Enable USB audio on any Android 4.0 smartphone/tablet

konut · « **Reply #40 on:** 2 Oct 2012, 03:03 pm »

I picked up a Motorola Xoom that I need to upgrade to Jelly Bean. Has anyone ever tried the USB out on this tablet? I've posted a similar question on the Xoom forum yesterday with no responses thus far. Is there any danger with me hooking up the Xoom to a Bryston BDA-1 USB input? I'd hate to damage either unit.

DanBa · « **Reply #41 on:** 4 Oct 2012, 08:08 pm »

The standard USB audio is also enabled on stock Android 4.1 Jelly Bean-powered Samsung Galaxy Note II:
http://www.eprice.com.tw/mobile/talk/4523/4815783/1/1/

stock Galaxy Note II > digital USB audio out >> iBasso D12 Hj >> Westone UM3X

DanBa · « **Reply #42 on:** 6 Oct 2012, 04:16 pm »

Yet another Stoner Acoustics UD100-based rig with FitEar TO GO! 334, the best in-ear headphone in the world according to Steve Guttenberg:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/597146/fitear-to-go-334-suyamas-custom-iem-made-universal/975#post_8754519
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13645_3-57486297-47/the-best-in-ear-headphone-in-the-world-the-fitear-togo-334/

stock Samsung Galaxy S3 > digital USB audio out >> USB OTG cable >> UD100 USB DAC >> Pico Slim amp >> FitEar TO GO! 334 IEM

DanBa · « **Reply #43 on:** 11 Oct 2012, 10:55 am »

Samsung Galaxy S III & Matrix Mini-i:
http://www.headfonia.com/matrix-mini-i-balanced-dac/
http://www.head-fi.org/t/595071/android-phones-and-usb-dacs/465#post_8768166

stock Galaxy S III > digital USB audio out >> USB OTG cable >> Matrix Mini-i >> headphones or amp

DanBa · « **Reply #44 on:** 13 Oct 2012, 11:51 am »

Samsung Galaxy S III & HeadAmp Pico USB DAC/amp:
Pictures Of Your Portable Rig (part XV)

stock Samsung Galaxy S III > digital USB audio out >> micro-A male to type-A female USB cable + type-A male to mini-B male USB adapter >> HeadAmp Pico >> V-Moda M-80

DanBa · « **Reply #45 on:** 21 Oct 2012, 09:15 am »

Custom Stoner Acoustics UD100 based on 24-bit ESS Sabre conversion chip:
Tiny DAC, Big Sound – Impression of Stoner Acoustics UD100 vs. ODAC
http://stoneracoustics.blogspot.fr/

Samsung Galaxy S III > digital USB audio out >> USB OTG cable >> custom UD100 cable >> amp >> headphones

Samsung Galaxy S III > digital USB audio out >> USB OTG cable >> UD100 USB DAC >> Pico Slim amp >> FitEar TO GO! 334

Samsung Galaxy S III > digital USB audio out >> USB OTG cable >> HeadStage USB DAC cable >> RSA Protector amp >> JH Audio JH13

ctviggen · « **Reply #46 on:** 21 Oct 2012, 05:41 pm »

Do you turn off the wi-fi and cell phone part of phone? If I have my phone anywhere within a foot of the wires for my headphones, I get horrible cross-feed into the headphones if the cell phone part of the phone is on.

dwk · « **Reply #47 on:** 24 Oct 2012, 02:04 am »

Well, I discovered today that my Archos 80 G9 does in fact work with my ODAC/O2 rig. I had read that the G9 was supposed to be able to support it, but I tried it earlier with no luck. Today I found myself considering an iPad mini for playback and figured that a 32G micro-sd card was probably cheaper

, so I inserted a powered USB hub into the chain and playback works fine. I thought that since the ODAC/O2 combo unit has a power adapter that the USB circuit would be internally powered, but apparently now.

Now to get some flac files onto it and see how well it works.

DanBa · « **Reply #48 on:** 27 Oct 2012, 09:44 am »

It’s weird that a phone like the Samsung Galaxy S III / Galaxy Note II can supply enough power for the ODAC or a HeadAmp Pico, and a tablet doesn’t have enough power for that.

“While it's not a phone, my Exynos powered Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet works with both my HifiMan HM-601 and HM-801 with no problems, settings changes, tweaks, or anything.
My HeadAmp Pico and Pico DAC both require a powered USB cable or hub to work, or I get the High Powered USB error.”
http://www.head-fi.org/t/595071/android-phones-and-usb-dacs/255#post_8658440

DanBa · « **Reply #49 on:** 27 Oct 2012, 09:45 am »

Quote from: ctviggen on 21 Oct 2012, 05:41 pm

Do you turn off the wi-fi and cell phone part of phone?

Nope.
I have no issue with a Galaxy S III, an ODAC (Epiphany Acoustics E-DAC), Soundlab Neco V3 amp and Fischer Audio FA-003 headphones.

