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So, I'm a little underwhelmed by the DAC on this phone. It's mainly the volume. My Note 2 with DAC tuning and V4A sounds much better and is much louder.
Assuming we get root, will we be able to tweak the audio down to the DAC level in terms of oversampling, tuning, etc? Would we just be stuck with V4A and other software based optimizations?
Ideally, I'd like a louder headphone jack that doesn't suffer from as much distortion when turned up. My main issue is that it just isn't loud enough for me.
I'm using Klipsch S4's and ATH-M50s. I do plan on adding a pair of RHA IEM's or another pair of full size cans.
I know that people are using external amplifiers successfully with the phone, but I'd rather not carry one around if I could squeeze more power out of the DAC post-root.
Thanks!
I think it would depend on whether its done at the kernel level or at the chip layer (either from a soft processor or actually part of the HDL code fabric). Then again I no know nothing about audio DACs so it might make sense for them to expose those level of hooks to the kernal or even software/rom layer since they're often times needing to be tuned to a speaker's performance for achieving a desired sound (hopefully).
If this fails maybe it might be worth adding a outside box DAC from Fiio (those are good, I have the same headphones, ATH-M50s, and they do improve the sound even with v4a especially if you're seeking higher audio volumnes) or maybe even an USB Audio DAC (I would suspect these are even better than analog <> DAC <> analog ones) which will newly be supported natively by Android L and maybe already by Samsung phones.
http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/0...-android-now-natively-supports-usb-audio-out/
Hope that might help, unfortunately I doubt we'll see the level of tuning capability that you're seeking. I don't really know much about qualcomm's audio DAC selection but those with exynos phones I know have those really nice premium ones. It's all up to the hardware's capability and for all we know qualcomm's DAC has some crappy sampling rates which will never be able to be improved on if you're looking for good audio directly out of the jack.
imnoob55 said:
I think it would depend on whether its done at the kernel level or at the chip layer (either from a soft processor or actually part of the HDL code fabric). Then again I no know nothing about audio DACs so it might make sense for them to expose those level of hooks to the kernal or even software/rom layer since they're often times needing to be tuned to a speaker's performance for achieving a desired sound (hopefully).
If this fails maybe it might be worth adding a outside box DAC from Fiio (those are good, I have the same headphones, ATH-M50s, and they do improve the sound even with v4a especially if you're seeking higher audio volumnes) or maybe even an USB Audio DAC (I would suspect these are even better than analog <> DAC <> analog ones) which will newly be supported natively by Android L and maybe already by Samsung phones.
http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/0...-android-now-natively-supports-usb-audio-out/
Hope that might help, unfortunately I doubt we'll see the level of tuning capability that you're seeking. I don't really know much about qualcomm's audio DAC selection but those with exynos phones I know have those really nice premium ones. It's all up to the hardware's capability and for all we know qualcomm's DAC has some crappy sampling rates which will never be able to be improved on if you're looking for good audio directly out of the jack.
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Click to collapse
Thank you, definitely helps. The audio output on this phone did get some good numbers according to GSMarena. I'm hoping that it means further tuning is possible. I believe the HTC One has a crazy 2w audio jack that's both loud and clear and also utilizes the same DAC. Hopefully that's a good sign for the possibility of tuning on this phone.
I was considering a Fiio box. I just hate having to carry that thing around or keep it clipped somewhere. The native USB audio out in Android L sounds promising though. I'd assume that a smaller USB sized box would leave a little less of a footprint.
I think Samsung actually ended up losing a lawsuit due to hearing loss. I suspect that it may be a reason why the audio output on the Note 4 is intentionally crippled. Hopefully I'm right and hopefully it's reversible.
I miss the Wolfson DAC on my Note 2. That thing sounded incredible. I'm tempted to sell this and seek the Exynos version just for the audio output.
When you use your m50s directly from the audio jack and through v4a, are the volume and distortion levels and better when cranking it up?
