Does USB Audio Player Pro work with Android Auto?
What is USB Audio Player Pro?
USB Audio Player Pro is a high-quality media player app developed by Extreams for Android devices. It supports USB audio DACs and Hi-Res audio chips to play audio files up to 32-bit/384kHz resolution, allowing you to get the most out of high-end audio equipment.
Some key features of the USB Audio Player Pro app include:
- Plays all popular music file formats including FLAC, WAV, MP3, MQA, and more.
- Built-in audio effects like equalizer, bass boost, and stereo widening.
- Gapless playback and crossfade for uninterrupted music.
- Supports lyrics display.
- Customizable user interface with multiple themes.
- Playback speed control.
- Supports playlists and queues.
- Audio ducking option for pausing music during calls.
Overall, USB Audio Player Pro provides an advanced high-resolution playback experience and extensive audio enhancement options to help you get the most out of your music library when using USB DACs and external audio devices with an Android smartphone or tablet.
What is Android Auto?
Android Auto is a system developed by Google that allows Android smartphones to integrate with a vehicle’s infotainment system. It provides a simplified interface to control music, navigation, and telephony functions hands-free using the car’s display and controls.
When connected via USB cable, Android Auto mirrors apps from your phone onto the car’s touchscreen display. It features Google Maps for navigation, Google Play Music and compatible audio apps for playback, and the Google Assistant for voice commands. Incoming calls and messages can also be managed through Android Auto.
Android Auto aims to minimize driver distraction by limiting access to apps and optimizing interfaces for in-car use. It requires a compatible vehicle head unit or aftermarket stereo. As of 2022, over 500 car models support Android Auto.
USB Audio Player Pro Compatibility
USB Audio Player Pro is compatible with Android devices running Android 3.1 or higher that have USB host support and support for isochronous USB transfers in the kernel, according to the app’s website (https://www.extreamsd.com/index.php/products/usb-audio-player-pro). This means it can work on most modern Android smartphones and tablets.
In terms of Android Auto compatibility, USB Audio Player Pro works with any vehicle head units running Android Auto. The app sends audio over USB to the car stereo system. As long as your head unit supports Android Auto, you should be able to play audio from USB Audio Player Pro through your car speakers.
Some specific Android Auto vehicle head units that USB Audio Player Pro has been tested and confirmed to work with include car systems from Pioneer, Kenwood, Sony, Alpine, and JVC. As Android Auto is increasingly adopted across car manufacturers, support will likely continue improving.
So in summary, USB Audio Player Pro is compatible with Android 3.1 and up, and can playback through any Android Auto enabled vehicle head unit. The app leverages the USB audio capabilities of your phone and car stereo for hi-res and bit-perfect audio playback.
How to Connect USB Audio Player Pro to Android Auto
Connecting USB Audio Player Pro to Android Auto requires just a few simple steps:
- Download and install the latest version of USB Audio Player Pro from the Google Play Store on your Android smartphone.
- Make sure your smartphone is connected to your car’s infotainment system via USB cable. This will usually require plugging your phone into the USB port in your car.
- Open the Android Auto app on your phone and follow any setup prompts.
- Launch the USB Audio Player Pro app on your smartphone.
- In USB Audio Player Pro, navigate to Settings > Output and select “USB Audio” as the output option.
- You should now be able to control playback and select songs/albums/artists from USB Audio Player Pro using your car’s infotainment system and Android Auto interface.
That’s all there is to it! With these steps completed, you can now play high-resolution audio files in your car using USB Audio Player Pro and Android Auto. The app makes it easy to connect and offers robust playback options once linked to your vehicle’s infotainment center.
Playback Features
USB Audio Player Pro allows you to easily control playback of your audio files. You can view your music library organized by playlists, albums, artists, genres, and folders. Tap on any playlist, album, or artist to start playback from that selection.
