Tablet audio. The state of play?

[Krisbee]

I'm an old fogey who is feeling a bit last century. I don't have a mobile phone or an ipad or a tablet or any other kind of whatnot. But I've been thinking that an Android tablet could replace my Sony cd walkman and Roberts Sports 984 radio for my some of my audio needs. The Roberts has developed a fault. I believe you can run a BBC iPlayer app on a tablet and it can also double as a audio-server (LMS or MPD) controller with the right apps.

A couple of questions. What's the audio headphone SQ like on a basic tablet using basic in ear headphones? Is it as good as a sony cd walkman or cheap and nasty sounding?

What's the state of “USB audio” on tablets? I've read some kind of USB audio exists in Android 4.1 onwards, but it doesn't work as on a PC as the connected device treats the tablet as a slave. So apart from power draw issues, the protocol is backwards and connecting a USB DAC to a tablet is still a no go. Is that right?

[sq225917]

As it stands unless you want to 'root' your android tablet there is typically no usb audio out available, certainly that's the case on my nexus 7. That said the headphone out quality is very good, though of course memory is limited. if you use a Ipad or Ipad mini then of course you have usb out via the camera kit add on, but at a cost.

That said, ipad+ another pc to stream to it is an elegant solution if you have a decent usb dac.

[Krisbee]

I was looking at sub £100 tablets, e.g FreeLander PD10, so I'm not thinking about ipads. I was thinking of hooking up a raspberry pi to the DAC that's currently not seeing much use via my Rotel CD. I suspect any tablet I had would then see more use as a controller.

Now Triode has given the world "squeezelite" which you can use via a "Localplayer" plugin on a Logitech Media Server the PI is more attractive as a cheap SBT alternative ,and is simple to implement.

Assuming a basic FreeLander PD10 type tablet is not rubbish, this plus the RPI would cost about the same or less than say a Nexus 7.

[Rothchild]

Android devices have great potential as remote controls for various FOSS music servers, I've been enjoying using MpDroid on my phone to drive the MPD server on my laptop and Subsonic / Madsonic to stream audio via my Pi.

(I have large hard drives on both machines connected via rsync so they work as a back up for each other too, if I want to play on the 'big' speakers I power up the laptop and use MPD, all other digital listening is done from the Pi).

I can't comment on SQ particularly but I've been using the Subsonic Android app to listen to the Pi in the car when I'm out and about, it sometimes takes a bit of buffering before it gets going on 3G but in general it's very good, and you can set different encodings depending on whether you're on wifi or mobile network (to save your data allowance) - The reason I cant comment on SQ is the stereo in my car is so rubbish that I've wound the 3g connection down to 96kbs and it still sounds as good as the radio (this is how bad the stereo sounds rather than how good the phone sounds!)

[sq225917]

I use the itunes remote on my Nexus7 to drive my macbook pro, it's a way better interface than similar software on my iphone. I would likew to be able to take just the nexus with my portable usb dac and headphones though as a limited library solution. Alas so far with ALAC as my file of choice and no usb out that not a go.

[Krisbee]

A bit more reading would suggest the sub £100 tablet market is full of some very so-so products.

That brings me to the Nexus7 and things like the Samsung galaxy tab2 7. I'd prefer to have the TF slot and USB host of the Samsung, but not surprisingly the Nexus already has the Android JB 4.2.2 upgrades available and the hackers have been busy since the Nexus7 first appeared.

As to connecting the Nexus7 to a USB DAC , there seems to be two routes. As Simon said, a "rooted device" with moded ROM & kernel, e.g:

http://mehrvarz.github.com/nexus-7-usbrom/

Assuming you can work how to use it. This one really got me interested as it claims to work with Hifimediy Sabre and BERESFORD Caiman.


The other is to try this app which you can trial or buy (£3), no need to "root" the tablet:

http://www.gizmag.com/extream-app-usb-audio-android/25907/

http://www.extreamsd.com/USBAudioRecorderPRO/

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.extreamsd.usbaudiorecorderpro&hl=en

It's less clear which USB DACs might work with this app.

