Enable USB audio on any Android 4.0 device

[DanBa]

If you want the USB audio feature enabled via official firmware/kernel, please vote (i.e. request to Google) here:
Issue 24614 - android - Enable USB audio on the Galaxy Nexus (or any Android 4.0 device) - Android - An Open Handset Alliance Project - Google Project Hosting

Vote by clicking on the star


According to Android specs, Android 4.0 devices could support the USB audio feature, i.e. Android 4.0 devices and USB_CLASS_AUDIO compliant devices like standard USB DAC could interoperate:
USB Host and Accessory | Android Developers
UsbConstants | Android Developers

USB audio is enabled in the modded kernel of the Nook tablet allowing USB DAC "FiiO E7" and Nook to interoperate:
xda-developers - View Single Post - [webcam support] USB Host support that YOU can try (now in nightlies)


Some USB DAC:

. Portable FiiO USB DAC/amp:
FIIO-Amplifier

. Portable iBasso USB DAC/amp:
iBasso

. Portable RSA USB DAC/amp:
Emmeline "The Predator" Portable USB DAC/Amp - Ray Samuels Audio

. Portable HeadAmp USB DAC/amp:
HeadAmp - Audio Electronics (pico USB DAC/Amp)

. Portable GoVibe USB DAC/amp:
Jaben Online Store

. Desktop CEntrance USB DAC/amp:
CEntrance -> Products

. Desktop MSB DAC IV :
List Prices


A digital audio system is composed of:



. A storage module: Music is stored in file as a series of bits 0 & 1 with different encoding formats (MP3, WAV, FLAC…).
. A player: The player decodes the bits 0 & 1 to PCM digital audio signals.
. A DAC (Digital to Analog Converter): The DAC converts the PCM digital audio signals to the original analog audio signals.
. An amplifier: The amplifier amplifies the analog audio signals.
. A speaker: The speaker restitutes the music.


Like a PC or a Mac, an Android phone is a digital audio system.




Hopefully, an Android phone, running on a kernel with a USB audio driver, can output the PCM digital audio stream to an external standard USB DAC & amplifier & headphone, much more efficient than the internal DAC & amplifier & speakerphone.

[DanBa]

Thank you for your votes!

The USB audio request is currently ranked 50, and there are 17550 requests.
Issue 24614 - android - Enable USB audio on the Galaxy Nexus (or any Android 4.0 device) - Android - An Open Handset Alliance Project - Google Project Hosting

In fact, it is ranked in top 10 of less than one year old requests.