USB audio through powered USB with analog i/o?

[rgfuller]

Greetings from the amateur experimental avionics hackers and users community. I'm looking for the simplest DAC device that can provide power and audio through a single USB cable to an Android or iOS tablet like this one, and provide a single analog mic/phone interface. A single-channel, non-switched interface would be fine. Stereo would be ok too. It could be powered by 5v or 12v DC.

Any ideas?

 

[AnalogSteph]

Do you really need an audio device that provides power to the host? I've never heard of such a thing, all you'll find is bus-powered soundcards starting from lowly single-chip USB dongles starting at less than 10 bucks a pop. It's always the peripheral that is being powered by the host, never vice versa.

 

[mansr]

It's always the peripheral that is being powered by the host, never vice versa.

Not necessarily with USB Type C. I still doubt there are any audio devices capable of providing power, though. What the OP needs is something like this: https://www.belkin.com/uk/adapters/audio-charge/connect-usb-c-audio-charge-adapter/p/p-f7u081/

 

[AnalogSteph]

Not necessarily with USB Type C. I still doubt there are any audio devices capable of providing power, though. What the OP needs is something like this: https://www.belkin.com/uk/adapters/audio-charge/connect-usb-c-audio-charge-adapter/p/p-f7u081/

Neat! Type-C is starting to grow on me. I still don't quite get how they were able to rate this weedy little connector for up to 3 amps though... I've seen both A and Mini-B appreciate a bit of contact cleaner.

 

[maverickronin]

I still don't quite get how they were able to rate this weedy little connector for up to 3 amps though...

The max is actually 5A at 20V. I'm not sure what actually uses all 100W or how well it jols up in practice though...

 

[rgfuller]

Do you really need an audio device that provides power to the host? I've never heard of such a thing, all you'll find is bus-powered soundcards starting from lowly single-chip USB dongles starting at less than 10 bucks a pop. It's always the peripheral that is being powered by the host, never vice versa.

Yes, I need a device that provides power to the host. The host is a battery-powered tablet that needs external power for continuous use and charging. I think what I'll probably need is an intermediate host like a raspberry pi with a fob, if that would work.

 

[NTK]

There are USB power banks with integrated hub. You'll need a USB audio adapter (with input and output).

X SERIES (POWER BANK & HUB)

Zendure's mission is to democratize the latest EnergyTech to deliver clean and affordable electricity via devices and services suitable for on-grid and off-grid living.

zendure.com

 

[rgfuller]

There are USB power banks with integrated hub. You'll need a USB audio adapter (with input and output).

X SERIES (POWER BANK & HUB)

Zendure's mission is to democratize the latest EnergyTech to deliver clean and affordable electricity via devices and services suitable for on-grid and off-grid living.

zendure.com

Interesting.. so the USB audio adapter attached to this thing would behave as though it were connected directly to the tablet, right? Would Android support that? Would it require some kind of loopback software on the tablet to allow a single usb port to provide both digital audio, and processing support for the external DAC? Either way, if this would work then any powered USB hub would also work, right? There'd be no need for the battery since it could be powered from the aircraft power bus.

 

[NTK]

If the battery isn't needed, I'd think @mansr's suggestion in post #3 may make more sense. Below is the official Belkin compatibility list.

 

[rgfuller]

If the battery isn't needed, I'd think @mansr's suggestion in post #3 may make more sense. Below is the official Belkin compatibility list.

View attachment 172410

A battery is not needed, but external power is needed, so the item in post #3 would not be sufficient. Maybe a powered USB hub that back-feeds power (this is usually seen as a defect) to the host would work.

 

[somebodyelse]

Maybe a powered USB hub that back-feeds power (this is usually seen as a defect) to the host would work.

If the powered hub and the phone/tablet support USB Power Delivery that's an intended use case. It's how USB-C based laptop docking stations operate - powering the laptop over the same USB-C cable that provides the data connection to the peripherals.

 

[raif71]

Not necessarily with USB Type C. I still doubt there are any audio devices capable of providing power, though. What the OP needs is something like this: https://www.belkin.com/uk/adapters/audio-charge/connect-usb-c-audio-charge-adapter/p/p-f7u081/

I wonder if this can be used in reverse ie connect the usb-c (via female usb-c to type-b male cable) to Topping d10 series DAC. The usb-c femaile connected to usb power/powerbank and the other usb-c female connected to a playing device such as phone or DAP.

 

[mansr]

A battery is not needed, but external power is needed, so the item in post #3 would not be sufficient. Maybe a powered USB hub that back-feeds power (this is usually seen as a defect) to the host would work.

That's exactly what the Belkin device is for. The USB C plug connects to the phone/tablet, one of the sockets to the DAC, and the other socket to the charger.