Request to Google to enable USB audio on Android smartphones/tablets

[DanBa]

Samsung Galaxy Note II & Ray Samuels Audio The Intruder, fully balanced amp / USB DAC:
http://www.raysamuelsaudio.com/products/intruder
http://www.head-fi.org/t/640209/modifie ... ynamic-t5p
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/bala ... s/one.html
http://www.head-fi.org/t/445591/how-bal ... st_6016338
http://www.head-fi.org/t/633511/picture ... st_9018661

Galaxy Note II > digital USB audio out >> balanced RSA Intruder USB DAC / amp >> balanced Beyerdynamic T5p

















Balanced mode


Normal mode

[AdmiralQuality]

"Balanced headphones"? Who knew?

[Storms]

You have the right to buy an Apple iPhone and one of a few expensive iPhone-compliant USB DACs which are not compatible with your PC or your Apple Mac.

I have to ask - why not just get a class compliant USB audio adapter for your iDevice and use the camera connection kit? It seems like Android doesn't properly support class compliant USB audio so you have to resort to all of these hacks and using Samsung proprietary drivers. This reminds me of Linux about 15 years ago.

Oh, I guess if you are using iPhone you might need a jailbreak app called "CameraConnector" to enable the camera connection kit. If you are using iPad or iPad mini there is no jailbreak needed.

[DanBa]

You have the right to buy an Apple iPhone and one of a few expensive iPhone-compliant USB DACs which are not compatible with your PC or your Apple Mac.

I have to ask - why not just get a class compliant USB audio adapter for your iDevice and use the camera connection kit? It seems like Android doesn't properly support class compliant USB audio so you have to resort to all of these hacks and using Samsung proprietary drivers. This reminds me of Linux about 15 years ago.

Oh, I guess if you are using iPhone you might need a jailbreak app called "CameraConnector" to enable the camera connection kit. If you are using iPad or iPad mini there is no jailbreak needed.

Android out-of-box plug&play against iDevice CCK gambling!


Non interworking of "iDevice + Camera Connection Kit" and standard USB DAC:
"I got an iPad mini today. Just letting people know that external dacs work like the iPad.
So far works with my emm labs dac2 and leckerton uha-6s mk2.
Doesn't work with nuforce HDP."
http://www.head-fi.org/t/634555/ipad-mi ... st_8833896

"Hi guys! Been lurking for a little while, and seen this posting, was wondering if anybody has tried the iPad mini + CCK + FiiO E07?
Read previously that the FiiO E17 doesnt work."
http://www.head-fi.org/t/634555/ipad-mi ... st_8975705



iDevice Camera Connection Kit gambling:
Apple can modify and enforce the authentication policy linked to the Apple authentication coprocessor at any new iOS release => no more interworking!



"UPDATE: this feature has been disabled in iOS 5.0 beta since beta 7, including the final released version.
CCK-compatibility for anything else than iPad has been deliberately disabled by Apple."
http://www.head-fi.org/t/494521/ipod-ip ... st_8207631

"On my iPhone 4s, I'm still running the IOS 5.0.1. Apparently, the CameraConnector app didn't always work with IOS 5.1.1. Maybe someone else can confirm this?
I can't comment about IOS 6 and for myself, I'm going to stick with my current operating system for the time being."
http://www.head-fi.org/t/622311/iphone- ... st_8849552



Non interworking of FiiO E17 / HeadAmp Pico USB DAC and Android-powered Samsung Galaxy S3: it was true but …

Android USB audio is young and the current USB audio driver of the Galaxy S3 is intolerant with USB DACs which are not quite conform to the USB specification.
http://www.head-fi.org/t/595071/android ... st_8910009

The Pico-S3 non interworking issue has been fixed by HeadAmp, the manufacturer of the Pico USB DAC:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/595071/android ... st_9037872

The FiiO E17 can interwork with the Samsung Galaxy S3 using another USB audio module:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/595071/android ... st_9048679


The beauty of Android is its open source. USB DAC can be handled by different types of software.
For example, the USB Audio Recorder PRO app includes its own USB audio function.
The eXtream Software Development solution does audio over the USB without using the USB audio implemented in the Linux kernel (i.e. no need to request Google / Android device manufacturers to implement standard USB audio on USB host-capable Android devices).




USB audio & Android

USB standard (audio, mass storage, etc.) driver supported on stock Galaxy S3 / Note2
"As long as the kernel on the Android device supported the USB standard driver of the hardware (mass storage, input, etc.), Android would be able to use it and therefore open up a new range of extra devices compatible with the system."

