iPhone 5 (and new Touch) has totally new dock connector - 'Lightning' - adapters available but no line-out

[estreeter]

Thanks for that link - the speculation re a DAC in the adapter was correct. Thats a $29 adapter .... 
 
 
Speakers and audio docks: I tested both adapters with a range of dock-cradle speakers and audio-focused standalone docks using the iPhone 5 and the latest iPod touch and nano models. For playing audio, the adapters worked perfectly with every speaker dock and audio dock I tested, both old and new. This includes newer speakers and audio docks that grab your player’s digital-audio (specifically, USB-audio) output and then use a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) in the speaker or dock itself to produce an analog signal.

But the adapters also work with speakers and docks—generally older models—that require an analog-audio signal. These speakers connect to dedicated analog-audio pins in the 30-pin connector, relying on the iPhone or iPod to handle the digital-to-analog conversion. The challenge here is that the Lightning connector doesn’t offer analog-audio pins—the new connector is all digital.

The solution (and likely part of the reason that Apple’s adapters aren’t cheap) is an actual DAC built into each adapter. In other words, the adapter is converting the iPhone or iPod’s digital-audio output to an analog signal and then sending that analog signal to the appropriate pins in the 30-pin connector. As an example, thanks to Apple’s adapters, I was able to use the latest iPhone and iPods with Logitech’s mm50 speaker system, an old favorite from 2005.

 

[cooperpwc]

Well, we already knew that, right? The DAC is a Wolfson WM8533.

 

[estreeter]

Still no listening impressions on the SQ via the adapter. Not all analog docks are cheap throwaway jobbies - the Zeppelin was reasonable in a smaller room, even if the sticker was anything BUT reasonable ..... 

 

[Prakhar]

So the adaptors dac is a wolfson?

 

[sonitus mirus]

I hope I have this right.
 
The 30-pin adapter uses a Wolfson DAC, but this can apparently be bypassed when connecting to a Wadia 170i, Pure i20, and I'm assuming an HRT iStreamer?  Basically, the 30-pin adapter behaves exactly as it currently does now for older iDevices.
 
Has anyone been able to verify if these new devices can connect directly to a DAC with a standard Lightning connector?  I'd be interested in swapping out my Logitech Squeezebox Touch with a new iPad mini if I knew it would be able to connect directly to a DAC with a USB input.
 
Oh, and Neil Peart was not the drummer for Rush when "Working Man" was initially recorded.  The drummer back then was John Rutsey, and I believe he was the one playing in the YouTube video that was embedded back a few pages.
 
I'm surprised nobody used "Lightening" anywhere in this thread, until now. 

 

[fuzzyash]

^ i believe if you're using the new included lightning to usb cable, into a dac which bypasses it with apple certification (eg. solo, centrance etc) it should work- these are the ones that are confirmed to work
not sure about the others you listed though

 

[cooperpwc]

Quote:

I hope I have this right.
 
The 30-pin adapter uses a Wolfson DAC, but this can apparently be bypassed when connecting to a Wadia 170i, Pure i20, and I'm assuming an HRT iStreamer?  Basically, the 30-pin adapter behaves exactly as it currently does now for older iDevices.
 
Has anyone been able to verify if these new devices can connect directly to a DAC with a standard Lightning connector?  I'd be interested in swapping out my Logitech Squeezebox Touch with a new iPad mini if I knew it would be able to connect directly to a DAC with a USB input.
 
Oh, and Neil Peart was not the drummer for Rush when "Working Man" was initially recorded.  The drummer back then was John Rutsey, and I believe he was the one playing in the YouTube video that was embedded back a few pages.
 
I'm surprised nobody used "Lightening" anywhere in this thread, until now. 

 
Quote:

^ i believe if you're using the new included lightning to usb cable, into a dac which bypasses it with apple certification (eg. solo, centrance etc) it should work- these are the ones that are confirmed to work
not sure about the others you listed though

 
To be clear, with an iAP device (Solo, Wadia, HP-P1. iPure etc.), you do not need the extra $29.95 30-pin adapter. You connect directly with the lIghtning-USB cable.

 

[shotgunshane]

Comparing the adapter with external amp and HO (I know, not an apples to apples comparison but...), the adapter/amp combo has a warmer, fuller mid and a little more musical presentation, whereas the 5's HO is slightly thinner in the midrange but tighter bass and more clarity. Nice contrast.

 

[Angels and Air]

Curious, does the iPhone 5 DAC Support 96/24 Playback now?

 

[estreeter]

Quote:

I'm surprised nobody used "Lightening" anywhere in this thread, until now. 

 
No, because that has TWO 'n's and a redundant 'e'- if you go back to the start of the thread, I had a major dummy spit about people referring to it as the 'Lighting'.adapter. We all make typos, but it soon became clear that many people seemed to think it really was called the 'Lighting Adapter'. Would you spell Sennheiser with only one 'n' ? Man, I need a Bex and a good lie down.  

 

[pelli]

Quote:

 
 
To be clear, with an iAP device (Solo, Wadia, HP-P1. iPure etc.), you do not need the extra $29.95 30-pin adapter. You connect directly with the lIghtning-USB cable.

This is NOT true of the Wadia and Pure.  They only have 30 pin inputs and thus need the adapter.  There is no place to plug in USB.  The the CAS and HP-P1 do use USB input and do not require the cable.

 

[cooperpwc]

Quote:

This is NOT true of the Wadia and Pure.  They only have 30 pin inputs and thus need the adapter.  There is no place to plug in USB.  The the CAS and HP-P1 do use USB input and do not require the cable.

 
Ah. My bad. So there is no Lightning > 30 pin cable that doesn't have all the expensive (and in this case unnecessary) DAC electronics? Bummer.

 

[estreeter]

Just caved and bought the last of the 16GB iTouch 4th Gen models left in stock in this little burg. The new models only come in 32GB and 64GB, at 329 AUD and 439 AUD respectively - even if I only use the Touch for apps and as a remote control for something else, 199 AUD seemed like a much better deal to me. Not a lot of room for ALAC on a 16GB model, but how many of us can keep our entire collections in lossless on a 64GB model anyway ? I gave my previous 3rd Gen Touch to a friend gratis, and it was only 8GB. 
 
FWIW, I also bought a 4GB Clip+ recently - give me a couple of weeks and I'll put together some comparative impressions on the sound and ergonomics. Old kit, granted, but hopefully it will be of some use to a Head-Fier on a budget. 

 

[BBEG]

Bit late, but it's thanks to this thread I snagged a 6th gen Nano. I don't like waiting for accessories.

 

[audionewbi]

Decided to by the new nano. Soudwise it is as good as the sansa clip+ (paired with xba-4). The preset EQ do work, however navigation with one hand is a joke. I still dont know who decided to remove physical buttons from devices of such size.
 
Yea so my advice is buy clip+, the extra 135+ will not give you an upgrade in sound. Anyways I took one for the team, I dont know how much my words mean to you guys.