Question What dongle DAC for high-res music? - Google Pixel 6 Pro

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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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

Related

[Q] Developing a NFC, Wireless charging dock

Hi to the fantastic team of minds on XDA! I'm currently working through building a wireless charging/streaming dock with NFC for my Nexus 5, although the plan is to extend support to any device that supports Wireless Charging & NFC.
Basic concept is for use in a car, but could also be adapted for other situations easily. Basic operation is drop phone in charging area/cradle, NFC tag is read by phone and either launches the music player OR for me in my case, runs tasker to set volume max, play library on shuffle, launch GPS tracking for work/private mileage etc and the phone would stream audio to a receiver wired into the cars headunit.
NFC/Wireless charging.. piece of cake. Audio streaming... not so fun.
I would really like decent audio quality, not quite audiophile level but certainly at least as good as the 3.5mm line out from the headphone jack. Initially I disliked the idea of bluetooth due to quality however looking around I found some Bluetooth 4 APT-X enabled boards that seemed to fit the bill fairly well as apparently APT-X sounds much better in comparison to A2DP (haven't tried out for myself though). Only problem is the Nexus as well as a lot of other devices don't support APT-X. Other than bluetooth I'm really struggling to find a good quality wireless streaming standard that is fairly plug and play. I found a WiFi option via DTS using DLNA but the details on the receiving hardware are sketchy, it also doesn't seem very transparent (requires input from 3rd party apps etc).
I also found a few posts relating to Chromecast enabled media servers that will allow Play music to cast music to them, but again, can't really find any pre made WiFi enabled DLNA "dumb" servers designed to simply capture an audio stream. Again, not very transparent. Ideally it would work natively and without much 3rd party input.. although this may not be entirely possible so I'm open to all options.
So, what are my options? Also, why with Bluetooth 4 with the max bitrate of 20+mbps do we not have a high bit rate audio streaming profile/protocol?
I did consider the idea of a wired DAC, but the major plus on the cable free design is being able to just drop the phone in and grab it out without fiddling for cables. Also the Nexus 5 doesn't support USB DAC OOTB. I also had difficulty sourcing a DAC that would output acceptable audio (at least as good as the headphone jack) for a good price. Everything I found was either expensively high end or nasty & cheap. All I need is a bare board that gets stuffed into a cable box and works! I bought a cheap $5 DAC off ebay ages ago for testing. Worst mistake ever!!! Horrible sound, but hey it was $5
Thanks for any input!
- Auzeras
If bluetooth sound qualitiy is too bad for you (for me its ok with my JVC radio) i think the aux cable is the only option. But if you have to plug in the cable the "just drop your phone"-concept is gone. I suggest trying to use the USB port for audio out (because aux input isnt a big deal for most of the cars) und charging at the same time. For the dock i think using the brodit docks is ok although these docks are expensive. Alternativly you could try to use a cheaper dock.
For USB audio out i think a cheap DAC like this should be fine, but you need the usb audio recorder pro app (see this thread). Next thing is charging at the same time. Maybe its possible to do it like this with an powered usb hub but you'll have to try that. Overall its more the developing of an USB aux output with the ability of charging but i think its the only option to get the audio qualitiy you want.

External DACs and the OPO: Which Work Best?

