Poweramp 1026 Beta Adds No Resample Bit-Perfect Audio

Poweramp has introduced a mode that prevents resampling performed by the Android audio framework, enabling bit-perfect audio playback. The new feature was announced last Wednesday (July 1) on the official forum of the Android music player application. According to the announcement, the Poweramp 1026-beta release implements the “No Resample” feature, the most highly requested addition on the application’s feature request list.

Poweramp beta update introduces bit-perfect audio playback

Build 1026-beta introduces a new USB driver, USB Exclusive, along with the Follow Track option for sample rate handling. Together, these two features enable bit-perfect audio transmission.

What is Poweramp’s USB Exclusive mode and how does it work?

Located under the USB DAC settings, USB Exclusive is a USB driver that provides direct access to an external USB DAC. By communicating directly with the DAC, the driver bypasses AudioFlinger, the core service of Android’s audio framework. As a result, volume control is no longer handled by the operating system, allowing the audio stream to retain its original sample rate and bit depth.

It is important to note that disabling Android’s volume control transfers volume adjustment to the external DAC/amp. In this configuration, volume is controlled using the physical buttons on a dongle DAC or a desktop DAC/amp, for example.

What is Poweramp’s Follow Track feature and how does it work?

The Follow Track option is also located under the USB DAC settings and determines the sample rate that will be sent to the connected USB DAC.

When Follow Track is enabled, the application’s output sample rate automatically matches that of the source file. For example, if a track is encoded at 192 kHz, the same 192 kHz sample rate will be transmitted to the USB DAC.

Use Perfect Bit Perfect mode to ensure an unaltered signal

Enabling Perfect Bit Perfect in Poweramp disables DSP processing, gain adjustments, and crossfade effects. With this mode enabled, equalization and any other sound-processing effects that modify the audio signal cannot be used, ensuring that the decoded audio stream is delivered directly to the output.

Recommended reading: Android Audio Path Explained: How Bit-Perfect Playback Works

Where to download Poweramp Build 1026-beta

The Poweramp Build 1026-beta APK is available for download through the application’s official distribution page.

Poweramp Build 1026-beta changelog

Below is the list of changes introduced in Poweramp Build 1026-beta.

New features

• USB Exclusive Driver: Direct access to the connected USB DAC, bypassing Android’s audio system, with support for PCM from 44.1 kHz to 768 kHz, DSD64 to DSD1024 (DoP and native Raw), and hardware volume control.
• Bit Perfect Modes: Designed for DAPs and USB DACs; supported with Hi-Res Output, USB Exclusive, and partially with AAudio.
• Follow Track: Dynamically reconfigures the output to match the sample rate of the currently playing track.
• Perfect Bit Perfect: Disables DSP processing, gain adjustments, and crossfade to send the decoded audio stream, including DSD, directly to the output.
• 64-bit Pipeline: Extends internal audio processing to Float64, enabling bit-lossless processing and greater DSP precision.
• DSD Remastering: Converts audio to DSD64 through DSD1024, with or without PCM-domain DSP processing. This feature can be combined with Perfect Bit Perfect mode.
• Native DSD64–DSD1024 support (DoP and native) for Hi-Res Output.
• Dynamic Reconfiguration: Rapidly reconfigures the audio engine when routing or codec changes occur, eliminating the need for a full engine reload.

New USB Exclusive options

• Volume control type.
• Hardware volume synchronization.
• Allow DSD over DoP.
• Prefer native DSD (Raw).
• Warmup on startup.
• Force USB 1.1 mode.

Audio output improvements

• Simplified settings hierarchy, reducing navigation under Device ➜ Options.
• New sample rate, format, DSD, and other advanced settings for USB Exclusive and Hi-Res Output.
• Per-output settings for Follow Track, Perfect Bit Perfect, 64-bit Pipeline, and DSD Remastering, where supported.
• New Allowed Sample Rates option, allowing specific sample rates to be enabled or disabled for each output.
• New Base-Rate Synchronous Scaling option, allowing sample rate switching within the same 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz clock family.
• Options to configure the target sample rate for DSD Remastering and enable 48 kHz-based DSD.
• New Show Poweramp for USB DACs option, allowing future USB DAC connections without displaying the confirmation dialog.
• Custom profiles for USB and Bluetooth devices.
• Automatic sample rate matching for Bluetooth codecs.
• Output-related Advanced Tweaks have been moved to Audio Output ➜ Advanced Tweaks.
• New Show Poweramp for USB DACs option.

Additional improvements

• The preamp adjustment range has been expanded to -24 dB to +24 dB, making bass equalization more practical on DAPs.
• FFmpeg updated to version 8.1.1.
• Added support for the WebM format.
• Wired Headset/AUX has been renamed to Wired 3.5/4.4 mm for clearer identification on DAPs.
• More accurate display of DSD sample rates.
• Updated and improved Hi-Res Output support for DAPs from Astell&Kern, Cayin, iBasso, HiBy, FiiO, Shanling, Sony, and Tempotec.
• The Audio Info window has been updated to reflect the new audio engine capabilities and now displays Fidelity and Processing scores.
• The Limit indicator is now highlighted whenever clipping is detected.
• New Pause On USB DAC Connection option.
• Skin developers now have access to optional protection and verification for their themes.

Note: All new features and options introduced in this update are included in the base application and do not require the purchase of the Feature Package.