General Issues with USB Dongles and external USB DACs

[Nemuritor01]

There is another problem with the Pixel 6 (6 and 6 pro) devices. External USB DACs and dongles do not work properly. USB Host API or the DAC offloading and hand-over are bugged. Apps like Tidal, Neutron, USB audio Player Pro crash or can't play music in high res. The problem has already been reported by some users. There has been no statement from Google yet.
A work around for me to get music playing and stop apps freezing was switching off the toggle for "allow all apps use mic" in system/privacy settings.
But this does not solve the issue, as the apps still can not access the USB Dongles or external DACs directly and by pass android system limitations and software processing.
Google skips the 3.5 port and users are forced to use dongles, etc., which do not even work properly.

 

[miravision]

Google is going the Apple way by certifying hardware that is compatible with the P6P and P6. Their response will be to buy a certified DAC or wait for a software patch

 

[Myrzul]

WTF, I don't find the USB PLAYER PRO on playstore... And you?

 

[roirraW "edor" ehT]

WTF, I don't find the USB PLAYER PRO on playstore... And you?

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

 

[Myrzul]

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

Yes.. It's not available on my pixel 6 pro.

 

[roirraW "edor" ehT]

Yes.. It's not available on my pixel 6 pro.

Maybe they're still using some old Android API and need to start using a newer one. Hopefully, they update it for Android 12.

 

[Myrzul]

Maybe they're still using some old Android API and need to start using a newer one. Hopefully, they update it for Android 12.

I hope for my DAC too... I'm sad

 

[roirraW "edor" ehT]

I hope for my DAC too... I'm sad

Try their website https://www.extreamsd.com/ or their support email address [email protected] and let them know. If they're not already actively working on a solution, hopefully they will after you talk to them. Good luck!

 

[Nemuritor01]

They are all aware. I've talked to Davy (USB audio Player Pro). They removed the app for pixel 6 and pixel 6 pro from playstore because of the mentioned issues. The problems have nothing to do with their app. E.g. neutron and tidal are also not working properly or freezing. Google needs to fix their USB DAC hand over.

 

[roirraW "edor" ehT]

They are all aware. I've talked to Davy (USB audio Player Pro). They removed the app for pixel 6 and pixel 6 pro from playstore because of the mentioned issues. The problems have nothing to do with their app. E.g. neutron and tidal are also not working properly or freezing. Google needs to fix their USB DAC hand over.

Wow, that sucks. I hope they fix that pronto! Otherwise, I smell a class-action lawsuit (not from me).

 

[EeZeEpEe]

Is it app specific and/or USB DAC specific? Because my FiiO BTR3K works fine.

 

[Nemuritor01]

Which app are you using?
Some apps can play music, but most can not bypass Android Software processing.
If you e.g. use tidal in MQA the app connects directly to the DAC and plays in high res.
Same does USB audio Player Pro. Then you see at the bottom "DAC" + bit...
Actually if I get it to play music at all, it's just direct mode, which means nothing.
Some dongles and DACs seem to be working, but just in low/software-processed quality.
So the problem is playing REAL high res, instead of android software compressed/processed audio.
Therefore the USB API seems to be broken. So as soon as the app tries to get direct access to the DAC it freezes or crashes.

 

[EeZeEpEe]

Which app are you using?
Some apps can play music, but most can not bypass Android Software processing.
If you e.g. use tidal in MQA the app connects directly to the DAC and plays in high res.
Same does USB audio Player Pro. Then you see at the bottom "DAC" + bit...
Actually if I get it to play music at all, it's just direct mode, which means nothing.
So the problem is playing REAL high res, instead of android software compressed/processed audio.

Ah gotcha. I don't have anything playing actual high res audio files.

 

[Nemuritor01]

Ah gotcha. I don't have anything playing actual high res audio files.

Yeah, maybe you can play some processed, low quality music through your high res DAC. So the DAC is pretty useless, you could use a standard dongle with bull**** chip, as it doesn't matter.
I know a little bit what I'm talking about.
I did some audio ports and worked with UltraM8 and the other dudes on the Ainur Audio mods.

 

[EeZeEpEe]

Yeah, maybe you can play some processed, low quality music through your high res DAC. So the DAC is pretty useless, you could use a standard dongle with bull**** chip, as it doesn't matter.
I know a little bit what I'm talking about.
I was the guy doing the DTS port and worked with UltraM8 and the other dudes on the Ainur Audio mods.

Yeah I don't even use it wired anyway. I just wanted a very good Bluetooth DAC. For me it's the best of both, using my wired headphones yet not tethered to the device it's connected to.

 

[prohibido_por_la_ley]

No issues playing the Hi-Res/Ultra HD music files on Amazon Music through the official Google dongle. Sounds pretty good, can't really tell the difference between it and the V60 that I've had prior.

 

[Nemuritor01]

No issues playing the Hi-Res/Ultra HD music files on Amazon Music through the official Google dongle. Sounds pretty good, can't really tell the difference between it and the V60 that I've had prior.

As far as I know, Amazon app is still limited to phones native sampling rate and does not bypass Android limitations (android mixer). So it does not make use of the external DAC directly. Different story again. But please correct me, if I'm wrong.
But at least it's one DAC that plays some music.

 

[Nemuritor01]

Here the link to the Google support conversation.

What to do about USB-C audio outputs (adaptor + USB DAC) with pixel 6? - Google Pixel Community

 

[jsensation]

I had a OnePlus 6 with Jack 3.5 and I bought a DAC for the Pixel 6 and I find this problem, I hope they will solve it soon. I can play music but with worse quality

 

[Morgrain]

Here the link to the Google support conversation.

What to do about USB-C audio outputs (adaptor + USB DAC) with pixel 6? - Google Pixel Community

I just read through the conversation and it just baffles me. So the "official" Pixel support forum is run by volunteers who basically tell you "if you have a problem, don't bother us, we just give you pre-prepared text-blocks - if they can't help you, we're out" - if you want "real" support, go and use "feedback form" - meaning you write a wall of text to an known person, won't get any sort of answer or input and have to pray that Google will care?

Uff.

I mean, as a Pixel user you can always try the

-> Settings
-> Tips & Support
-> Contact us

form, that way you can at least write to a person/talk to a human, even though they will most likely also just form a "feedback form" after your conversation, since they are powerless Tier I tech people.

I hope that Google can fix those problems here, so you guys can have fun with your device. Google certainly doesn't deserve the "our phone just works" - status, if they forget to add basic compatibility to common third party hardware.