Here's a list of DACs reportedly working with the OPO:
The Audioquest Dragonfly works with USB Audio Recorder/Player Pro (as long as Tweak 1 is installed, according to chazman1117)
The FiiO E07k, according to this OnePlus One Forums member.
The Fiio E10 actually works with "an OTG cable and no external power," as reported by benoitb and confirmed by me! The E10 doesn't require UAPP/UARP to work; it receives signal from every audio player I've used, and EQ utilities also have a direct effect.
But since I've read that using an unpowered USB DAC with an unpowering source can damage said source, I don't think I'll be making a habit of using an E10 with my OPO -- especially in light of this week's exploding battery fiasco.
The FiiO E17 works well with the CyanHacker ROM and possibly stock CM as well (according to sandels' findings)
The FiiO E18 (confirmations appear here and here, though it's a tad unclear whether the latter poster's talking about an OPO or a "graveyarded" Nexus 5)
The FiiO E7 is working with the OPO, according to Head-fi's Cattlethief.
The Apex Glacier DAC, Poimandres of Head-fi assures us, not only works quite well with the CM's 38r 24/192-ready update but "streams USB audio from Neutron divinely." (Apex wants you to know that the Glacier uses a "bipolar power supply" -- best to listen to demanding headphones when it's not in the manic phase, apparently!)
The HiFiMeDIY TinyDAC works with KitKat but not Android L, reportedly; I know from personal experience that it works with an OPO running CM11 stock.
The HRT Music Streamer II is working with the OPO, according to Head-fi's Cattlethief.
The iFi Nano iDSD is reportedly working with the OPO according to this post by Head-fi member cattlethief.
The NuForce uDAC-2 is reportedly working with the OPO according to this post on Head-Fi (to which DanBa was kind enough to drop in and link).
The Rega DAC works with the OPO without any issues according to mapin0518, who used it with Google Play Music and this Micro USB to USB OTG Adapter.
The Sony PHA-1, according to this Head-fi member.
The Stoner Acoustics UD120 DAC is working with the OPO, according to Head-fi's Cattlethief -- though only with UAPP.
The Vamp Verza works with stock music players as well as UAPP/UARP according to chazmann1117's findings. Update: Chazmann now reports that, "when using the settings required by the DAC for an android phone," there is "barely audible" noise. The noise goes away if you switch to "apple mode" on the Verza, but that makes the battery drain far more quickly.
The YuLong U100 works a treat with the OPO, according to mrruin.
(I recall reading that the JDS Labs C5D also works with the OPO, but I'm still looking for concrete verification.)
* * * * *
History​
Most people who are interested in using external DACs with Android phones have been following DanBa's Android DAC thread on Head-fi for the past few years.
DanBa is focused on DAC compatibility with mainstream devices by Samsung and Nexus because the former has been the most popular maker of Android phones and the latter is Google's intersection with chosen hardware companies. Samsung and Nexus devices, DanBa reasons, will affect Google's implementation of USB audio most directly and so are most deserving of his time.
That's why it's unlikely he'll create a list of DACs that work with the OnePlus One.
It's also why I thought we might create one ourselves.
I have a Fiio E17 and it's working. I've had a couple issues with the apps crashing but I've only just started testing so I'll update when I know more. Plays both MP3 and FLAC fine.
I'm running CyanHacker ROM.
OnePlus One > USB OTG adaptor > USB cable > Fiio E17 > Earphones > Ears
After more days of listening I can confirm that Fiio E17 works great with the OPO. I suspect the first few crashes were ROM related. Let me know if you have any questions and I can test stuff.
I have the OPO and can conform that the Audioquest Dragonfly and the FiiO E-7 work fine, although I had to enable USB tweak 1 in the USB Audio Player Pro as I would randomly lose sync with the DAC.
I will update this post later today as I will have the opportunity to test the V-Moda Vamp Verza.
I would appreciate feedback on DACs without using UAPP since the app brings its own driver interface to communicate with DACs. Outside the app DACs quickly loose the ability to work with various phones.
So if you have a DAC and a OPO phone, please give feedback without using UAPP and see if it works with a standard music player. Thanks!
My Yulong U100 works, but it is not a portable or widely available DAC.
mrruin said:
I would appreciate feedback on DACs without using UAPP since the app brings its own driver interface to communicate with DACs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't used or installed UAPP at all. Apps I've used are Apollo, Soundcloud, Youtube, Chrome, and various games. System sounds and the like are all fine as well. As far as I'm can tell the E17 + OPO works with anything and everything.
mrruin said:
I would appreciate feedback on DACs without using UAPP since the app brings its own driver interface to communicate with DACs. Outside the app DACs quickly loose the ability to work with various phones. So if you have a DAC and a OPO phone, please give feedback without using UAPP and see if it works with a standard music player. Thanks! My Yulong U100 works, but it is not a portable or widely available DAC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Then again, perhaps other people might like to know which DACs work with the OPO in whatever capacity -- with UARP or without. Anyone who's gracious enough to test their DAC with their setup and report their findings here has my gratitude whether or not they have to use UARP -- yourself included. (I believe the Dragonfly does require UARP, hence chazman's specific feedback, if I understood him correctly.)
No need to limit the scope of this thread to the setup you desire. Your interests will still be covered.
2. It sounds as though your Yulong U100 works without UARP, since you didn't mention using it and are interested specifically in avoiding it, correct?
Reignogleph MMXI said:
1. Then again, perhaps other people might like to know which DACs work with the OPO in whatever capacity -- with UARP or without. Anyone who's gracious enough to test their DAC with their setup and report their findings here has my gratitude whether or not they have to use UARP -- yourself included. (I believe the Dragonfly does require UARP, hence chazman's specific feedback, if I understood him correctly.)
No need to limit the scope of this thread to the setup you desire. Your interests will still be covered.
