Review: Apple vs Google USB-C Headphone Adapters

[majingotan]

EU model A2155 (0,5V)
US/ Intl (hopefully full 1v) A2049

Unless there has been revisions of course

Those are USB-C models. The lightning USA version is A1749. Dunno about the EU version

 

[Jimbob54]

Those are USB-C models. The lightning USA version is A1749. Dunno about the EU version

My bad- didnt check back on the thread I was replying to- just went by thread title and the last post.

 

[Garrincha]

No.

Lightning to 3.5mm dongle has also different model numbers (US and EU) and they both deliver 1 Vrms when hooked to an iPad or a non EU iPhone. And 0'5 when hooked to an EU iPhone.

I have both dongles and have tested them.

Dunno see why USB-C dongle should be different.

Host rules the Vrms output. Not the dongle.

What?? So basically the stupid Europeans (like me) have to protect their hearing by force by not listening loud enough and the Americans can go fuck up their hearing as much as they like? That is not fair!

 

[Jimbob54]

Those are USB-C models. The lightning USA version is A1749. Dunno about the EU version

The Apple website is now so streamlined it doesnt even tell you model number/ specs! For the USB C the "specs" are

 

[Garrincha]

The Apple website is now so streamlined it doesnt even tell you model number/ specs! For the USB C the "specs" are

View attachment 215597

Ridiculous. They could have written: 'It´s a thing. Plug in your headphone and don´t make stupid question'.

 

[Jimbob54]

Ridiculous. They could have written: 'It´s a thing. Plug in your headphone and don´t make stupid question'.

*Imaginary complaint post*

Cust: "I plugged my headphones in and got no sound out"

Apple Geniarse: "Did you plug it into your phone?"

Cust: "I NEED A PHONE?!?!?!?! I sue you!

AG:

 

[staticV3]

Maybe it is this, I bought it in Germany, is there a way to check this (without measuring) ?

What model number is printed on the wire of your dongle?

Oh and regarding the measuring thing, a multimeter costs like 15€ (or 30€ for a good one).
I highly recommend you buy one and take the initiative in validating this stuff yourself.

To get to the contacts inside the 3.5mm jack, all you need is a plug like this one.

 

[Yorkshire Mouth]

Where is that in iOS?

Hi, this is what you do.

Go to Settings -> Bluetooth

Look at 'MY DEVICES'.

To the right of the device name there's a blue 'i' in a blue circle.

Click on the 'i'. You'll get a list of device types - choose between them.

By the way, that list of device types only appears if and when the device is connected.

Best wishes.

 

[AudioSceptic]

Hi, this is what you do.

Go to Settings -> Bluetooth

Look at 'MY DEVICES'.

To the right of the device name there's a blue 'i' in a blue circle.

Click on the 'i'. You'll get a list of device types - choose between them.

By the way, that list of device types only appears if and when the device is connected.

Best wishes.

Thanks, but that is Bluetooth. We are discussing the Lightning headphone adapter.

 

[AudioSceptic]

What?? So basically the stupid Europeans (like me) have to protect their hearing by force by not listening loud enough and the Americans can go fuck up their hearing as much as they like? That is not fair!

The Lightning adapter that Ken Rockwell tested, presumably the USA version, is model A1749. Mine, bought in the UK, is also A1749. <https://www.kenrockwell.com/apple/lightning-adapter-audio-quality.htm>

I think, however, that the audio SW in iOS is different, limiting the output in UK/Euro iPhones.

 

[staticV3]

The Lightning adapter that Ken Rockwell tested, presumably the USA version, is model A1749. Mine, bought in the UK, is also A1749

At least with the Type-C version, the UK gets the same 0.5Vrms limited version as the EU:

 

[AudioSceptic]

At least with the Type-C version, the UK gets the same 0.5Vrms limited version as the EU:
View attachment 215718

I've just put some 1 kHz sine test files on my UK iPhone Xs and tested the Lightning adapter (UK A1749) output with the volume at max. I got
0 dB 0.433 V
-3 dB 0.305 V
-6 dB 0.215 V
So, definitely not the 1 V we want!

 

[staticV3]

use a 60Hz test file for more accurate readings with multimeters

 

[AudioSceptic]

use a 60Hz test file for more accurate readings with multimeters

Is this something to do with a DMM's AC response, and is the difference enough to make it worth repeating the test with 60 Hz? I used 1 kHz because this is pretty much the audio standard.

 

[staticV3]

Is this something to do with a DMM's AC response

Yes. They're most accurate at 50/60Hz

is the difference enough to make it worth repeating the test with 60 Hz?

eh, probably not. With a 0dBFS test file at 100% volume you should see 0.501Vrms or thereabout.

I used 1 kHz because this is pretty much the audio standard.

Modern DACs are flat to <20Hz, so there's nothing to worry about when using 60Hz instead of 1K

Oh and the A1749 is for sure a EU model with that 0.5Vrms hardware limiter, which means there's no additional software limiter in iOS.

 

[AudioSceptic]

Yes. They're most accurate at 50/60Hz

eh, probably not. With a 0dBFS test file at 100% volume you should see 0.501Vrms or thereabout.

Modern DACs are flat to <20Hz, so there's nothing to worry about when using 60Hz instead of 1K

Oh and the A1749 is for sure a EU model with that 0.5Vrms hardware limiter, which means there's no additional software limiter in iOS.

So what was Ken Rockwell testing?

 

[staticV3]

So what was Ken Rockwell testing?

Ah shoot, my bad.

Oh and the A1749 is for sure a EU model with that 0.5Vrms hardware limiter

That's not true. Both the American Lightning dongle (AM) and the European one (ZM) share the same model designation A1749.
So both Ken Rockwell and RAA tested the AM A1749 with 1Vrms, while you got the ZM A1749 with the limiter.

 

[AudioSceptic]

Ah shoot, my bad.

That's not true. Both the American Lightning dongle (AM) and the European one (ZM) share the same model designation A1749.
So both Ken Rockwell and RAA tested the AM A1749 with 1Vrms, while you got the ZM A1749 with the limiter.

View attachment 215755 View attachment 215756

Thanks. At last that makes sense, although it's odd that the USB-C adapters have different model numbers and the Lightning ones don't. BTW where did you find this out?

 

[staticV3]

I had a private conversation with someone on ASR regarding the different Apple dongles and we tried to clarify the situation a bit.
I went through every country on Apple's website to see who gets which version to make the map I sent above and they looked at eBay photos and found out about the A1749 thing.

 

[DSJR]

What?? So basically the stupid Europeans (like me) have to protect their hearing by force by not listening loud enough and the Americans can go fuck up their hearing as much as they like? That is not fair!

I'd suggest the higher output is useful if it's to be used as a dac with line out. My current EU USB C version is too quiet used that way. Hoping to try the US version soon...