USB Audio Player PRO vs Other Media Players: Which One is Better for Audiophiles?
USB Audio Player PRO: The Ultimate Media Player for Android
If you are an audiophile who wants to enjoy the best sound quality on your Android device, you might be frustrated by the limitations of the native audio system. Most Android players can only play up to 16-bit/48kHz resolution, which is far from the HiRes audio standards. Moreover, they cannot bypass the Android audio processing, which can degrade the sound quality and introduce noise and distortion.
Usb Audio Player Pro Free
Fortunately, there is a solution for you: USB Audio Player PRO. This app is a high-quality media player that supports USB audio DACs and HiRes audio chips found in the latest phones. It can play up to any resolution and sample rate that the DAC supports, bypassing all audio limits of Android. It also supports all popular and less popular formats, including wav, flac, mp3, m4a, wavpack, SACD ISO, MQA and DSD.
In this article, we will introduce you to USB Audio Player PRO, its features and benefits, how to use it, why you should choose it, and some FAQs. By the end of this article, you will have a clear idea of what USB Audio Player PRO can do for you and how to get started with it.
What is USB Audio Player PRO?
USB Audio Player PRO is an app developed by eXtream Software Development, a company specialized in creating audio software for mobile devices. The app was first released in 2012 and has been updated regularly since then. It has over 100K downloads on Google Play Store and a 4.0 star rating from over 11.5K reviews.
The app is designed to provide the best possible sound quality on Android devices by using a custom developed USB audio driver for USB DACs or a HiRes driver for internal audio chips. It can also use the standard Android driver if needed. The app is one of the highest quality media players around, offering features such as:
Features and benefits of USB Audio Player PRO
MQA Core Decoder: Since version 5, the app now includes a MQA Core Decoder (in-app purchase required). MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) is an award-winning British technology that delivers the sound of the original master recording. The master MQA file is fully authenticated and is small enough to stream or download, while also being backward compatible. The Tidal streaming service supported by USB Audio Player PRO features many tracks in MQA and offers a great opportunity to experience MQA. The MQA decoder will unfold the MQA stream from 44.1/48kHz to 88.2/96 kHz and can also be combined with USB DACs that feature a MQA renderer (e.g. AudioQuest DragonFly / iFi / Ztella) for further unfolding to even higher sample rates.
Gapless playback: The app supports gapless playback, which means that there are no pauses or silences between tracks. This is especially important for albums that are meant to be played as a continuous piece of music, such as live recordings or concept albums.
Bit perfect playback: The app ensures that the audio signal is not altered or modified by any processing or resampling. This means that you will hear exactly what the artist intended, without any loss of quality or fidelity.
Replay gain: The app supports replay gain, which is a technique that adjusts the volume level of different tracks or albums to make them sound equally loud. This avoids having to constantly adjust the volume when switching between songs or albums that have different loudness levels. You can choose between track or album mode, and adjust the preamp level to your preference.
Parametric equalizer: The app features a powerful parametric equalizer that allows you to adjust the frequency response of the audio signal. You can create your own presets or use the built-in ones, such as bass boost, vocal boost, or flat. You can also apply filters, such as low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, or notch.
Network playback: The app can play audio files from your local device storage or from network sources, such as SMB/CIFS shares, UPnP/DLNA media servers, FTP servers, or WebDAV servers. You can also access cloud storage services, such as Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Box, or Amazon Cloud Drive.
Streaming services: The app supports streaming audio from popular online services, such as Tidal, Qobuz, and Shoutcast. You can enjoy high-quality music with lossless or HiRes formats, and access millions of songs and radio stations. You can also use the app as a remote control for your Chromecast or UPnP/DLNA renderer.
Playlist management: The app allows you to create and edit playlists with ease. You can add tracks from any source, sort them by various criteria, shuffle them, or repeat them. You can also import and export playlists in m3u, pls, or cue formats.
Album art and lyrics: The app displays the album art and lyrics of the current track, if available. You can also search for album art and lyrics online, or edit them manually. You can also customize the appearance of the player interface with different themes and colors.
Advanced settings and preferences: The app offers a lot of options to tweak and optimize the performance and behavior of the player. You can adjust the buffer size, sample rate conversion quality, resampling algorithm, volume control type, USB audio mode, MQA settings, and more. You can also enable or disable features such as background play, lock screen controls, notification controls, headset buttons, Bluetooth controls, etc.
How to use USB Audio Player PRO?
Using USB Audio Player PRO is easy and intuitive. Here are the basic steps to get started with the app:
Downloading and installing the app
The app is available on Google Play Store for $7.99. You can download and install it on your Android device by following these steps:
Open the Google Play Store app on your device.
