Portable DAC/Amp for HD560S with Lightning IPhone?

[Oski1928]

I know a fair deal about speakers, but not a lot about headphones. A buddy of mine just bought the HD560S and seems to really like them but says he notices they don’t get as loud as he expected. He is using an iPhone with a lightning dongle and normally uses Spotify but is currently trying out the free trial for Quboz. I’m assuming the limited volume is due to the Apple dongle not having enough power for the headphones?

Can someone recommend a portable DAC/amp to replace the Apple lightning dongle that would have more power for these headphones. I’m aware that the DAC in the Apple dongle measures well but I’m assuming it just isn’t powerful enough?

 

[JIW]

I know a fair deal about speakers, but not a lot about headphones. A buddy of mine just bought the HD560S and seems to really like them but says he notices they don’t get as loud as he expected. He is using an iPhone with a lightning dongle and normally uses Spotify but is currently trying out the free trial for Quboz. I’m assuming the limited volume is due to the Apple dongle not having enough power for the headphones?

Can someone recommend a portable DAC/amp to replace the Apple lightning dongle that would have more power for these headphones. I’m aware that the DAC in the Apple dongle measures well but I’m assuming it just isn’t powerful enough?

According to Amir's review, the HD560S has a sensitivity of 94-20*log10(.246) = 106.18 dB SPL at 0 dBV.

The US version of the Apple dongle has 1 V RMS, i.e. 0 dBV, output whereas the EU version only has 0.5 V RMS, i.e. -6 dBV, output. If this is not enough, look for a dongle with at least 2 V RMS, i.e. 6 dBV, single ended output.

 

[oleg87]

I think lightning-3.5mm adapters are a bit of an endangered species these days. The only ones I'm able to find have zero useful specs.
Disabling volume normalization in the music player can give you some extra volume too.

 

[Phorize]

Consider a Qudelix 5k. Can be used with either BT or a lightning OTG cable such as the Fiio LT1.

 

[Miguelón]

I’m quite happy with Ifi go link DAC (58€ in Amazon) and Sennheiser 560s but the issue with EU iphones is the limited voltage again.

Being in Spain, I have an alternative android phone for audio, double voltage USB output and possibility of multiple codecs in bluetooth, graphic EQ 9 bands (not sure for all phones, have a Samsung galaxy s24 second hand)…

Just preserve my iphone 16 pro max for the screen (have visual impairment), but on audio apple is quite limited