My understanding is you can use any lightening to USB cable, but I’ve only used a camera adapter so not sure if they all work or provide sufficient data transfer rates. I have also heard the Apple Camera Adapter with the power port sounds a bit better but I haven’t confirmed this. They’re not all that different in price so unless size is a factor I’d just buy the powered version. I did buy a cheaper 3rd party cable with the power port and I found it sonically inferior to the base Apple CA without power port. I haven’t looked but I have to believe there are higher-end lightening-to-USB adapters that sound better than either Apple cable, and that’s the direction I’m going next and will report back with any findings.
As as far as your side question, I have no idea. I know my AQ Dragonfly Red sounds better than the iphone’s or ipad’s DAC as one would expect. My priority is sound quality, so I don’t buy Apple ‘phones of any kind and never looked into what DAC they use or where. Hope this helps.
As as far as your side question, I have no idea. I know my AQ Dragonfly Red sounds better than the iphone’s or ipad’s DAC as one would expect. My priority is sound quality, so I don’t buy Apple ‘phones of any kind and never looked into what DAC they use or where. Hope this helps.