Review: Apple vs Google USB-C Headphone Adapters

[Roen]

When did Apple start making Type C dongles?

 

[wiggum]

When did Apple start making Type C dongles?

It is actually very new new. Just introduced a few weeks ago.

 

[Roen]

How is the SINAD 100 but the SNR 94? I thought SINAD < SNR by definition? (Unless distortion can be negative)

 

[Jimster480]

What is the USB-C dongle for? The iPad or something?

Are you sure that your desktop isn't routing the audio through the USB-C adapter instead? Is the performance close to your PC's integrated sound card?
I'm just not sure how these things work because they do have this "USB-C audio routing" feature.

So not every dongle is the same.

 

[rebbiputzmaker]

What is the USB-C dongle for? The iPad or something?

Are you sure that your desktop isn't routing the audio through the USB-C adapter instead? Is the performance close to your PC's integrated sound card?
I'm just not sure how these things work because they do have this "USB-C audio routing" feature.

So not every dongle is the same.

There is a dac/amp that is what is active, there is no pass through.

 

[Roen]

What is the USB-C dongle for? The iPad or something?

Are you sure that your desktop isn't routing the audio through the USB-C adapter instead? Is the performance close to your PC's integrated sound card?
I'm just not sure how these things work because they do have this "USB-C audio routing" feature.

So not every dongle is the same.

iPad uses Lightning, so maybe MacBook?

 

[svart-hvitt]

iPad uses Lightning, so maybe MacBook?

iPad pro 2018 uses USB C.

 

[Roen]

iPad pro 2018 uses USB C.

No wonder! makes sense now.

 

[Johnb]

And the next bump up in price amongst dongles is Speaka / Extrempro at $33 Amazon, ASIN B01FQHBDI4, DF Black copy. Wonder if that one works with Android.

 

[bakker_be]

Regarding the Android issues: the USB-C connection of lots of phones doesn't pass through a digital signal, instead handing out analog sound to be routed to the jack ...

 

[amirm]

How is the SINAD 100 but the SNR 94? I thought SINAD < SNR by definition? (Unless distortion can be negative)

You guys are getting really good at scrutinizing these graphs! I thought that number was strange but when I got back to the project I forgot to re-check. I re-ran it and it is indeed much better:

I updated the review.

These dongles expose volume control to Windows and for some reason default to low value on install. I re-ran all the measurements at max volume before the review but didn't on this test. Sorry about that.

 

[amirm]

Regarding the Android issues: the USB-C connection of lots of phones doesn't pass through a digital signal, instead handing out analog sound to be routed to the jack ...

That seems to be the case with my Samsung S8+.

 

[bakker_be]

That seems to be the case with my Samsung S8+.

My Huawei P20 Pro as well. It's the only blemish on it's SOTA-status to me ...

 

[amirm]

@amirm would it help you if the iOS device was a Roon endpoint?

https://community.roonlabs.com/t/iphone-and-ipad-capabilities-with-and-without-attached-dac/42437

It is a bit helpful but it is still a manual process of running test files through roon. It is a good option to know about though!

 

[amirm]

Even though SQ is good, the adapter seems to be fragile.

It is exceptionally so. The wire gauge is substantially thinner than the two Google ones.

 

[generalako]

Will wait until you get to test the other two dongles -- which I assume are the Razer and the Hidizs dongles.

 

[Kyle / MrHeeHo]

What is the USB-C dongle for? The iPad or something?

Are you sure that your desktop isn't routing the audio through the USB-C adapter instead? Is the performance close to your PC's integrated sound card?
I'm just not sure how these things work because they do have this "USB-C audio routing" feature.

So not every dongle is the same.

Their new iPad Pro dropped lightning in favor of USB-C for the sake of video out.

 

[Jimster480]

Their new iPad Pro dropped lightning in favor of USB-C for the sake of video out.

Oh wow, amazing!

 

[vert]

Regarding the Android issues: the USB-C connection of lots of phones doesn't pass through a digital signal, instead handing out analog sound to be routed to the jack ...

I'll try it with USB Audio Player Pro next week if I can and report. UAPP comes with a special driver for audio which supersedes the Android driver, so the issue shouldn't appear, as long as UAPP "sees" the dongle as a DAC.

 

[bigx5murf]

Interesting test, but I'd still hope theses things become a footnote in history, and we continue using 3.5mm jacks.