[Q] Developing a NFC, Wireless charging dock - General Accessories

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.

Related

[Q] Audio line-out for Galaxy Nexus

Hello all ,
Is there a way to get an audio line-out from the Galaxy Nexus, either using an adapter or a docking station? I'm not looking for a solution like the one offered by the Samsung Galaxy S2's car dock (which streams bluetooth audio from the phone to the dock, then the dock turns the bluetooth streaming to analog audio through a 3.5mm port) but rather something like an adapter for the MHL port or from the docking station.
Appreciate all the help!
The obvious solution (at least to me) is to plug into the headphone jack. You could also use either the media dock or MHL adapter in conjunction with an HDMI-to-analog adapter such as the one linked below:
http://www.amazon.com/HDMI-RCA-comp...OQPU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1321905031&sr=8-2
vespoid said:
The obvious solution (at least to me) is to plug into the headphone jack. You could also use either the media dock or MHL adapter in conjunction with an HDMI-to-analog adapter such as the one linked below:
http://www.amazon.com/HDMI-RCA-comp...OQPU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1321905031&sr=8-2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He's asking for a line out solution because it will bypass the internal headphone amp that is utilized when the 3.5mm port is used. If you're plugging the phone into speakers or a sound system that way you'll get much better sound.
If the mhl -> HDMI cable adapter carries both audio and video, you could use an hdmi breakout adapter to split the digital audio. It depends on the HDMI output capabilities of the phone and the acceptability of digital audio for your needs.
Edit: would no doubt be a cumbersome solution. It all comes down to your usage scenario for the output.
Sent from my GT-P7510 using Tapatalk
Thank you vespoid, ardabey.
What OJ in Compton said, I'm looking to bypass the internal headphone amp, not sure if there are any details on the car dock or desk dock, I hope 3rd party manufacturers come up with something, any solutions are welcome.
Ali
Never thought about this, but a contactless dock with HDMI out directly to the AMP = audio bliss. Thanks to the forum for letting me see the obvious
Bumping this thread...has anyone successfully done this? I want line out audio for my car's 3.5mm AUX input - had it with my ipod and it sounded much better than through the headphone jack, as well the convenience of not having to maintain two volumes.
Hoping the official car dock that uses the 3 pin connector and has a 3.5 out would do this, but I'm worried it will just use BT to transmit the audio to the dock like I read the Nexus One dock did.
I wish too that the NG had line level out.
I think it's a limitation of the hardware. I think Apple is the online one that really uses line level out via it's dock connector.
I hope someday Google will use some sort of line level out on their reference hardware or built support directly into a newer OS.
I remember my old Dell DJ had line level out. Soooooo much better.
There is nothing wrong with the 3.5mm output sound quality wise.
Trying to drive headphone-like impedance (lower) with a line out isn't the best idea, but driving higher impedance inputs like your car deck isn't that bad as long as you let the amps do the "work" of boosting the volume and not your phone. While not optimal, the decrease in sound quality shouldn't be very noticeable.
The main advantage of the digital audio though USB (what apple does) IMO is that it eliminates the need to have both the USB plugged in to charge and the 3.5 mm cord for audio. It also allows song data to be shared and device control from the speaker/head unit. Good setups will recognize most android devices as mass USB storage and provide the same functionality, but I'm not sure how the MTS on the GN will affect this.
I would wait and see how the audio quality is from the dock. Even if it is bluetooth, the audio quality may not be that bad.
Lithoss said:
There is nothing wrong with the 3.5mm output sound quality wise.
Trying to drive headphone-like impedance (lower) with a line out isn't the best idea, but driving higher impedance inputs like your car deck isn't that bad as long as you let the amps do the "work" of boosting the volume and not your phone. While not optimal, the decrease in sound quality shouldn't be very noticeable.
The main advantage of the digital audio though USB (what apple does) IMO is that it eliminates the need to have both the USB plugged in to charge and the 3.5 mm cord for audio. It also allows song data to be shared and device control from the speaker/head unit. Good setups will recognize most android devices as mass USB storage and provide the same functionality, but I'm not sure how the MTS on the GN will affect this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem is, that if the head unit supports MTP then yes it can read the device like mass-storage, thats fine, but it doesn't allow you to stream media from radio apps, youtube and turn-by-turn directions from gps, this is what we are looking for...
technically it's not sending analog audio output through the USB, its just reading the stored media on the phone.
I have read that samsung phones are able to accomplish sending analog audio through the USB while charging, with the correct resistance values (adapter) or possibly with software pointing the audio in that direction (for example code build into the framework/API)
this is one major thing that Android lacks over iPhone, this problem should be addressed ASAP. I'm hoping CM9 might be able to find a solution for this.
I agree, i hope they fix this soon toi. It would make the development of accessories much easier for all android phones. Seems like a no brainer but I guess Google has other priorities...
A feature request for Android 4.0 to enable USB audio:
http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=24614
Juvenall said:
A feature request for Android 4.0 to enable USB audio:
http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=24614
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just starred this, if the hardware is able to do that I find it completely stupid that they do not allow it.
Smartphones audio amps are not exactly famous for being top-quality so having this possibility would be great.
Thanks. The lack of this feature is ridiculous/mind-boggling/suprising.
Well, if you were waiting for the card dock to solve your problems... it doesn't. Plugging into the dock's "line out" gets you amp driven sound. I really do not understand why this is such an issue for Android. When I plug somoething into my 3 year old Nokia smartphone a window pops up for me to choose headphones, headset or line out. Why can't ICS offer the option and if in the car dock, default to line out? A USB solution is not going to help if you are using the car dock.
Juvenall said:
A feature request for Android 4.0 to enable USB audio:
http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=24614
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, most def. I want to use several USB dacs on hand. Off for some op amp rollin'.
Edit: The pogo pin dock has a 3.5mm analog/digital output, FYI
Oops
flacoff said:
Edit: The pogo pin dock has a 3.5mm analog/digital output, FYI
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which if I understand correctly uses Bluetooth to transmit compressed audio from the phone to the dock, then delivers it through the 3.5mm jack. Why not just have a digital signal go through the USB port!?
ali87 said:
Which if I understand correctly uses Bluetooth to transmit compressed audio from the phone to the dock, then delivers it through the 3.5mm jack. Why not just have a digital signal go through the USB port!?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
actually the pogo pin transfers the digitial audio and the dock decodes it into analog to the 3.5mm output

