just powering my headphones directly though, so in the end I ended up not really using it. More recently though, I've put together my D3 and a slightly better make of the CMoy both powered via lithium-ion batteries (turns out the D3 can be powered directly via one 3.7V battery without problems from what I read, so I tried it and indeed it works great. My guess from what I saw about it is that it was just changing the 5V input to 3.3V for the chipset anyway so for most of the usable range of the battery it works great) along with that "soundcard" to act as sort of a small hand-held all-in-one device that I can use with laptops and everything. Unfortunately, when I tried it with my phone and tablet I got only silence on the SGS3 and horrible popping and crackling on the tablet (the SGS3 is running the 10.1.2 final and the tablet is running a nightly 10.2.)

The thing is, this setup actually sounds better to me now than the old setup did. (It's a slightly better CMoy and of course the power supply is better.)

Does CyanogenMod just not support USB audio even in the 10.2 releases? I had been under the impression that Google was pushing for a switch away from normal dock audio towards something more like USB DACs from what I had read somewhere or other, but if so perhaps it hasn't made it into AOSP yet? Alternately, is it just this particular chipset that isn't compatible? It seems to work pretty well with just about everything else. As I recall it even worked in Linux. I believe I didn't ever even install a driver for it in Windows 7, though I think I had to in XP if I remember right. For the most part, the VT1620A is supposed to be pretty driverless and simple to support, but it wasn't really made for Android after all. I can probably switch to another if I need to (though I need that SPDIF output or it defeats the purpose) but it has to be something at least relatively cheap (and small enough to fit in the case of course.)

Afraid I can't help you with the full scope of your questions, but I can tell you that I have used a FiiO E17 with no problem from a Motorola Droid RAZR M running a recent CM 10.2 nightly, so it's likely not an issue with CM. Not positive about 10.1.2, but I don't think that one does...

Phishin Phool · Oct 2, 2013 at 11:41 AM

I have searched but unsuccessfully so my apologies if this has already been answered - with the proper cable can I connect my Galaxy S3 to a Schitt DAC (most likely a modi ) / Many thanks. I am running android Jellybean (most recent build) for my phone.

pappy97 · Oct 2, 2013 at 12:26 PM

nazo said:
So I have a question that might have already been answered, but which I couldn't find: does CyanogenMod not support USB audio? When I first got my Samsung Galaxy S3, I tried a little super-cheap USB DAC I had, a Syba SD-AUD20101 which actually worked with the stock ROM way back then (and which I believe I posted in this very thread way back then.) Basically just an uber-cheap design built around the Via VT1602A chipset (which, for all of its simplicity, is pretty neat for what it does.) I like it because it has a SPDIF connection which I was able to run to my Fiio D3 to act as the real DAC rather than the output section of the uber-cheap "soundcard" in turn run to my CMoy amp. Thus giving me a higher quality sound despite the low quality of the actual USB DAC itself since it was almost more just a software-to-hardware interface than any sort of audio conversion (in particular, no DAC from it.) Overall I was very satisfied with the sound quality of the SGS3 just powering my headphones directly though, so in the end I ended up not really using it. More recently though, I've put together my D3 and a slightly better make of the CMoy both powered via lithium-ion batteries (turns out the D3 can be powered directly via one 3.7V battery without problems from what I read, so I tried it and indeed it works great. My guess from what I saw about it is that it was just changing the 5V input to 3.3V for the chipset anyway so for most of the usable range of the battery it works great) along with that "soundcard" to act as sort of a small hand-held all-in-one device that I can use with laptops and everything. Unfortunately, when I tried it with my phone and tablet I got only silence on the SGS3 and horrible popping and crackling on the tablet (the SGS3 is running the 10.1.2 final and the tablet is running a nightly 10.2.)

The thing is, this setup actually sounds better to me now than the old setup did. (It's a slightly better CMoy and of course the power supply is better.)

Does CyanogenMod just not support USB audio even in the 10.2 releases? I had been under the impression that Google was pushing for a switch away from normal dock audio towards something more like USB DACs from what I had read somewhere or other, but if so perhaps it hasn't made it into AOSP yet? Alternately, is it just this particular chipset that isn't compatible? It seems to work pretty well with just about everything else. As I recall it even worked in Linux. I believe I didn't ever even install a driver for it in Windows 7, though I think I had to in XP if I remember right. For the most part, the VT1620A is supposed to be pretty driverless and simple to support, but it wasn't really made for Android after all. I can probably switch to another if I need to (though I need that SPDIF output or it defeats the purpose) but it has to be something at least relatively cheap (and small enough to fit in the case of course.)