DanBa · « **Reply #50 on:** 27 Oct 2012, 09:49 am »

About Android-specific USB audio:
"As of now, the standard Android releases do not include USB host support. Samsung decided to add this feature on their own. The Android folks are working on a funky USB dock protocol that works over USB (sort of like what Apple does) that, frankly, most of us developers think is stupid. There is certainly a push to put USB host support for standard devices (like audio, keyboards, etc.) into the normal Android releases."
[Pete Millett, design engineer from Apex Hi-Fi]
http://www.head-fi.org/t/632019/apex-glacier-amp-dac-review-and-appreciation-thread/75#post_8812425

DanBa · « **Reply #51 on:** 28 Oct 2012, 06:10 pm »

Samsung Galaxy S III & Apex Glacier:
http://www.ttvjaudio.com/Apex_High_Fi_Audio_Glacier_portable_headphone_amp_p/aaa0000010.htm
http://www.head-fi.org/t/632019/apex-glacier-amp-dac-review-and-appreciation-thread/75#post_8814974

Galaxy S III > digital USB audio out >> USB OTG cable >> Apex Glacier USB DAC/amp

Galaxy S III : 13,6 cm * 7 cm * 0,8 cm
Apex Glacier : 11,4 cm * 6,5 cm * 0,9 cm

DanBa · « **Reply #52 on:** 10 Nov 2012, 11:56 am »

Galaxy Note II & Headstage Lyrix Pro USB total:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/595071/android-phones-and-usb-dacs/795#post_8854850

stock Galaxy Note II > digital USB audio out >> USB OTG cable (micro-A plug inserted in the Note II) >> Headstage Lyrix Pro USB total USB DAC/amp >> Beyerdynamic DT-770 Premium

DanBa · « **Reply #53 on:** 20 Nov 2012, 09:05 pm »

Samsung Galaxy S III & planar magnetic Audeze LCD-2:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/595071/android-ph...55#post_8873554

stock Galaxy S III > digital USB audio out >> USB OTG cable (micro-A plug inserted in the Note II) >> RSA Intruder USB DAC/amp >> Audeze LCD-2 headphones

"The LCD-2's sound phenomenal in balanced mode off the Intruder... Yum."

Bonzite51 · « **Reply #54 on:** 22 Nov 2012, 12:15 pm »

What about DAC s with C-Media CM6631 USB receiver like Schiit Bifrost?
Any expierence?

DanBa · « **Reply #55 on:** 8 Dec 2012, 01:40 pm »

The us$43 Samsung Galaxy S3 + Car Stereo Upgrade for WAaaY better sound quality!
http://www.head-fi.org/t/639883/the-43-gal...r-sound-quality

Galaxy S3 > digital USB audio out >> "USB OTG" cable >> Behringer UCA202 USB DAC >> car stereo amp >> car stereo speakers

"...
And so what are the results you ask?

HOLY MOLY!
Not only is the audio quality MUCH improved, but the sound is so CLEAN now. No clicks, burps, or any other weird background noises. Just straight CD quality background silence.
Even my GPS voice sounds prettier. hahah
Bass is tighter and deeper. Highs are more revealing. Everything is so much better that a novice could tell it sounds better.

And yes, GPS navigation works perfectly. If I'm listening to Pandora or an MP3 and my GPS needs to talk, then my music will go several db quieter and GPS will speak up, then afterwards the music will automatically go back to full volume.

Also, one thing I hated about Bluetooth was everytime I turned my car off for just a minute, when I would power it back on the Bluetooth would not consistently reconnect. Well, this USB-OTG has been very consistent for me so far. Music just picks back up where it left off at and is fairly quick to do so.

Cons? Well, I haven't tested hands free calling yet. But I'm told it doesn't work with this USB-OTG to DAC configuration. Maybe there is a bluetooth solution for that. I dunno? And AOSP does not yet support DACs.

Pros? Freakin everything.

Pics are below.

Here is the DAC and the USB-OTG cable:

This is how you configure the DAC.
You can probably also use the headphones output instead of the stereo RCA, but I didn't try it.

I wired up my USB-OTG cable to my iBOLT dock. It comes up through my dash defrost vents.

This is what the three connectors on the USB-OTG cable look like:

Here is the DAC being wired up. I taped up the non-used RCA's to prevent anything bugging with them.

I wrapped up the DAC with DUCT tape.
Not sure how or why the pic is sideways. It looks normal on my desktop.

Hid it behind my dash.

Here is the USB-OTG cable with my iBOLT dock.

The car stereo w/audio cable attached. Some car stereos have the 3.5mm connector in the back. Or a dual-RCA input. I'd prefer one of those to have a cleaner install. Maybe someday I'll upgrade my car stereo.

And here is the finished product. My S3 docked, charging and outputing beautiful digital music!

.." [CZ Eddie]

DanBa · « **Reply #56 on:** 15 Dec 2012, 11:26 am »

USB Audio Recorder PRO: "USB audio recording and playback now finally possible on Android devices!"
"Supported are mono and stereo streams, 16-bit and 24-bit and any sample rate (up to 192kHz) that the device provides."
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.extreamsd.usbaudiorecorderpro
Android phones and USB DACs
http://www.extreamsd.com/USBAudioRecorderPRO/

Some USB DACs, like the FiiO E17, not working with stock USB audio software, can interwork with the Samsung Galaxy S3 and other Android devices using USB Audio Recorder PRO:

music stored on Galaxy S3 > USB Audio Recorder PRO player > digital USB audio out >> "USB OTG" cable >> FiiO E17 >> headphones

DanBa · « **Reply #57 on:** 23 Dec 2012, 01:00 am »

Unique Melody Platform Pure 6 & Samsung Galaxy S3 using USB Audio Recorder PRO:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/613417/unique-melody-platform-pure- 6-pp6-discussion-appreciation-tour-thread/360#post_8965862

music stored on stock Galaxy S3 > USB Audio Recorder PRO player > digital USB audio out >> "USB OTG" cable >> Unique Melody PP6 > custom IEM

"You have no idea how happy I am right now."

TF1216 · « **Reply #58 on:** 23 Dec 2012, 01:13 am »

Post deleted. I went to Head-Fi to find answers I was looking for. Thanks for posting DanBa.

DanBa · « **Reply #59 on:** 26 Jan 2013, 07:34 pm »

The compatibility list of Android devices / USB DAC is regularly updated at the following topic:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/595071/android-phones-and-usb-dacs/1500