Oh, I also think that a file exists on the phone that limits the decibel output on the headphone jack. It can be altered to a level of 63 vs the 56(ish) that it's currently set at. I remember doing this on my Note 2 and it helped with high volume distortion quite a bit.
Root, we need you root.
I use my n5 as my mp3 player in my car but the sound sucks. I'm thinking of getting a dac to fix this.
I have a otg cable to plug in my usb key that contains my mp3 library. So first I know i will need a y otg, have some all ready but not sur I have the right one but that is a detail. I dont really care about simultaneously charging my phone.
So what good dac do you suggest. Keep in mind I don't have a lot of money, not to sure what kind of budget yet.
Thanks
Please
nitramus said:
I use my n5 as my mp3 player in my car but the sound sucks. I'm thinking of getting a dac to fix this.
I have a otg cable to plug in my usb key that contains my mp3 library. So first I know i will need a y otg, have some all ready but not sur I have the right one but that is a detail. I dont really care about simultaneously charging my phone.
So what good dac do you suggest. Keep in mind I don't have a lot of money, not to sure what kind of budget yet.
Thanks
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Click to collapse
Are you sure you have not a faulty cable/ nexus 5 connector or bad regulated equalizer on nexus 5?
I ask you cause I m not an audiophile but nexus 5 sound great to my ears, almost like nexus s which feature one of the best DAC on portable devices
nitramus said:
I use my n5 as my mp3 player in my car but the sound sucks. I'm thinking of getting a dac to fix this.
I have a otg cable to plug in my usb key that contains my mp3 library. So first I know i will need a y otg, have some all ready but not sur I have the right one but that is a detail. I dont really care about simultaneously charging my phone.
So what good dac do you suggest. Keep in mind I don't have a lot of money, not to sure what kind of budget yet.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try dragonfly by Audioquest or Cambridge Audio USB DAC. They sound awesome. I prefer the latter one. =)
Thanks for the reply. Everything I get gives me more info to search and get informed.
If you want a good dac at reasonable money try fio,get from Amazon
Sent from my Nexus 5
"Sucks" is a subjective term, but I agree with Axel85. If you're currently getting terrible sound, a USB DAC is a costly hail-mary that likely won't solve your problem. USB OTG DACs are great way to salvage an aging phone as a media player or to bypass a damaged the 3.5mm output. Otherwise, they're a way to turn already "great" sound into "exceptional." I can say with complete confidence that, even over bluetooth, the Nexus 5's built-in audio is impressive. If it "sucks" on your setup, then you definitely want to ensure that the problem doesn't lie elsewhere before investing in a DAC. If it is, in fact, the Nexus 5, ship that sucker back to Google, because a DAC definitely won't help. Just be sure there aren't other elements in your setup putting the constraints on your sound reproduction.
Now if you're truly blessed (cursed?) with golden ears and an audiophile's insatiable desire for perfection, then "sucks" probably has a different meaning for you; Otherwise, it's best to rule out everything else before plopping down substantial cash on a USB DAC. On that note, the Nexus' internal DAC crushes any entry-level/ low-end ($30-$50 DAC), so you'd really only want to consider the next step up, and it is a big step in price. Great units from $120-$200 from Fiio or Cambridge Audio. I've heard the Audioengine D3 on a laptop and it was fantastic, the form factor is great, as well, but I haven't investigated whether it plays nicely with lollipop OTG. There are a lot of issues to consider -some are legitimate headaches. Aside from the additional clutter of more cables and another powered device, the effect on your phone's battery is not one to take lightly. You may be able to currently stream pandora all day long, but with your phone acting as a USB host, you have to be conscious of the potential power draw from any USB DAC. A big amplifier can drain that battery quickly without its own power source to supplement. Many DACs are even equipped with their own internal batteries, but regardless, the power question is not something to minimize. Depending on the unit, powered USB hubs and the right cables can provide an easy fix.