galaxy S3 to car stereo????

I'm looking to buy a new car stereo, and I'm basically treating it as an accessory for my Galaxy SIII. I'm open to any brands within a reasonable price range.
What's the best way to listen to the music that is on my Galaxy SIII right now, wirelessly without losing sound quality? I know that I can just use an audio input jack, but is there any other way? I heard that yo lose a lot of audio quality using bluetooh.
I guess what I'm saying, is there any technology like Allshare that lets me stream high quality audio to a car stereo?
I use Bluetooth everyday, with no noticeable loss in sound quality. However, it is dependant on your stereo too. I have a cheap Jenson Double-Din Nav Unit.
Bluetooth is going to be your only wireless method that will not sound like total crap , but USB would be the best quality, but dont think you can do this like an ipod can. Not sure what is needed to make these phones work like that , charge and play music thru the USB direct to stereo is nice. Id like to ditch my ipod and just use my S3, but for now it just works better.
If you connect your S2 using UMS (using "SGS3 Easy UMS" app), you'll be able to listen to music on the S3 with the highest quality possible.
Not all bluetooth-enable car stereos allow for music playback. Mine, for example, only allows for voice calls and voice commands (such as S-Voice).
Simonetti2011 said:
If you connect your S2 using UMS (using "SGS3 Easy UMS" app), you'll be able to listen to music on the S3 with the highest quality possible.
Not all bluetooth-enable car stereos allow for music playback. Mine, for example, only allows for voice calls and voice commands (such as S-Voice).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But does the easy UMS work on the AT&T S3?
Ive used Sony bluetooth stereos in my car for the past 3 years. Ive heard that some other manufacturers either dumb down the feature or make you buy a dongle, but the Sony comes ready to go, no extra dongle needed.
I bought the latest when my older model was stolen. Its the BT-3900u (120 on Amazon) and I honestly cant tell the difference between CD and streaming.
Pros: 3 preamps (front, rear, sub), decent equalizer, galaxy connects instantly w/ no hiccups, change face color, Bluetooth gain control
cons: radio reception is OK (could be my antenna), built in mic causes a lot of background noise for the other person (my car is pretty loud). But it does have an option to route your own wired mic.
I honestly stopped using CD's and the radio now that all my music syncs up instantly.
I would like to know what car stereos would work with the GS3 straight out of the box. I'm sure there are a few that would allow us to plug in via USB and be able to listen to our music while charging the phone.
Can anyone confirm any models that work like this?
the_buzz_man
Pioneer makes a nice head unit called the appradio that is double din, and has usb and bluetoooth, if you use the usb, and the pioneer app that goes with it, it basicly turns the double din screen into a second touchscreen display for your phone.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium
My brother has this one and works quite well. It is discontinued at crutchfield, but they have a new model I believe?
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-l1Wo0r1ecjA/p_020CZ501/Clarion-CZ501.html
Sent from my White gS3 using tapatalk 2!
Bluetooth is the way to go, excellent quality and you cna amp it with awesome beats or DSP mgr and if you is power amp, then you can equalize it further
In addition, the automation with tasker is awesome ( Sync Bluetooth > Start Player > and then close app when no Bluetooth etc )
