USB-DAC Prototype

jamescodway wrote: Oooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!! That's exciting! Fingers and other digits crossed for success. :-) (I know that's not a very scientific response...) James

Well, we're not all that scientific really...

I just took a good old industry-standard chip which works with just about everything and then applied some of my usual tricks to it. You know, things like the right sort of regulation - surprising what difference it makes to S/PDIF and audio quality... Then there's the GSPAudio analogue section...  And our S/PDIF driver circuitry which includes a high spec transformer in the coax feed.

That's what it's all about isn't it? Music quality? Why else would somebody buy a music device? Hmmm, yes, to impress their mates with the latest technology, but those people scoff at us and don't buy anything from us. We're used to that.

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The Galaxy S2 may well work when we've figured out which apps to use, and it may be that the S2 also needs the much awaited firmware Samsung had promised. But then they have to sell the S3 and it looks like you may be able to simply hook up the S3 to the Bitzie and you're playing music. Not having an S3 I cannot say this is the case. Somebody on the loaner program may be able to let me know?

My son has an S1 and I can say it would take a miracle for it to recognise the USB DAC let alone play audio out to it.

On the other hand by using a USB host controller and USB audio tester app the Galaxy S2 recognised the Bitzie as an audio codec, and, yes, the Bitzie has an audio codec (not a DAC chip) at its heart. It even tells you the codec manufacturer as most Linux OS will do, so there's no secrets anymore... (apart from the bits I did - it can't tell you that!).

But without the firmware of the S3 we were not able to send any music stream from the S2 to the Bitzie.

The thing is, the Bitzie by not having the latest trendy chip or chipset is instantly recognised by most hosts. Provided that is the host is so equipped, which the S2 in standard issue isn't.

Much as I would like to buy an S3, we are not blessed with limitless cash reserves and the money is being spent on the Aria right now.

In our usual weekly late night meeting we have every week, we (that's Leo, John and I) concluded that we're 99.9% sure the S3 will recognise and play music out to the Bitzie - we just need to try one - when and if we can go out and buy one - to answer the other 0.01%.

As for the S2, Leo will continue to try different apps, but we are of the opinion the S2 needs the firmware.

And the S1? I doubt it will ever partner the Bitzie, but that's no fault of ours.

Graham

I have the USB Camera Connector and will test the Bitzie with a 1st and 3rd generation iPads. Will keep you posted.

Graham, I am impressed with the progress with the OTG issues. If it is not impertinent of me to say so... "who says you can't teach an old dog, new tricks, eh?". Out of curiosity, what sort of current draw would the Bitzie take. I'm just wondering how much of a drain it would put on the phone driving it.

Graham, I know I should know but … is the 1/4" out a pure line out or is it controlled by the volume pot just like the mini out? Thanks.