But before you go pulling the trigger on a DAC, let me suggest a few things and some troubleshooting steps...
On the software side:
Play with built-in equalizer/AudioFX/DSP (it may do nothing at all with your ROM & kernel). I also highly recommend that you try playing your media through an app called PowerAmp. If that doesn't give you the fidelity boost you're looking for, then give Viper4Android a whirl. It requires a slightly more complicated installation (depending on the ROM), and the tweaking can get advanced, but the results are truly impressive with the right music. "FauxSound" is a custom kernel I'm yet to experiment with because it's (currently) incompatible with CM12.1 CAF, but the reviews in the forums seem overwhelmingly positive. When it comes to sound, perceptible differences vary from person to person.
As to troubleshooting the phone's output:
It should go without saying, but if your factory head unit and speakers and are junk ...if music has never sounded good on your system, a USB DAC isn't the miracle worker you need. Spend the money on a decent head unit and/or upgrade your speakers. An underpowered, factory installed head unit can turn otherwise decent speakers into muffled distortion makers, so take stock of the equipment you're working with and manage expectations. If you're an audiophile, you can likely ignore much of this, but for the sake of anyone else in a similar boat, considering a DAC to improve audio, lets go down the troubleshooting checkbox:
1) First and foremost, check your source files. If you're streaming, make sure it's high quality. You may need to go into the app's advanced settings. For most people's ears, there are diminishing returns above 320kbps MP3 /256AAC vs. the storage requirements. With the right gear and the right source though, "lossless" music can bring out elements you never heard on your favorite tracks: fingers lifting and moving along frets, or a half-note you never caught. If your ROM is capable of natively playing 96000Hz 24-bit FLAC, by all means, give it a go (or any other lossless).
2) Test your 3.5mm headphone connection with decent pair of actual headphones. Still sucks? Spray the jack with compressed air and see if it helps. Try with another set of headphones. Try with a friend's car, try on your home stereo. Then connect to your car and compare. If it's worse, swap out the cable before anything else. Quality matters here. The difference between the the $0.99 cable you buy at the gas station and the $12 cable at BestBuy can be huge. A quality cable means one sheilded for interference with wiring and connectors made of materials that optimize conductivity (often a thin gold plating). Many are even cut specifically to ensure a solid connection through the narrow opening of an aftermarket case/protector. A better connection means better sound.
3) If all is well with the 3.5mm, plug it into your mobile charger. Audio still clean? If not, try another charger. Still sounding crappy? Is this limited to the car or did you hear it on your headphones? How about over bluetooth? If it's only in the car, and sound gets worse on the charger, there might be a ground loop somewhere in the car's electrical system (often this manifests as a high frequency whine that increases as you accelerate, or changes frequency when you turn on the A/C, headlights, etc). This could be as simple as something plugged into the cars cigarette lighter, or a bad connection somewhere in the vehicles electrical system... The problem is the "somewhere" part, and tracing it down can mean pulling fuses all day long.
3) If you connect over bluetooth (not optimal) perform the same tests. If bluetooth degrades audio quality significantly, then your car stereo may be on an older standard that simply can't operate at the bandwidth capabilities for high-bitrate audio. Aside from just not using bluetooth, there's no simple fix for this. If you dont get a drop in audio quality when connecting to another bluetooth device, then your in-car options are limited: connect via 3.5mm out, replace the head unit with a newer one, or install a bluetooth 4.0+ adapter to the car stereo's auxillary inputs. It's worth at least mentioning that, although unlikely, interference from other devices could be an issue. Anything that operates within the same wireless spectrum as bluetooth could be a source of interference. A bluetooth obdii reader, a wireless transmitter from a rear view camera, even other phones in the car that have been paired with the stereo.... Anything on 2.4ghz Normally, there's a preamble before transmission that keeps devices operating on these frequencies from interfering with each other, but if there's a bluetooth device in the vehicle on an early standard, that may not be the case. Also, if there's any USB 3.0 connection (powered hub, thumb drive) in close proximity to bluetooth, get rid of it or buy a shielded extension cable -noise emitted at the connection crushes bluetooth throughput and connection reliability.
