Samsung USB-C Headphone Adapter Review

[asteroth]

Any idea which drivers does this dongle need to work on Windows 7?
It is geniune, bought from Samsung and it presents itself as: "Samsung Type-C to 3.5pi gender adapter"
But device manager also specifies: "This device cannot start. (Code 10)"

On Windows 10, it seems to use this one automatically: AudioEndpoint.inf

[Version] Signature="$Windows NT$" Provider=%MSFT% ClassGUID={C166523C-FE0C-4A94-A586-F1A80CFBBF3E} Class=AudioEndpoint DriverVer = 12/06/2019,10.0.19041.1 [ControlFlags] BasicDriverOk=* ExcludeFromSelect=* PreConfigureDriver=* [ClassInstall32] AddReg = ClassInstall_AddReg [ClassInstall_AddReg] HKR,,,0,%ClassName% HKR,,NoInstallClass,,1 HKR,,SilentInstall,,1 HKR,,IconPath,%REG_MULTI_SZ%,"%%SystemRoot%%\system32\mmres.dll,-3004" [Manufacturer] %MSFT%=Microsoft, NTamd64 [Microsoft.NTamd64] %MSFT.AudioEndpoint% = NO_DRV,MMDEVAPI\AudioEndpoints [NO_DRV] [NO_DRV.Services] AddService = , %SPSVCINST_ASSOCSERVICE% ; null service install [strings] ;Localizable Strings MSFT = "Microsoft" ClassName = "Audio inputs and outputs" MSFT.AudioEndpoint = "Audio Endpoint" ;Non-Localizable Strings SPSVCINST_ASSOCSERVICE = 0x00000002 REG_MULTI_SZ = 0x00010000


I tried to add it in Windows 7, but it doesn't see it.

 

[IndieSynth]

This might already be a known fix, but just in case here is how I get this dongle to work on my Motorola phone.

When first plugged in I get sound but a lot of background hiss, so I guess the dongle is just feeding audio from the phones crappy dac.

Using the Hiby app I click on 'exclusive hq usb access'. White noise is gone, but no sound from Spotify. Unclick the setting. Still no white noise but now I get sound from Spotify! Very clean pleasant sound as well. I'm assuming that this click then unclick process somehow forces audio through the dongle dac. It works anyway, and without the background noise. I'm curious to know if this is replicable on other phones?

 

[unpluggged]

I guess the dongle is just feeding audio from the phones crappy dac

No.

I'm assuming that this click then unclick process somehow forces audio through the dongle dac. It works anyway, and without the background noise. I'm curious to know if this is replicable on other phones?

Probably it has to do with hardware volume control, similarly to the Apple dongle's behavior on Android devices.

 

[IndieSynth]

Ah interesting, I'd read elsewhere that in some cases the dongle just acts as pass through. I don't notice much of a change in volume when I do the steps described but the absence of background noise is very noticeable, in fact essential to enjoyable listening.

Is there any way to fix the noise issue permanently or is this workaround necessary?

 

[staticV3]

Ah interesting, I'd read elsewhere that in some cases the dongle just acts as pass through.

Headphone dongles can be one of two types:

-passive adapters, converting analog audio from USB-C to 3.5mm
This requires a compatible phone that supports analog output via USB-C

-active USB DAC+Amps

AFAIK, no dongle exists that supports both of these modes. It's either one or the other.

 

[InfiniteJester]

Anyone knows why I hear a constant hiss, random noises and weird cuts with this dongle but not with any other ever?

I bought it at the official Samsung store and I use it with a Samsung phone.

It measures reasonably well, but the sound is extremely bad. Something weird is going on.

The Apple Dongle is excellent and have no noise, but it is a nuisance to use it with Android, particularly given that I have the EU version.

 

[ikonomov]

The sound quality of the Samsung dongle is great, I haven't encountered any issues. If connected to a computer or using an app like USB Audio Player PRO (sadly works only for music playback within the app on my phone) on Android to gain direct access to the hardware DAC, it performs great. The problem comes with the default DAC driver that Android uses which drives the Apple dongle only around half the output volume while the Samsung dongle has a much bigger problem, it has some kind of noise cancelation functionality that cuts all sound output when the audio playing on the phone is at a relatively low volume. It doesn't matter if it's music or a phone call and when the audio volume comes back up there's a sort of fade-in that happens before the dongle returns to normal output sound level. An absolute embarrassment from a design standpoint and unfortunately this functionality renders this dongle useless for its intended purpose despite its otherwise great sound quality. The worst part of my experience is that it took me a long time to realize that this was happening. The other dongles that I have are:

Apple dongle: even with the halved volume on Android it's still enough to drive Shure SE215 and the convenience of the tiny size is undeniable
Edit: If somebody considers the Apple dongle in combination with SE215 on Android, I should clarify that the volume is not just enough but more than enough. I have absolutely no doubt that increasing the volume to the max (or rather the halved max) on audio with normal loudness using SE215 can most certainly result in permanent hearing loss if listening for an extended period. Even when playing quiet classical music (mastered with quite low loudness) I've found the volume to be enough but I can imagine a scenario where during a very quiet phone call an extra volume could be useful and would be available in abundance with the Apple dongle and SE215 if the hardware DAC volume was at maximum rather than halved.