2. It sounds as though your Yulong U100 works without UARP, since you didn't mention using it and are interested specifically in avoiding it, correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Generally from what I have seen almost any DAC with standard USB interface will work with UAPP. They really did a good job with that app and its driver interface, no doubt. But it is also no native support, there is an interface layer in between.
What would be perfect is that everyone who tries to use their DAC with their phone not only tries UAPP but also "normal" operation. Too often that information is missing. However if a DAC works without UAPP it will work with Ultimate Audio Player Pro as well.
So in my case the U100 works systemwide, with any audio/video app I tried. Stock and CM based roms.
sandels said:
I haven't used or installed UAPP at all. Apps I've used are Apollo, Soundcloud, Youtube, Chrome, and various games. System sounds and the like are all fine as well. As far as I'm can tell the E17 + OPO works with anything and everything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
perfect, thanks
mrruin said:
Generally from what I have seen almost any DAC with standard USB interface will work with UAPP. They really did a good job with that app and its driver interface, no doubt. But it is also no native support, there is an interface layer in between.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It isn't always true that any USB DAC will work with UARP. The success is very much dependent on the player and the DAC. Another factor is power, of course. If, for example, a USB DAC intended to be powered by the computer for which it was designed (cf. the Dragonfly) only worked with the OPO when an external powered hub was added, I'd want to know that as well.
mrruin said:
What would be perfect is that everyone who tries to use their DAC with their phone not only tries UAPP but also "normal" operation. Too often that information is missing. However if a DAC works without UAPP it will work with Ultimate Audio Player Pro as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just did a search for "Ultimate Audio Player Pro" on the playstore and found nothing. Are you certain you don't mean USB Audio Recorder Pro?
Also: When people say that a DAC works with USB Audio Recorder Pro, I believe they're trying to say that it doesn't work without UARP. The convenient shorthand for them might be to add the word only:
"Schiit-on-a-Wheel Audio's Nordic Conquest DAC works with CM OS and the stock music app, but Megathrum's MeagerDAC works only with UARP and revision 340.2(c) of the ThermalCup ROM."
that's the one
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.extreamsd.usbaudioplayerpro
it is "USB" not "Ultimate" Audio Player Pro. Same developer.
chazman1117 said:
I have the OPO and can conform that the Audioquest Dragonfly and the FiiO E-7 work fine, although I had to enable USB tweak 1 in the USB Audio Player Pro as I would randomly lose sync with the DAC.
I will update this post later today as I will have the opportunity to test the V-Moda Vamp Verza.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am listening to the V-Moda Vamp Verza right now using Poweramp. Works flawlessly, sounds awesome. Also works with Google Play music as well as USB Audio Player Pro.
mrruin said:
that's the one
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.extreamsd.usbaudioplayerpro
it is "USB" not "Ultimate" Audio Player Pro. Same developer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Got it: You meant to type USB but typed Ultimate -- perhaps because it turns out you're not alone.
I point this out not to be a vast hulking dink but because (1) there's an app called "Ultimate Audio Player," which people might mistakenly download instead, and (2) I googled the name "Ultimate Audio Recorder Pro" and found threads like this one, in which Head-fi members used the incorrect name for the app -- and one of them happens to be NZtechfreak -- a dedicated cataloger of USB DACs.
Note, too, that user phi303 had the same experience I did: S/he looked for Ultimate Audio Player Pro on the Playstore and found nothing. It's interesting that that's happened more than twice.
For the above reasons, I think it's worthwhile for people to know we're talking about USB Audio Player Pro sans the word Ultimate. Since I wasn't familiar with that UARP offshoot until you made me aware of it, I wouldn't expect every DAC user to know it either -- not automatically, at least.
Both UARP and UAPP use drivers that bypass the limitations of source software, which is why I suspected they had to be the same software with an incorrect initialism or variants of the same original software.
another +1 for fiio E17 working on oneplus one (i'm assuming the OP is using on the stock rom)
Confirmed the OPO will work with FIIO E17 via USB
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://forums.oneplus.net/threads/opo-usb-audio.20694/page-3
chazman1117 said:
I am listening to the V-Moda Vamp Verza right now using Poweramp. Works flawlessly, sounds awesome. Also works with Google Play music as well as USB Audio Player Pro.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Update--
After extensive listening I had to return the V-Moda Vamp Versa DAC. When using the settings required by the DAC for an android phone there is audible (barely) noise. If you change the settings to apple mode - the noise goes away, but the battery drains extremely quick. No Bueno.
Rega DAC works
My OnePlus One recognized my Rega DAC without any issues. I used it with Google Play Music.
OnePlus One -> USB Micro OTG to USB 2.0 Adapter -> USB cable -> Rega DAC -> Rega (or any) Amp
Cable: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005QX7KYU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
DAC: http://www.musicdirect.com/p-12208-rega-dac.aspx
Thanks, mapin and chazman -- and thanks to DanBa for dropping me a note about the uDAC2.
List updated; it now includes a few new findings from users on Head-fi's OPO thread.
Added to list: the Apex Glacier, Stoner UD 120, HRT Music Streamer 2 and FiiO E7.
Thanks for those updates go to Poinmandres, cattlethief and DanBa.
The Aune T1 works great!!great sound!using a USB micro otg tot USB 2.0 adapter.
i also confirm fiio17 works with oneplus one (usb audio player pro). A nice combination but not to portable is to connect to e17 a e12 as headphone amp(with fiio l7). It drives my sennheiser hd600 excellent and even my ie8.
User confirms cd5 works with opo
http://www.reddit.com/r/androidaudio/comments/2ro7r3/my_android_audio_setup_is_complete/