Regardless, just make sure that the rest of your system is up to the task before investing in a DAC. Don't get me wrong, they are fantastic with the right gear, but each component of your setup can improve output as much as it can act as a bottleneck on the quality of the sound it reproduces. Make sure the investment is worth it by ensuring your system is ready for it. If not, put your money towards the fundamentals: Head unit + speakers.
mborzill said:
If your ROM is capable of natively playing 96000Hz 24-bit FLAC, by all means, give it a go.
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Are you aware of any such ROMs?
Well, some clarification is necessary... even stock kitkat should *play* a 24/96FLAC, but "Natively" isn't the correct terminology. If that were true 24/96 on the N5, this thread wouldn't exist. The Nexus 5 downsamples significantly, but the better the source, the better the sample. Quality will be great coming from a lossless 24bit/96khz source, but its not gonna be true 24/96 if its coming from the Nexus 5's internal DAC. It'll be downsampled to its hardware and software limitations. I know with kitkat this was 16bit/48khz, but I can't speak to whether or not this ceiling *actually* increased with Lollipop. In theory, the N5's Qualcomm Wolfson wcd9320 DAC supported up to 192khz, and Lollipop bumped support up to 96khz, but if I recall, it's the Snapdragon 800 that isn't capable of 24/96. Without a DAC, and downsampled to 16bit/48khz, you might get an imperceptibly lower noise floor, but other than I doubt you'd hear a difference between lossless sources.
Personally I think it's total overkill to use up that kind of space without having a DAC capable of reproducing it (or freakin golden ears) but if you're going for the most accurate reference track you can find for problem-tracing, have at it. Even Downsampled, that FLAC will sound much better than an encoded mp3.
If there's a ROM with true "native" 24/96khz reproduction on the N5 I certainly don't know about it... Or need it.
As to specific ROMs and compatibility: Cyanogenmod is my go-to. I prefer Viper4Android over AudioFX, but with major tweaking (specific to my headphones). Out of the box, AudioFX is great.
Lollipop, in general, has vastly improved audio performance. Raised sampling resolution from 16 bit PCM to 24bit and sampling rate from 44/48khz to support 96khz (if the phones hardware can support it, else USB DAC). Lower i/o latency gives the closest thing android has seen to real-time audio since the start (which has been a major issue for musicians,DJ, game developers, even VoIP). Floating point sampling is new too, which, in theory, reduces clipping, improves headroom and dynamic range.
Do I need to use a custom ROM with an external DAC like the Fiio E18 or other DAC's? Could I simply purchase any external DAC? If not what do I need to look for when shopping for external DAC's that work with the Nexus 5?
My Nexus 5 is stock currently on 5.1.
Thank you for any advice.
Viper 4 android.
Hi all,
Just wanted to put a thread together to talk around the audio capabilities of the HTC 10. From what I can see, the audio is split up into a couple of different areas:
1) Good quality internal hardware (DAC and separate amps for speakers and earphone),
2) Powerful two way speaker setup,
3) Better than normal earphones to take advantage of the hardware, and
4) Good quality software with the Personal Audio Profile System.
5) There is also Airplay support for those with 3rd party airplay speakers.
What hardware are people currently using (earphones, headphones, portable amps, portable usb DAC's)? When the phone is released, it will be good to get peoples impressions and reviews. Also to understand how different hardware affects those experiences (ie. different earphones work better or worse with this phone)??? Also, could this phone be good enough to take you away from dedicated hardware you might have (proper portable music players)?
One thing that I have noted which I haven't seen noted anywhere else is the Personal Audio Profile System being the same as what Aumeo has/is coming out with with their device (click here).
