Dragonfly DAC with iPhone

Dragonfly DAC with iPhone - Update

4/9/2015

NOTE: I have written a new article on this subject that address a different way to use the iPad/iPhone with Dragonfly that you may want to check out after reading the article below:

I wrote about the Audioquest Dragonfly DAC a while back. The main issue with using it with the iPhone and Camera Connection Kit (more about that later) was that you get a dreaded message that says:

Note: I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products in this post.

Apple Lightning to USB Camera Adapter

With any solution, you need an Apple Lightning to USB Camera Adapter to plug into the Lightning Port to adapt a USB port to the newer iPhones.

Power

Since you get a message that you need more power, you have to add a power supply or a way to trick the iPhone into thinking it is getting power so that it will send an audio signal. In the past, I have written about putting a Dr. Bott T3Hub (3 port USB Hub) in the chain and it will allow you to play audio through the port without needing a power source. Unfortunately, Dr Bott is no longer in business and it is next to impossible to find a T3hub. Therefore, I have been on a search for a way to get the Dragonfly to work with the iPhone that doesn't require the T3hub. On Youtube, I ran across the following video. I haven't tried this approach myself, but it appears to be a way to use an iPhone with the Dragonfly.

The issue with this approach is that the whole setup gets cumbersome. However, it supplies the power separately, so it should make your iPhone battery last longer and getting more power could, in theory, help with sound quality. I may try it at some point and post about it here.

As I mentioned, the T3Hub is a solution that works on both the older 30 pin iPhones and iPads that I have tested (I have used it with a 4S and an iPad 3) and newer Lightning port iPhones and iPads (I have used it with a 6 Plus and iPad Air 2). If you can find a T3hub, I would recommend picking it up if you need the ultimate amount of versatility.

With the inability to find the T3hub on the market, I have been looking for a new solution and I finally found one that works with the iPhone 6 Plus and the iPad Air 2. It DOES NOT WORK with my 16 pin devices, so you may have to go with the solution from hifiguy528 above. The Plugable USB 2.0 2-Port High Speed Ultra Compact Hub ($9.95 on Amazon when I wrote this review) is slightly less cumbersome than the T3hub since it only has two USB ports and the connector is on a flexible cable which means it is less likely to be damaged if it is jarred while being connected. With the T3Hub, I used a "Dragontail" in between devices to make sure the male USB part would be less likely to be damaged. Below is a picture of the Plugable in the chain:

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Testing and compatibility

I have tested this setup with Sennheiser HD580 Headphones, AKG K701 Headphones, Shure SRH940 Headphones, Audio-Technica M50 Headphones, and Etymotic Research ER4P Ear-in Headphones and it has worked with all of them without a problem. I am not guaranteeing that it will work with your devices, even if you own the same stuff I own, because there could be differences in manufacturing processes. I have never heard of the company (Plugable Technologies) that makes them, so I can't vouch for the consistency in their processes. However, I did get an email from them when I purchased the device. I answered the email and they sent me a response. So at least it appears that there is somebody there to help.

As I noted above, this setup does not work with my 30 pin devices. I don't know that it works with all Lightning Port iPhones, either. However, it works as a USB 2.0 hub, as well, so you could probably find a different use for it if you aren't as successful. Another possible issue, is that Apple could possibly make this "hack" go away with a firmware update.

I want to caution that you should buy this now if you are on the fence about it. Not knowing the company, they could stop making it tomorrow and we would be in the same boat as we are with the T3Hub. Since they are cheap, I am going to buy a couple more, just in case. I mentioned in the past that people should pick up apps like AIrMusic before they go away and I know people that visit my AirMusic app review are disappointed when they find that the app is no longer available.

If you decide to go this route with your Dragonfly or similar DAC, please leave a comment or send me an email about how or if it works in your setup.

A couple new notes: I have since ordered a couple more Plugable hubs and they all work with the iPhone 6 Plus. I also tested the iPhone 6 Plus with the original Nuforce uDac and it works with the Plugable hub and the iPhone 6 Plus, as well.

12 Comments

Paul

4/14/2015 01:58:52 am

Nice review. I am new to hi resolution audio files and was wondering on how do I play it, software and hardware compatibility with my existing mac and iPhone. I am inclined to get the Meridian Explorer 2 with its MQA compatibility when they come out. Here are some questions for you:
1. How do I play it on the Mac? I heard about the program Fluke so iTunes can play it. Is this the best solution?
2. Would the Explorer 2 work with the same set up CCK + Plugable HUB?
3. If we connect another USB cable with power from a charger or an external battery pack on the pluggable hub, will it charge the iPhone and still run the DAC at the same time?

3. What app to use on iPhone 6plus to play FLAC
4. How to load FLAC on iPhone

Thanks

uofmtiger link

4/14/2015 12:35:43 pm

Thanks Paul,

I have answered the questions that I can below:

1. How do I play it on the Mac? I heard about the program Fluke so iTunes can play it. Is this the best solution?

Not sure how to play MQA files at this point. I have only heard MQA mentioned with Tidal’s music streaming service and I would be surprised if it was not converted on the fly to PCM. To be sure, if they want MQA to have any success at all it has to be converted by the software. They can’t rely on one DAC in the world to support their new technology.

