Android for Audiophiles: COMPLETE Guide

Summary

This video offers a comprehensive guide to enhancing the audio experience from Android smartphones, focusing on both hardware and software solutions. It discusses the importance of the DAC and headphone amplifier in smartphones, recommends devices like the Sony WF-1000XM4s and Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro for Bluetooth audio, and highlights the use of USB-C to 3.5mm dongles and portable DACs for better sound quality. The video also addresses Android's audio stack limitations and introduces USB Audio Player Pro as a solution for bit-perfect audio playback, rounding up with a look at other music player apps for Android.

Takeaways

• 🎶 The video is aimed at audio enthusiasts and discusses how to maximize audio quality from smartphones, focusing on Android devices.
• 📱 Modern smartphones, especially premium models, often lack a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is a drawback for audio quality.
• 🔊 The quality of audio from a smartphone's headphone jack depends on the digital to analog converter (DAC) and headphone amplifier circuitry within the phone.
• 📻 LG phones, particularly the G and V series, have been highlighted for their superior DAC and headphone amp, but LG has discontinued its phone division.
• 🎧 For those without a headphone jack, options include Bluetooth earbuds, which offer convenience and good sound quality despite not being true hi-fi.
• 🚫 Not all Android phones can output an analog audio signal through the USB-C port, which is important for passive dongles to work.
• 🔌 Active dongles contain their own DAC and headphone amp, making them compatible with all Android phones and capable of improving audio quality.
• 🎵 USB Audio Player Pro (UAPP) is a recommended app for Android users, as it can bypass the Android audio stack and play audio bit-perfectly.
• 💾 UAPP supports playing high-resolution audio files and can access music streaming services like Tidal and qobuz directly.
• 📈 Android's native audio stack resamples all audio to 48 kHz, which can affect sound quality and is a point of frustration for audiophiles.
• 🛍️ The video suggests that while there are various hardware and software options to improve audio quality on Android, it remains a more complex endeavor compared to iOS.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video script?

The video script focuses on how to maximize the audio experience from a smartphone, particularly for Android devices, and discusses various hardware and software options available for audiophiles.

Why might someone prefer using their smartphone as a music player?

People might prefer using their smartphone as a music player due to its convenience and portability, especially when they are out and about, despite the shortcomings compared to a dedicated audio player.

What is the issue with modern smartphones regarding the headphone jack?

Many modern smartphones, especially at the premium end of the market, do not have a 3.5 mm headphone jack, which can be a limitation for audiophiles who prefer wired headphones.

What are the two main factors affecting the quality of music from an Android phone's audio jack?

The quality of the digital to analog converter (DAC) inside the phone and the quality of the headphone amplifier circuitry are the two main factors affecting the music quality from an Android phone's audio jack.

Why are LG phones mentioned as an exception in terms of audio hardware?

LG phones, particularly the G and V series from the past few years, are mentioned as an exception because they boast dedicated ESS Sabre DACs and more powerful internal headphone amps, which are features typically found in dedicated digital audio players.

What is the problem with considering LG phones for audiophiles despite their good audio hardware?

The problem is that LG's phone division is no longer active, meaning it's not advisable to invest in a new LG phone due to the lack of future support and updates.

What are the recommended types of headphones for use with a smartphone?

In-ear monitors (IEMs) are recommended for use with smartphones as they can provide better sound quality than the typical earbuds bundled with phones, and they are more suitable for driving with the output from most phone jacks.

What are the two top picks for Android Bluetooth earbuds according to the script?

The two top picks for Android Bluetooth earbuds are the Sony WF-1000XM4 and the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro, both offering good sound quality, noise cancellation, and convenience.

What is the difference between a passive and an active USB-C to 3.5 mm dongle for audio?

A passive dongle simply passes through an analog signal from the USB-C port to the headphone jack, relying on the phone's DAC and amplification. An active dongle, on the other hand, contains its own DAC and headphone amp, performing digital to analog conversion and amplification within the dongle itself.

Why might an Android phone not be compatible with a passive USB-C to 3.5 mm dongle?

Some Android phones, like Samsung and Google Pixel models, cannot output an analog audio signal through the USB-C port, making them incompatible with passive dongles that require this capability.

