JRiver Media Center for Android

MikeyFresh

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Some time ago I had seen mention on the JRiver forum of the development of a version of Media Center that would run on Android.

While I already have what I'd call the world's best $9 media player app for Android (Universal Audio Player Pro or "UAPP"), I figured I'd give JRiver for Android a try too, after some time had passed and any initial bugs were squashed. I then proceeded to forget about it for about 8 months.

Tonight I downloaded JRMC25 for Android and it is excellent, looks and functions pretty much just like their web browser controller app called Panel that is a feature of the desktop version of JRMC for Windows, Mac or Linux.

For me (and perhaps @billfort too?) the biggest feature just might be full support for the Radio Paradise FLAC stream in the internet radio section. This is something not offered by UAPP or any other apps I'm aware of, everyone else forces use of the 320kbps lossy MP3 version of that stream (including the Radio Paradise app itself at last check).

Remaining bugs? Maybe, I haven't exhaustively checked all of the settings options or worse yet dug into the Android settings themselves, but right now local files stored on the microSD card are all playing back at 16-bit/44.1 kHz even if they are DSD, or 24/48 native resolution. One DSD128 file actually crashed the app.

So for local file playback at native bit depth and sample rate, I will be sticking with UAPP unless there are some JRMC settings I missed on a cursory go through. But to me this app is worth the 9 bucks just for the Radio Paradise FLAC stream, which according to the interface is playing back properly at 16-bit/44.1 kHz (900kbps).
 
Upon closer inspection, everything including Radio Paradise is actually being re-sampled to the Android device's native 192kHz sample rate.

Though there is a JRMC setting for Audio Device, the connected DAC is not one of the choices. Instead, the two choices available are "Android Oboe" (hilarious example of spell correct victimizing a software developer, this should be Oreo), and Null Output.

That "Android Oboe" option yields a 192kHz sample rate output to the DAC, while Null predictably yields no sound at all.

So while it certainly sounds at least good, there's no telling how much better it would be if this weren't being subjected to the Android audio stack and forced resampling of a decidedly non-audiophile pedigree.

Looks like they need to continue development and add a custom USB audio driver (ala' UAPP).

Still useful for the Radio Paradise FLAC stream in my opinion, however probably no point in toting a separate USB playback DAC, the Android device's own headphone jack analog output yields similar sound (though that will vary with the quality of that analog output on any given Android device). Using a Samsung Galaxy Tab A an external DAC is still better, but not by a mile, and that's no doubt due to the crappy Android audio stack's forced re-sampling.
 
Thanks for sharing. I got a notice about android ap but had not attempted yet.
 
Thanks Mike. Was going to ask about the Android problem with USB DACs that UAPP addresses, but you already answered that. :)

I'm kind of stuck on the Android thing and am resigned to just finding the best 'phone' analog out for my purposes now. I primarily play back downloaded RadioParadise FLAC streams and Tidal content along with some local rips (3 apps) from the phone's headphone jack to either IE phones or AUX in jacks in my cars - even UAPP can't do all that so the DAC is unused.
 
Thanks Mike. Was going to ask about the Android problem with USB DACs that UAPP addresses, but you already answered that. :)

I'm kind of stuck on the Android thing and am resigned to just finding the best 'phone' analog out for my purposes now. I primarily play back downloaded RadioParadise FLAC streams and Tidal content along with some local rips (3 apps) from the phone's headphone jack to either IE phones or AUX in jacks in my cars - even UAPP can't do all that so the DAC is unused.

With the Android phones I've listened to I'd have to give the nod to various LG models for sound quality from the headphone jack, literally going all the way back to their G2 of late 2013, however there are also some good Samsung and Sony models and no doubt others I've never heard, where the analog output jack is absolutely sufficient.

We could soon face the day where all of these phones take the Apple route and discard the analog output jack entirely, and doing so could put a quality external DAC much more back back in play for many folks, as the stupid cheap plastic "dongle" DACs they want to sell as a USB-C accessory with these phones are garbage.

That might also be a good reason to baby and cherish any good sounding phone one currently owns, and not treat it like a throwaway item that is auto-disposed of at the end of a contract, because next time around the new phone may have no analog output at all.
 
It turns out Android oboe was not a spell correct anomaly.

Doesn't fully explain why I can't seem to get JRMC for Android to recognize a USB external DAC.
 
It turns out Android oboe was not a spell correct anomaly.

Doesn't fully explain why I can't seem to get JRMC for Android to recognize a USB external DAC.

Random thoughts..... Is there an OTG cable or converter employed ?

Here's a link for USB debugging, if that's of any use.

 
Random thoughts..... Is there an OTG cable or converter employed ?

Here's a link for USB debugging, if that's of any use.

Thanks, yes there is a known to be working OTG cable employed, it's the same one I use with the UAPP app.

This weekend I will try it with a couple of other USB DACs just to be sure it isn't something specific to the LH Labs GO100 firmware, however I doubt it as even Radio Paradise (a 16/44.1 FLAC stream) is being re-sampled to 192kHz which is the native sample rate of the Android device, so it would appear JRiver for Android lacks a custom USB DAC driver that bypasses the Android audio stack.

Thats a common thing, the only two apps that I know are rock solid working with most USB DACs in that regard are the aforementioned UAPP, and Onkyo HF player, they each employ a custom driver that bypasses Android audio altogether.

I guess it's also possible that JRiver has such a driver and for whatever reason it isn't recognizing the LH Labs GO100, so tomorrow I'll give the Oppo HA-2 a try instead, however at that point I'm going by ear as the only portable DAC I have with a sample rate indicator is the GO100. I could also try the Topping D10 DAC, as it does display sample rates, however it's USB bus power demand could prove too power hungry for the typical Android device to drive, given it isn't actually a portable.
 
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