iPhone 15 review for audiophiles

How do you guys get flac folders onto iPhone 15 ? It’s a challenge!

Download from my Library via Roon Arc, or via Qobuz app

I could be missing the point but listening on the move should be as simple as possible. Rather than trying to use ARC for the moment I just use the Qobuz app and download to my phone. My phone then connects directly to a Chord Mojo via USB-C and micro-USB. Sounds OK to me. I will try with other headphones to see if the SQ is down to the DAC or the headphones.

I would like all my music under one roof so to speak, so streaming and my collection on iPhone, but getting all my flac files onto iPhone is proving hard work. I should point out I have my music in folders, old school I know.
This would then be feeding my iem’s via HC2.

I listen on the iPhone only when I’m out for the day and want only one device with me. Easy enough to put a few albums on before leaving. When walking the dog, I listen on a DAP with 1 TB of music on it.

I don’t even bother with ARC , I put a 1 Tb SD card into my Samsung phone and BT to Sony HW-1000 MX4 or Sony HF-1000 MX4 , not quite the real thing but better than the radio ! I had a protracted hospital stay , that was my excuse :sunglasses:

To me it’s the big advantage of Samsung , a 1 Tb iPhone would need a mortgage

Makes sense; I rarely listen to more than one album at a time on the iPhone. My main device is an Astell&Kern SP-3000 with a 1 TB SD card inserted.

I was pleased to see that you are able to use DSD over PCM (DoP) with this device to the A&K HC2. May I ask what software you are using for playback.

I just came across one app that does work with my iphone for DoP to my DAC called Ever Play. I hope other vendors figure out whatever Ever Play seems to have done!

The HC 2 is connected directly to the iPhone onto which i downloaded the files

The screenshot is generated by tapping on “lossless” when it’s playing

The SP-3000 does the same without the HC2

Can anyone recommend a portable DAC for the iPhone 15? These things range from something like $50 offering from FiiO to over $600 semi-portable ones like Chord Mojo.

I’d like something compact that can power reasonably efficient closed-headphones and that allows me to bypass Apple converting everything to a 48kz sample rate.

What would you guys recommend in the $150 and under range?

I believe the Astell & Kern HC 2 in the US is in your price range but not certain

Thanks for responding. Just checked. It’s $250, unfortunately.

Sorry to hear that. FWIW, I’m finding the sound quality as good as their SP-3000 which is in a total different price range

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@RBM - And that works?

I was told by Creative Support (Creative Labs Pte Ltd.):

“The BT-W5 transmitter cannot be connected directly to a mobile device such as an iPhone.”

Torben

I use it daily. Works fine on my iPad Pro as well. :slight_smile:

The answer probably pre-dates USB-C iPhones?

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That is good to know :slight_smile:

FiiO will launch the Smartphone LDAC transmitter BT11 this summer:

https://twitter.com/FIIO_official/status/1753678040381673724

Torben

It works :slight_smile:

Have been testing it with iPhone 15 Pro and Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4

Torben

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I use the Fosi Audio DS1, it’s cheap and the sound is just superb

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The $10 Apple USB-C to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter gets great reviews considering its price.

I use a cheap magsafe wallet to hold the dac (fosi audio ds1) in the back of the phone (iphone 15 pro max) so that it’s still easy to take the phone in and out of my pants pocket and to avoid having the dac dangling.

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