iPod & iPhone digital audio connections
Printed From: Graham Slee Hifi System Components
Category: Digital Audio
Forum Name: Computer Audio
Forum Description: Is computer audio here to stay or is it just another flavour of the month?
URL: https://www.hifisystemcomponents.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1765
Printed Date: 27 Mar 2026 at 4:04am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: iPod & iPhone digital audio connections
Posted By: ICL1P
Subject: iPod & iPhone digital audio connections
Date Posted: 04 Mar 2013 at 11:11am
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To avoid taking the Bitzie thread off topic again, I have started this new one. Below is a response I have had from futureshop in reply to my question as to whether the Audioquest made for iPod etc cables would work in my car. The answer should apply also to a Bitzie connection. Despite the encouraging reply, I am suspicious that they don't know the products they sell as well as they should. Ifor Thank you for your email. ------------- Ifor ===== Reflex M & ACCESSION M, CuSat50, Majestic DAC, a Proprius pair. |
Replies:
Posted By: Graham Slee
Date Posted: 04 Mar 2013 at 1:05pm
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Ifor, what if the iPod and iPhone don't cater for USB bus power?
------------- That none should be able to park up and enjoy the view without a smartphone and the knowledge in how to use apps |
Posted By: morris_minor
Date Posted: 04 Mar 2013 at 1:13pm
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Would Futureshop take it back for a refund if it didn't work the way you wanted? ------------- Bob Majestic DAC/pre-amp Accession MC/Enigma, Accession MM, Reflex M, Elevator EXP, Era Gold V Solo ULDE, Novo, Lautus USB and digital, Libran balanced, CuSat50 2 x Proprius + Spatia/Spatia Links |
Posted By: ICL1P
Date Posted: 04 Mar 2013 at 1:25pm
------------- Ifor ===== Reflex M & ACCESSION M, CuSat50, Majestic DAC, a Proprius pair. |
Graham Slee wrote:Posted By: ICL1P
Date Posted: 04 Mar 2013 at 1:26pm
------------- Ifor ===== Reflex M & ACCESSION M, CuSat50, Majestic DAC, a Proprius pair. |
Posted By: morris_minor
Date Posted: 04 Mar 2013 at 1:34pm
------------- Bob Majestic DAC/pre-amp Accession MC/Enigma, Accession MM, Reflex M, Elevator EXP, Era Gold V Solo ULDE, Novo, Lautus USB and digital, Libran balanced, CuSat50 2 x Proprius + Spatia/Spatia Links |
Posted By: Task1
Date Posted: 04 Mar 2013 at 4:30pm
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Hi, Checked out this calendar on future shops website and it seems to have a standard computer USB plug- the Bitzie on the other hand has a printer type USB socket, making this a nonstarter unless an adaptor of sorts is used which would lessen its chances of sending sufficient power to run the Bitzie. Task ------------- Does it really matter? |
Posted By: Task1
Date Posted: 04 Mar 2013 at 4:32pm
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Calendar! Spell checker in operation. Should have read Cable! ------------- Does it really matter? |
Posted By: ICL1P
Date Posted: 04 Mar 2013 at 5:17pm
------------- Ifor ===== Reflex M & ACCESSION M, CuSat50, Majestic DAC, a Proprius pair. |
Posted By: ServerBaboon
Date Posted: 04 Mar 2013 at 7:17pm
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Although stepping outside the realms of practical would a self powered hub help? ------------- Steve ------------- Various bits of GSP Kit ..well two so far, unless you count the cables that is. |
Posted By: Graham Slee
Date Posted: 04 Mar 2013 at 7:36pm
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Good suggestion Steve, I guess a tapped-off cable having a 5V supply with the twisted pair only going between the source device and Bitzie would show if these devices were 'willing to talk' ------------- That none should be able to park up and enjoy the view without a smartphone and the knowledge in how to use apps |
Posted By: mrarroyo
Date Posted: 05 Mar 2013 at 11:09am
I have an iPhone 5 and unless I am willing to "jailbreak it" the new lightning connector will not output digital out. Sorry but at this time I do not plan on jailbreaking the iPhone. ------------- Miguel |
Posted By: Graham Slee
Date Posted: 05 Mar 2013 at 12:23pm
Very sensible. ------------- That none should be able to park up and enjoy the view without a smartphone and the knowledge in how to use apps |
Posted By: Dave Friday
Date Posted: 05 Mar 2013 at 1:57pm
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ive coppied music from my ipad mini [was a present] to my laptop and to my android phone so it must have a digital out on the usb cable. oops i think i missed the bit about the 5volt supply.