I have two decks a pioneer dvd2300 double din with the bluetooth add on its worked the best i can use bluetooth and change songs from the deck directly and even control pandora once installed. Before i use to have a kenwood single din it was hd942u worked through usb it was fast n automatically scanned for music which was awesome.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using Tapatalk 2
I bought a Dual from walmart for $90. I just like you didn't want to spend too much money. for the price, not bad at all. bluetooth streaming music and movies is pretty cool. no quality distortions at all. also has a front aux in and USB port.
what about this?
http://www.amazon.com/FlexSMART-Tra...3582945&sr=8-1&keywords=gogroove+flexsmart+x2
i know it's not a deck. but it's relatively cheap, you can use it in another car, lots of positive reviews on amazon, and i've seen reviews on youtube and the sound came out alright even through a youtube video.
If you car has an Aux-In already, you can use these to add bluetooth functionality for both music streaming & handsfree calling.
http://www.amazon.com/Griffin-Techn...343559054&sr=8-1&keywords=liquidaux+bluetooth
http://www.amazon.com/Kensington-Li..._1_1?ie=UTF8&s=wireless&qid=1285936657&sr=8-1
would a radio transmitter app work?
i dont think you can connect it to the stereo via USB since the S3 has MTP and not USM unless you root it and use the app as stated a few posts ago. can anyone confirm this?
kl25 said:
what about this?
<link removed as I'm too new>
i know it's not a deck. but it's relatively cheap, you can use it in another car, lots of positive reviews on amazon, and i've seen reviews on youtube and the sound came out alright even through a youtube video.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FM transmitter is one of the worst connection methods you can use. The sound quality is ALWAYS bad.
I absolutely hate aftermarket decks, I use my motorola bluetooth box on long trips, but there is definitely quality loss over the FM transmitter. I have an aux jack for short trips, I really wish I had an aux cord that had buttons like the headphones do, just so I wouldn't have to look at the phone to change songs or anything.
I have a Verizon GS3 and a Galaxy Tab 7.7 - both support apt-X which is the newer, higher quality bluetooth format. If you can find a head unit that supports apt-X (i don't know if any are out, yet), you'd be golden.
As of now, the only way to get apt-X streaming into your car would be to get an adapter like this: Samsung HS3000 and plug it into your auxiliary input of your stereo.
Another thing you can do (and this is actually my setup in my Mazda) is to get a head unit that supports iPod/iPhone audio AND controls w/ a dock connector. There are cheap bluetooth to 30-pin dock connectors (see dealextreme) that will let your bluetooth phone connect to any iPod dock and play the audio wirelessly, but the added advantage is if the head unit has iPod track navigation controls, it can pass those controls to the phone during playback through the bluetooth as well. This will let you control the tracks playing on the phone from the stereo -the double bonus is if your car has integrated steering controls for the head unit. When my phone/tablet is connected and playing audio this way, I can move next/previous tracks from my steering wheel. I'm hoping some manufacturer comes out with a 30-pin bluetooth dock adapter w/ apt-X as well.
Finally, if you choose to connect your phone directly to a aux in but also have it on your charger you're probably going to get a ground loop humming sound. Get one of these: PAC Ground Isolator for 3.5 jacks to get rid of that annoying hum.
http://mobile.jvc.com/product.jsp?modelId=MODL029038&pathId=139&page=1
Works perfect the best 100$ you can spend
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda app-developers app

