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IPhone/IPad - why do I need camera adapter to connect to DAC?

When to connect latest iPhone / iPad (Lightning connection / USB-C connection) to external DAC,
why do I need a camera adapter?
(Unless I want to charge the device while listening)
Can I just use one of following without a camera adapter?

1) Lightning to USB A (if the external DAC has USB A input)
2) Lightning to USB B
3) USB C to USB B

One dealer told me that in case of camera adapter, there is sound quality difference between one with power and one without power.
If I don’t need to charge the device while listening, can I just buy a cable to bypass iPhone’s internal DAC?Or does camera adapter has a spacial function?

Side question: When I connect earphone, I need an adapter. Apple puts dac in here for wire earphone.
Does apple use the same dac in its airpod pro / wireless earphone / headphone?
sangbro

Showing 2 responses by sangbro

sangbro's avatar
sangbro OP
42 posts
 
Thank you for reply.

My question is “do I have to use Camera Adapter when I can directly connect iPhone to DAC by Lightning-USB A/B?”

From my basic understanding, less device, shorter case should sound better. So, using camera adapter (more device), so making the total sound travel distance longer(longer) seem counter-intuitive.

I thought that one of followings might be the reason.

1) due to certain Apple’s certain technical restriction, I can’t simply use a cable alone to bypass apple device’s internal DAC

or 

2) Camera Adapter has some sort of sound enhancing device.(?)

Have you tried connecting Apple device to external DAC without using Camera adapter?

In case of Dragonfly type DAC (Audioquest) I can see why I need a camera adapter simply to avoid error message. But in case of other self-powered external DAC, I do not understand why I need to go through camera adapter kind of external accesory.


sangbro's avatar
sangbro OP
42 posts
 
I think I will need a streamer. The DAC I happen to like it doesn’t have streaming function.

I like AirPlay2, and since I don’t have any better source than CD, the quality is just fine. 

I’ve been thinking about Roon, but simply doesn’t want to do any sort of subscription yet.
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