I use a Sony KD-49XH8096 Android TV which, officially, supports the following audio signal output options:
- analog audio via 3.5 mm jack output
- digital audio via digital optical (Toslink) output
- digital audio via HDMI ARC/eARC output
The TV also has the following USB ports:
- USB 2.0 High Speed port
- USB 3.1 Super Speed port
I want to connect the TV to a Topping E50 DAC with built-in preamplifier, using the USB ports available on the Sony Android TV.
On the TV I enabled the developer mode and the "disable all audio routing to USB devices" option is disabled (as it should be).
If I connect the DAC to the TV USB 2.0 port, the audio signal is routed to the DAC, but the sound is full of "click and pop" artifacts. The volume can be controlled by the TV remote control inside the Android applications, but it can't be controlled by the TV remote control when in TV broadcast mode.
If I connect the DAC to the TV USB 3.1 port, the signal is routed to the DAC and the sound is perfectly rendered, without any "click and pop" artifacts. The volume can be controlled by the TV remote control inside the Android applications, but it can't be controlled by the TV remote control when in TV broadcast mode.
I opened a support case on Sony support Europe and their answer was as follows:
"Regarding your request, the TV has the possibility to play the sound through its built-in speakers, or through external devices connected to the TV via HDMI, optical or Bluetooth cable.
Functionality with other third-party devices, and with developer mode enabled, cannot be guaranteed. This is not normal use of the Sony device."
It seems that Sony don't endorse USB audio playback and don't care about offering or improving support for this capability, although the Android OS running on their TVs has the capability to work with USB audio devices.
I made the suggestion that Sony could and should improve support for class compliant USB audio devices (at least for stereo digital audio).
Sony answer was as follows:
"As you were told in one of the previous emails, the sound can be played on the TV speakers, or via external devices, but not via USB.
If you believe that your device has a defect, the only thing we can recommend is to have this device diagnosed by a repair center."
As you can see, Sony keeps to their policy and doesn't seem to care too much about offering or improving support for USB audio devices on their Android TVs.
Related
Curious if this would work with a xoom. I want to use my xoom as the source for audio that goes from usb to optical.
I am a N00B so I can't post links yet but this is it.
Behringer UCA202 2-In/2-Out USB Audio Interface S/PDIF Out
Highlights
Ultra-low latency
Audio interface connects instruments, mixer, etc. with a computer for recording and playback
High-resolution 48 kHz converters for premium audio quality
Works with PC or Mac—no setup or drivers required
Free audio recording and editing software downloadable at
Stereo headphone output with dedicated level control for monitoring both input and output
Additional S/PDIF optical output for direct digital conversion
It would depend on whether the Xoom can relay sound to the usb port.. if other USB devices can receive sound from the xoom like a dock or something you may just have a chance if that device indeed doesn't require drivers.. this is just my own opinion
Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk
Android will need standard ASIO, WDM or Core audio drivers for this device to work.
The audio industry standardized the driver requirements a few years back. ASIO works in linux so with some work, it would probably work in android.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk
Interesting. The xoom does output sound via usb when in the dock. So I need to find a usb sound card that has asio hardware?
Can I hook up an usb dac to the nexus player? I want to connect the nexus player through a quality USB DAC to my amplifier (which only has analog stereo inputs).
Currently I have a chromecast and use the headphone out jack of my TV to feed the amplifier, but this is less then ideal.
Would something like this do the job?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005COKXCO?pc_redir=1413528130&robot_redir=1
Sent from my Nexus 5
Yes, it might do the job. However, i read in the reviews that HMDI audio extractors can cause troubles with video sync and HDCP. Also, I want one with good audio quality. Most HDMI extractors are not reviewed by HIFI magazines.
So a good quality HDMI pass-through DAC reviewed by HIFI people start at $250,-, they are more expensive then their USB only counterparts of similar quality.
USB DACs are way more common. I can get a better quality USB DAC for $150,- (the ODAC by nwavguy)
I read that android 5.0 supports USB dacs (at least on mobile phones). Since the nexus player also has android 5.0, it should hopefully also support an USB DAC.
I'd like to do the same with my Icon Nuforce Dac, so I'm interested in the answer as well. thank you for the question.
Just an FYI that I am using an HDMI audio extractor with a Chromecast on a secondary TV. The TV (Sony) and receiver (Onkyo) are both 4 or 5 years old and were lower end units. Neither had pass-thru which was making me crazy until I figured out the problem (why no audio from the Chromecast)
I picked up one of the J-River (?) Extractors on Amazon. Reviews were mixed so I wasn't expecting much, but it works perfect. I plug the Chromecast into the extractor and run HDMI video and optical audio to my receiver. I've experienced no issues at all with audio out of sync and the sound is very good.
I am not an audiophile & not sure if this will help with your DAC question, but since I had good luck with splitting my audio/video via an extractor, I thought I'd mention it just in case.
I read that latest version of Android operating system for mobile (Lollipop) supports usb DACs.
Can we expect the operating system of the Android TV to support it as well?
Ok so now that our Xperias support hi-res audio - can anyone think of a way to use them as DAC. What i mean is not connect the phone via usb to a DAC - i mean connect the pc to the phone and use the phone as audio converter.
Thanks
Nope, it can't be possible, I think.
Hello to you all
I have this pair of USB wireless Opus Digital H3000.
The thing is that connected through USB OTG cable I can control volumes (depends only on the app I'm in...if on youtube or any multimedia app I control the multimedia volume, if in the home screen I control calling and ringing volume...but nevertheless I don't have sound what so ever... No sound at all, not on the headphones nor on the internal speaker.
Some of you is using wireless usb headphones? Can some one help? Thanks.
probably your headphones needs some driver, and it is possible that this driver are not present in android
In my tv no hdmi arc but support HDMI Audio out . what is the difference. And audio pass through missing after the update. Is any third party app for HDMI CEC for audio passthrough.
Are you saying your TV has a dedicated hdmi audio out? ARC stands for Audio Return Channel and it's the technology that can send audio through the same hdmi cable that is carrying video from a different source. In other words, you can pass video and audio to the tv, or the tv can pass audio back to the other device as well. This prevents the need from a second connection to pass audio from the TV when the TV is independently displaying content
olelink said:
Are you saying your TV has a dedicated hdmi audio out? ARC stands for Audio Return Channel and it's the technology that can send audio through the same hdmi cable that is carrying video from a different source. In other words, you can pass video and audio to the tv, or the tv can pass audio back to the other device as well. This prevents the need from a second connection to pass audio from the TV when the TV is independently displaying content
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Yes sir dedicate lable as sound out in hdmi 1 port . and it return audio to my home theater. Is its same as hdmi arc.
With regard.