I personally have a couple of pairs of AKG over ear headphones and a pair of Flare R2Pro in-ear phones. Once I get my HTC, I will compare them with the hi-res ear-phones they come with and share my thoughts.
Open questions:
1) What DAC's are being used? What is inbuilt from Qualcomm or specialist 3rd party hardware?
2) What type of 3.5mm connector is being used (AHJ or OMTP), we believe AHJ based on previous HTC phones but could do with confirming)
rav101 said:
Hi all,
Just wanted to put a thread together to talk around the audio capabilities of the HTC 10. From what I can see, the audio is split up into a couple of different areas: 1) Good quality internal hardware (DAC and separate amps for speakers and earphone), 2) Powerful two way speaker setup, 3) better than normal earphones to take advantage of the hardware, and 4) Good quality software with the Personal Audio Profile System. Over these, there is the point that it works with Airplay which has a lot of support in terms of the 3rd party speaker market.
Just curious to see how people feel about the Audio capabilities of the 10 and whether that might be enough to take you away from dedicated hardware if you current use that?
One thing that I have noted which I haven't seen noted anywhere else is the Personal Audio Profile System being the same as what Aumeo has/is coming out with with their device (click here).
I currently have a couple of AKG over ears which I can't drive directly from my LG G4 without having a portable amp in the middle. I also have a pair of Flare R2Pro in ear phones that are quite hard to drive. Can't wait to test these out with the 10 when it comes out!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The 10 recognizes that you have plugged (wired) earphones into the jack and offers you two options for customization, a 'quick question' method and a more detailed method that requires listening to tones on left then right in different frequency ranges. You then have the option to 'save' the audio profile for those earphones. If you plug a different set of earphones in, the device recognizes it and offers you to use the existing profile or create a new one (you can store multiple profiles). This does not work with BT earphones, by the way.
The sound is superior to anything I've ever heard on any audio device. It can make cheap earphones sound good (although I recommend at least midrange earphones), and with decent earphones (I use a Shure pair) it's terrific.
hgoldner said:
The 10 recognizes that you have plugged (wired) earphones into the jack and offers you two options for customization, a 'quick question' method and a more detailed method that requires listening to tones on left then right in different frequency ranges. You then have the option to 'save' the audio profile for those earphones. If you plug a different set of earphones in, the device recognizes it and offers you to use the existing profile or create a new one (you can store multiple profiles). This does not work with BT earphones, by the way.
The sound is superior to anything I've ever heard on any audio device. It can make cheap earphones sound good (although I recommend at least midrange earphones), and with decent earphones (I use a Shure pair) it's terrific.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's awesome news that it does this for wired earphones!
Which pair of Shure earphones do you use? And other than these headphones, have you had a chance to try them with any other different sets of earphones?? Have you had a chance to try them with any over ear headphones, ones that might be harder to drive?
Whilst I have your attention. Have you had a play around with different audio formats / qualities? MP3 vs 24bit FLAC to see how much of a difference this makes on this setup?
Regards,
Ravi
rav101 said:
That's awesome news that it does this for wired earphones!
Which pair of Shure earphones do you use? And other than these headphones, have you had a chance to try them with any other different sets of earphones?? Have you had a chance to try them with any over ear headphones, ones that might be harder to drive?
Whilst I have your attention. Have you had a play around with different audio formats / qualities? MP3 vs 24bit FLAC to see how much of a difference this makes on this setup?
Regards,
Ravi
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't drive with earphones on (that's illegal here).
I have used the Personal Audio Profiles on 3 different pairs of earphones; a test set supplied with the test phone, Shure e3c's and an over-the-ear Audio-Technica pair. The Shure's and the test earphones are the best. The test earphones are my current daily (and may well be what comes in the box for some models, but I don't know because they don't tell us).
How do the speakers sound? As good as HTC One M7/8/9? Better?
hgoldner said:
I don't drive with earphones on (that's illegal here).