[Q] Behringer UCA202 DAC - sounds horrible compared to headphone jack/bluetooth

So I found a Behringer UCA202 DAC online for really cheap and thought why not try it just for fun. Everything I've read says having one can help a bit and I figured at the least it would sound the same, but I plugged it into my Nexus 5 via OTG then plugged the AUX cord to my Jeep into the DAC and all bass and pretty much any other level of detail is gone from my music whether it's from Pandora, YouTube HD, or FLAC audio files. Audio sound quality is equal to listening to music over old mono bluetooth, you hear it fine but any highs and lows are removed. Has anyone else used this DAC that could give some suggestions?
Otherwise it's just as I assumed, DACs are pointless on good quality phones and that's why I can't find any DAC threads with the Nexus 5 involved.
herqulees said:
So I found a Behringer UCA202 DAC online for really cheap and thought why not try it just for fun. Everything I've read says having one can help a bit and I figured at the least it would sound the same, but I plugged it into my Nexus 5 via OTG then plugged the AUX cord to my Jeep into the DAC and all bass and pretty much any other level of detail is gone from my music whether it's from Pandora, YouTube HD, or FLAC audio files. Audio sound quality is equal to listening to music over old mono bluetooth, you hear it fine but any highs and lows are removed. Has anyone else used this DAC that could give some suggestions?
Otherwise it's just as I assumed, DACs are pointless on good quality phones and that's why I can't find any DAC threads with the Nexus 5 involved.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ummm, it's not a DAC. It's an interface.
theesotericone said:
Ummm, it's not a DAC. It's an interface.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, with a DAC in it. You need a DAC to get audio output through USB, there is no analog audio output through USB/USB OTG...
herqulees said:
Yes, with a DAC in it. You need a DAC to get audio output through USB, there is no analog audio output through USB/USB OTG...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it has a DAC but it's not meant as a stand alone DAC. It's an interface or soundcard. Does your phone have enough juice to even operate the thing? Also for a device that sells for less than 30 bucks what exactly where you expecting? Get a real DAC. You will notice a huge difference. Until then do some more research on what you have and see if your meeting it's power requirements.
This is actually a pretty good review of the unit with lots of technical info.
http://nwavguy.blogspot.com/2011/02/behringer-uca202-review.html
theesotericone said:
Yes it has a DAC but it's not meant as a stand alone DAC. It's an interface or soundcard. Does your phone have enough juice to even operate the thing? Also for a device that sells for less than 30 bucks what exactly where you expecting? Get a real DAC. You will notice a huge difference. Until then do some more research on what you have and see if your meeting it's power requirements.
This is actually a pretty good review of the unit with lots of technical info.
http://nwavguy.blogspot.com/2011/02/behringer-uca202-review.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While I can't see power being an issue I suppose I'll test with my Nexus 7 and laptop. I know it's a cheap DAC but I've read many reviews using this DAC with tablets and phones for car audio, along with the nwavguy in-depth review and testing showing how it's not a multi-hundred dollar unit but still does amazingly well. My issue is it doesn't even sound decent. It sounds like I'm playing rap/hip-hop through an old Nokia on speaker phone, you can hear it clearly but there's no depth.
So I tossed this DAC in a closet after I got bored of trying to make it work right and forgot about it for a year or so till earlier today when I found it while cleaning. My Nexus 5 has been retired and serves no purpose other than a security camera now. I now have a Samsung Galaxy S5 and an RCA Maven Pro tablet. The RCA Maven Pro is an 11.1inch 2-in-1 Android tablet with detachable keyboard for around $120. You'd assume it's horrible thanks to the brand and price but they managed to cut corners in all the right places it seems. Downsides are no GPS, 1GB of RAM, terrible cameras, and a horrible speaker. Other than that it has faithfully replaced my $1200 laptop with zero issues other than adjusting to ditching Windows.
Now back on track when I listen to music I'm either using an aux cord plugged into my work truck or bluetooth when using headphones or in my new car. When doing a side by side comparison bluetooth, to no surprise, shows no difference between my Maven and S5. However when using an aux cord the RCA doesn't put out as much bass and highs are... I guess not as clear? I think audiophiles are insane most of the time so it's hard for me to describe when I do notice a difference. Anyways I plugged the UCA202 into the RCA's USB port (no OTG here, it has a full size USB port) and plugged my Sony MDR-XB950BT headphones in to it with an aux cord (these headphones are 100% passive when wired, no bass boost or other enhancements) and sound quality is just as great as my S5, all bass and highs are restored. Just to further the test I plugged it into my S5 and did the same test with the same results. These are the same FLAC song files from the same network location that my Nexus 5 was playing a year ago.
The whole time the issue was something in my Nexus 5. What it was I don't know and sorry you guys I don't plan on investigating, I just wanted to inform everyone that the Behringer UCA202 is in fact a quality budget DAC since this thread is a top Google result for "Behringer UCA202 Android". If you have a cheap device that you want the audio to be on par with the high end phones this will do it, and for my original purpose of at the same time giving a bit of amplification for a weak head unit without distortion it does that decently too. To finish this off I am NOT an audiophile. Just a human with human hearing that likes songs with bass on car head units that weren't always designed for it (I glued a 80mm CPU fan to the back of the HU in my Jeep ) So take my finer details however you'd like.
the DAC works great for my Nexus 7 2013 model.
maybe otg cable is sh1tty
Sent from my D820 CAF using Tapatalk