What is USB Audio Player Pro (UAPP) and how does it help with Android audio playback?

USB Audio Player Pro (UAPP) is an app that can bypass the Android audio stack and access the internal or external USB DAC directly, allowing for bit-perfect playback through the headphone jack or an external DAC, thus improving the audio experience for audiophiles.

What is the issue with Android's native audio stack when playing high-resolution audio files?

Android's native audio stack resamples all audio files to 48 kHz, which can audibly affect sound quality and introduce artifacts, especially in quiet passages of music or when using sensitive IEMs.

What are some alternative music player apps for Android that offer better audio quality?

Neutron Music Player and HiBy Music Player are alternatives to UAPP that offer better audio quality, with features like direct access mode to the USB DAC and support for streaming services like Tidal.

Outlines

00:00

🎧 Maximizing Smartphone Audio Experience

The script begins with a welcome to the channel and an encouragement to subscribe. The host discusses the reality that, despite the love for high-fidelity home audio systems, most daily music listening is done through smartphones. This is particularly true for those on the go, and the host acknowledges the limitations of smartphones as dedicated audio players, especially the absence of 3.5mm headphone jacks in many modern models. The video aims to provide tips on how to get the best audio experience from Android smartphones, with a separate video planned for iPhone users. The focus is on hardware and software differences in audio quality over Bluetooth and other factors. The host emphasizes that while it's more complex to achieve high-quality audio on Android, it's not impossible and will demonstrate how to do so. The video will cover hardware options available for Android users, such as phones with headphone jacks, the quality of digital to analog converters (DACs), and headphone amplifier circuitry. It also touches on the demise of LG's phone division, which had good audio hardware, and suggests that secondhand LG phones could be a good option.

05:00

🔌 Exploring Android Audio Hardware Options

This section delves into the hardware options for improving audio quality on Android devices. The host explains the importance of the quality of the digital to analog converter (DAC) and headphone amplifier circuitry in smartphones. It mentions that most Android phones use Qualcomm or Exynos chipsets, which have decent DACs but sometimes lack in headphone amplification. The LG phone line is highlighted for their superior audio hardware, including dedicated ESS Sabre DACs and powerful internal headphone amps. However, the host warns that LG's smartphone division has been discontinued, advising caution against buying new LG phones. The discussion then shifts to the options for those without a headphone jack, such as using USB-C to 3.5mm dongles. The difference between passive and active dongles is explained, with passive dongles relying on the phone's DAC and active dongles having their own DAC and amp. The host also recommends full-size portable DACs for better sound quality and mentions the AudioQuest Dragonfly Red and the FiiO BTR5 as examples.

10:02

🎵 Advanced Android Audio Hardware and Software

The script continues with a discussion on more advanced hardware options for Android audiophiles, such as portable DACs and the ability to connect smartphones to home DACs. It mentions the AudioQuest Dragonfly Red and FiiO BTR5 as examples of portable DACs that can significantly improve audio quality. The host also suggests that one can use larger, more powerful external DACs for an even better experience. Turning to software, the host addresses the peculiarities of Android's audio handling, which often resamples all audio to 48 kHz, potentially affecting sound quality. To overcome this, the host recommends USB Audio Player Pro (UAPP), an app that can bypass Android's audio stack and play bit-perfect audio through the headphone jack or an external DAC. The app is praised for its compatibility with various external DACs and its ability to play high-resolution and MQA files. Other music players like Neutron Music Player and HiBy Music Player are also mentioned as alternatives, with UAPP being the top recommendation for audiophile Android software.

15:02

📱 Conclusion on Android Audio File Experience

In the final paragraph, the host concludes the video by summarizing the insights shared on enhancing the Android audio file experience. They express hope that viewers found the video informative and invite them to leave comments with their thoughts, tips, or software recommendations. The host thanks the viewers for watching and signs off with a reminder to stay safe, promising to see them in the next video.

Keywords

💡Smartphone Audio

Smartphone audio refers to the sound quality produced by a mobile device. In the context of the video, it discusses the limitations and enhancements of audio playback on smartphones, particularly in relation to music listening. The script mentions that most modern smartphones lack a 3.5 mm headphone jack, which is a common issue for audio enthusiasts seeking high-quality sound.

