[Zoom25]

http://www.whathifi.com/apple/iphone-6-plus/review
 
Quote:

Sound quality has been a traditional strength for Apple products over the years, and the fact we already rate the iPhone 6 is a promising sign. In reality though, the 6 Plus doesn’t hit the same dizzy heights.

The Plus seems to lose its way when it comes to timing and following the tempo of a track. Tunes don’t have the same level of fluidity and musicality as they do when heard through Apple’s smaller handset.

The fluctuating pace of alt-J’s Breezeblocks just doesn’t come across as accurately or convincingly as it does on the standard iPhone 6.

There’s a decent sense of solidity and weight but the Plus sounds slightly slower, and lacks a little zip and drive.

The 6 Plus also sounds slightly muddier and doesn’t deliver the clarity and dynamic thrust that makes the standard model such an engaging listen.

The camera’s excellent, as is the picture quality on the 5.5in screen. We’re only disappointed because of the Plus’s dip in sound quality. It seems strange and very un-Apple-like but the phone just doesn’t match its smaller sibling in the musicality stakes.
 

 
Interesting, as I was considering the 6 plus because of reading and watching.
 
Also, anyone using these phones with a dock that lets you send out their digital signal to another DAC? So basically a digital transport?

 

[rensc]

How did you find the X1 in comparison? Thinking of getting the X1 due to the line out and micro SD card support, but only if there is a decent difference to the iPhone 6.

 

[pekingduck]

   
Interesting, as I was considering the 6 plus because of reading and watching.
 
Also, anyone using these phones with a dock that lets you send out their digital signal to another DAC? So basically a digital transport?

 
Just get a Lightning to USB Camera Adapter. Consult this and this for more details.

 

[elfary]

Some unloaded tests:

http://archimago.blogspot.com.es/2014/10/measurements-apple-iphone-4-iphone-6.html

 

[tmac7balla]

Ordered a 128Gb 6+ as well as a a lightening to camera usb cable. Still trying to pick out the right DAC for it however...Any recommendations would be awesome looking to spend $500 or less.

 

[SergeSE]

According to my measurements audio sections of iPhone 5S and iPhone 6 are exactly the same, no improvements at all. I compared waveforms of various audio signals at headphone outputs of these devices loaded with 33 Ohm resistors; both devices transfer signals with the same accuracy - http://www.head-fi.org/t/737874/visualization-of-audio-signal-distortion

 

[Jakkal]

[COLOR=000000]According to my measurements audio sections of iPhone 5S and iPhone 6 are exactly the same, no improvements at all. I compared waveforms of various audio signals at headphone outputs of these devices loaded with 33 Ohm resistors; both devices transfer signals with the same accuracy - http://www.head-fi.org/t/737874/visualization-of-audio-signal-distortion[/COLOR]

Can you measure output impedance?

 

[SergeSE]

Sorry, I don't have required equipment for the measurement. But I'm pretty sure that the output impedance of iPhone 6 is the same as of iPhone 5S because both devices behave exactly the same with various signals. In case of impedance difference there should be differences in reproduction of some signal parts.

 

[elfary]

According to my measurements audio sections of iPhone 5S and iPhone 6 are exactly the same, no improvements at all. I compared waveforms of various audio signals at headphone outputs of these devices loaded with 33 Ohm resistors; both devices transfer signals with the same accuracy - http://www.head-fi.org/t/737874/visualization-of-audio-signal-distortion

Thanks for the tip.

But that research says nothing about channel crosstalk, output impedance , intermodulation distortion or square wave performance which may explain why devices sound different.

I don't pretend to be a gifted ears aficionado but i'm 200% sure that iPhone 5s and iPhone 6 do not sound the same. And they could be told apart on a blind test easily with any top tier balanced armature earphone.


Before you marry someone, first make them use a computer with slow Internet connection to see who they really are.

 

[SergeSE]

But that research says nothing about channel crosstalk, output impedance , intermodulation distortion or square wave performance which may explain why devices sound different.

I don't pretend to be a gifted ears aficionado but i'm 200% sure that iPhone 5s and iPhone 6 do not sound the same. And they could be told apart on a blind test easily with any top tier balanced armature earphone.

 
The whole idea of comparing waveforms of real world signals is this: if the signals (and all signal parts) are transferred through devices with the same accuracy (and diffrograms show that clearly) then there is no difference in perception of those signals by ears. THD, IMD, square wave performance ... are useful for equipment developers and specialists; it is very difficult to interpret the parameters and say how they affect real life audio signals. The same time, comparing input/output waveforms of real world signals shows instantly what parts of the signals were degraded the most and what is the difference with other devices.

 

[Dixter]

  Ordered a 128Gb 6+ as well as a a lightening to camera usb cable. Still trying to pick out the right DAC for it however...Any recommendations would be awesome looking to spend $500 or less.

 
 
I'm liking  the ifi micro with the iphone 6   it works perfectly with the lightening to camera usb cable...  

 

[elfary]

But that research says nothing about channel crosstalk, output impedance , intermodulation distortion or square wave performance which may explain why devices sound different.

I don't pretend to be a gifted ears aficionado but i'm 200% sure that iPhone 5s and iPhone 6 do not sound the same. And they could be told apart on a blind test easily with any top tier balanced armature earphone.

 
The whole idea of comparing waveforms of real world signals is this: if the signals (and all signal parts) are transferred through devices with the same accuracy (and diffrograms show that clearly) then there is no difference in perception of those signals by ears. THD, IMD, square wave performance ... are useful for equipment developers and specialists; it is very difficult to interpret the parameters and say how they affect real life audio signals. The same time, comparing input/output waveforms of real world signals shows instantly what parts of the signals were degraded the most and what is the difference with other devices.

Thanks for the explanation. Much appreciated


Before you marry someone, first make them use a computer with slow Internet connection to see who they really are.

 

[kazsud]

There was/is a Apple cable that was offered when the iphone 5 came out... it has a wolfson DAC built into the connector...  and it also works with the iphone 6   so you can have a wolfson with a 6 if you want...

I'm playing with a iphone 6 and the ifi Micro...    very nice setup  ...   plays FLAC and DSD from the iphone 6...   best to have the 128 gb if you go this route...  sounds great.

What was it called?

 

[andromeda1954]

I find this rather strange. I have the 6+ and my wife has the 6  and they sound the same to me . My wife came to the same conclusion .  I use monster Miles Davis Trubute. and my wife the SE535
I think it is exemplary . was it  a bad copy ?. Both the 6 and 6+ are identical in tems of used componentsand building . Both have the same Cirrus Logic 338S1201 audio codec.The should sound the same  according to Apple 

 

[Dixter]

What was it called?

Its called the lightning to 30 pin adapter - has the built in Wolfson WM8533 DAC
comes in two versions....   one with a short cable and one that does not have a cable.. just two connectors...
 
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD824ZM/A/lightning-to-30-pin-adapter-02-m
 
if you google search "apple lightning to 30-pin adapter  DAC"  you can see the tear down...