External HiFi USB-C DAC not working properly

Hi!
Last week I received the Pixel 2 XL, which seems to me a nearly perfect phone.
The only problem to me is the lack of 3,5mm jack output. Given the poor sound quality of Google's dongle, I decided to buy a HiFi solution, recommended by most audiophile people I know, the Sabre 9018 USB-C DAC by Hifimedy.
And now, there comes the issue. When I plug the USB DAC to the phone, it works flawlessly... for a few seconds. In fact, the sound is quite great for the price. But, after a few seconds or when the song changes, the sound stops. The song keeps playing in the phone, but there is no sound in the headphones, although the red light in the DAC suggests it is still receiving energy from the phone. I've used many apps, like Tidal, Play Music, Poweramp, Spotify, VLC... and it's the same with all of them.
I don't know if there is a way to force sound to keep flowing through the USB port, or if it's an issue caused by oreo's energy management, but neither the DAC's manufacturer nor the Google support know why it happens.
You guys are my last resort. If nobody here can hint a solution to the problem, I will have to battle with the DAC manufacturer to get a refund.
Thanks very much in advance for any help that may come!
Jesugandalf said:
Hi!
Last week I received the Pixel 2 XL, which seems to me a nearly perfect phone.
The only problem to me is the lack of 3,5mm jack output. Given the poor sound quality of Google's dongle, I decided to buy a HiFi solution, recommended by most audiophile people I know, the Sabre 9018 USB-C DAC by Hifimedy.
And now, there comes the issue. When I plug the USB DAC to the phone, it works flawlessly... for a few seconds. In fact, the sound is quite great for the price. But, after a few seconds or when the song changes, the sound stops. The song keeps playing in the phone, but there is no sound in the headphones, although the red light in the DAC suggests it is still receiving energy from the phone. I've used many apps, like Tidal, Play Music, Poweramp, Spotify, VLC... and it's the same with all of them.
I don't know if there is a way to force sound to keep flowing through the USB port, or if it's an issue caused by oreo's energy management, but neither the DAC's manufacturer nor the Google support know why it happens.
You guys are my last resort. If nobody here can hint a solution to the problem, I will have to battle with the DAC manufacturer to get a refund.
Thanks very much in advance for any help that may come!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try to restart the Phone it should Work after it
Try Not to Start the Phone with the DAC in or dont Plug in the If Music is playing
If U want an other Hifi DAC that Supports the Pixel and have a pretty good build quality:
NEXUM AQUA
tessut said:
Try to restart the Phone it should Work after it
Try Not to Start the Phone with the DAC in or dont Plug in the If Music is playing
If U want an other Hifi DAC that Supports the Pixel and have a pretty good build quality:
NEXUM AQUA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your help, but I restarted the phone, resetted it, and the Hifimediy DAC still does not work.
I think I will go for a refund, it seems the DAC isn't compatible with the Pixel 2.
I'll have a look at that Nexum Aqua you pointed out.

Question External USB DAC - working yet, fixes?

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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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!

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