How do I improve my iphone's audio?

[FreddyJ]

Hi there. Got an iPhone 8 Plus which I'm really comfortable with. Started listening to a lot of music via various streaming services. Is there anyway I can improve the sound? It sounds okay but quite tinny. Thanks in advance.

 

[DevinNj]

Try Settings>Music>EQ from there you can customize the audio. Oh and welcome!

 

[FreddyJ]

Try Settings>Music>EQ from there you can customize the audio. Oh and welcome!

Thanks and thanks for the welcome. I will give this a go. A friend suggested I use a DAC with my phone? Any ideas?

 

[danmart]

That begs the question how you are outputting the sound? Built-in speaker, Bluetooth or Lightning port?

 

[alpi123]

If you're using the phone's speakers, I believe the Jazz (can't remember the name, something with the word "night" or "late") EQ preset made them much louder and clearer. If you're listening from headphoned, get a DAC.

 

[FreddyJ]

That begs the question how you are outputting the sound? Built-in speaker, Bluetooth or Lightning port?

Using the adapter thingy with some headphones - in ear ones.
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If you're using the phone's speakers, I believe the Jazz (can't remember the name, something with the word "night" or "late") EQ preset made them much louder and clearer. If you're listening from headphoned, get a DAC.

Using the adapter thingy with some headphones - in ear ones.
Any recommendations on DACs?

 

[danmart]

The adapter basically is a DAC. It takes in a digital signal from the Lightning port and puts out an analogue signal for your headphones. The first, cheapest option would be to buy new headphones.

 

[pooryou]

The adapter is not a DAC and there is no reason to assume you need new headphones.
OP, you would be better off asking here: https://www.head-fi.org/forums/

 

[danmart]

The adapter is not a DAC

It takes in a digital signal from the lightning port and puts out an analogue signal to your headphones. How else would you describe it?

 

[jetsam]

It takes in a digital signal from the lightning port and puts out an analogue signal to your headphones. How else would you describe it?

The dongle contains a DAC, an ADC (for the microphone) and an amplifier. And on sites such as the aforementioned head-fi.org, as well as reddit, the general consensus is that you can't do better than the Apple dongle for less than $100. (My personal preference is the Radsone Ear Studio ES100 Bluetooth receiver instead of the dongle. See the very long thread about this on head-fi, if you're curious.)

OP, you say the sound is "...okay but quite tinny" When someone says this, the usual cause is they are using IEMs with a bad ear seal. What IEM are you using, and what have you selected for tips?

 

[pooryou]

The dongle contains a DAC, an ADC (for the microphone) and an amplifier.

nah I’m not buying that. Those functions still exist on the phone and the adapter is just a pass through. Do you have a source that says otherwise?

 

[jetsam]

nah I’m not buying that. Those functions still exist on the phone and the adapter is just a pass through. Do you have a source that says otherwise?

Well, here's a teardown of the dongle:

Apple Lightning to Headphone Jack Adapter Teardown

This is definitely a destructive teardown. Hopefully it will help to show how the adapter was put together. Also that it does have a DAC on the...

www.ifixit.com

The Apple-authorized board for sale to third parties to use the lightning connector for audio. Contains DAC, ADC, amp.

Cirrus Logic unveils Apple-authorized Lightning headphone development kit | AppleInsider

With rumors strongly suggesting Apple's next-generation iPhone will lack a traditional headphone jack, supplier Cirrus Logic this week announced the release of a new development kit that will enable companies to make Made for iPhone-certified Lightning headphones.

appleinsider.com

A million discussions on reddit:

r/headphones

A place for discussion, news, reviews and DIY projects related to portable audio, headphones, headphone amplifiers and DACs.

www.reddit.com

r/apple

An unofficial community about Apple and all of its devices and software.

www.reddit.com

r/iphone

Reddit’s little corner for iPhone lovers (and some people who just mildly enjoy it…)

www.reddit.com

Out of curiosity, can you explain how the digital-only 8-pin Lightning connector passes analog audio?

 

[pooryou]

Cool, thanks for the info

 

[FreddyJ]

The adapter is not a DAC and there is no reason to assume you need new headphones.
OP, you would be better off asking here: https://www.head-fi.org/forums/

Thanks. I will take a look.
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Well, here's a teardown of the dongle:

Apple Lightning to Headphone Jack Adapter Teardown

This is definitely a destructive teardown. Hopefully it will help to show how the adapter was put together. Also that it does have a DAC on the...

www.ifixit.com

The Apple-authorized board for sale to third parties to use the lightning connector for audio. Contains DAC, ADC, amp.

Cirrus Logic unveils Apple-authorized Lightning headphone development kit | AppleInsider

With rumors strongly suggesting Apple's next-generation iPhone will lack a traditional headphone jack, supplier Cirrus Logic this week announced the release of a new development kit that will enable companies to make Made for iPhone-certified Lightning headphones.

appleinsider.com

A million discussions on reddit:

r/headphones

A place for discussion, news, reviews and DIY projects related to portable audio, headphones, headphone amplifiers and DACs.

www.reddit.com

r/apple

An unofficial community about Apple and all of its devices and software.

www.reddit.com

r/iphone

Reddit’s little corner for iPhone lovers (and some people who just mildly enjoy it…)

www.reddit.com

Out of curiosity, can you explain how the digital-only 8-pin Lightning connector passes analog audio?

Wowzers, I didn't mean to start this much debate but I'm going to go through these. Good to learm more about this stuff. By the way - the Head-Fi forum is mind blowing.
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Thanks everyone for your inout. I'll report back when I decide what to do. If anyone on here does own a DAC, a portable one, can you please let me know the make? It's a mine field. Thanks.