Search for USB Audio Player PRO or use this link: USB Audio Player PRO - Apps on Google Play
Tap on the Install button and wait for the download to finish.
Tap on the Open button to launch the app.
Connecting a USB audio DAC
If you have a USB audio DAC (digital-to-analog converter), you can connect it to your Android device using a USB OTG (on-the-go) cable or adapter. This will allow you to use the DAC's own audio processing and output capabilities instead of the device's internal audio system. To connect a USB audio DAC to your device, follow these steps:
Plug one end of the USB OTG cable or adapter into your device's USB port.
Plug the other end of the cable or adapter into your DAC's USB port.
The app should detect the DAC automatically and switch to USB mode. You should see a message saying "USB DAC detected" on the app's main screen.
If the app does not detect the DAC automatically, you can go to Settings > Audio Hardware > USB Audio Tweaks > Force USB DAC Detection and enable it.
You can also go to Settings > Audio Hardware > USB Audio Tweaks > Select USB DAC Device and choose your DAC from the list of available devices.
Playing local and network files
The app can play audio files from your device's internal storage or external SD card. It can also play files from network sources such as SMB/CIFS shares, UPnP/DLNA media servers, FTP servers, or WebDAV servers. To play local and network files, follow these steps:
Tap on the Library icon on the bottom left corner of the app's main screen.
You will see a list of folders and files on your device's storage. You can browse through them by tapping on them.
You can also tap on the Menu icon on the top right corner of the screen and select Network Sources to access files from network locations. You will need to add and configure the network sources first by tapping on the Add button and following the instructions.
To play a file, simply tap on it. The app will start playing it and display the album art, lyrics, and playback controls on the main screen.
You can also add files to a playlist by long-pressing on them and selecting Add to Playlist. You can access your playlists by tapping on the Playlist icon on the bottom right corner of the screen.
Streaming audio from Tidal, Qobuz, and Shoutcast
The app supports streaming audio from online services such as Tidal, Qobuz, and Shoutcast. You can enjoy high-quality music with lossless or HiRes formats, and access millions of songs and radio stations. To stream audio from these services, follow these steps:
Tap on the Streaming icon on the bottom center of the app's main screen.
You will see a list of supported streaming services. Tap on the one you want to use.
You will need to log in with your account credentials for the service. If you don't have an account, you can sign up for one on their website.
Once you are logged in, you can browse through the categories, genres, playlists, albums, artists, and tracks offered by the service. You can also search for specific items using the Search icon on the top right corner of the screen.
To play a track, album, or playlist, simply tap on it. The app will start streaming it and display the album art, lyrics, and playback controls on the main screen.
You can also add tracks, albums, or playlists to your favorites by tapping on the Heart icon next to them. You can access your favorites by tapping on the Favorites icon on the top left corner of the screen.
Customizing the settings and preferences
The app offers a lot of options to tweak and optimize the performance and behavior of the player. You can adjust the buffer size, sample rate conversion quality, resampling algorithm, volume control type, USB audio mode, MQA settings, and more. You can also enable or disable features such as background play, lock screen controls, notification controls, headset buttons, Bluetooth controls, etc. To customize the settings and preferences of the app, follow these steps:
Tap on the Menu icon on the top right corner of the app's main screen.
Select Settings from the menu.
You will see a list of categories such as Audio Hardware, Audio Quality/Processing, User Interface, Streaming Services, etc. Tap on the category you want to modify.
You will see a list of options and switches for that category. Tap on them to change their values or toggle them on or off.
Some options may require a restart of the app or a reconnection of the USB DAC to take effect. The app will notify you if that is the case.
Why choose USB Audio Player PRO?