USB standard (audio, mass storage, etc.) driver not supported:
* Developing your USB standard (audio, etc.) driver at the kernel space
"However, there are many devices that have not been "compatible" from the beginning. For instance, let's say your common RFID reader. It most likely uses a USB-serial port and probably comes with a Linux or Windows driver as well as some software. Most Android tablets will come without the USB-serial driver for your RFID reader however.
Therefore, if you want to load your driver you will need to root your tablet, determine the version of your current kernel, find the kernel sources online, hope that everything compiles to have your driver ready and then load it onto your tablet. In the end, when you finally have your kernel driver running, you will be required to write C code as well as some JNI glue to communicate with your Activity or Service in Android.
All in all, this approach is not very straightforward.

* Writing your own USB "soft driver" at the user space
There is a very elegant solution to aforementioned problem.
It requires far less skills in hacking and porting than the mentioned approach. However, you will require some advanced knowledge in Android programming as well as some USB know-how.
You can write your own "soft driver" in Android. Since the USB Host API has been released, it is now possible to communicate with any USB device using the most commonly seen USB transfers (control, interrupt, bulk).
In the end, your result will be portable across all Android devices that have USB host enabled and have Android version 3.1+. Moreover, this solution does NOT require root access to the tablet or phone. It is currently the only viable solution that does not require the user to have any know-how of rooting/hacking the device and risk losing warranty in the process."
http://android.serverbox.ch/?p=549

[DanBa]

A list of stock Android-powered devices reportedly interworking with standard USB DAC and a list of standard USB DAC reportedly interworking with the stock Samsung Galaxy Note II / S III are updated at the 1st post:
http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic ... 58#4853458

[DanBa]

Samsung Galaxy Note II & Apex Glacier USB DAC/amp:
http://www.ttvjaudio.com/Apex_High_Fi_A ... 000010.htm
http://www.jhaudio.com/product/jh16-pro ... ar-monitor
http://www.head-fi.org/t/632019/apex-gl ... st_8924724

Galaxy Note II > digital USB audio out >> Apex Glacier USB DAC/amp >> JH Audio JH16 Pro IEM

"Even with my DX100 , I did not get such clarity and sound-stage.
I am happier with this setup, than the DX100, alas, no 96/24 capability (android limitation...for now)
Neutron with the Glacier, are giving me the chills............................ "

[mod4]

Im sorry but Google are not here right now , please leave a message after the tone........beep.

[DanBa]

HTC Butterfly (aka HTC Droid DNA, HTC J Butterfly): 5", 1920*1080, 2GB RAM, quad-core S4
http://www.htc.com/www/smartphones/htc-butterfly/
http://www.eprice.com.tw/mobile/talk/45 ... m/4843526/

stock HTC Butterfly > digital USB audio out >> USB OTG cable >> iBasso D12 Hj USB DAC/amp >> Westone UM-3X IEM

[DanBa]

USB audio & us$99 Minix Neo X5 Android mini PC (Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, ARM Cortex A9 dual-core CPU at 1.4GHz, quad-core Mali 400 GPU, 1GB RAM, 16GB ROM, SD card slot, USB 2.0 port x 3, micro USB OTG port, optical SPDIF port, HDMI port, Ethernet port, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, IR receiver, microphone jack, headphone jack)
http://www.minix.us/products/NEO-X5.html
http://www.squidoo.com/android-mini-pc-buying-guide
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl ... enflup&5&4

Minix Neo X5 > digital USB audio out >> regular USB cable (i.e. standard-A plug to standard-B plug USB cable) >> Valab DAC

"SB Touch...buh bye. Hello Android Media Box…

Plug and play USB audio support - no drivers, no snap crackle pop, no dropouts. Wow. The sound was absolutely fantastic. What a great way to consolidate my favorite streaming apps and have my ripped collection just a click away as well. All controlled remotely from the comfort of my easy chair and viewed on my big screen TV. I AM Slothman!

In summary, this was all an exercise in music listening convenience for me and obviously NOT an audiophile quest. However, I do believe that devices such as these and the applications being developed are on the verge of further revolutionizing this hobby in a big way soon. After my initial experience with this (basic) media box, I can certainly see why Logitech decided to kick the SB Touch to the curb. I hope this thread may spark a little more discussion and interest in these Android media boxes/ mini PC's. I haven't seen much mentioned about them here or on computeraudiophile."









With Android phone, Android tablet and Android mini PC, Android is definitely a New Kid in Town for the USB DAC market sector.

[DanBa]

The compatibility list of Android devices / USB DAC is regularly updated at the following topic:
Android phones and USB DACs