MEIZU Mblu Lifeme (the non Pro version): has a noise problem, seems like EMI Interference; it doesn't happen when connected to a computer as an output, or speakers as an input, only when I use it on my android phone with either headphones or a headset with microphone
Edit: I find it interesting that recently MEIZU have released a Mblu Lifeme Pro version that is slightly larger and heavier but seems to have the same specs as the older Pro model (CX31993). Maybe they've tried to address a similar noise issue that is shared with the non Pro version.

JCALLY JM20PRO: the pro version accepts a headset with a microphone and has fantastic sound quality with significantly higher output using the CS43131 chip

JCALLY JM80E: physically and functionality identical to the JM20PRO except for the difference in color, seems to have a sound quality and output similar to the JM20PRO but uses the ESS ES9280AC chip

 

[staticV3]

the Samsung dongle has a much bigger problem, it has some kind of noise cancelation functionality that cuts all sound output when the audio playing on the phone is at a relatively low volume.

In my experience, this is an issue with the Android audio pipeline.

There's an aggressive noise gate in place which mutes all audio once it falls below a certain threshold.

It becomes very obvious if you have excessive gain on your DAC+Amp and need to set Android to almost zero volume for comfortable loudness.

The way I fixed it was to launch UAPP, set the hardware volume of whatever dongle I'm using to a low value, then quit UAPP and turn up the Android system volume to compensate.

That way, the noise gate is pushed to below audible.

 

[ikonomov]

In my experience, this is an issue with the Android audio pipeline.

There's an aggressive noise gate in place which mutes all audio once it falls below a certain threshold.

It becomes very obvious if you have excessive gain on your DAC+Amp and need to set Android to almost zero volume for comfortable loudness.

The way I fixed it was to launch UAPP, set the hardware volume of whatever dongle I'm using to a low value, then quit UAPP and turn up the Android system volume to compensate.

That way, the noise gate is pushed to below audible.

When using UAPP (or Neutron), if I allow the app to gain access to the DAC I don't get any other audio output on my phone. It didn't used to be like this and I was able to do what you suggested even though at times I had some issues where I wouldn't get any audio outside the app requiring me to reconnect the dongle, but after installing one of the latest OS updates it now happens at all times and I can't get any sound outside the app.

I don't think that the aggressive noise gate issue that I've described in relationship to the Samsung dongle in particular is directly a result of the Android audio pipeline, but rather the Android audio pipeline specifically when driving the Samsung dongle. My reasoning comes from the fact that this issue doesn't happen at all with any of the other 4 dongles that I have. Once I knew how to trigger the problem, it was very easy to test with the other dongles at similar volume levels. Additionally, the JM20PRO and JM80E dongles have a led light indicator that changes color when the DAC goes into standby mode. The indicator lights don't change to standby even when Android media playback volume is turned all the way down as long as there's some audio playing and when I play some music I can't detect any sound cutting or fading effects even when I play very quiet audio.

 

[staticV3]

When using UAPP (or Neutron), if I allow the app to gain access to the DAC I don't get any other audio output on my phone.

This is not a problem.
You can launch UAPP, set the hardware volume, quit (not minimize!) UAPP to regain system audio playback, and the hardware volume adjustment will stick.

 

[ikonomov]

This is not a problem.
You can launch UAPP, set the hardware volume, quit (not minimize!) UAPP to regain system audio playback, and the hardware volume adjustment will stick.

If I allow UAPP access to the DAC when I plug it in, then play something to adjust the hardware volume almost all the way down and then Exit, from the menu the hardware volume that I've set in UAPP does not stick. Playing the same song in Cx File Explorer (which shouldn't have access to the DAC hardware volume) allows me to turn the Android system volume all the way up to the same level as maximum hardware volume in UAPP (using AKG K702 headphones allows me to compare at max volume).

 

[ikonomov]

This is not a problem.
You can launch UAPP, set the hardware volume, quit (not minimize!) UAPP to regain system audio playback, and the hardware volume adjustment will stick.

I just tested what you suggested using the Apple dongle, and the hardware volume does stick. So whatever the issue is, it seems again to be something related to the Samsung dongle and maybe it's possible that it's something related to using it in combination with my Galaxy S23 phone.

Edit: The volume does stick and I can play an audio file outside UAPP at that volume, but I seem to have an issue getting any sound during a call from the phone app. Again, it didn't used to be like this, but after a certain OS update allowing hardware DAC access to UAPP or Neutron became problematic.

 

[ciccio1378]

I'm using it with great satisfaction on Oppo Find X2 Neo smartphone and Galaxy Tab S5e tablet. No problems and no qualitative difference compared to the Fosi Audio DS2 DAC.

 

[Jimster480]

I'm using it with great satisfaction on Oppo Find X2 Neo smartphone and Galaxy Tab S5e tablet. No problems and no qualitative difference compared to the Fosi Audio DS2 DAC.

That's awesome, there are lots of great values out in the market today.