[Q] Convert Headphone out to Line-Out (for connecting to Hi-Fi amplifier)

Hi
I'm fed up with audio quality of my HTC when connected to my Hi-Fi Amp. On headphones my HTC one sounds amazing, but when paired to my Hi-Fi amp I have to turn the audio levels on my phone and HiFi amp turned up to max just to hear the music at "normal" levels (this introduces back ground hiss / and distortion). There's an article here that explains where this is the case (in essence the output voltage from the headphone output is insufficient to drive an Hi-Fi amplifier).
Does anyone know where I can get a device (I'll call it a pre amp) that will convert (i.e. amplify) the headphone output to Line-out level voltages. I'm guessing a dock with line out would be okay - but my GF uses iPhone (with the same issues), so Ideally the headphone jack on my phone will connect to the pre-amp, with the pre-amp connecting to my Hi-Fi amplifier (the pre amp will be externally powered my mains adapter).
I live in the UK, so UK sources / experience be most relevant, but any feedback is welcomed.
Many thanks!
if you can find somewhere locally to buy/try out something like this it might work
http://www.amazon.com/Fiio-E07K-Portable-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00A9LHLQ6
The posts I have read show some success with certain android phones, though it's by no means a guaranteed success. It works with some Samsung devices, and our phones support USB OTG/Host mode, so at least on paper it should work.
well if the amp you're looking for is anything similar to amplifying nicer headphones, theres a couple of options available for you to just flat out buy (for anywhere from $20 - $100), or you can just make one yourself from an altoids can for $10 - $20 if you know the basics of electronics and soldering.
Supposedly you can use an OTG cable/adapter to hook up the phone to an USB DAC (must be self-powered, as the OTG cannot supply enough juice to the DAC) and then DAC to the amp. I'll try it when I get home tonight to see if it works. I read that it's possible, but haven't tried it myself.
[update] I tried hooking up my AT&T HTC One to the USB DAC (self-powered, not USB bus powered) via the OTG cable. The stock music app still play music through the phone. However, fire up PowerAmp and the music comes through the stereo! Sweet sound...
why not consider a bluetooth speaker adapter like this?
http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Wireless-Speaker-Adapter-Bluetooth/dp/B004VM1T5S
i have one, connected to my hi-fi amplifier.
it's cheap, ands sounds very good!
I am a huge fan of the HTC Bluetooth adaptor, it works great and has great sound quality for a bluetooth.

