Review: Apple vs Google USB-C Headphone Adapters

[doublebstyle]

The EU one will drive the 560S to 100dB SPL Peak.

Personally, I'd have to reduce the EU dongle to about 25% volume for comfortable loudness, so still tons of headroom for EQ and high CF recordings.

Same here using EU version on PC with ADUM4160 isolator to drive HD599. %30 volume is more than enough for me

 

[vycmajoris]

Hi, everyone. I have the eu variant (A2155) and I had always used it on my pc. Today I purchased Usb Audio Player Pro for my android phone and after setting hardware volume control to 0db, it is much more louder than it is on my pc. Do you experience the same thing? Or is there a problem/wrong setting on my pc? My headphones are Sennheiser HD599.

 

[staticV3]

Hi, everyone. I have the eu variant (A2155) and I had always used it on my pc. Today I purchased Usb Audio Player Pro for my android phone and after setting hardware volume control to 0db, it is much more louder than it is on my pc. Do you experience the same thing? Or is there a problem/wrong setting on my pc?

Hi @vycmajoris! Welcome to ASR.

If both the PC and phone are set to 100% Hardware volume and bit-exact audio playback, then they'll play equally as loud via the A2155.

Always useful to have a multimeter on hand to troubleshoot output voltage/loudness issues.

 

[vycmajoris]

Hi @vycmajoris! Welcome to ASR.

If both the PC and phone are set to 100% Hardware volume and bit-exact audio playback, then they'll play equally as loud via the A2155.

Always useful to have a multimeter on hand to troubleshoot output voltage/loudness issues.

Well, I am so stupid I just checked audio settings on Spotify app and "normalize volume" setting was on. Apparently it lets you choose one of volume levels which are quiet, normal and loud. Mine was set to normal. It reduces volume by a considerable amount.

On one hand I am glad that my tiny dac just got much more louder but on the other hand I had been craving for more volume for 6 months and one silly setting was all I needed

Thank you for quick reply. Have a nice day.

 

[blazen2150]

offer topic but by any chance anyone can share a link to where i can buy a GMLR USB_C male connector? So i can wire my own 3.5mm female TRS

 

[Bamboszek]

There is no such thing as a GMLR (Ground Microphone Left Right?) USB-C connector.

Back in the day, when USB-C was just introduced, some rare devices used USB-C for analog audio output with passive adapters.
AFAIK currently Audio Adapter Accessory Mode is even no longer in USB spec so active adapters (with DAC/ADC chip inside) are the only option.

https://www.ti.com/lit/ug/tidub66/tidub66.pdf

 

[blazen2150]

There is no such thing as a GMLR (Ground Microphone Left Right?) USB-C connector.

Back in the day, when USB-C was just introduced, some rare devices used USB-C for analog audio output with passive adapters.
AFAIK currently Audio Adapter Accessory Mode is even no longer in USB spec so active adapters (with DAC/ADC chip inside) are the only option.

https://www.ti.com/lit/ug/tidub66/tidub66.pdf

I dont have need for an DAC USB-C, I need a passive USB_C to 3.5mm or a USB_C bare connector w/ GMLR so I can make my own. My headphones uses USB_C connector for analog and DAC USB C adapters do not work. The USB_C to 3.5mm that comes with it is too short and I dont want to use couplers so I rather buy a whole 6ft cable with a passive USBC to 3.5mm at the end, that is passive

 

[Maximus96]

Is it possible to use 'apple usb-c to lighting adapter' with 'apple lighting to 3.5m dongle' in laptop to power headphones since lighting version in eu is 1v compared to just getting the apple usb-c to 3.5mm dongle 0.5v ?

And is the apple usb-c to 3.5mm eu dongle limited to 0.5v only on mobile phones, i heard the eu dongle is full 1v on modern gaming laptops ?

 

[Billy Budapest]

Even though the Apple USB-C dongle offers extraordinary performance for just $9.00, I would rather spend $10 more for the JCALLY JM20 MAX. Are the differences audible? I doubt it, but for just an extra $10, I’d rather have the better measured performance.

 

[Maximus96]

Even though the Apple USB-C dongle offers extraordinary performance for just $9.00, I would rather spend $10 more for the JCALLY JM20 MAX. Are the differences audible? I doubt it, but for just an extra $10, I’d rather have the better measured performance.

Currently have no other options other than what i said above,would be nice to have an answer for that since currently my country dont have anything else.

 

[Jimster480]

Currently have no other options other than what i said above,would be nice to have an answer for that since currently my country dont have anything else.

What country are you in that you have only apple products?
I personally don't see why it would not work, but it just seems quite pointless considering how low the performance is overall, in the sense that a apple dongle is only good for driving very low power sensitive IEMs.

