[preston]

Which modern Kenwood deck has digital outputs ?
That's like the holy grail around here since all the mfg's phased them out a few years ago.
The only units I know about are the chinese Joying Android based HU's that I've been looking at.
Not the easiest thing to research either as you have to dive into the specs to try and find it.

 

[preston]

And just for those not in the kn ow, as far as I know the only modern head unit still available with SPDIF digital outputs are the Joying units. I just ordered one today we'll see how it works out. I plan to audition it against my Pioneer P99 feeding analog into the DSP.

 

[preston]

I will look up that app to try and understand more but definitely confused -

"what we need to know now is if UAPP actually operates? if so this means it can override the internal DAC= upto 32bit/384hz vs the limited android dac at 16bit/48hz and also means clean untouched signal directly into the DSP."

You're not suggesting that the Joying runs the digital signal through its own DAC first ? I think what you are saying is that the digital signal is formatted (in the digital domain) to match the capabilities of the internal DAC, but that UAPP maintains the full resolution (assuming the source signal is recorded at a higher resolution) ?

I have seen some discussion on spdif vs the USB OTG signal going into the Helix, but I don't remember there being a definite conclusion. I do vaguely remember a comment from the guy at MCA (MCS ?) about it though (can't remember his name).. Do you have a link to that discussion ? I just bought a new Helix Pro but I haven't purchased the HEC USB module for it, I was planning on going coax. I guess I will go ahead and lay in the USB wire just in case that ends up being the way to go.

I'm a pretty clever guy and good software engineer, but not the most sophisticated on all the new way to do things with apps and phones and devices. I worry if I will be able to get all of this stuff working as there does seem to be a hint of flakiness with a lot of it and support is good but confusing. I just purchased the unit yesterday though and its the latest Android 10 OS etc.

 

[preston]

It is not too hard to make an upgrade to toss link with almost ayny head unit, and the expense is under 20-30 USD

How ?
I'd love to add digital output to my P99.
I mean I understand the theory, just grab the digital signal off the board somewhere, but don't have a clue how to go about it.(find it, wire to it, buffer it)

 

[preston]

So I just installed a new Joying Android head unit and downloaded USB Audio Player Pro.
Its currently playing through the coax digital output to my Helix.
I did a direct A/B test between my Pioneer P99rs playing straight analog into the Helix vs the Joying digital playing an exact copy of the same song on 2 different usb sticks, volume matched. The director switched sources almost simultaneously for the quickest and most direct a/b comparison I've ever been able to do. I honestly didn't think there would be much difference but it was a very noticeable improvement. The pure digital was definitely clearer and lighter and more separated. The analog seemed to have a slight veil over the music. In some ways I could kind of hear why that might be slightly preferable there was a bit of softness to it, but in the end the pure digital signal was quite clearly better. No big surprise I guess but we have often debated whether that extra conversion step matters or not.

But can anyone help me with the following questions - I searched you tube a little bit and the UAPP site and couldn't find anything that just went through the basic operation of the app.

1) How do you reach the settings in UAPP? I've heard people talk about setting "bit perfect" and other settings but I played with it for 30 minutes and I couldn't find any way to access anything but the song library and eq/volume and scan for music stuff.

2) related question, I've seen where UAPP will play through Tidal, but again I could find no way to access Tidal in the app. I paid $7.99 for it so I assume I have all of the features ? I have a Tidal app loaded on the Android although I don't think that would be necessary.

3) I dont' have a USB HEC card for the Helix yet, but I did lay a USB cable to the trunk. Do I need to worry about whether its a USB OTG enabled cable or not ? Its fairly new. I am thinking the OTG concern is only on cables that have a compact connector on one end ? I'd hate to spend $150 on the HEC if I dont' have the right cable. At this time I cannot face tearing the interior apart again (took me 3 months to install this system).

4) Not a question just a note and something I remember reading somewhere else - The joying digital signal even at full Head unit volume is quite a bit lower in volume forcing me to turn all the gains up in the Helix. Does this mean the digital signal even at full H/U volume is not using the full bit range ? Is a full spectrum incoming digital signal always the same volume ? I feel like maybe some bits are getting purloined LOL. Anyway to check incoming volume in the Helix ? Is this jsut a Joying thing ? The MOST/NAV-TV digital input in my truck to me Helix never seemed to be too low.

 

[preston]

Well ha the internet is just like your therapist. Just by writing out my questions it helped - I found that a Joying "home" icon was over the top of the UAPP settings button. I kept dicking around and found that little home button would move and then I could access the settings including Tidal access.

Thanks for the help ha ha.

 

[preston]

If you have optical that can give bit perfect I wouldn’t even bother with a usb hec, why put more devices in the chain than is required, it’s very good how uapp works

Last I read coax was the way to go, due I think to the fact that it could handle a higher bit rate. I don't like optical because the connections aren't very secure (and I only laid a coax cable not running another one).

And the idea with moving to HEC USB is that then UAPP can take advantage of the higher res capabilities that it has when paired with the Helix.
Also heard it said from Helix engineers that's the best input method, for one reason because it has an independent clock ?
Anyway I'm just regurgitating what I've read on DIYMA.
Rigth now using the coax my understanding is that UAPP will be limited to normal 44-48kHz even if for instance I'm streaming master or hi res.