Android phones and USB DACs | Page 219 | Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org

Davy Wentzler · Oct 14, 2013 at 5:59 AM

That's not surprising. The Android API is full of functions taking shorts (16-bit) as arguments. What they do with the Note 3 is just as UARP, bypass Android! For that you would need to specifically call Samsung's functions in order to achieve 24-bit. What I do not like is the fragmentation this all causes in the Android market.

neste · Oct 14, 2013 at 8:43 AM

I just found this threat two minutes ago, and I#m wondering why you guys dont use the micro-hdmi ports of your android devices. Whith an audio extractor (included in a hdmi->vga converter for example) you get a nice toslink output. I chose this solution since I also had to recignize that my usb-dac isn't working at my asus tablet.

ProtegeManiac · Oct 14, 2013 at 10:46 AM

neste said:
I just found this threat two minutes ago, and I#m wondering why you guys dont use the micro-hdmi ports of your android devices. Whith an audio extractor (included in a hdmi->vga converter for example) you get a nice toslink output. I chose this solution since I also had to recignize that my usb-dac isn't working at my asus tablet.

Because we're using affordable and possibly minimalist DACs for the computer audio era that usually don't have SPDIF inputs? (if the Androids we have even have HDMI)

m-i-c-k-e-y · Oct 14, 2013 at 12:36 PM

And hdmi involves paying additional license fee / royalties to hdmi.org: http://www.hdmi.org/manufacturer/terms.aspx

Coop · Oct 14, 2013 at 12:44 PM

And it saves a little space as well:

Android> hdmi cable> converter> spdif cable > dac

Vs.

Android> otg cable> dac

SV_huMMer · Oct 14, 2013 at 2:06 PM

Reporting on the UARP 1.2.7 update: M2Tech HiFace DAC works normally.

Davy, could you please explain in a little more details the two buffer settings in UARP: Buffer Size on the I/O page, and Disk buffer in Settings?

m-i-c-k-e-y · Oct 14, 2013 at 3:22 PM

Yes I concur UARP 1.2.7 update works with M2tech Hiface DAC!

(So does my smiling face)

DanBa · Oct 14, 2013 at 4:53 PM

davy wentzler said:
That's not surprising. The Android API is full of functions taking shorts (16-bit) as arguments. What they do with the Note 3 is just as UARP, bypass Android! For that you would need to specifically call Samsung's functions in order to achieve 24-bit. What I do not like is the fragmentation this all causes in the Android market.

I’m quite surprised that a music player developed by Google, Google Play Music, can use the 24-bit Samsung audio API.
If this 24-bit audio API is used by Google, it’s somewhat becoming standard.

edwardsean · Oct 14, 2013 at 9:14 PM

Hi, can anyone tell me the smallest device that is capable of outputting digital audio (usb, optical, or coax)? I'm trying to get a portable signal into my UM PP6, but the form factor of Samsung S3 is too big. Thanks.

Edwardsean

lostinthesauce · Oct 15, 2013 at 5:27 AM

The FiiO X3 can send coaxial digital out.

Davy Wentzler · Oct 15, 2013 at 9:20 AM

danba said:
I’m quite surprised that a music player developed by Google, Google Play Music, can use the 24-bit Samsung audio API.
If this 24-bit audio API is used by Google, it’s somewhat becoming standard.

Samsung and Google must be good friends, so it's not that surprising really. It was probably adapted to use the Samsung audio API when available.

Davy Wentzler · Oct 15, 2013 at 9:29 AM

sv_hummer said:
Reporting on the UARP 1.2.7 update: M2Tech HiFace DAC works normally.

Davy, could you please explain in a little more details the two buffer settings in UARP: Buffer Size on the I/O page, and Disk buffer in Settings?

Good to hear 1.2.7 works as should.

Regarding buffer sizes: there are two layers of buffering taking place:
1) Disk buffer: a separate thread reads the audio from the disk/sdcard in large chunks. The chunk size is defined by the Disk Buffer settings.
2) USB buffer: audio data is also streamed in chunks, but smaller ones, taken from the disk buffer. The buffer size in the I/O page sets this chunk size, although the real buffer size differs a little. You can say that larger is better because it has a higher chance of surviving things like garbage collection, other apps doing stuff etc. But since there are so many Android and audio devices, sometimes lower settings can cause it to function better, although I think that was more related to a bug earlier on than may be applicable now.

DanBa · Oct 15, 2013 at 10:56 AM

baydude · Oct 15, 2013 at 8:23 PM

Just got the Stoner Acoustic UD110 and can confirm it doesn't work w/ the Samsung Galaxy S4, even w/ USB Audio Recorder Pro.

wormsdriver · Oct 15, 2013 at 9:10 PM

Ah bad news then. My ud110 is still on it's way to me, I should get it soon though.

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