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Portable DAC compatible w/ iPhone or iPod

Hello, I'm a spinning enthusiast who loves to jam to some motivational music at my local LA Fitness spin classes. The instructors do the best they can outputting their playlists from the phone mini-jack split into a stereo RCA interconnect that connects into the gym's reasonably powerful amp & speakers.
Often the sound quality is just awful. No punch to the Metallica or Michael Jackson or whatever music they choose.
It would sound so much more forceful but less fatiguing at the same time if the instructor's phone or iPod could be docked in a way that the data will upload raw to the portable DAC.
I've been looking for a versatile DAC that can be easy to use & hookup to their system quickly. I've seen the one company in California that makes triangular portable DAC's, but I don't recall their name right now. Basically I'm looking to mount up my phone & still get good sound
masi61
oahmad's avatar
oahmad
2 posts
 
I've been using a Nuforce Icon ido for the last few years and it's a nice product at an attractive price point. I pair it with my iPhone 5S and my library includes tracks in ALAC and FLAC formats.

For those of you that are using the Nuforce with external DACs, can you describe which external DAC you are using and why you prefer them to the built-in DAC on the nuForce.

I hope that this is an okay topic to bring up in this threat since it's relevant to the OP's question.
masi61 OP
97 posts
 
Well, I just bought a clean used one off of eBay. Feeling like taking a risk and trying it out.

I really hope it works to make the spinning class playlists a little funkier.

When I get it I think I'll test it out straight into my Bryston preamp and also into my byrston dac. I plan to do a comparison with the Wadia 171i as well.

For the iPhone 6 I guess I'll have to use the converter dongle that connects the old style 30 pin connector to the current Lightening connector.
timrhu
2,779 posts
 
For the iPhone 6 I guess I'll have to use the converter dongle that connects the old style 30 pin connector to the current Lightening connector.
Masi61

Yep, I use one with my iphone and works fine.
elevick
2,636 posts
 
Just remember that if the instructors are using low bit mp3 files nothing will help.
You should do a test and put a cd on your phone in 2 different quality levels and listen for yourself (mp3, mp4 and maybe flac). If you can't hear the difference, then it's the sound system, which is probably Bose and can't do better.
Also, what about the people using Androids? An OTG cable may be in order.
I'm a spin instructor and gave up on quality a long time ago.
peter_s
1,333 posts
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/507559/list-of-dacs-that-work-with-ipad
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