[DSJR]

There are some nice USB DAC/Headphone amps out there for well under a ton - the £70 Fiio is well respected in many quarters and is small and light enough...

[nat8808]

I recommend the Blackberry Playbook.

Must surely be the best tablet out there for the money - £125 at PC World for the 64Gb version.

I think it sounds vey good straight from the headphone output and there's a volume boost feature (with warning pop-up when you use it) which makes it more line-out level. I THINK it can play 24/96 files - not found a definate spec for the audio chip yet.

Software for the Playbook is still growing and Android amps can be converted to run on it too.

Proper multi-tasking too unlike iPads! Some apps do deliberately shut down the sound when you move to another but that's down to the app and others don't.

Doesn't play flacs with the media player supplied so you have to find another player so that it will.

Full access to the file system, easy to either sync or just copy files across or even download them direct, including bittorrent or rar/zip files with the right apps.

Easy tether to your phone via bluetooth (with any phone that can act as a 3G modem - even my 2009 Nokia can do that) or connect via wifi (so you don't need to shell out for yet another SIM for another device).

Anyway, well worth a look and they might update the OS to BB10 in the future which could make it even better to use. Everything is very smooth in use so far that I've experienced.

[nat8808]

Yep deffo 24/96 with the Wolfson WM8994E codec chip inside.

If you have to listen via the speakers, it's good to know that they are actually either side of the screen! Unlike many other tablets - real stereo, what an acheivement :lol:

[DaveK]

Can I throw my cat amongst your pigeons? I have a BB Playbook 64GB that I bought on an auction site, not the usual one, for well less than £100. I have installed a music player program called Neutron on it and I confidentaly assert that the resulting SQ through headphones is way better than any portable music source I've tried, and I've tried a few. Another vote for the Playbook.
Cheers,
Dave.

[nat8808]

Neutron.... I'll look into that.

I made my first ever app purchase the other day for Flac Player.. Bit amateurish to be honest but at least works and plays flacs and the money (£2.50) is going to some regular guy in his bedroom.

I've not fully compared the sound quality to other things but have just instinctively decided it's the best I have with my Shure SE530 in-ears. I've reacted to the sound quality positively more than say my Sony HD mini-disc (PCM recordings) or Powerbook or iPod Touch.

Possible to get s/pdif out via the HDMI port (there are some little boxes that split DVI and S/Pdif) although always with HDMI the audio clock is derived from a video clock so not the best solution.

Edit: Neutron looks good.... in a flashy, cheap car stereo kind of way (loads of level bars etc). Lots of features including noise dithering which is unusual.

[WAD62]

I find 'Poweramp' is a pretty good FLAC player for Android, again not free but not a big outlay, I think I paid around £3 or so...

Has anyone dabbled with this Android software? apparently opens up USB audio for some devices in conjunction with some DACs...

http://www.kvraudio.com/product/usb-audio-recorder-pro-by-extream-software-development

http://www.extreamsd.com/USBAudioRecorderPRO/

...although my HTC sensation doesn't look to be on the 'approved' list, a trial version is available if you scroll through the release notes in the 'Play Store', so don't pay until you've tried it out...I'll have a dabble later ;)

[sq225917]

I have it on my nexus7, sound quality is perfectly good, however restrictions on file formats and library locations are f-ing laughable.

[WAD62]

I have it on my nexus7, sound quality is perfectly good, however restrictions on file formats and library locations are f-ing laughable.

OK so not a very usable implementation, if it works at all...

I've ordered a USB A to micro adapter, so I'll have a dabble with my FiiO e10, and rPAC, in conjunction with my HTC Sensation...although I doubt I'll have success there.

However I am about to acquire a Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0, well when they hit stores anyway, so that might bring more success.

[morris_minor]

Just posted about this (http://www.gspaudio.co.uk/bitzie-usb-dac-external-soundcard.htm) on another thread. . . I had one on a home demo and successfully got FLACs out of an iPad. It works with some Android devices too . .

