INTERACT FORUM
Networks and Remotes => Remotes => Topic started by: Chopsrr on August 21, 2014, 10:38:42 pm
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So for the past year or more I've been using an original iPad with JRemote to stream music to my headphone rig in our bedroom. It streams from my dedicated laptop in my main system running Win 8 and MC19. The iPad feeds my headphone rig via its headphone output (3.5mm plug to RCA). It sounds good and gets the job done, but I'd like to improve it some on the economical side.
Question 1) What exactly is the file format that the iPad is receiving from MC19 through the JRemote app?
I know in order to get an actual digital output from an iPad, I need to step up to the iPad 2 or one of my spare iPhone 4's running iOS7 (both of which I have) as it allows bypassing the internal DAC. I would like to get a Schiit Modi DAC to use in the headphone rig to improve sound quality.
Question 2) Has anyone here connected their iPad, iPod, iPhone directly to a decent DAC with great success?
I also have laying around here a Samsung Galaxy S3 somewhere that I could use to stream music to the headphone rig.
Question 3) Would using the S3 benefit from any kind of advantages over the Apple units in this situation?
Many thanks in advance!
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Wow...
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Seriously? Almost two weeks and nothing? Even with questions about your own product on your own forum and nothing. Whatever...
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Hello, sorry for not notice your thread, I know it can be very frustrating seeing no answers.
Unfortunately I have no experience with Dacs on Ipad.
I hope LesPaul see this topic and answer :)
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So for the past year or more I've been using an original iPad with JRemote to stream music to my headphone rig in our bedroom. It streams from my dedicated laptop in my main system running Win 8 and MC19. The iPad feeds my headphone rig via its headphone output (3.5mm plug to RCA). It sounds good and gets the job done, but I'd like to improve it some on the economical side.
Question 1) What exactly is the file format that the iPad is receiving from MC19 through the JRemote app?
I know in order to get an actual digital output from an iPad, I need to step up to the iPad 2 or one of my spare iPhone 4's running iOS7 (both of which I have) as it allows bypassing the internal DAC. I would like to get a Schiit Modi DAC to use in the headphone rig to improve sound quality.
Question 2) Has anyone here connected their iPad, iPod, iPhone directly to a decent DAC with great success?
I also have laying around here a Samsung Galaxy S3 somewhere that I could use to stream music to the headphone rig.
Question 3) Would using the S3 benefit from any kind of advantages over the Apple units in this situation?
Many thanks in advance!
I don't have any iProducts, but I can offer some general observations on 2) and 3). I have successfully connected my Galaxy Note to several external DACs. You need a special cable (called an OTG cable), but there are some important caveats
First, not all phones/tablets support connection to an external DAC via USB. That's not something you'll usually find in the promotional literature, and it can vary by product even within product lines (I believe the Galaxy Note 1 did not support it, but the 2 and 3 do support it, etc.). There seems to be no rhyme or reason to it (even some very new phones don't support it), so you'll need to research whether any specific device has this capability. Second, my understanding is that in order for it to work the USB DAC needs to be driverless (i.e. a UAC class 1 or class 2 device). That means if your DAC manufacturer provides drivers that need to be installed, the DAC may or may not work with a non-PC device (and the "may not" is the more likely case).
My personal impressions of driving the DAC from my phone was that the sound was good, but the maximum volume was significantly lower than it was when the same DAC was powered from a PC. That suggests that (unsurprisingly) the DAC was not able to get full USB power from the phone. Depending on the DAC (and how serious the power shortfall is) not getting enough power may affect more than just volume (some devices don't function correctly even at low volume without adequate power). That suggests that you might want a DAC that has it's own power supply (or a battery) if you plan on using this configuration. Ultimately, I decided that the phone/DAC combo wasn't a good solution for everyday use, but can be nice in a pinch.
I'd advise you to try and demo any DAC you plan to use in this configuration before you commit to a final purchase. YMMV of course, and sorry I don't have more specific feedback on your use case
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Sorry Chopsrr, did not see your thread.
Question 1) What exactly is the file format that the iPad is receiving from MC19 through the JRemote app?
JRemote will stream the native file format as long as you have that option set in settings (Disable transcoding).
Most formats are supported, including FLAC, Apple Lossless and Wav.
Question 2) Has anyone here connected their iPad, iPod, iPhone directly to a decent DAC with great success?
I have my iPad connected to an AudioQuest dragonfly. Most DAC`s should work as long as it`s USB audio class 2 compliant, and most USB DAC`s are.
One important thing to remember is to use the Apple camera connection kit. As far as I know it`s the only way to get 24/96 files out to the DAC.
Question 3) Would using the S3 benefit from any kind of advantages over the Apple units in this situation?
I don`t think it matters much if you use Android or Apple devices.
As mwillems mentioned, not all android devices support USB OTG, so you need to make sure that your device do.
I believe the new Android L release will have USB audio built in.