Looking for a dac not to expensive

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

Question USB C to 3.5mm Headphone and Charger Adapter that works on Pixel 6 Pro

Has anyone managed to find a USB C to 3.5mm Headphone and Charger Adapter 2in1 for the Pixel 6 Pro. The few I have tried so far only at best will work the audio port but none will charge. Hoping to find one that does both for when driving to be able to charge and listen to music with the 3,5 mm headphone attached to my car radio input. Adapters similar to the attached images that work would be ideal.
Thanks
Unfortunately, the only ones I've seen that reputably work for Power Delivery phones are effectively "hubs", like Anker USB C Hub, PowerExpand 11-in-1 USB C Hub Adapter, with [email protected] HDMI and DP, 100W Power Delivery, USB-C and 3 USB-A Data Ports, 1 Gbps Ethernet, 3.5mm Audio, microSD and SD Card Reader (sold out on Anker's site PowerExpand 11-in-1 USB-C PD Hub). They make other hubs, but I don't see any others of theirs that have a 3.5mm headphone port.
I too, wouldn't mind a more compact and cheaper solution, but I no longer really care about 3.5mm headphone jacks and would be happy with a similar adapter with two USB-C ports - one for USB-C headphones and the other for charging. I may have seen some like that too but not sure as to their reputation, and overall it's not that important to me.
Might be a logic glitch where it assumes that having a usb "device" plugged in means that the phone needs to supply the power rather than receive it.
Does your car radio really not have bluetooth?
And since you are in a car, how about a Qi charger pad?
you would need
Fladnag99 said:
Has anyone managed to find a USB C to 3.5mm Headphone and Charger Adapter 2in1 for the Pixel 6 Pro. The few I have tried so far only at best will work the audio port but none will charge. Hoping to find one that does both for when driving to be able to charge and listen to music with the 3,5 mm headphone attached to my car radio input. Adapters similar to the attached images that work would be ideal.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just search usb c to audio charger
and make sure its compatible with a samsung device as they require a DAC in the usb like the google does
96carboard said:
Might be a logic glitch where it assumes that having a usb "device" plugged in means that the phone needs to supply the power rather than receive it.
Does your car radio really not have bluetooth?
And since you are in a car, how about a Qi charger pad?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunaetly it doesnt have bluetooth and since I use the phone for navigation while driveing the Qi charger woldnt really serve a purpose.
Is there a difference between the technology in a pixel 4a5g and the Pixel 6 pro. A device like the first picture I showed works fine in the pixel 4a5g but only does audio and no charging for the Pixel 6 pro
Fladnag99 said:
Is there a difference between the technology in a pixel 4a5g and the Pixel 6 pro. A device like the first picture I showed works fine in the pixel 4a5g but only does audio and no charging for the Pixel 6 pro
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Jup, it's called Tensor.
Fladnag99 said:
Unfortunaetly it doesnt have bluetooth and since I use the phone for navigation while driveing the Qi charger woldnt really serve a purpose.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use a magnetic Qi charger on my dashboard. It works great and provide plenty of power to charge under heavy use. Not as elegant as a proper split USB adapter, but should at least work if you can't find one.
96carboard said:
Might be a logic glitch where it assumes that having a usb "device" plugged in means that the phone needs to supply the power rather than receive it.
Does your car radio really not have bluetooth?
And since you are in a car, how about a Qi charger pad?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why would he want to use Bluetooth? There's still reason not to. Not many car stereos support the higher quality Bluetooth streaming codecs. Not even AAC, I know mine doesn't. SBC is very unusable.
prohibido_por_la_ley said:
Why would he want to use Bluetooth? There's still reason not to. Not many car stereos support the higher quality Bluetooth streaming codecs. Not even AAC, I know mine doesn't. SBC is very unusable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can't wait to find a car with audiophile speakers to make a difference
Izy said:
Can't wait to find a car with audiophile speakers to make a difference
