Computer Audio Asylum

Music servers and other computer based digital audio technologies.

Return to Computer Audio Asylum

Message Sort: Post Order or Asylum Reverse Threaded

USB Audio Player Pro - Anyone who has played with it ?

81.167.153.96
Posted on February 21, 2015 at 00:43:30
beppe61
Audiophile

Posts: 4705
Joined: January 29, 2004

Hi !
i have installed the app on this cheap media player in the link i had at hand in a drawer.

http://www.amazon.com/HiMedia-Q5-II-Launcher-Android-Player/dp/B00F4PWNDI

The sound seems nice with the dac in the picture that uses a Cirrus Logic CS4398 dac chip
Do you have any experience of the app in question ?
I am looking for a usb to spdif converter now, to be able to connect a better dac but i have not found any yet.
Thanks and have a nice day !

Kind regards,
bg

 

Hide full thread outline!
    ...
RE: USB Audio Player Pro - Anyone who has played with it ?, posted on February 21, 2015 at 02:01:45
soundchekk
Audiophile

Posts: 2426
Joined: July 11, 2007
Checkout Gustard U12.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

blog latest >> The Audio Streaming Series - tuning kit pCP

 

RE: USB Audio Player Pro - Anyone who has played with it ?, posted on February 21, 2015 at 06:24:36
beppe61
Audiophile

Posts: 4705
Joined: January 29, 2004
 Hi thanks for your kind reply.
I have one and i will do it for sure. Not connected yet: still in the box.
I did not think of it because there is a small cd with drivers i suppose.
I will try it for sure.
Thanks again.
Kind regards,
bg

 

yes, posted on February 21, 2015 at 18:52:18
Joe Murphy Jr
Audiophile

Posts: 4424
Joined: February 3, 2001
 I posted my comments

 

RE: yes, posted on February 22, 2015 at 00:03:37
beppe61
Audiophile

Posts: 4705
Joined: January 29, 2004
 Hi and thanks a lot for the very helpful reply.
Let me explain a little my situation.
I have always had a weak spot for little boxes and last year i bought i think 5 media players with Android OS (most of them came with 4.4).
My aim was and still is to set up a nice AV streamer with the possibility to connect a decent dac for nice music and forget about FW, OS, SW and HW. Something simple dedicated only to stream files from a NAS.
Problem is that no one provides drivers for Android systems.
Then i read of this app, i downloaded it and finally i have found a dac working with it and the sound is very interesting.
Next step would be to select a compatible usb to spdif converter and try a better dac.
I have looked at the " USB-to-optical converters from Turtle Beach" you mention but i would prefer a standard coax or optical out, not toslink-mini i mean.
I have already some cables to use.

Anyway, have you done any serious listening with your tablet maybe comparing it to another digital source ? what the outcome ?
Thanks a lot again.

P.S. after some testing i think i will give up with Android
It is not a serious OS i think.
Kind regards,
bg

 

sort of agree with that, posted on February 22, 2015 at 22:16:09
Joe Murphy Jr
Audiophile

Posts: 4424
Joined: February 3, 2001
 Android is currently not a serious OS. The potential is there, but like many things it depends on the man behind the curtain (in this case, Google, who cannot be taken serious re: audio).

Unfortunately, I only tested the tablet running this app in its current setup vs a Krell KPS-20t CD transport via TOSlink. The Krell won -- it was just more detailed everywhere, smoother, music had a better flow and the low end just kicked the tablet's ass.

For the above I wish I wouldn't have sold the Krell, but I needed a better camera for my sports photography and there was this Nikon D3 with a buffer upgrade that was calling my name.

 

RE: sort of agree with that, posted on February 23, 2015 at 15:30:45
beppe61
Audiophile

Posts: 4705
Joined: January 29, 2004
 Hi and thanks again for the very helpful reply.
i am everything but an expert this i have to say to start.
But also as you say i have the feeling that Android has some good potential for good sound indeed.
Lately after having read a lot of interesting discussions here i have come to the conclusion that slim and i presume efficient Operating Systems have this potential.
I know that OS is not the only thing by the way.
Also Bios and the actual player SW are fundamental.
Nevertheless this is my feeling and Android is both slim and efficient ... i suppose.

This said i should rephrased my sentences.
I do not know if it is possible/difficult to write a driver for Android.
I think so but there is no interest. Very strange indeed.
I have not been able to find a usb dac, for instance, with driver for Android. This is unbelievable given the huge number of Android devices used around the world. No one !!!
I feel that this usb audio player pro is something like a patch for something that is missing.
Maybe loaded with a proper driver even an android unit could be a good source for a usb dac or usb to spdif converter.

