[accurate_dB]

How can an external storage USB (CD,DVD,thumb) drive be connected to the portable headphone amp USB DAC without using a bulky computer/laptop/notebook/netbook?

I guess the physical connection can be made using USB adapters.
But I suspect there are more things necessary to support the
USB host controller, file manager and music player.

Is this something that someone can make in a small package
and thereby create a new market?

I don't mean to reinvent the wheel or the DAP, but I'm thinking
that I don't need all of those fancy user interface. I just want a basic,
cost effective, and small form factor device that allows me to
listen to music on my DVD disc via a slim, external USB DVD drive for instance.
Just imagine how much music I could store on an Blu-ray disc.

 

[Ross]

I suggested something similar a few months ago in this thread. The fact that you have independently come up with this suggests there is a market for it. Other than using a small notebook such as an EEE PC, to my knowledge there is currently nothing available that would meet this need.

 

[accurate_dB]

Maybe I should have searched first... thanks for the reply though.

But to take another step further I think there is also a market for
cellphones, which already have a USB port with a small micro-controller,
to interface to a USB DAC portable headphone amp.

Think about the access to the internet via the cellphone.
Maybe with the Google android, some DIYer will have this available soon.

The market looks promising for the USB DAC portable headphone amps.

 

[JSW]

Quote:

Originally Posted by accurate_dB /img/forum/go_quote.gif Maybe I should have searched first... thanks for the reply though. But to take another step further I think there is also a market for cellphones, which already have a USB port with a small micro-controller, to interface to a USB DAC portable headphone amp. Think about the access to the internet via the cellphone. Maybe with the Google android, some DIYer will have this available soon. The market looks promising for the USB DAC portable headphone amps.

I'm not an expert on these sort of things, but as far as I'm aware the problem with this is that USB devices are either "hosts" or "peripherals" (better known as master/slave) and the slaves are controlled by the masters. Except for the few devices using USB On-The-Go, the devices are limited to what they were developed for -- I'm almost certain you cannot change master/slave status by just changing drivers. Two masters cannot communicate with one another over USB, and neither can two slaves. As far as I'm aware, all cellphones are slaves, as are all USB DACs.

The only thing I can think of off the top of my head that implements USB On-The-Go is the Nokia N810.