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I drive a Toyota Corolla it doesn't have audiophile speakers and I can tell the difference it is night and day even when streaming Amazon music although it's less of a difference there but if you're listening to compressed music on YouTube music there is a difference maybe you should go get your hearing checked
i mean youtube music starts at 48kbps aac to 256kbps
amazon songs start at up to 867kbps and over 3k kbps peak for premium
unironically searched it up someone made a patch that enables SBC to go up to its maximum bitrate of 512kb
stereo that makes it onpar/better with aptx and works sending to older devices like car stereos
he even pushed it to google 2 years ago buts its still processing
Android Patch Brings Bluetooth SBC Codec Audio Quality on-par with aptX - CNX Software
Android patch improves Bluetooth SBC codec audio quality on all existing devices, allegedly making it as good as the high quality aptX HD codec
www.cnx-software.com
https://android-review.googlesource.com/c/platform/packages/apps/Bluetooth/+/759258/1
its in custom roms like RR etc shame its not implemented in stock still
You should look into a Bluetooth DAC. Yes it's another thing to charge but for me it's the best of both worlds, quality wired sound yet not tethered to the phone or whatever device. I have a FiiO BTR3K. It's super small, I connect it to a belt loop, and it's got 10 hours of battery life. And yes, you could wire charge your phone while listening.
FiiO BTR3K Hi-Res Bluetooth 5.0 Receiver/Headphone Amp
Amazon.com
Izy said:
i mean youtube music starts at 48kbps aac to 256kbps
amazon songs start at up to 867kbps and over 3k kbps peak for premium
unironically searched it up someone made a patch that enables SBC to go up to its maximum bitrate of 512kb
stereo that makes it onpar/better with aptx and works sending to older devices like car stereos
he even pushed it to google 2 years ago buts its still processing
Android Patch Brings Bluetooth SBC Codec Audio Quality on-par with aptX - CNX Software
Android patch improves Bluetooth SBC codec audio quality on all existing devices, allegedly making it as good as the high quality aptX HD codec
www.cnx-software.com
https://android-review.googlesource.com/c/platform/packages/apps/Bluetooth/+/759258/1
its in custom roms like RR etc shame its not implemented in stock still
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I feel like there will still be some degradation in the signal because it is still transcoding a lossy codec to another lossy codec. It's something I'll try when I'm connected to my home stereo.
Fladnag99 said:
Has anyone managed to find a USB C to 3.5mm Headphone and Charger Adapter 2in1 for the Pixel 6 Pro. The few I have tried so far only at best will work the audio port but none will charge. Hoping to find one that does both for when driving to be able to charge and listen to music with the 3,5 mm headphone attached to my car radio input. Adapters similar to the attached images that work would be ideal.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use this and it works great.
Amazon.com
FoneWatcher said:
I use this and it works great.
Amazon.com
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you saying this worked great for the new Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro's?
Anyone who tells you they can tell the difference between bluetooth and {insert whateverthefeckhere} when competing with engine, road, and wind noise is absolutely full of sh**. Your ears are not that sensitive.
Fladnag99 said:
since I use the phone for navigation while driveing the Qi charger woldnt really serve a purpose
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't understand this logic. The phone doesn't turn off when you use Qi. It still works. If its about how the phone is mounted, either buy a holder with a Qi pad in it, or stick a Qi pad at the back of the holder.
96carboard said:
Anyone who tells you they can tell the difference between bluetooth and {insert whateverthefeckhere} when competing with engine, road, and wind noise is absolutely full of sh**. Your ears are not that sensitive.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go get your hearing checked then because there is a difference. It's less of a difference when using tidal or Amazon music but when using YouTube music or Spotify etc it's staggering.
prohibido_por_la_ley said:
Go get your hearing checked then because there is a difference. It's less of a difference when using tidal or Amazon music but when using YouTube music or Spotify etc it's staggering.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My hearing is perfect. Yours is not as acute as you believe it to be.

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