[Krisbee]

I find 'Poweramp' is a pretty good FLAC player for Android, again not free but not a big outlay, I think I paid around £3 or so...

Has anyone dabbled with this Android software? apparently opens up USB audio for some devices in conjunction with some DACs...

http://www.kvraudio.com/product/usb-audio-recorder-pro-by-extream-software-development

http://www.extreamsd.com/USBAudioRecorderPRO/

...although my HTC sensation doesn't look to be on the 'approved' list, a trial version is available if you scroll through the release notes in the 'Play Store', so don't pay until you've tried it out...I'll have a dabble later ;)

I posted about the "USBAudioRecorderPRO" software on page one, item #6, of this thread on 16.03.2012 but it attracted no attention. So it seems you going to have to "root" it for better USB audio after all. So has anyone had a go at this on nexus 7?

http://mehrvarz.github.com/nexus-7-usbrom/

Thanks to those for mentioning the blackberry playback, which was not on my radar. I'm not sure this would have the software base I want.

[Mr Kipling]

OK so not a very usable implementation, if it works at all...

I've ordered a USB A to micro adapter, so I'll have a dabble with my FiiO e10, and rPAC, in conjunction with my HTC Sensation...although I doubt I'll have success there.

However I am about to acquire a Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0, well when they hit stores anyway, so that might bring more success.

Amazon have the adaptors for 47p - including postage!

[struth]

I use an ARCHOS G9 tablet and it's sound repro is very good from the headphone socket into my Yamaha sound projector.Quite a good tablet as well, and now comes in way below the £200 I paid.It has a fullsize usb and a mini usb as well and with a dongle works from data as well as wifi.
I have it connected to Amazon cloud and Google player player so can stream music without memory problems although it can also take a mini sd card......
I also use the N7 player app for music on the machine and would say it is the best music player out there with superior sound and art work finding. ...hope this helps.

[WAD62]

I posted about the "USBAudioRecorderPRO" software on page one, item #6, of this thread on 16.03.2012 but it attracted no attention.

...so you did, I didn't spot it :cool:

[WAD62]

Amazon have the adaptors for 47p - including postage!

Be careful with the very cheap cable/adapter offers on Amazon, they usually from market place traders from Hong Kong...your cable will arrive...eventually ;)

I bought a standard USB cable from Amazon for a work colleague, who was very careful with money but had no Amazon account...we spotted one for 75p from an outfit called 'Essex Electronics' with free postage, I just assumed at that price it would be 'local'...two weeks passed and it still hadn't arrived so I checked the company, Essex electronics were based in Hong Kong!!!

After another week it arrived...via air mail for FREE!!! The little tinkers had set up a scheme whereby they'd pre-printed jiffy bags with an air mail frank copied from china's equivalent of UPS, and somehow got them into the Hong Kong air mail system...so that's how you get a 75p cable via airmail from South Asia...;)

[nat8808]

Thanks to those for mentioning the blackberry playback, which was not on my radar. I'm not sure this would have the software base I want.

What is the software base you want and how are you judging it?

When you read the hype, of course you might see 700,000 apps v 50,000 and think that therefore the first is going to be much better.

If you want the tablet to perform 3 functions then logically you only need 3 apps available for that platform as long as they are the 3 you need.

A higher proportion of apps for the more popular platforms are dross - why bother making dross that relies on very high volume at low cost on the smaller platforms?

Anyway Android apps are easily moved over to the Playbook either by yourself or already by the developer.

I'd suggest the Playbook simply because, if you look at the cost of hardware and OS design, it is at the higher end in the realms of iPads etc whilst having been heavily discounted. i.e it is much better value than those which were priced at the cheaper end from the outset (remember that the Playbook was originally £450 or so).

You can't even get an iPad 2 (which is older) for cheaper secondhand than you can the Playbook brand new.. and personally I find the iPad extremely annoying in comparison (can't even multi-task browser tabs! The iPad has to reload a tab each time you flip between them ...so frustrating).

And the Playbook sounds the best. A no-brainer IMO.