I bought the Tempotec Sonata HD Pro (non-iOS) version a couple of days back. And I must say, I'm literally blown away. Maybe this is an understatement.
My audio source is Apple Music Lossless/Hi-Res Lossless running on an iPhone/iPad. I mostly listen to music on my Audio-Technica ATH-M40x and Blon BL-03s, being previously connected via the Apple Lightning to 3.5mm dongle. Although I could have gone with the iOS version, I read the lightning cable provided is too fragile and the lightning jack breaks easily. So I just went ahead and bought the non-iOS version and am using it with the Apple Camera Connection Kit(Lighting to USB adapter).
Upon my first listen, I wondered whether the HD Pro was any different from the Apple dongle. However after spending a bunch of consecutive hours with this device, the differences only became clearer. I thought the apple dongle was pretty well balanced in sound signature, but boy was I wrong. The sound from the Tempotec is one of the most balanced I've ever heard, making sure you experience every frequency range in it's entirety, delivering the music as it is. It expands the soundstage, gives you more instrument separation and doesn't hold back on it's delivery of music. After this, my apple dongle sounded very constricted with a narrower soundstage, and as if it was holding back my music. The difference only became clearer when I connected it to my Bose Acoustic Wave System II. Man did it start to sing.
I only wonder if it get's any better than this. If it does, then I'm gladly open to any upgrade suggestions by y'all xD. But at this price point, it's truly a heck of a steal deal. Think i'm gonna keep myself away from this rabbit-hole of Audiophilia for some time now haha