Does an AUX Cable with a DAC Chip Improve Car Stereo Sound? H-Turbo S1, Tested
Nowadays, new car stereos and many powered speakers only have Bluetooth. Those that still have an AUX port often sound much better than Bluetooth—provided you feed them a clean analog signal. That's exactly what the S1 does: the phone's Type C outputs a digital signal, a custom chip decodes it before the cable, and a 3.5mm TRRS male plug goes into AUX, with only the last meter being analog.
S1 is the AUX variant of the H-Turbo S2: the same custom chip, the same 8-strand x 49-core silver-plated oxygen-free copper cable, with the output changed from a headphone jack to a 3.5mm TRRS male connector. CNY 59 (USD 9), 1.5 meters long.
| Parameter | S1 Value | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| PCM Decoding | 32bit / 384kHz | Full utilization of lossless audio from the phone |
| Signal-to-Noise Ratio | 105dB | Cleaner than the decoding built into most car stereos |
| Distortion | -90dB | Sufficient for everyday listening, after all the backend is a car stereo/speaker |
| Interface | Type C in + 3.5mm TRRS out | TRRS 4-pole also supports calls with mic |
| Cable | Gold-plated plug + silver-plated OFC | Anti-oxidation plug, interference-resistant cable body |
Compared to Bluetooth: Bluetooth codecs are lossy compression, while AUX into S1 is a fully digital chain that converts to analog only at the car stereo's door. The difference in noise floor and detail is obvious at a glance.
Most common in cars: one end to phone (or Type C digital player), one end to car's AUX port. Don't enable extra effects in the app. For home use, same: connect to powered speakers' AUX in. Some older headphones (with a direct 3.5mm male plug) can also be used as "decoding earphone cables."
One note: TRRS is a 4-pole connector; some devices with only 3 poles (TRS) need an adapter. If you hear static when fully inserted, try pulling out one notch.
- Suitable for: Music enthusiasts with an AUX port in their car; desktop powered speakers that only accept 3.5mm; those who want to upgrade decoding for old devices in one go.
- Not suitable for: Those needing to drive headphones (get the S2); devices that only have Bluetooth (this product can't help).
FAQ
Can the S1 replace car Bluetooth?
In terms of sound quality, yes, and usually significantly better: Bluetooth is lossy transmission, while the S1 is fully digital decoding before entering AUX. However, Bluetooth hands-free is more convenient in operation, so the two do not conflict.
What is the difference between TRRS and TRS connectors?
TRRS has four segments (includes microphone), TRS has three segments (pure audio). The S1 comes with TRRS; if you encounter poor contact when connecting to pure audio devices, just add a TRRS to TRS adapter.
How to choose between S1 and S2?
For driving headphones, buy S2 (3.5mm female balanced output); for connecting to car stereos/speakers/headphone male plugs, buy S1 (TRRS male). Chip and cable specs are the same; choose based on the end device.
Does it work with all Android phones?
Works with Android devices supporting USB Audio, plug-and-play; some deeply customized systems require enabling USB audio in developer options.