I have used the Personal Audio Profiles on 3 different pairs of earphones; a test set supplied with the test phone, Shure e3c's and an over-the-ear Audio-Technica pair. The Shure's and the test earphones are the best. The test earphones are my current daily (and may well be what comes in the box for some models, but I don't know because they don't tell us).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, to clarify when I say 'harder to drive' I mean over ear headphones that have a higher impedance. In this case, on other less powerful music players (or other phones), the headphones sound quiet even at max volume.
Trying to find out if it will have aptx hd enabled but no info. Also air play to aiport to dac should sound pretty decent
Sent from my LG-H901 using XDA-Developers mobile app
I am excited to see the phones response ranges in a test.
Would be cool to have my vinyl rips playing as good as it can get without a $1000 DAP.
Locklear308 said:
I am excited to see the phones response ranges in a test.
Would be cool to have my vinyl rips playing as good as it can get without a $1000 DAP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now that the embargo has lifted, I presume we will start seeing more in depth reviews and those should hopefully include more detailed audio tests.
I use a fiio e12 to amp my current phone (LG G4). Nothing fancy but pretty sure the HTC 10 will do much better than that setup now. :victory:
madcowintucson said:
Trying to find out if it will have aptx hd enabled but no info. Also air play to aiport to dac should sound pretty decent
Sent from my LG-H901 using XDA-Developers mobile app
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I am curious about this too as i will be buying the new lg bluetooth headset.
The audio is one of the main reason why I want this beast!
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk
Me too! I own a pair of mid-to-top range RHA T10 and I am really anticipating how these will sound with the HTC 10. I am a audiophile and the sound quality is really important to me.
My last two phone's have been the HTC M8 and LG G4. I have found that I use my phone less for music now that I'm using the G4 than the M8 and its because I just enjoy it less. Can't wait to hear how these sound with a good pair of earphones.
Audio Jack
Does anyone know what kind of audio jack standard the HTC 10 will use? Is it AHJ or OMTP?
Then i'll know if I can use the inline controls of my RHA T20i's as currently with my HTC m8.
Edit: Btw - I strongly advise using the Neutron app if you want high-end music. Already supports FLAC but last update also added DSD support for the SACD fanatics
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.neutroncode.mp
Hopefully USB Audio works as well! Have they mentioned that at all?
Heretic Infidel said:
Does anyone know what kind of audio jack standard the HTC 10 will use? Is it AHJ or OMTP?
Then i'll know if I can use the inline controls of my RHA T20i's as currently with my HTC m8.
Edit: Btw - I strongly advise using the Neutron app if you want high-end music. Already supports FLAC but last update also added DSD support for the SACD fanatics
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.neutroncode.mp
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Found this.
http://forums.windowscentral.com/wi...87-note-headset-standards-omtp-ahj-apple.html
Says HTC uses AHJ...
rav101 said:
Found this.
http://forums.windowscentral.com/wi...87-note-headset-standards-omtp-ahj-apple.html
Says HTC uses AHJ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why on EARTH is there more than one? This would be standardized now days like USB...
Is the audio upconversion/upsampling BS something that can be disabled from settings?
I am happy with the sound quality of the 10 through the speakers as well as through the jack
What type of DAC is in the HTC 10? Because just amping the Qualcomm native DAC won't result in clean awesome audio, just louder. I'm hoping is cirrus/Wolfson or Ess Sabre premium DAC's
I haven't been able to find much updated info on this topic, other than when the P6 & P6P were first released.
I've been using Google phones since the Galaxy Nexus. I just really like the "Google" experience.
I was in Best Buy about 2 years ago, and on a whim I bought an LG V40 open-box, not to use as a phone, but as an audio player. The LG V series phone have dedicated DAC chip-sets (usually ESS Sabre) that support higher resolution audio files and built-in amps that drive lower impedance headphones fairly well. Of course, the benefits are only available through wired headphones, and FLAC audio files of various types. I had subscribed to Tidal Masters until about 3 months ago when I switched to Qobuz Sublime +. When using USB Audio Pro, you can listen to MQA files at 24-bit, full-studio resolution. If you have an external DAC, you'll be able to listen to the exact same quality as recorded in the studio.