💡DAC (Digital to Analog Converter)

A DAC is an electronic component that converts digital audio signals into analog signals that can be played through speakers or headphones. The video highlights the importance of a quality DAC in smartphones for better audio output, especially when using high-quality headphones or earbuds.

💡Headphone Amplifier

A headphone amplifier is a device that boosts the audio signal to drive headphones more effectively. The script points out that the quality of the headphone amplifier circuitry in smartphones can greatly affect the sound output, with some phones having better amplification than others.

💡Bluetooth Audio

Bluetooth audio refers to the wireless transmission of sound from a device to headphones or speakers via Bluetooth technology. The video acknowledges the convenience of Bluetooth earbuds but also discusses their limitations in terms of sound quality compared to wired options.

💡IEMs (In-Ear Monitors)

IEMs are a type of personal audio device that fits directly into the ear canal, providing a more intimate and often higher-quality listening experience than standard earbuds. The script mentions IEMs as a preferred choice for audiophiles, with examples given of specific models that offer excellent sound quality.

💡USB-C to 3.5 mm Dongle

This is an adapter that allows users to connect 3.5 mm headphones to devices that lack a headphone jack, such as many modern smartphones. The video distinguishes between passive and active dongles, explaining how they differ in terms of audio signal processing and compatibility with various devices.

💡Active Dongle

An active dongle is a type of adapter that contains its own DAC and headphone amplifier, providing a better audio experience than a passive dongle. The script explains that active dongles can improve sound quality by handling digital to analog conversion and amplification independently of the phone's internal components.

💡Portable DAC

A portable DAC is a compact device that can improve the audio quality of a smartphone or other portable device by providing a dedicated digital to analog conversion. The video mentions the AudioQuest Dragonfly Red and the FiiO BTR5 as examples of portable DACs that can enhance the audio experience on the go.

💡USB Audio Player Pro (UAPP)

UAPP is a software application for Android devices that allows users to bypass the default Android audio stack and access the device's DAC directly for bit-perfect audio playback. The script praises UAPP for its ability to play high-quality audio files without the resampling that typically occurs with Android's native audio processing.

💡Resampling

Resampling is the process of converting an audio signal to a different sample rate. In the context of Android audio, the script explains that the Android audio stack resamples all audio to 48 kHz, which can affect the quality of high-resolution audio files and is a point of contention for audiophiles.

💡MQA (Master Quality Authenticated)

MQA is an audio compression format that encapsulates high-resolution audio into a file that can be played on standard-resolution equipment. The video mentions an optional MQA decoder add-on for UAPP, which can unfold MQA files for playback, providing a higher quality listening experience.

Highlights

Introduction to the channel and the topic of maximizing audio experience from smartphones.

The importance of subscribing to the channel for more content.

The prevalence of using smartphones as primary music players despite their shortcomings.

The absence of 3.5 mm headphone jacks in modern premium smartphones.

The distinction between iPhone and Android in terms of audio hardware and software.

The focus on Android for maximizing audio experience in this video.

The complexity of achieving high-quality audio on Android compared to iPhone.

The availability of Android phones with headphone jacks and their quality considerations.

The role of the digital to analog converter (DAC) and headphone amplifier circuitry in audio quality.

LG phones' exceptional audio capabilities with dedicated ESS Sabre DACs and powerful amps.

The unfortunate demise of LG's phone division and its impact on the audio market.

Recommendation to consider secondhand LG phones for their audio quality.

The comparison between different types of earbuds and their audio quality.

The top picks for Android Bluetooth earbuds: Sony WF-1000XM4 and Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro.

The limitations of Bluetooth audio and its impact on hi-fi listening.

The options for using wired headphones with phones lacking a headphone jack.

The difference between passive and active USB-C to 3.5 mm dongles for audio quality.

The advantages of using a full-size portable DAC over a mini dongle for better sound quality.

Recommendations for portable DACs: AudioQuest Dragonfly Red and FiiO BTR5.

The versatility of the FiiO BTR5 as a Bluetooth receiver and its value for money.