2. Would the Explorer 2 work with the same set up CCK + Plugable HUB?

I don’t know without trying it and I don’t own one. However, if you buy one, the Plugable is only $10, so it would be worth a try. You could compare the power requirements of the Explorer 2 with the Dragonfly (if that information is available) and make an educated guess.

3. If we connect another USB cable with power from a charger or an external battery pack on the pluggable hub, will it charge the iPhone and still run the DAC at the same time?

Please review the second video I posted with the guy wearing the headphones. It appears that it will charge and play at the same time with a splitter. I can only say what I have personally tried and I have not tried the process he mentions in the video. However, I may try it down the road. I just don’t have much use for that type of setup.

3. What app to use on iPhone 6plus to play FLAC

I personally use an app called Creation 5 Freemium (there is a pay version that doesn’t have ads). It will stream from my media server ALAC and FLAC files. For playing off network, I have heard great things about the Golden Ear app. It is $7.99, but I don’t have enough hi rez files at this point to make it worthwhile, but many people on Head Fi love it.

4. How to load FLAC on iPhone

Golden Ear’s info says that you can add the files using iTunes file sharing. I have converted all of my FLAC files to ALAC, so I just use Creation 5 to download the files to the app to play when offline. I have tested downloading FLAC files using Creation5 and I got a message saying “unable to open”, so I am not sure it works with FLAC unless you are streaming.

Wellers

4/18/2015 04:36:40 am

Thanks for the info and the great website/blog!

Could you describe your impressions of the sound quality of listening to music on the iPhone/iPad with and without the Dragonfly? I know it's very subjective, but it would be nice to know what differences and/or improvements you hear.

Uofmtiger

4/18/2015 01:04:52 pm

Hi Wellers,

Thanks for the kind comments. I typically don't discuss sound quality differences because it s subjective, but since you asked....

The sound is simply more liquid and the sound quality is truer to a live performance. With some headphones, the iPhone struggles to drive them properly. However, with the Dragonfly in the mix, you have tons of headroom.

I still think easy to drive headphones sound great with the regular headphone output, but even then the Dragonfly sound is smoother. As you work up the line to higher end, difficult to drive, headphones like Senn HD580s or Akg k701s, those differences become even more clear.

In any event, I doubt you would regret buying a Dragonfly Dac. It isn't only useful with iOS. You should also get better sound quality from your laptop.

uofmtiger

5/4/2015 05:21:26 pm

Be aware that I tested the setup with a battery like the video from the guy with the headphones around his neck. It did not charge the iPhone while in use, so I don't see the point of hooking a battery to the setup. I listen to a few tracks both ways and I did not hear a difference.

9/7/2015 03:51:50 am

Do you think an AQ headphone to RCA cable out of the Dragonfly will work into a integrated amp? I want to use my iPad and not have to get a new MacBook.

9/7/2015 12:15:05 pm

I would expect that to work. However, be aware that you can't charge the iPad while you have the Dragonfly plugged in. Most laptops will charge and send audio out via the USB port at the same time.

Luis

3/21/2016 12:37:55 pm

Hello, thanks for the review. I know this is an old post. I have a Nuforce Icon uDac-2 and based on your review here I got a pluggable 2.0 usb hub to try it on my iPhone 6 and iPhone 5 (I have Apple brand camera kit connector). I had no luck, I'm still got the message about device using too much power. I tried different usb hubs (one powered) and no luck. I have not find information online about using the uDac-2 with an iPhone, just your review here. Could you please confirm to me that we have the same DAC. Also, by now probably we went trough several IOS updates on our devices so maybe that can be my problem. Is your set up with the nuforce still works nowadays ?Thanks

3/21/2016 08:50:38 pm

Luis,

I am using the original Nuforce uDac. I have an older pic of it toward the bottom of the "More Apple" page. I downloaded the latest firmware today (9.3) and tested m iPhone 6s Plus with and it still works fine. I also tested an iPhone 6 running 9.2.1 and it works with it, as well.

I would change the USB cable, if possible, since that could be the problem. Of course, the uDac2 could require more power than the original uDac. I tried to look at their site and it appears that they don't have information on older products.

3/22/2016 05:57:39 pm

Hi,
Thank you very much for checking into those details for me, I greatly appreciate that! I tried several USB cables one from other dac and no luck. I also added and extra cable in between and I was able to power the Nuforce but I only hear white noise, iPhone still sends same notification. I checked on specs between the udac1 and udac2 and they are pretty similar at least on what I was able to find online. Oh well, I think I'm going to look for another alternative. I had the Nuforce as spare dac and I though I would be able to use in a more portable way. Thanks!

3/22/2016 06:23:01 pm

You are welcome. Not sure why one works and the other doesn't. Very strange. I mainly use the Dragonfly DAC ( I have version 1) due to its small size these days, but I still like the Nuforce since it can convert the signal to coax out.

Jim

6/11/2017 10:41:56 pm

I am totally lost when using my ipad air2 so need to ask a very basic question. I have been using a dragonfly for a couple of years that connects my pc to my sound system. I have had very good results.
I recently bought some very nice headphones to use with my ipad air and bought the new Lightning to USB3 Camera Adapter as Audioquests recommends, plugged in the adapter along with a powering lightning cord to the adapter, plugged in my dragonfly to the adapter and my headphones to the dragonfly. I then tried to play my Napster playlists and the sound came out of the ipad speaker but nothing came through the headphones. Can you help an old codger by telling me the basic steps i need to take to get this combination to work?

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