Very interesting the comparison with the wonderful krell ... a really high end classic up there with the very best ever built.
But maybe the usb to toslink converter could have held back the performance ? why not try a different converter maybe with coaxial out ? i strongly suggest to use a usb power supply in case
The improvement is very evident

Now i am visiting my old parents in another city
But i will try to use the Gustard u12 i have at home with usb audio player

This app is not like a proper driver that i can load and forget
It is more tricky but i have to try anyway
I can only say that with the cheap usb dac the sound was no worse than using a better win 7 pc at all. Very clear and no noise or distortion. I watched some movies and the effects were very well rendered.
If i find something interesting i will post.
Thanks a lot again.
Kind regards,
bg

 

'tis no more, posted on February 24, 2015 at 14:50:49
Joe Murphy Jr
Audiophile

Posts: 4424
Joined: February 3, 2001
 Sadly, the Krell was sold to feed my photography needs.

There are many Android devices that output digital audio via their microUSB connections (no special app required). To do so requires at least Android 4.0 or higher. Technically, Google had the means in Android 3.0 -- it was in the code -- but didn't push it. My tablet, running Android 3.2, won't output audio via USB unless I am using the USB Audio Pro app. The app bypasses the Android audio protocol and basically takes over the USB port. Read the specs for the app at the Google Play store.

Android is based on Linux. What's holding Android back is all of the idiotic crap that loads up when the devices are powered on. Even after you shut down the unneeded garbage, it comes back. I don't think even the devs, after rooting the devices, have access to stopping that stuff from loading up while the device is running. On top of that many of the app makers require unnecessary permissions (why would an audio app need to know your location?) that trigger more junk loading.

If you want a device solely for audio, Android has limitations.

 

RE: 'tis no more, posted on February 24, 2015 at 22:53:20
beppe61
Audiophile

Posts: 4705
Joined: January 29, 2004
Hi and thanks again for the very helpful advice.
I believe in slimmed OS lately. OSs loaded with too many processes slow down and could lead to problems like latency or what else.
If i will find a suitable set-up i will revert.
Thanks a lot again.
Kind regards,
bg

 

RE: USB Audio Player Pro and Gustard U12 - it works ! , posted on March 3, 2015 at 23:50:19
beppe61
Audiophile

Posts: 4705
Joined: January 29, 2004
 Hi thanks a lot for the very helpful hint.
Yesterday evening i tried the Gustard U12 with my Android 4.4 media player and USB Audio Player Pro and it works !
The Gustard was just out of the box but if the U12 is as decent as i read here and there i think that the ensemble can make for a quite decent digital source for almost nothing.
Stupidly i have not tried the spdif out of the media player. Maybe it is just as good.
In the weekend i will stream some files from the Nas and listen.
I wonder why the people intrigued by stripped down HW and SW they do not pay attention to Android based media players.
I cannot think of a slimmer system.
Thanks a lot again. Have a nice day !
Kind regards,
bg

 

RE: USB Audio Player Pro and Gustard U12 - it works ! , posted on March 4, 2015 at 00:41:08
soundchekk
Audiophile

Posts: 2426
Joined: July 11, 2007
 Android is all but stripped down.
It is as bad, perhaps even worse, then a standard Windows installation.
There is a huge amount of processes and services sitting in the background.
Google hasn't put much emphasis on (USB-) audio. There have been many issues associated to audio all the time.

USB Audio Player Pro solves some of them at least.

I use my LG G3 as mobile mp3 player or (aptx-) bluetooth source and squeeze remote control. I'm not using it as serious audio source.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

blog latest >> The Audio Streaming Series - tuning kit pCP

 

RE: USB Audio Player Pro and Gustard U12 - it works ! , posted on March 4, 2015 at 01:46:30
beppe61
Audiophile

Posts: 4705
Joined: January 29, 2004
 Hi and thanks a lot again for the very valuable reply.
You say that " I'm not using it as serious audio source "
I guess you have tried it with your good rig already and found it inferior
I can tell you that i cannot tell the difference between this cheap chinese media player using USB Audio player pro app and a better win 7 pc using the same downstream system.
In both case the signal is taken out of USB ports of course and sent to a usb dac.
Maybe this is the point ... the resolving ability of the downstream equipment.
But if you have tried in your best system i trust your judgement completely.
I will go back to a normal pc.
Thanks again.
Kind regards,
bg

 

Page processed in 0.028 seconds.

[ Top Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2024, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]