The limitations of Android's native audio stack and the need for third-party apps for better audio quality.

Introduction of USB Audio Player Pro (UAPP) as a solution to bypass Android's audio limitations.

The compatibility and functionality of UAPP with both internal and external DACs.

The ability of UAPP to play high-resolution audio files bit-perfectly.

Alternative music players for Android that offer direct access to USB DACs.

Conclusion summarizing the Android audio file experience and the value of the discussed methods and tools.

Transcripts

[Music]

hi audio nerds and welcome back to the

channel it's great to see you all

and if you haven't subscribed yet do

take a second just to hit that red

button below the video

thank you now much as i enjoy kicking

back to my favorite music

playing on my favorite bits of home

hi-fi i find being honest most of the

listening i do day to day

is music played through my smartphone

particularly when i'm out and about i

suspect many of you use your phone as

your primary music player too

despite all its shortcomings as a

dedicated audio player

for a start most modern smartphones

particularly the premium end of the

market

don't even have 3.5 mil headphone jacks

so i thought i would do a couple of

videos on how to maximize the audio file

experience from your smartphone

the situation is a little bit different

depending on whether you use an iphone

or an android like the one i've got here

there are differences both in terms of

audio hardware

and software and even the kind of

quality you can get over bluetooth so

today

we're going to focus on android but

don't worry iphone fans there's going to

be a companion video on iphone

audiophilia coming up soon

so first of all we'll look at the

hardware options in the android world

then we'll look at software to get the

best audio experience out of your phone

let's just say for now that it's much

more complex in android to get bit

perfect high quality audio

from your phone than it is from the

iphone but it isn't impossible as i'm

going to show you

so stay tuned the best thing about

choosing android

is that it's still possible to get

phones with headphone jacks

such as my trusty pixel 4a 5g here which

i'm going to use for

demonstrating in this video but remember

the quality of the music coming out of

the audio jack

depends on two things first of all you

have to take into account the quality of

the digital to analog converter or

dac inside the phone along with the

quality of the headphone

amplifier circuitry now most android

phones use

some variation of a qualcomm chipset or

exynos if you're using a samsung phone

here in europe for example

and the dacs built into these chips are

actually reasonably capable

however the headphone amplification is

often neglected

with noisy low power output circuits

sometimes prone to

interference from the phone's other

systems you'd struggle to drive a decent

pair of

over air cans from the headphone output

of most modern android phones

the exception to this rule is the lg

line of phones particularly the g

and v phones from the past three or four

years many of these boast

dedicated ess sabre dax like you'd find

in a dedicated

digital audio player and they also

feature more powerful internal headphone

amps but there's a problem

if you haven't heard lg's phones vision

is no more

it's dead deceased it's not pining for

the fjords

it's an x phone division so it's

probably not a good idea to splurge your

cash on a new lg

phone but if you can find a cheap

secondhand lg

v30 or 40 for example in good condition

you might do well to snap it up having

said all that the output from most

phones jacks including this one

is actually pretty sufficient to drive a

pair of iems

and they will sound so much better than

the rubbish bundled ear buds that come

with your phone

something like these the trn ta ones

which i'm really loving at the moment

watch out for a review of those coming

up these cost about 35 to 40 dollars

if you've got a little bit more spare

cash then these are my current

favorite sub 150 pound iems they are of

course the wonderful

moon drop star field which i've had for

over a year now and you can see they're

well used you can see the chips on the

paint

but cosmetic damage aside they sound

fantastic but assuming your phone

doesn't have a headphone jack like the

cool but ultra expensive s21 ultra

what do you do then well the default

position for many would be to get a pair

of

bluetooth earbuds now i agree that this

isn't a true hi-fi option and bluetooth

still absolutely sucks in many regards i

might do a video on it at some point if

you guys want to see bluetooth audio

getting a good kicking

just let me know in the comments however

there are some good bluetooth options

out there that offer convenient

listening

and some excellent noise cancellation

and surprisingly good

sound quality so my current top two

picks for

android bluetooth earbuds are these two

first of all we've got the sony

wf-1000xm4s

these cost 250 pounds so quite a lot

really in the uk 279 dollars in the us

