Anyone use a USB DAC with an iPad on here?

Anyone use a USB DAC with an iPad on here?

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TameRacingDriver

Original Poster:

18,094 posts

273 months

Thursday 22nd June 2017
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Just wondering really... I've been using my 2017 iPad now for a couple of months and am generally pleased with it.

I have a spare pair of good headphones kicking around too, so decided to put them to some use with the iPad. They are pretty efficient headphones so its not hard to power them to loud levels, but frankly, the sound is just flat and lifeless with a nasally and recessed midrange and the music has no life to it. I know its not the headphones because I previously used them with my main rig and they were excellent. Not only that, but when I plug them into my Samsung S7 Edge, that too produces a better sound than the iPad.

So I was thinking of trying a USB DAC like the Audioquest Dragonfly. I realise I'll need a lightning to USB converter, but I was just wondering if anyone else had a similar combo. I've done some reading and it would seem like its good if it works but some people cite problems with power (lightning port doesn't supply enough power but that shouldn't be a problem with the latest Dragonfly), the volume being too sensitive / loud or incompatibilities with iOS or other apps.

I was hoping for a solution that would let me output all of the iPad's sound to the DAC, so if anyone can give me any experiences they may have had with this, I'd like to hear it.

dvshannow

1,581 posts

137 months

Thursday 22nd June 2017
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How about an upmarket aptx Bluetooth headphones set?

TameRacingDriver

Original Poster:

18,094 posts

273 months

Thursday 22nd June 2017
quotequote all
dvshannow said:
How about an upmarket aptx Bluetooth headphones set?
You've got me thinking... the money I'd get for these and the money I would have had to put towards the dac and adapter would probably buy a nice set scratchchin

Im open to suggestions... off to google I go.

belleair302

6,847 posts

208 months

Saturday 24th June 2017
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I have a 'Red' Dragonfly to power a set of decent desktop speakers....and yes for the money spent it offers a really high quality and well balanced sound. I have also used headphones but not high end....well Bose...and the sound again was stunning. It doesnt help with the vocal output but musically it is brilliant.

clived

577 posts

241 months

Thursday 29th June 2017
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Oppo HA-2 comes with a Lightning connector smile