For those asking about direct mode and how it works, here is how it works on the Sony NW-A105 courtesy of a Sony engineer (found somewhere online sorry I didn’t note the source).
Apple Music on android absolutely does not use direct mode, the giveaway is if I reduce media volume I lose Apple Music playback. On the Walkman UAPP/Walkman apps are noticeably better than Apple Music.
this graphic shows the direct route in red and indirect / android route in purple.
I’m not a software engineer so don’t understand exactly how UAPP goes direct but believe it’s something to do with audio stream flags. Same for MQA, DSD etc, where supported.
note on Sony Walkman you can choose in system to use high res streaming in which case all purple audio channels are upscalled to 32bit 192khz. This still goes via the android path tho. There is a noticeable audio benefit to going direct, IMO opinion it’s is much clearer with a wider soundstage. Hope this is interesting to some other geek and not just me
Apple Music on android absolutely does not use direct mode, the giveaway is if I reduce media volume I lose Apple Music playback. On the Walkman UAPP/Walkman apps are noticeably better than Apple Music.
this graphic shows the direct route in red and indirect / android route in purple.
I’m not a software engineer so don’t understand exactly how UAPP goes direct but believe it’s something to do with audio stream flags. Same for MQA, DSD etc, where supported.
note on Sony Walkman you can choose in system to use high res streaming in which case all purple audio channels are upscalled to 32bit 192khz. This still goes via the android path tho. There is a noticeable audio benefit to going direct, IMO opinion it’s is much clearer with a wider soundstage. Hope this is interesting to some other geek and not just me