and these are without doubt the finest

sounding bluetooth earbuds that i

personally have tried

so these are my top choice but if you

don't want to spend that kind of money

the second recommendation is the samsung

galaxy

buds pro the latest version of samsung's

bluetooth earbuds

now these two are quite expensive with a

list price of 219

however you often find them on sale for

a lot less if not actually just given

away with samsung phones

but you didn't watch this video to learn

about bluetooth headsets because this is

an audio file

video you will quite rightly still want

to use your expensive wired

headphones so let's look at the other

options if your phone doesn't have a

headphone socket

so the first option is to get yourself

one of these which

you'll recognize as being a usbc to 3.5

mil

dongle but it's not as simple as that

because not all

dongles are created equally in android

world

you see there are passive dongles like

this one

and active dongles like this one and

despite looking very similar they are

completely different

so what's all that about then well a

passive dongle like this

basically just passes through an analog

signal

from the usbc port of your phone to the

headphone jack

in essence it's like having an external

headphone jack with all the audio

processing being done by the dac in the

phone itself

now the difficulty is that not all

android phones can output an

analog audio signal through the usbc

port

the phones that can include models from

the likes of realme

oppo oneplus and xiaomi phones as well i

think although don't quote me on that

however samsung phones and for example

my pixel 4a 5g

can't do that so for example if i plug

my passive dongle

into my pixel phone i will get

a message let's have a look at what it

says it says analog audio accessory

detected

the attached device is not compatible

with this phone boo

hiss so as long as your phone supports

analog

audio pass through through the usbc port

then

a passive dongle will be great and then

the audio quality will depend as we've

already said

on the phone's dac and amplification

circuitry

so the other kind of dongle you can get

is an active dongle like this one

and this one's very different because it

has a

tiny little dac and headphone amp housed

in the dongle itself

so all you need to do is pass through a

digital signal through the usbc port

and the digital to analog conversion

amplification is done by the dongle

itself

now the good news is that all android

phones can

pass through a digital uh audio signal

through the usb c port so an active

dongle will work with

any android phone including the pixel

and the samsung phones in fact this is

the

official samsung 3.5 mil adapter

and it sounds surprisingly decent coming

through a samsung phone

samsung adapter can handle high-res

audio

i think up to 384 kilohertz and 24 bit

the other one that's quite good is the

apple usbc

to headphone adapter but i think that's

limited to 48 kilohertz files

so dongles certainly are a nice cheap

way of upgrading your

android audio experience particularly if

you've got some nice

iems they tend to be cheap they're very

easy to carry around but also

surprisingly easy to lose i can't tell

you how many of these dongles i've lost

over the years okay we're leveling up

now and if you've got deeper pockets

both literally and metaphorically you

might want to try a full-size portable

dac

over a mini dongle they are typically

more powerful

and just generally sound a lot better so

here we have two great examples the

audioquest dragonfly red

and the fio btr5 now both of these are

as you can see about the size of an old

school usb stick

and they are both ideal for audio files

on the go hooking them up to your phone

is pretty easy for the dragonfly red

which has an old-school usb

a connection you need a usbc to usb a

adapter

this is just a cheap one from anchor

which costs i think about four pounds

the btr5 on the other hand has a usbc

connection

so you need a usbc to usbc cable

this is the standard charging cable for

the

pixel i think no this one's the ipad pro

in fact and it works really well

although it's a bit long you probably

want to get yourself a shorter one of

these

for on-the-go listening now the btr5 has

another trick up its sleeve as it's also

a bluetooth receiver so you can find

music over to it using the

ldac codec which is the highest quality

bluetooth codec you can currently get

for

audio the dragonfly on the other hand is

a really

full-bodied ess saber-powered dac

and it has a really powerful

amplification stage so it's really good

for more demanding

full-sized over-ear headphones now the

btr-5 has great value

at around 90 pounds here in the uk the

audioquest dragonfly is a lot more

expensive i think it's 169 pounds

currently

of the two when i'm out and about i tend

to prefer the btr5 it's just a more

versatile and

great value device overall i've done a

video on it go check it out if you want

the full details

and of course you can keep going with

larger more powerful external dax so for

