Today I got a lightning to USB-B cable from Amazon and was able to connect my iPhone directly to my MiniDSP SHD Studio USB input.
I am able to stream 24bit 192Khz from Apple Music Hi Res. When connected to Topping D90SE I can see this. I wanted to see, however, if 16 bit 44.1Khz streaming via Airplay to SHD and direct USB connection is the same. I have to confess first, I’m a bit biased since I always felt AirPlay was not the same and degraded sound.
I decided to do an A/B testing to see if I can hear a difference. I kept the iPhone volume 1 notch below max and normalized SPL using UMIK and REW. Airplay played about 2.5dB louder than direct USB. My son would play a 10 second song on iPhone, either output to SHD usb or SHD Airplay with volume adjustment on SHD.
here are the results for streaming a losses 16 bit 44.1khz song from Apple Music:
My son Alex: 17/30 correct
Myself: 14/30 correct
Did the same usb connection streaming the same song from Apple Music and Qobuz.
My son Alex: 13/30 correct
Myself: 16/30 correct
I’m surprised, I could swear I heard usb playing cleaner, but when I had to choose, it was very difficult.
Logic tells me I really do not need the USB connection, unless I want Hi Res streaming, which I will test also, next. Still, my brain tells me usb is better even after this test.
I am able to stream 24bit 192Khz from Apple Music Hi Res. When connected to Topping D90SE I can see this. I wanted to see, however, if 16 bit 44.1Khz streaming via Airplay to SHD and direct USB connection is the same. I have to confess first, I’m a bit biased since I always felt AirPlay was not the same and degraded sound.
I decided to do an A/B testing to see if I can hear a difference. I kept the iPhone volume 1 notch below max and normalized SPL using UMIK and REW. Airplay played about 2.5dB louder than direct USB. My son would play a 10 second song on iPhone, either output to SHD usb or SHD Airplay with volume adjustment on SHD.
here are the results for streaming a losses 16 bit 44.1khz song from Apple Music:
My son Alex: 17/30 correct
Myself: 14/30 correct
Did the same usb connection streaming the same song from Apple Music and Qobuz.
My son Alex: 13/30 correct
Myself: 16/30 correct
I’m surprised, I could swear I heard usb playing cleaner, but when I had to choose, it was very difficult.
Logic tells me I really do not need the USB connection, unless I want Hi Res streaming, which I will test also, next. Still, my brain tells me usb is better even after this test.