I still use the V40 and the internal ESS DAC, and FLAC files of various formats sound incredible - but they're still limited to Android's 16-bit/48khz resolution. (AFAIK, not guaranteed)
So...I wanted to experience the best sound possible in a portable format without spending $1500 on Astrel & Kern or other high-end DAP. That's when I bought an AudioQuest Cobalt USB DAC. Works wonderfully on my LG V40 - completely bypasses the internal DAC. Using a phone as a DAP has other advantages, especially if the phone has a MicroSD slot, not to mention being able to use Google Home and other Android apps.
I ordered a 256GB P6P unlocked from Google as soon as I could. The 256GB would be fine for my usual app installations and enough room to download a decent amount of audio files for offline play.
To my complete disappointment, when I plugged the AQ Cobalt in, it would play some files, but they were very low in volume and often there's no output at all. And my favorite - ear-bleeding screeches at random.
Google is aware of the issue, but I haven't read much beyond that. I really enjoy music, especially high quality recordings, and FLAC formats in general. MQA is unique because the files aren't huge like a WAV file, and when used with software like USB Audio Player Pro, you're able to listen in bit perfect mode, with absolutely no added or unwanted EQ curves, boosts, etc.
Sorry for the long post. I don't claim that what I've written is 100% accurate. But I can say that almost anyone will quickly notice details and subtleties in songs they've heard countless times before. As long as you don't mind being hardwired to your phone, it's incredible. My every day full-size headphones are $100 Grados, and my earbuds are AKG N20s.
There are other threads relating to this subject including this, in case it's helpful: Google's working on a fix for the Pixel 6's external DAC issues, but don't expect it anytime soon - You better hope 2022 flies by
roirraW edor ehT said:
There are other threads relating to this subject including this, in case it's helpful: Google's working on a fix for the Pixel 6's external DAC issues, but don't expect it anytime soon - You better hope 2022 flies by
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Agreed. I'm pretty certain that the issue is in the lower half of the lowest 2% in terms of priority among the Google engineers banished to the 7 workstations without a view of the outside world.
And yes, Bluetooth CODECS have evolved by leaps and bounds. Fewer and fewer reasons to be tethered by a 5' cord.
I'll even run the output from my Dragonfly Cobalt into an inexpensive tube amp to get my version of the best sound possible, especially if I'm using low impedence headphones.
I'll search the forum with different keywords to uncover more.
Thanks for replying!
Since Google apparently fixed USB DAC problems in June, what dongle DACs have ppl successfully used to play music 24bit/96kHz and up? Also has anyone used the Qobuz app (not UAPP) to play hi-res? TIA
I have a Samsung dongle and it can output 24bit/96kHz with my Pixel.
I use a moshi usb-c dac
USB-C Digital Audio Adapter with Charging (Universal)
Newly updated for maximum compatibility across all USB-C devices, including the iPad Pro (USB-C). Listen to pristine, high-resolution audio using regular 3.5 mm headphones. A USB-C pass-through port lets you charge your device at the same time.
us.moshi.com
You guys streaming with something like Tidal/Qobuz or playing local media files?
I use two regularly, an IFI Hip Dac, and a Topping NX4. As for the music, when I'm streaming, I use Apple Music which will give you the option to play the songs in hi res if you have a DAC connected. I used Amazon Music HD for years before that, and have always been a life long Android fan, so never even considered Apple Music. So as much as I don't really care for Apple or their products, I have it to hand it to them on the music front. They do something with their mastering of some of the albums (called Apple Masters or something), that, to my ears, just sound better than on Amazon.