USB Audio Player PRO is not just another media player for Android. It is a specialized app that caters to audiophiles who demand the best sound quality and the most features on their devices. It is a unique app that offers the following advantages over other media players:
Pros and cons of USB Audio Player PRO
Pros
Cons
- Supports USB audio DACs and HiRes audio chips with custom drivers
- Requires a USB OTG cable or adapter to connect a USB DAC
- Supports up to any resolution and sample rate that the DAC supports, bypassing all audio limits of Android
- May not be compatible with some DACs or devices
- Supports all popular and less popular formats, including MQA and DSD
- Requires an in-app purchase to unlock the MQA Core Decoder
- Supports gapless playback, bit perfect playback, replay gain, and parametric equalizer
- May consume more battery and CPU resources than other players
- Supports network playback, streaming services, Chromecast, and UPnP/DLNA
- May require a stable and fast internet connection for some features
- Offers advanced settings and preferences to customize the performance and behavior of the player
- May have a steep learning curve for some users
User reviews and ratings
USB Audio Player PRO has received positive feedback from many users who have praised its sound quality, features, and support. Here are some examples of user reviews and ratings from Google Play Store:
"This is hands down the best music player on Android. It sounds amazing with my Fiio BTR5 DAC/amp. It supports all the formats I need, including MQA and DSD. It also has a great EQ and streaming services integration. The developer is very responsive and helpful. Highly recommended!" - 5 stars
"I have been using this app for years and it never disappoints. It plays everything I throw at it, from flac to SACD ISO to DSD. It also works flawlessly with my Topping D90 DAC. It is worth every penny and more. Thank you for this amazing app!" - 5 stars
"This app is good but not perfect. It has some bugs and compatibility issues with some DACs and devices. Sometimes it crashes or freezes. Sometimes it does not detect the DAC or switches to the wrong mode. I hope the developer can fix these problems soon." - 3 stars
Comparison with other media players
There are many other media players for Android, but none of them can match USB Audio Player PRO in terms of sound quality and features. Here are some of the most popular media players and how they compare with USB Audio Player PRO:
Media Player
Comparison with USB Audio Player PRO
Poweramp Music Player: A powerful and popular media player that supports most formats, gapless playback, replay gain, equalizer, lyrics, album art, etc.
- Does not support USB audio DACs or HiRes audio chips with custom drivers- Does not support MQA or DSD formats- Does not support network playback or streaming services- Has a simpler and more user-friendly interface- Has a lower price ($4.99)
Neutron Music Player: A professional-grade media player that supports most formats, including MQA and DSD, gapless playback, bit perfect playback, replay gain, parametric equalizer, etc.
- Supports USB audio DACs but not HiRes audio chips with custom drivers- Supports network playback but not streaming services- Has a complex and cluttered interface- Has a higher price ($7.99)
VLC Media Player: A free and open-source media player that supports most formats, network playback, streaming services, Chromecast, etc.
- Does not support USB audio DACs or HiRes audio chips with custom drivers- Does not support MQA or DSD formats- Does not support gapless playback, bit perfect playback, replay gain, or parametric equalizer- Has a simple and minimalist interface- Has no price (free)
Conclusion
USB Audio Player PRO is the ultimate media player for Android devices, especially for audiophiles who want to enjoy the best sound quality and the most features. It supports USB audio DACs and HiRes audio chips with custom drivers, bypassing all audio limits of Android. It also supports all popular and less popular formats, including MQA and DSD. It also supports gapless playback, bit perfect playback, replay gain, parametric equalizer, network playback, streaming services, and more. It offers advanced settings and preferences to customize the performance and behavior of the player. It has a high price ($7.99) but it is worth it for the quality and features it offers.
If you are looking for a media player that can play any audio file, stream any audio service, and connect any audio device, USB Audio Player PRO is the app for you. You can download it from Google Play Store and start enjoying your music in a whole new way.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about USB Audio Player PRO:
Q: How can I get the best sound quality from USB Audio Player PRO?A: To get the best sound quality from USB Audio Player PRO, you should use a USB audio DAC or a HiRes audio chip with custom drivers, and set the app to use them. You should also enable bit perfect playback, disable any unnecessary processing or resampling, and use a high-quality format such as flac, MQA, or DSD.
Q: How can I get the MQA Core Decoder for USB Audio Player PRO?A: To get the MQA Core Decoder for USB Audio Player PRO, you need to make an in-app purchase of $3.49. You can do this by going to Settings > Audio Quality/Processing > MQA Core Decoder and tapping on the Purchase button.
Q: How can I stream Tidal or Qobuz with USB Audio Player PRO?A: To stream Tidal or Qobuz with USB Audio Player PRO, you need to have an account with these services and log in with your credentials. You can do this by going to Streaming > Tidal or Qobuz and tapping on the Login button.
Q: How can I play DSD files with USB Audio Player PRO?A: To play DSD files with USB Audio Player PRO, you need to have a USB audio DAC that supports DSD or a HiRes audio chip that supports DSD. You also need to set the app to use them and enable DSD playback. You can do this by going to Settings > Audio Hardware > USB Audio Tweaks > Select USB DAC Device and choosing your DAC, and then going to Settings > Audio Quality/Processing > DSD Playback Mode and choosing Native or DoP.
Q: How can I contact the developer of USB Audio Player PRO?A: To contact the developer of USB Audio Player PRO, you can send an email to info@extreamsd.com or visit their website at https://www.extreamsd.com/.
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