 

[staticV3]

since lighting version in eu is 1v compared to just getting the apple usb-c to 3.5mm dongle 0.5v

I'm pretty sure that Lightning version in EU is 0.5V as well.

And is the apple usb-c to 3.5mm eu dongle limited to 0.5v only on mobile phones, i heard the eu dongle is full 1v on modern gaming laptops ?

The EU dongle is full 1V only on some Macs and iPads.

Anything else is limited to 0.5V.

 

[Miley_B]

Is it possible to use 'apple usb-c to lighting adapter' with 'apple lighting to 3.5m dongle' in laptop

On the one occasion I tried this setup with a 2021 MacBook Pro the MB recognised the adapter but not the dongle. It worked with a JCally JM35 lightning.

 

[Billy Budapest]

Currently have no other options other than what i said above,would be nice to have an answer for that since currently my country dont have anything else.

You don’t really *need* anything else. The Apple USB-C “adapter” (really, should be called a DAC/amp) has noise and distortion performance under the limits of human hearing and has enough power to drive most headphones.

A few years ago, I would have said it was a remarkable piece of engineering, but it has recently been bested by many other low cost options.

Anyway, where you are located you do not have access to AliExpress, Amazon, etc.?

 

[markanini]

Given that Apple hardware limits the output level for EU variant dongles, and software limits output on Android-defeatable but annoying to do every session, Apple dongle cannot satisfy everyone.

 

[Billy Budapest]

Given that Apple hardware limits the output level for EU variant dongles, and software limits output on Android-defeatable but annoying to do every session, Apple dongle cannot satisfy everyone.

That’s all true. However, doesn’t the EU output level limit apply to all brands of dongles sold in the EU due to EU health and safety regulations?

As far as the behavior under Android, I think that is a quirk of the Android OS and how it handles the Apple dongle hardware rather than something purposely designed into the Apple dongle.

In any event, there are better choices today than the Apple dongle, but it is more than “good enough” for a large number of users.

 

[markanini]

Either way it will be prudent to check before buying whether you will be affected by OS or by location. Given the unconditional recommendations regularly given on this forum and others few might do so. 1V dongles other than Apples, like JCally JM12 or JM6, don't have artificial volume limitations, and I've not seen any enforcement of dongles sold in the EU, or imported into the EU. I don't think the user cares how of why the volume got limited, just annoyance of it. The user might be led falsely to think that 1V dongles are underpowered when 1V is plenty for IEM and numerous over-ears when there aren't artificial limitations. The audio industry will take the opportunity turn the confusion into a selling point for excessively powerful headphone amps-I'm sure they adore this thread.

It's a good time to retire universal Apple dongle recommendations, if viability for

a large number of users.

is important.

 

[Billy Budapest]

Either way it will be prudent to check before buying whether you will be affected by OS or by location. Given the unconditional recommendations regularly given on this forum and others few might do so. 1V dongles other than Apples, like JCally JM12 or JM6, don't have artificial volume limitations, and I've not seen any enforcement of dongles sold in the EU, or imported into the EU. I don't think the user cares how of why the volume got limited, just annoyance of it. The user might be led falsely to think that 1V dongles are underpowered when 1V is plenty for IEM and numerous over-ears when there aren't artificial limitations. The audio industry will take the opportunity turn the confusion into a selling point for excessively powerful headphone amps-I'm sure they adore this thread.

It's a good time to retire universal Apple dongle recommendations, if viability for

is important.

I don’t disagree, but it’s not just us. Head-Fi and Crinacle continue to recommend it.

For example:

Apple USB-C to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter - Reviews

www.head-fi.org

 

[Billy Budapest]

Three years old, but in recent videos I have heard him say the same thing.

 

[ZolaIII]

Either way it will be prudent to check before buying whether you will be affected by OS or by location. Given the unconditional recommendations regularly given on this forum and others few might do so. 1V dongles other than Apples, like JCally JM12 or JM6, don't have artificial volume limitations, and I've not seen any enforcement of dongles sold in the EU, or imported into the EU. I don't think the user cares how of why the volume got limited, just annoyance of it. The user might be led falsely to think that 1V dongles are underpowered when 1V is plenty for IEM and numerous over-ears when there aren't artificial limitations. The audio industry will take the opportunity turn the confusion into a selling point for excessively powerful headphone amps-I'm sure they adore this thread.

It's a good time to retire universal Apple dongle recommendations, if viability for

is important.

Actually CS43131 has impedance sensing, it whose used for various things including implementing limiting to given impedance register and it whose rather aggressive. Today OEM's mostly disable it and as it's not beein made or officially sold in EU there is that. We need to understand the noble EU intention all do it failed miserably. Also we have a duty to educate people how not to exaggerate with loudness and to use ELC. Sensitivity in V really all you need to know (and that DAC amp won't have fall play with it's impedance).