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Posted By: Stewboss
Date Posted: 05 Mar 2013 at 1:57pm
The lightning connector does output digital out to my Fostex HP-P1 portable amp / dac.
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Posted By: ICL1P
Date Posted: 05 Mar 2013 at 2:15pm
------------- Ifor ===== Reflex M & ACCESSION M, CuSat50, Majestic DAC, a Proprius pair. |
Posted By: Stewboss
Date Posted: 05 Mar 2013 at 4:12pm
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I thought the op was meaning that it didn't output digital at all. Sorry for the confusion.
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Posted By: ICL1P
Date Posted: 05 Mar 2013 at 8:35pm
------------- Ifor ===== Reflex M & ACCESSION M, CuSat50, Majestic DAC, a Proprius pair. |
Posted By: Fatmangolf
Date Posted: 05 Mar 2013 at 8:43pm
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I don't think the iPod has the USB power output needed. ------------- Jon Open mind and ears whilst owning GSP Genera, Accession M, Accession MC, Elevator EXP, Solo ULDE, Proprius amps, Cusat50 cables, Lautus digital cable, Spatia cables and links, and a Majestic DAC. |
Posted By: ICL1P
Date Posted: 05 Mar 2013 at 10:33pm
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The website for the "made for iPod" USB DAC mentioned earlier talks about power by USB or battery, but doesn't make it clear whether it has to be battery for iPods.
------------- Ifor ===== Reflex M & ACCESSION M, CuSat50, Majestic DAC, a Proprius pair. |
Posted By: GoSUV
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2013 at 7:51am
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Currently in the portable market, there are only a handful of units that could accept digital output from an iPod and separate the DAC from the iPod's internal unit. Those are the Fostex HP-P1, Cypher Labs SOLO (yep, also called the Solo) and the Sony PHA-1. If you include the iPad's with the USB Camera Connector, then there are many more USB DAC's that could accept digital output from them, as long as they don't draw more than 20mA from the iPad, otherwise you would need a powered USB hub, or the DAC has its own power. The list of DAC's that supports this is very large, and constantly changing, so it would be best to just bring your iPad to the retailer and trying it out yourself. Obviously, units that need a powered USB hub to operate will mean no portability. Now in terms of desktop units that could extract an iPod's digital out, there are the Onkyo's and Cambridge Audio's docks, and also Wadia's units. Do not confuse these with other docks that only accept analog audio though. I wouldn't just go by the "made for iPod" logo since it could mean anything. |
Posted By: morris_minor
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2013 at 8:05am
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Sometimes the Apple dock I use to charge my old iPhone 3G gets reported as "device not recognised" (or something similar), so not even Apple stuff knows it's 'made for iPod' on occasions . . . I have a love-hate thing with Apple. Love OS X and iThingys design - hate iTunes with a vengeance, hate Apple's closed ecosystem and hate their dominance in the music download market . . . ------------- Bob Majestic DAC/pre-amp Accession MC/Enigma, Accession MM, Reflex M, Elevator EXP, Era Gold V Solo ULDE, Novo, Lautus USB and digital, Libran balanced, CuSat50 2 x Proprius + Spatia/Spatia Links |
Posted By: mrarroyo
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2013 at 10:57am
They have paid for the Apple license. ------------- Miguel |