[newzooreview]

It looks like Apple is improving the stock sound output from the iPhone. The new headphone adapter that's included with the iPhone has a DAC (and I assume chip amp) built in.

http://appleinsider.com/articles/16/09/20/teardown-finds-dac-chips-in-apples-lightning-earpods-lightning-to-35mm-adapter-for-iphone-7

[Jon L]

It looks like Apple is improving the stock sound output from the iPhone.

Actually, there is no evidence whatsoever about any "improvement" since what you see in the adapter is what's usually inside phones.  A DAC chip and an amplification chip is exactly what is expected in such adapters when a phone lacks an analogue headphone output 

[Vinnie R.]

Actually, there is no evidence whatsoever about any "improvement" since what you see in the adapter is what's usually inside phones.  A DAC chip and an amplification chip is exactly what is expected in such adapters when a phone lacks an analogue headphone output 

FWIW - I've heard from an IEM user that there is a lot more noise with the iPhone 7 adapter cable (compared to an iphone 6's headphone output jack).

That adapter cable sells for $9 on the apple site.  I'm pretty sure they are using a bare-bones combo dac/amp chip, and minimal sized
output caps (space is so limited on that cable's PCB), which could mean bass roll off.  It's fine for the stock apple earbuds that we've seen for 6 generations of iPhone, but probably not so good for high quality headphones. 

[Bemopti123]

FWIW - I've heard from an IEM user that there is a lot more noise with the iPhone 7 adapter cable (compared to an iphone 6's headphone output jack).

That adapter cable sells for $9 on the apple site.  I'm pretty sure they are using a bare-bones combo dac/amp chip, and minimal sized
output caps (space is so limited on that cable's PCB), which could mean bass roll off.  It's fine for the stock apple earbuds that we've seen for 6 generations of iPhone, but probably not so good for high quality headphones.

Not to just pile up on Apple but their cables have a durability issue and how Vinnie has well stated, at $9 a pop, it will have been just an afterthought for Apple.  It is pushing everyone towards wireless which is still questionable in terms of quality or to get ourselves a pair of made for lightning headphones which is still an expensive proposition for most. 

I, for one, hope that there will be a en excellent lightning to DAC with bluetooth which can be called decent. 

[Vinnie R.]

 
I, for one, hope that there will be a en excellent lightning to DAC with bluetooth which can be called decent.

I think you can get an AudioQuest Dragonfly (which is a dac + headphone stage) to work with your iPhone, and
it uses a better dac and headphone stage.

There are even more high end portable headphone dac/amps out there that could also be used (but they get larger, so
less portable than just using the phone).

You certainly don't have to use bluetooth with such options.

[newzooreview]

It looks like folks are using Lightning to USB adapters to do what Vinnie suggests. Another option for a tiny DAC/Amp is the Geek Out. I have the regular version for use with my computer, but they also have a battery powered version, and their site references using the Lightning adapter for the iPhone.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01F7KJDIM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1



http://lhlabs.com/products/geek-out-v2-plus-dac-family/