Sol
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Post by Sol on May 21, 2012 17:55:45 GMT
I travel a lot ... normally with a Macbook Pro and an iPhone 4s ... was intrigued to find a post on the web while searching for something else to do with the iPhone when I came across the fact that the dock connector on the iPhone can output digital!!
A quick search later and I find there's a portal DAC Heaphone amp (Fostex HP-P1) that will take the digital output from the iPhone 4S. Wooohoo I think ...
... keep reaidng
The downside suddenly hits me, the DAC is rather expensive and only supports a digital out form the iPhone!!
However I have a cunning plan ... sync only Apple AIFF (PCM Wav with extra tags rebadged to be apple) from the MacBook while travelling (or leave the macbookat home and only sync my favourites of the moment to the iPhone ... bingo .. the Iraq desert suddenly becomes a more bearable place.
Don't get me wrong - the iPhone paired with my IEMs (Shure 535) or headphones (Grado 325i) work pretty darned well .... but are somewhat lacking in resolution, detail, sound stage etc. Everything I read suggests the Fostex which uses 32-bit DAC (AKM4480) will massively improve things.
Before I stump up the money (£500 is a lot even if I deserve a new toy!!!) - has anyone got any experience with the Fostex or something similar? I don't want just an amp - has to bypass the iPhone DAC and Anlogue section in my book to be worthwhile. I've always resisted the temptation to pay for an amp only - as the intern DAC and analogue out from the iPhone would be the limiting factor - and amplifying poor quality just leads to loud poor quality!!
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joethearachnid
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Old head on young shoulders.
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Post by joethearachnid on May 21, 2012 18:39:37 GMT
There's also the Cypher Labs Algorythm Solo (CLAS) which takes digital from an iDevice and uses a decent DAC to decode it. It's cheaper than the HP-P1 as far as I recall, but you do also need to stump up the money for a portable amp since the CLAS doesn't come with one built in. Sadly I don't have any experience with either device personally so can't offer much perspective.
I might also suggest that even with a decent DAC, using AIFF might be overkill for your circumstances. Others might debate this but I feel that Apple Lossless is easily good enough for portable listening and would afford you a far greater range of music on your iPhone. It's up to you.
-JoetheArachnid
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Sol
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loves motorcycles !
Chief Technical Numpty
Posts: 135
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Post by Sol on May 21, 2012 19:09:21 GMT
I've had a look ... but buy the time I buy a CLAS and an amp - price wise it's not going to be far off - and two boxes + iPhone starts to be desktop not portable!
If I buy I think what I'll do is have a play with AIFF vs lossless (all my music is AIFF on my home storage) - wish iTunes had an option to down select to higher res than mp3 ... but Lossless is not an option unless I convert those AIFF'scopied across to my macbook, so that sync with iPhone can be lossless. Given I have the macbook with me ... then storage is not too much of an issue so why not save the re-coding and stay AIFF and sync when I need a change of scenery on the iPhone.
I do also have the Apogee Duet - I have that with my home computer - I could bring that with me. But that means playing through the macbook - and I'd prefer/want the full portability of the DAC/iphone combo.
Oh well ... I'll keep reading reviews before hitting the buy button on Amazon! if only the Fostex could also act as a ADC headphone amp for the MAcbook as well as the iPhone!! Grrrr!
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chris1967
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Post by chris1967 on May 22, 2012 6:22:15 GMT
Have you tried a simple lod (line out dock) connected to a portable amp? it might be the answer.
I am very happy with the quality of the ipod's line out.
The solutions you are looking at are a bit expensive and certainly restricting to be used only on i devices.
Regards
Chris
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Sol
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Chief Technical Numpty
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Post by Sol on May 22, 2012 6:37:22 GMT
It's more a case that the line out (headphone jack) I am not happy with. A LOD from the dock connector may help ... But it's still the iPhone analogue stage I assume - I assume it's just not amplified so an external amp using the LOD will offer some improvement.
Guess its a case of money pocket burning hole! Did you find a big improvement using a LOD? I find the iPhone is blurry, has poor control of the bass, gets overly sibilant on the esses and cymbals. Like most modern DACs it's pretty bloody good in the mids - but I'm finding I'm listening more to the issues than the musi if that makes sense. Given the hours I listen to my iPhone while I'm away from home 500 quid feels reasonable if O get a big improvement in staging, bass control and removing the harshness from the top end!
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Post by PinkFloyd on May 22, 2012 8:19:50 GMT
I know you're going to CRINGE at this suggestion Simon but have you tried playing about with the equaliser settings? You may be able to trim out the areas that are annoying you.... don't shout at me, it was only a suggestion
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Post by PinkFloyd on May 22, 2012 8:43:42 GMT
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Sol
100+
loves motorcycles !
Chief Technical Numpty
Posts: 135
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Post by Sol on May 22, 2012 8:47:32 GMT
Good call Mike but changing bloated or loose bass just makes it more prominent or less prominent in the mix. Likewise with highs. While this is helps - cant help feeling that rolling off the highs to avoid sibilance is just masking the issue. I want my cake and I want to scoff it
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Sol
100+
loves motorcycles !
Chief Technical Numpty
Posts: 135
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Post by Sol on May 22, 2012 8:52:54 GMT
Bollox to it - you only live once - in for a penny! Amazon buy button now clicked!
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Post by PinkFloyd on May 22, 2012 9:26:27 GMT
Bollox to it - you only live once - in for a penny! Amazon buy button now clicked! You devil!
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mrarroyo
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Post by mrarroyo on May 22, 2012 10:32:06 GMT
Enjoy your new toy Sol, hope you post your impressions after you have had it for a while.
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Post by slwiser on May 22, 2012 12:01:22 GMT
I have owned the HP-P1 and can't say anything really bad about it even though I sold it. I now have the DX100. One other option to the HP-P1 is the Go-Dap v4 where the iPhone 4 slips attaches to it. The HP-P1 probably will beat it but both are options to consider. www.head-fi.org/t/533084/venturecraft-go-dap-gd-04-for-iphone-4I wold recommend the HP-P1 for it general flexibility with everything Apple.
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Sol
100+
loves motorcycles !
Chief Technical Numpty
Posts: 135
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Post by Sol on May 24, 2012 5:39:03 GMT
Package tracking on Amazon suggests that the HP1 will be delivered today! Shame I am still on Iraq. I'll be back on Saturday and arrive home just in time to run off to a birthday bash so it will be Sunday before I can sit down and listen to the dac/amp with my Shure SE535, Grado 325i, Senn HD600 and K701 headphones.
Will try and post impressions if I get chance.
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