That being said, I also have a qobuz subscription, but don't use their app. Instead, I use a script from GitHub called Qobuz-dl, which allows me to download the hi res music in FLAC form. All the music I download goes to my NAS, and from there, I connect it to apps like USB Audio Player Pro, Jellyfin, Plex, etc, and listen to it that way.
@mattprice86 Did you have compatibility problems with your DACs before Google released the USB update in June? On P6Pro I'm also using Apple Music and surprised how good it is. Using
the Apple USB-C DAC, too, which works fine but is limited to 16bit/44-48kHz on Android AFAIK. So I'm looking for a dongle that does high-res streaming and better sound quality. Something like the Hidizs S3 Pro but I'm hesitating to drop the cash because of the USB issues the P6 has had
q1nt said:
@mattprice86 Did you have compatibility problems with your DACs before Google released the USB update in June? On P6Pro I'm also using Apple Music and surprised how good it is. Using
the Apple USB-C DAC, too, which works fine but is limited to 16bit/44-48kHz on Android AFAIK. So I'm looking for a dongle that does high-res streaming and better sound quality. Something like the Hidizs S3 Pro but I'm hesitating to drop the cash because of the USB issues the P6 has had
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Yea I did. It was unusable for me prior to the update in June. I can't remember exactly what they did every time I tried to play music, but it was something like the sound would keep cutting out, or it'd start to play a noise over the music. I just remember having to turn it off right away. I ended up switching over to my LG V40 for my music until the patch came out. I actually still use the V40 frequently now, because it has Viper4Android, and I like to load autoeq profiles for my IEMs with the convolver.
I never really used dongle DACs, tbh. I forgot to mention this in my last post, but I also have a Fiio BTR5, which would be the closest thing, size wise, to a dongle DAC, that I use with my phones, and it works really well too.
That S3 pro looks like it'd be ok too. It's using an ESS9281C DAC chip. I haven't heard that particular chip, but ESS sabre chips are in my Fiio and my Topping NX4, and I like them. They have a brighter sound than something like a Burr Brown chip, that are used in Hip DACs.
@mattprice86 Thx that's super helpful--think I'll give the S3 a try. We've got similar tastes--I have a bricked V20 I used for years and still hoping to resurrect when I get a chance
I'm on Fiio KA-3, never had any compatibility issues with it, oddly an app hiby I think caused issues detecting it but otherwise it's been great.
Just Spotify high quality and download lots of flac to throw in media server
mattprice86 said:
Yea I did. It was unusable for me prior to the update in June. I can't remember exactly what they did every time I tried to play music, but it was something like the sound would keep cutting out, or it'd start to play a noise over the music. I just remember having to turn it off right away. I ended up switching over to my LG V40 for my music until the patch came out. I actually still use the V40 frequently now, because it has Viper4Android, and I like to load autoeq profiles for my IEMs with the convolver.
I never really used dongle DACs, tbh. I forgot to mention this in my last post, but I also have a Fiio BTR5, which would be the closest thing, size wise, to a dongle DAC, that I use with my phones, and it works really well too.
That S3 pro looks like it'd be ok too. It's using an ESS9281C DAC chip. I haven't heard that particular chip, but ESS sabre chips are in my Fiio and my Topping NX4, and I like them. They have a brighter sound than something like a Burr Brown chip, that are used in Hip DACs.
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How's the btr5 is it '21 edition? I'm aiming for the older one. I don't need to be thattt bleeding edge. I kind of shifted from iems over to my home audio which was a mistake because there is so many more in variables than headphones
@7h the KA-3 looks good to me. Have you had any issues playing hi res flacs on it?
Another vote for btr5 from fiio. It's excellent. I also have the btr3 but the 5 is much better in every way for both wired and wireless playback.
Reporting back... I pulled the trigger and bought a Hidizs S3 Pro. Works and sounds great. Blue LED lights up for streaming 96kHz tracks directly through the Qobuz app. I'm not using UAPP so apparently Qobuz app can stream in USB exclusive mode. P6 Pro with GrapheneOS