iPhone 5 Line out?

[fuzzyash]

so essentially, attach the $30 adapter then hook up the LOD to it, which uses the DAC in that adapter?

 

[bowei006]

There are MANY different conjectures right now on what is happening.
 

• The pins are all said to be digital signals, and thus even with the adapter, Analog audio out form DAC won't work anymore
• The pins were said to be digital but it allows for FULL function of what Apple had before, analgo out will work form DAC out, same situation as before.
• The pins are all said to be digital signals, all audio products using a dock will be using DAC's in them as well now and companies like FiiO can just go and make one
• The pins are all said to be digital signals, all audio products using a dock will be using DAC's that are officially lisenced with Apple as they have been. Current DAC bypass products need to get Apple's approval and "decryption" use code (not yet sure if there is one) to use the DAC and thus we are back to step 1 of affordable companies not being able to get the lsience for it.

 

[sygyzy]

If you want line out, just use the adapter which has a built in DAC. You will get an analog signal.

 

[weitn]

Quote:

If you want line out, just use the adapter which has a built in DAC. You will get an analog signal.

 
That DAC adapter will make my mobile audio solution bulky!

 

[weitn]

This is not good! Will see how things go (solutions for audio from the new adapter) before I upgrade my iPhone 4s to iPhone 5.

 

[Stoney]

I use an Arrow as pure analog, and sounds better than my E7.  But, it might be possible for the E7, or E17, or similar device to pull digital from the Lightning and give us good sound for money.  I'll wait for details and products to be announced.  I'm sticking with 4S until at least the 5S.  

 

[Stoney]

From http://www.theverge.com/2012/9/13/3329062/apple-lightning-hdmi-vga-cable-adapter-coming-months :
 
"Still, Apple says the 30-pin adapter does support analog audio out, as well as USB audio, syncing, and charging."
 
If this is true, then said adapter has to contain a DAC.  That's interesting.....

 

[PChoon]

Quote:

what im getting from this is that they're making line-out cable but they have to be authorized...
so no DIY for now

Yup... its says the specs of the Lighting port is all digital IO... no more analogue... our rig is gonna be bigger...
but it can also be a good thing... more companies make DAC for iDevices price maybe would be at our advantage?

 

[Stoney]

My hunch was right: From MacWorld: 
 
 
Apple has confirmed to Macworld that these adapters support analog and USB audio-out, as well as syncing and charging. However, the adapters don’t support video-out or iPod mode, the latter a special mode that lets particular accessories, such as car stereos and some whole-home-audio systems, display your iPod’s menus on the accessory’s own screen. More cryptically, the online Apple Store’s product pages note that “some 30-pin accessories are not supported.”
 
Astute readers may have noticed that the Lightning connector does not support analog audio-out, but the 30-pin adapters do. That’s because hidden away inside each 30-pin adapter is a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that converts the Lightning connector’s digital audio signal to an analog version. (The inclusion of a DAC explains at least part of the price of the adapters.)

So, we can use analog-only amps with iPhone 5 right now (it seems) if we get one of the adapters.  To avoid stress on the lightning connector in the phone, I'd use the adapter with 20cm of cable.  

 

[JamesFiiO]

Quote:

My hunch was right: From MacWorld: 
 
 
Apple has confirmed to Macworld that these adapters support analog and USB audio-out, as well as syncing and charging. However, the adapters don’t support video-out or iPod mode, the latter a special mode that lets particular accessories, such as car stereos and some whole-home-audio systems, display your iPod’s menus on the accessory’s own screen. More cryptically, the online Apple Store’s product pages note that “some 30-pin accessories are not supported.”
 
Astute readers may have noticed that the Lightning connector does not support analog audio-out, but the 30-pin adapters do. That’s because hidden away inside each 30-pin adapter is a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that converts the Lightning connector’s digital audio signal to an analog version. (The inclusion of a DAC explains at least part of the price of the adapters.)

So, we can use analog-only amps with iPhone 5 right now (it seems) if we get one of the adapters.  To avoid stress on the lightning connector in the phone, I'd use the adapter with 20cm of cable.  

 
The question is the sound quality of the adapter, cause the size is quite small size and the price ( $29) is quite low. 

 

[Stoney]

Yes.  I can only hope it at least matches the iPhone and iPad, each with its own virtues.  I find the 4s to be solid sounding, well-defined and extended, but a bit low on ease and grace, and the soundstage is a bit closed in.  The iPad 3 has a lovely openness and wider soundstage, but the bass and treble are less well controlled.  Tonality or is more natural and response is flatter/smoother in a head-to-head.  
 
I hope someone at Apple is tracking these changes and has implemented something even better.  Cost for the units in those products is probably not very high, so I hope the adapter is not a compromise.  
 
I'm sticking with 4s for now, so I'll have time to read reviews.  

 

[bowei006]

We are still left with little option of anything. And it seems this time around, we have even been given less now that we need that adapter to even use an LOD but then as James pointed out, the whole adapter is only $29, it obviously won't have the iPhone 5's probably good DAC.

 

[fuzzyash]

Quote:

We are still left with little option of anything. And it seems this time around, we have even been given less now that we need that adapter to even use an LOD but then as James pointed out, the whole adapter is only $29, it obviously won't have the iPhone 5's probably good DAC.

we dont really know how much the DAC in that adapter costs, it may on par or even better
looking at the general cost to make the iphone 4s, i doubt the DAC alone costs $30
http://www.isuppli.com/Teardowns/News/Pages/iPhone-4S-Carries-BOM-of-$188,-IHS-iSuppli-Teardown-Analysis-Reveals.aspx

 

[bowei006]

Quote:

we dont really know how much the DAC in that adapter costs, it may on par or even better
looking at the general cost to make the iphone 4s, i doubt the DAC alone costs $30
http://www.isuppli.com/Teardowns/News/Pages/iPhone-4S-Carries-BOM-of-$188,-IHS-iSuppli-Teardown-Analysis-Reveals.aspx

Yeah we are just assuming, heck it could be like Nwavguy's simple but working designs but also remember that Apple is working with Cirrus Logic on custom chips at MASSIVE quantities on a board that uses the most statte of the art equipemtn to further reduce costs and to be as efficent in making them as possible

 

[justin w.]

i dont see that this means the adapter contains a DAC.  it is possible that 2 of the lightning connector's pins are switched over to provide the analog audio output, when the 30-pin adapter is present.  that would certainly be cheaper for Apple.  we will find out soon.