The app includes standard playback controls like play/pause, next/previous track, and shuffle. You can also loop the current playlist or queue for continuous playback. The seek bar allows you to easily skip to any point in the current track.
For convenience, all playback controls and queues are accessible from the notification tray. This allows you to control music playback even when USB Audio Player Pro isn’t open.
The app supports gapless playback, so you won’t hear gaps or pauses between tracks during playback. This is especially useful for live albums and operas.
You can also create and edit playlists within the app, so it’s easy to group tracks together for certain situations or moods. Playlists can be saved for quick access later.
Overall, USB Audio Player Pro provides a full-featured playback experience comparable to premium music apps. You get total control over your music library right from your Android device.
Limitations
While USB Audio Player Pro is compatible with Android Auto, there are some known limitations users should be aware of:
Playback control is limited – You cannot use USB Audio Player Pro’s playback features like playlists, equalizers, gapless playback etc. while connected to Android Auto. You can only play/pause, skip tracks etc. (Source)
Limited app support – Besides the basic playback controls, you don’t get other USB Audio Player Pro features in Android Auto like importing local files or online streaming. The app essentially works in a simplified mode. (Source)
Connection issues – There are some reports of connection problems or audio cutting out when using USB Audio Player Pro with certain Android Auto head units. This could require troubleshooting USB modes or cables. (Source)
Lack of standalone Android Auto app – Unlike other streaming apps, USB Audio Player Pro does not have a dedicated Android Auto version. It connects via the default Android Auto media playback interface which has limitations.
Troubleshooting Problems
There are some common connection issues that can prevent USB Audio Player Pro from working properly with Android Auto. Here are some potential fixes:
If Android Auto stops recognizing USB Audio Player Pro, try unplugging and replugging the USB cable connecting your phone to your car. This resets the connection and will often fix connectivity problems (Google support).
Android Auto wants full control of the connected USB audio device. If USB Audio Player Pro starts automatically when plugging in your DAC, it can cause a conflict. Go into your phone’s settings and clear the default app selection for USB Audio Player Pro. This will allow Android Auto to take control when connecting (Head-fi forum).
Try different USB cables and ports. Some USB cables are meant for charging only and don’t support data transfer which is required for Android Auto. Switch to a high-quality cable designed specifically for Android Auto (Reddit comments).
As a last resort, uninstall and reinstall both USB Audio Player Pro and the Android Auto apps. This will clear any software issues causing conflicts.
Alternatives
If you find that USB Audio Player Pro does not fully meet your needs for playing audio through Android Auto, there are a few other audio app options that are compatible with Android Auto:
According to an article on MobileSyrup, Apple Music is one alternative audio app that works with Android Auto. Once connected, Apple Music functions similarly to other Auto apps like Google Play Music and Spotify in terms of interface and playback capabilities.
The Android Auto documentation also lists support for general audio playback apps like Amazon Music, Pandora, Pocket Casts, and TuneIn Radio. These all provide alternative sources of audio content that can be streamed through Android Auto.
Additionally, some community forums like ToyotaNation mention other third party apps like Rocket Player or USB Audio Player as potential options. These less mainstream apps may take some extra configuration but can also work as Android Auto audio sources.
So in summary, while USB Audio Player Pro is a top choice, there are other alternative audio apps to consider if you need expanded format support, different interfaces, or access to additional music/content libraries.
The Verdict
Based on user reports and reviews, USB Audio Player Pro works well with Android Auto in most cases. Users mention being able to connect and play back music with no major issues. The app provides a customized music playback interface and supports high resolution audio formats, which are two of its biggest advantages over the default Android Auto music apps.
There are some occasional complaints of connection problems or glitches, so the integration is not 100% seamless. But overall, USB Audio Player Pro offers an enhanced music listening experience in the car when used with Android Auto. For audiophiles who want more control and better sound quality, it’s one of the top Android apps to use with Android Auto.
References
Does Player Pro support Android Auto? – PlayerPro Music …