Android Open Accessory 2.0 / Audio over USB support

[SonicSW20]

Does the Xperia 1 not have AOA2.0 support, specifically the audio over USB function? 

I have a Sony MEX-GS820BT in my car, and audio over USB worked great with my old LG G6, giving noticeably better sound quality than audio via Bluetooth. When I try to connect the Xperia 1 via USB to the stereo, it just connects and disconnects repeatedly until the USB is disconnected. While in this state, the phone is practically unusable.

[RottenFoxBreath]

Are you using the cable that came with the phone or another. ?

The usual "try another cable" comment springs to mind.

Personally I would just use bluetooth, the phone and stereo are more than capable of outputting excellent audio quality..

[SonicSW20]

I cannot use the cable that comes with the phone as it is USB-C to USB-C. I have used 3 different USB-C to USB-A cables, all of which worked as expected with my old LG G6.

I would much rather use USB if I can because the difference in audio quality is noticable.

Seems mad that a Sony phone doesn't work fully with a Sony stereo.

[RottenFoxBreath]

Doubtful about the increase in audio quality over usb on this phone, and I do stand by my comment about try another cable.

I tried cables that were fine from my old phones, the latest being from a huawei Mate 20 Pro, and it was useless, much the same behaviour as yours, and that was to a PC(one told me it may have water damage, the other didn't connect more than 2 seconds at a time), but I did buy a £3 usb - usb C cable from Tiger(some dept store, Flying Tiger it's also called), and it works a treat in my car, to connect via media, and but mainly for charging, as I connect via spotify, dash cam, and have a family that use it as a hot spot. 

No difference in audio quality over usb that I heard, in fact I would go as far as to say bluetooth was far and away louder and clearer in my Insignia than the usb was(volume on media had to be put to full on phone, for some spotify tunes from the Rez Infinite soundtrack, whereas on bluetooth, the audio at full was rattling the car with its bass with the car left at the same volume, and media volume on phone set to full.

[SonicSW20 · Accepted solution]

All of the cables work for charging and data transfer, the problem is not the USB cables.

Audio via USB is uncompressed, Bluetooth is not. While Bluetooth does use a decently high bitrate it is still lossy, and there is a quality loss here which is especially noticable when the source audio is already lossy like Spotify. Not sure what volume has to do with audio quality.

Doing my own research, it seems that AOA2.0 audio output was depreciated in between Android 8 and Android 9, which will be why it doesn't work. Very disappointing. 

This, along with the underwhelming camera performance and unusable fingerprint scanner is making me consider returning it for something else honestly!

[RottenFoxBreath]

If you think there is some massive difference between audio over usb, and bluetooth on this phone, with something like spotify, then thats up to you.

But with extensive testing I can tell you that Bluetooth on this phone is just as good as usb.

Even more so than the mediocre issue filled mess that was the G6 bluetooth.

Still don't understand in this day and age why you would want to resort to connect via usb when you have an ample stero, and wireless tech on the phone which enables the music to be top notch.

[SonicSW20]

I don't think there's a difference, I know there is a difference. I am also a qualified audio engineer so I think I'll take my knowledge in that field over your testing.

[RottenFoxBreath]

Cool, well I'll take my phone working just fine over bluetooth with excellent audio quality via streaming, and playing media directly from the phone, and  working just fine in my car, to yours not working with the usb cable connection, ergo roughly just like was done in the 2010-ish era.

[Gilgameshuk]

As far as I'm aware, AS UDIO over USB does work. 

I have  DRAGONFLY USB DAC, which I attach via a USB C OTG cable. 

Software is USB AUDIO player from the app store. 

No issues here. 

[SonicSW20]

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@GilgameshUK wrote:

As far as I'm aware, AS UDIO over USB does work. 

I have  DRAGONFLY USB DAC, which I attach via a USB C OTG cable. 

Software is USB AUDIO player from the app store. 

No issues here. 

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Thanks - does your setup work without a third party app? If it does indeed support AOA2.0 audio, there should be no additional apps required.