Is it me or does Apple Music sound better on a macbook than iPhone?

[AmalfiMan]

Headphone HD800s directly connected to stereo port on macbook pro 2021. Vs, directly connected via the apple stereo dongle into iPhone 11 pro.

Is it because macbooks have bigger drivers, better amp? Would this cute portable amp help the iPhone sound better, on a HD800s?

Fosi Audio N2 Headphone Amplifier Portable Amp​

 

[Jimbob54]

Headphone HD800s directly connected to stereo port on macbook pro 2021. Vs, directly connected via the apple stereo dongle into iPhone 11 pro.

Is it because macbooks have bigger drivers, better amp? Would this cute portable amp help the iPhone sound better, on a HD800s?

Fosi Audio N2 Headphone Amplifier Portable Amp​

No- and for the last time, plug your iphone into the EX5 you already have. With the connectors that have been suggested to you multiple times in multiple threads.

I'm guessing the dongle you have is the EU compliant one , hobbled for voltage. It likely doesnt have enough for the HD800. But you dont need yet more kit. You have what you need except the adaptor to send the digital signal from iphone to EX5.

 

[solderdude]

Headphone HD800s directly connected to stereo port on macbook pro 2021. Vs, directly connected via the apple stereo dongle into iPhone 11 pro.

Is it because macbooks have bigger drivers, better amp? Would this cute portable amp help the iPhone sound better, on a HD800s?

Fosi Audio N2 Headphone Amplifier Portable Amp​

Suited for high impedance headphones (100mW @ 300ohm is just enough) and the bass boost might help the HD800 when using it transportable.
With iphone + dongle you get a decent portable setup as long as it is set to high-gain and no negative pre-amp gain is used on the iphone.

For home usage I would take JImBob's advise.

regarding the question:

Is it me or does Apple Music sound better on a macbook than iPhone?​

the answer is no, the macbook pro (2021) can play 6dB louder on >150 ohm headphones and louder always sounds better/fuller.

 

[AmalfiMan]

No- and for the last time, plug your iphone into the EX5 you already have. With the connectors that have been suggested to you multiple times in multiple threads.

I'm guessing the dongle you have is the EU compliant one , hobbled for voltage. It likely doesnt have enough for the HD800. But you dont need yet more kit. You have what you need except the adaptor to send the digital signal from iphone to EX5.

Yep thanks. The rca cable with a stereo end, from ex5, plugged into a apple camera adapter, doesn’t work yet on iphone. The ex5 menu is confusing. Still figuring it out.

Also the portable amp would be additional for another part of the house.

 

[NiagaraPete]

Headphone HD800s directly connected to stereo port on macbook pro 2021. Vs, directly connected via the apple stereo dongle into iPhone 11 pro.

Is it because macbooks have bigger drivers, better amp? Would this cute portable amp help the iPhone sound better, on a HD800s?

Fosi Audio N2 Headphone Amplifier Portable Amp​

No. Apple Music on your iPhone runs in exclusive mode which means it switches bit rates automatically. Your MacBook does not.

 

[Jimbob54]

Yep thanks. The rca cable with a stereo end, from ex5, plugged into a apple camera adapter, doesn’t work yet on iphone. The ex5 menu is confusing. Still figuring it out.

Also the portable amp would be additional for another part of the house.

No! Lightening to usb a (the letterbox shape) (called a camera adapter) to usb b (the square shape) USB input on your ex5.

You cannot use the rca sockets on the ex5 as inputs. And they are analog. You want the digital signal from your iPhone to the digital input (USB) of your ex5.

 

[fieldcar]

No. Apple Music on your iPhone runs in exclusive mode which means it switches bit rates automatically. Your MacBook does not.

Even then, what's the THD degradation through the SRC.... -130dB?

 

[NiagaraPete]

Everything you need to know is in these pictures. Picture 2 plugs into the EX5 USB port.

 

[NiagaraPete]

Even then, what's the THD degradation through the SRC.... -130dB?

I'm not sure what you mean "SRC" ??

 

[NiagaraPete]

Optionally you good use a Lightning to USB A adapter in place of the Camera kit. But your phone won't charge.

 

[NiagaraPete]

You could also purchase a USB C to USB B cable to interconnect your MacBook with the EX5.

 

[fieldcar]

I'm not sure what you mean "SRC" ??

Sample rate conversion.

 

[AmalfiMan]

Optionally you good use a Lightning to USB A adapter in place of the Camera kit. But your phone won't charge.

Thank you for the pics. I wish Apple buys Sennheiser and just make it all work nicely with great headphones.

 

[NiagaraPete]

Everything you have does work together "nicely" you just need to hook it up correctly.

 

[NiagaraPete]

The rca cable with a stereo end, from ex5, plugged into a apple camera adapter, doesn’t work yet on iphone.

I just reread this. My GOD! The RCA cable never will, throw it out. It should not be used on any the EX5 inputs or connected to the iPhone or MacBook.

 

[AmalfiMan]

Everything you have does work together "nicely" you just need to hook it up correctly.

I tested the schiit magni heresy with the IN rca into the iphone via the lightning dongle adapter. Sounds way better than just using the lightning dongle.

The EX5 usb port is already taken up for the PC. Instead of splitting that usb, I rather have a device that does it all without work arounds and huge dongles hanging off my iphone. There has to be a simple plug and play solution. Its 2022, not 1970.

 

[Jimbob54]

I tested the schiit magni heresy with the IN rca into the iphone via the lightning dongle adapter. Sounds way better than just using the lightning dongle.

The EX5 usb port is already taken up for the PC. Instead of splitting that usb, I rather have a device that does it all without work arounds and huge dongles hanging off my iphone. There has to be a simple plug and play solution. Its 2022, not 1970.

OK. Stupid question time. Why don't you save a lot of bother and just stream music from your pc instead of your phone plugged into same dac as your pc is already?

 

[NiagaraPete]

The EX5 usb port is already taken up for the PC

Why? What does that do for you?

 

[NiagaraPete]

Based on everything you've said in multiple posts. I've come to the conclusion that you should throw away all of your cables, dongles, adapters (except for the headhone) and just Bluetooth stream from your iphone, Macbook and any other source you have.

 

[AmalfiMan]

OK. Stupid question time. Why don't you save a lot of bother and just stream music from your pc instead of your phone plugged into same dac as your pc is already?

Yep I can do that. But I prefer flexibility and usage of my iPhone sometimes. I have 2 weeks left to return the ex5. I will keep researching even if I end up with a $3,000 device.