example you could use something like the

ifi hipdac

which is a bit too big for me for

everyday portable use but it sounds

absolutely fantastic

packing a huge bassy thump you can even

connect the phone over usbc to

a home dac such as the ifi zendak v2

which is a great little desktop dac and

headphone amp which i've also reviewed

recently

so that is all the hardware that you can

use to upgrade your android audio

experience but now

let's turn to the peculiarities of the

way that android handles audio

which is what makes android audio philia

a somewhat frustratingly complex

experience

you see you might have invested in a

megabox high-end

dac capable of handling 24-bit 192khz

files and even mqa for what it's worth

but android will merely laugh in your

smug face because what it does

is it takes any and all audio files

and sends it through a re-sampling

process in its native

audio stack and outputs it at 48

kilohertz

yup that's right tidal spotify co buzz

deezer amazon hd all those files will be

resampled to 48 kilohertz by the android

audio stack

that in itself is enough to upset some

audio files

as a playback is that not bit perfect

now me personally i'm a pragmatic

audiophile and whilst the ocd bit of me

does enjoy a bit of bit perfection is

that a thing

i wouldn't mind if the resampling

process didn't actually affect the sound

quality

but the problem is that it sometimes

does audibly so

so for example if you listen to the

first track on dark side of the moon by

pink floyd

on some android phones and you turn the

volume up you get this nasty

hissing and crackling digital noise

before the heartbeats kick in

once the music signal itself gets louder

this noise becomes

rather less audible but it certainly

ruins quieter passages of classical

music

particularly if you have got some

sensitive iems

now this doesn't happen on all phones

though so for example on my pixel 4a

5g even through very sensitive iems

through the headphone jack

i don't get any audible artifacts at all

however on another phone i had the lg

v30

it really was noticeable when playing

non-mqa tracks

through the title app for example if you

are a bit perfectionist however fear not

because there is a solution

in the form of this phenomenal app

called usb

audio player pro or uapp for short

now this is available from the google

play store it's a paid app it costs 7.99

i bought it years ago

basically what it can do is bypass the

android audio stack

and access either the internal dac or an

external usb

dac directly and it can therefore play

bit perfectly through either the

headphone jack or

an external dac now it can play files

stored on your phone's

internal memory or a micro sd card if

your phone supports that

but the big news here is that it also

allows you to log in into either your

cobuzz

or tidal accounts and play those through

the same direct driver

the interface as you can see shows you

the bitrate that is actually

playing so in the case of this muse

album here you can see that the original

file is 96 kilohertz 24 bit

and it's playing it through the internal

dac so outputting it through the

headphone jack

bit perfectly at 96 kilohertz there is

an optional

mqa decoder add-on which i believe is a

paid in-app purchase

and it'll perform the so-called first

unfold of your mqa file

it's widely compatible with a huge range

of external dac so for example here i've

got the

btr5 connected via cable

and as you can see the display says usb

dac

is outputting at 96 kilohertz

and sure enough if we check the display

96 kilohertz

if i switch over to a cd quality file

playing at just 44.1 kilohertz as you

can see

let's check the dac and it switched 44.1

kilohertz so uapp

absolutely fantastic bit of software

probably the best eight quid i've spent

on an android app

it's important to note that uapp is not

the only app that can take advantage of

this

direct access mode to the usb dac

if you predominantly listen to offline

music then you might want to check out

neutron music player which is what i've

got here

it's a bit less user friendly in my

opinion but it does offer lots of

opportunity to tweak

settings and equalization if that's your

thing and the audio quality is also

really good

it's a paid app and i think it too costs

7.99

or pounds the high b high buy music

player

is another option that you might want to

consider because it is free

and it supports title streaming along

with offline file playback

i must admit that i haven't really used

it that much however my brief first

impression of it is that it isn't as

easy or friendly to use as uapp

so that is still my top recommendation

for

the best audiophile android software

so there you have it those are my

complete thoughts on

the android audio file experience i hope

you've enjoyed the video and found it

useful

if you have then please do leave me a

comment below

and if you have any further hints or

tips or bits of software that you'd like

to recommend

again just drop a comment below thank

you so much for watching

stay safe and i'll see you in the next

video