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iPhone/iPad good as a source, or get a streamer?

This is probably a dumb question with a simple answer I’m just missing, but here goes. I’m currently using my iPhone and iPad wired with a Camera Adapter to my DAC via Qobuz in my headphone setup and it sounds good, but I’ve wondered if using a streamer (on the level of an Optical Rendu or Innuos Zen Mk3) would be better as it’d be plugged directly into the router. I’d assume the latter would be better given the wired connection vs. WiFi, but wondering if anyone has compared that to connecting an iPhone/iPad directly to a DAC? Location isn’t a huge deal since I’m in close proximity to my router anyway. Thanks for any thoughts/experience/suggestions.
soix
melvinjames
416 posts
 
iDevices have surprisingly good sound quality when bypassing the on-board DAC as you’re doing. That said, to my ears streaming via my microRendu > DAC sounds better than my iDevices into the same DAC using the CCK connection. It’s noticeable, but I wouldn’t say it’s a night and day difference either. Moving up to an opticalRendu or the Innuous .. I can’t offer you an opinion, unfortunately. No doubt someone will say there’s a massive difference. Massive. Veils will be lifted. Veil upon veil in fact. My advice is to take advantage of gear that comes with a trial period. Best of luck.
soix OP
8,726 posts
 
Thanks @melvinjames.  Yeah that’s about what I would’ve guessed, and it’s nice to have some confirmation.  Given what I’ve read here, unfortunately moving to the better streamers does seem to make a meaningful difference.  Or maybe I’ll just try a Raspberry Pi to test the waters first.  It’s a journey...
calvinandhobbes
272 posts
 
I just went through this and got a Pro-ject Stream Box S2 Ultra. It definitely sounded better than my iPhone. Other potential improvements that I've found to have good ROI in terms of improving sound quality of my Pro-ject streamer are:

1. Turning off WiFi and using an Ethernet cable
2. Getting a better quality Ethernet cable (Supra Cat 8 has worked well for me and was a notable improvement over an AmazonBasics Cat 6 cable)
3. Getting the right USB cable. The Phasure Lush is working really well in my system.
soix OP
8,726 posts
 
Thanks @calvinandhobbes.  Just curious what DAC you’re using and what kind of improvements you got with the Pro-ject?  I assume you were using the Apple Camera Adapter out of the iPhone?  Thanks again. 
calvinandhobbes
272 posts
 
@soix I was using the Apple Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter with the iPhone. I'm using a Denafrips Ares II DAC. These were the improvements that I heard when using the Pro-ject streamer versus the iPhone:

- Broader & more 3-dimensional soundstage
- Better resolution of complex musical passages: Electric bass in Blue Moon Revisited on Trinity Sessions, Cowboy Junkies & Waltz for Debby, Bill Evans Trio
- Tonal colors are more evident
- Notes seem to hang in the air longer. Reverberations continue instead of being cut off.
- More presence around voices and instruments.

The improvements sounded quite significant to me & turning off the WiFi further improved my perception of the sound quality.

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