Apple Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter & USB DACs

[The Computer Audiophile]

Hi Guys - I originally posted a question about using this adapter with the AudioQuest DragonFly Red (link). Since answering this question by purchasing the adapter myself, I've since discovered how cool this thing is and think a thread for the Apple Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter by itself is a good idea.

 

Here's the story.

 

Apple's standard lightning to USB camera kit does allow connecting a USB DAC to an iOS device, but most DACs have an issue sucking too much power and won't work. the iOS device throws up an error. On the other hand, DACs like the new DragonFly Red will work with the standard adapter but there's no way to charge your iOS device at the same time. For example, I want to use my iPhone and DragonFly Red on a plane to Italy next month, but I don't want to use all my iPhone battery.

 

The new solution is the $39 Apple Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter. this adapter enables both USB DACs and power from a lightning cable simultaneously.

 

After purchasing the adapter today, I ran some tests and found great things.

 

It works with USB DACs like the DragonFly Red and any lightning charger.

 

It also works with main system USB devices like the Berkeley Audio Design Alpha USB. The Alpha sucks a lot of USB power and has never worked with an iOS device in the past. The one caveat to this is that you must power the adapter / iOS device with a 10+ watt charger like this one (Apple 12 watt charger).

 

I was able to stream bit perfect 16/44.1 audio from the Tidal app on my iPhone 6 Plus.

 

I was able to stream 16/44.1 audio bit perfect using JRemote and the play to this device option. However, JRemote didn't deliver bit perfect playback on 96, 176.4 and 192 content. The sample rate was correct but something was wrong with the bit depth.

 

I was able to play 16/44.1, 24/96, 24/176.4, and 24/192 from my iPhone 6 Plus to the Alpha USB using FLAC Player.

 

 

This is a really cool adapter with a lot of potential. I think many CA readers will have tons of ideas about how to use this with an iOS device to play music to a good DAC. I'm sure some will use an UpTone Regen on the USB as well :~)

 

 

 

 

 

Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter - Apple

 

 

 

 

[The Computer Audiophile]

Is there a way to use this, along with a USB flash drive, to extend the music storage capabilities of an iOS device?

Not without a jailbreak.

[The Computer Audiophile]

Chris, thanks for sharing this - that's the exact use case I would see for this setup (*long* international flights).

 

Could you post a quick pic of your setup, just to validate what I think I'm picturing in my head?

Here is a quick snapshot of how I'm using it. The lightning to USB cable will simply connect to the airplane's USB ports.