strange, I have the iPhone 15 Pro Max and iOS 17.4.1 and everything is working fine ...

If I recall correctly, Android downsamples every Hi-res audio file to 48kHz and reduces the bit depth to 16bits when using default audio output. iPhone Series 15 with USB-C got UAC 2.0 audio interface and they output bit-perfect audio stream by default.

I did the same test with my DAC and my wired HiFi headphones and got a 4/6 :wink: The better the chain (transparent, not coloured and linear), the better the result.

BTW: Can anybody explain me what the filters do? Which filter describes best "analogue" sound? Which filter (number) is your favourite?

I finally got mine. Great stuff! Good old HiFi !:gs1000smile: No data corrupted stuff via Bluetooth. Sold my B&W PX8 ...

I sold my PX8 in favour of a USB-DAC, the fiio KA5, and a pair of good old headphones. I never get comfortable with the PX8, sadly. Now listening to more "HiFi" sound.

volume loud enough?

Tomorrow I will also get my KA5. No Bluetooth connection had satisfied me. I even had the PX8 from Bowers & Wilkins. Now I'm reactivating my Sony monitor headphones, which are already 9 years old. I'm expecting a huge gain from this. I use an iPhone 15 Pro Max and will connect the KA5 directly...

BTW: When using the PX8 wireless via an iPhone... enable lossless audio when using Apple Music since the AAC files are re-encoded before transmitting (AAC -> AAC). When you use lossless files as source material the encoding is done only once (lossless -> AAC).

in fact, AAC on iPhone is pretty good. It's much better than the AAC implementation on Android, by the way: https://www.soundguys.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-bluetooth-headphones-aac-20296/

sadly, the iPhone 14 series has no USB-C connector. With a iPhone 15 series you can output bit-perfect audio via USB-C to the headphones (without needing a dongle).

I had to test the B&W PX8 for a week . Even when wired via USB-C - no chance. I would choose the Airpods Max here, definitely.

I understand. This is the critical question: Really invest in a DAC + headphones? I thought the PX8 combines the best of both worlds. Thank you very much for your comment!

Which alternatives for you (USB-C Audio Connectivity) ?

yes, I heard laid back treble. But female vocals and guitars didn't sound excellent (yet). It's hard to describe the Soundstage as intimate, it can't show the different venues