I can't speak for all devices, but my Nexus 10 tablet and T-Mobile Note 2 (SGH-T889) have USB Audio support without using UARP and both are running CM 10.2 based roms. My Note 2 was able to do it with the CM 10.2 kernel, while my Nexus 10 uses a kernel that added USB Audio Support (Franco Kernel).

pappy97 · Oct 2, 2013 at 12:27 PM

Anyone see this?

http://m.androidauthority.com/nexus-5-android-4-4-log-file-findings-usb-otg-support-android-stock-apps-coming-play-store-279188/

Definitely promising that the new Nexus phone may have full native USB Audio Support, and also that potentially Android 4.4 could include full native USB Audio Support.

Nazo · Oct 2, 2013 at 2:26 PM

pappy97 said:
I can't speak for all devices, but my Nexus 10 tablet and T-Mobile Note 2 (SGH-T889) have USB Audio support without using UARP and both are running CM 10.2 based roms. My Note 2 was able to do it with the CM 10.2 kernel, while my Nexus 10 uses a kernel that added USB Audio Support (Franco Kernel).

pwwaring said:
Afraid I can't help you with the full scope of your questions, but I can tell you that I have used a FiiO E17 with no problem from a Motorola Droid RAZR M running a recent CM 10.2 nightly, so it's likely not an issue with CM. Not positive about 10.1.2, but I don't think that one does...

So at least theoretically it is possible. I wonder if it's just the particular USB DAC I'm using. The VT1620A should be pretty well supported and standard, but you know how it is with these things... But if I can't use this thing, I need another cheap USB DAC with a SPDIF output to make this work. A lot cheaper than the E17... Has anyone happened across such a thing?

DanBa · Oct 2, 2013 at 4:56 PM

pappy97 said:
Anyone see this?

http://m.androidauthority.com/nexus-5-android-4-4-log-file-findings-usb-otg-support-android-stock-apps-coming-play-store-279188/

Definitely promising that the new Nexus phone may have full native USB Audio Support, and also that potentially Android 4.4 could include full native USB Audio Support.

Interesting!

bhazard · Oct 2, 2013 at 5:04 PM

danba said:
Interesting!

Would be awesome. If audio apps such as Jam Up Pro XT for guitar come over to android, I will no longer need to use anything apple related.

aj-kun · Oct 2, 2013 at 10:55 PM

My galaxy note 3 works with my hrt microstreamer. If that's of assistance to anyone.

Phishin Phool · Oct 2, 2013 at 11:00 PM

aj-kun said:
My galaxy note 3 works with my hrt microstreamer. If that's of assistance to anyone.

That helps some but what I was mostly worried about is if it can power a Schiit modi as that unit is not externally powered but only by the usb connection.

steveoidm · Oct 3, 2013 at 12:31 PM

Just got the HiFimeDIY Sabre Tiny USB DAC delivered and although I have left my amp at home thought i would give it a quick go with the note 3 and a usb otg cable. All seems to be working which is good, although the volume buttons and eq settings in spotify still have an effect on the sound.

I thought that by using a usb dac you would be bypassing all of the internal audio circuits, is this not quite right?

Thanks.

Nazo · Oct 3, 2013 at 1:40 PM

Equalizer is software, not hardware. Just disable it.

steveoidm · Oct 3, 2013 at 1:43 PM

Sure. Just trying to understand what a usb dac does and doesn't do.

DanBa · Oct 3, 2013 at 1:56 PM

devhen · Oct 3, 2013 at 3:11 PM

steveoidm said:
Just got the HiFimeDIY Sabre Tiny USB DAC delivered and although I have left my amp at home thought i would give it a quick go with the note 3 and a usb otg cable. All seems to be working which is good, although the volume buttons and eq settings in spotify still have an effect on the sound.

I thought that by using a usb dac you would be bypassing all of the internal audio circuits, is this not quite right?

Thanks.

nazo said:
Equalizer is software, not hardware. Just disable it.

steveoidm said:
Sure. Just trying to understand what a usb dac does and doesn't do.

In that situation the system audio is being routed out the USB DAC rather than the headphone jack but the audio itself stays exactly the same. So yes, the volume control and EQ still take effect.

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