Crete & DAC (2024)

FAQs

Is DAC necessary for iPhone? ›

For instance, your iPhone dongle offers up to 24-bit/48kHz resolution, which is technically Hi-Res quality. But if you're a budding audiophile looking for the most premium sound quality from your streaming service or music files, you're going to want an external DAC that can translate a higher bit depth/sample rate.

Yes, a DAC can improve sound quality. The digital-to-analog conversion process can be complex, and a high-quality DAC can offer better sound clarity, detail, and separation than a low-quality DAC or an integrated sound card.

If you're serious about sound and have the headphones or speakers to match, a portable DAC is a serious audio upgrade. Of course you could just get used to how your phone, tablet or computer plays music. But if you're an audiophile (or even if you shy away from that term but you just love music) that just won't do.

If you want to make the most of the Apple Lossless, then you should absolutely look into getting a DAC. That way, you'll be able to experience higher quality audio and get curious as to what other HiFi streaming services are like, such as Qobuz or Tidal (Spoiler; they're flipping great).

Apple adapter works fine on android but you can also use Samsung Adapter which has very good reviews too and measures close to apple one from what I remember ( apple one is still bit better but not too much in it ).

The hardware digital-to-analog converter (DAC) built into compatible Mac computers supports sample rates of up to 96 kHz.

If you're buying a new player, consider going for one with digital inputs. These will open up use with other digital sources – a computer, set-top box or DAB radio, for example – and will give you improved performance across all feeds thanks to the (hopefully) higher quality digital-to-analogue (DAC) circuitry.

Differences aren't only in the sonic department though. A well engineered DAC isnt't cheap to make as it takes a skilled team of electrical engineers to get it right. More money usually buys you better engineering and those incremental upgrades result in a DAC that is audibly better.

Therefore, any device that acts as a source of digital sound, be it a CD player or Blu-ray player, digital TV box or games console, laptop or computer, phone or portable music player, needs a DAC – either one that is built-in or an external one connected – to convert its digital audio to analogue before it can be ...

DAC Emits More Than It Captures

We would still only capture a quarter of our annual emissions. The technology's high energy needs could lead to a lot of climate pollution — more than it can remove. Our research finds that capturing 1 ton of CO₂ with fossil-powered DAC would emit the equivalent of 3.5 tons of CO₂.

Do I really need an external DAC? ›

External DACs, or Digital to Analog converters, are an essential part of your audiophile setup. They help process your digital music at a higher level of performance compared to an all-in-one device such as your phone or computer.

Your smartphone has one. Every device that reads digital formats and outputs sound or analogue signals have a DAC. So, there is no such thing as “not using a DAC”.

So how can the iPhone play hi-res music? If you want to play hi-res music you are limited by the DACs inside Apple's devices. To listen via a pair of wired headphones, you need to use Apple's Lightning-to-3.5mm adapter which is limited to supporting 24-bit/48kHz.

Apple has developed its own lossless audio compression technology called Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC). In addition to AAC, the entire Apple Music catalog is now also encoded using ALAC in resolutions ranging from 16-bit/44.1 kHz (CD Quality) up to 24-bit/192 kHz.

Standalone DACs

Balanced Output offers improved sound quality by reducing crosstalk and noise and TrueBass is a technology that enhances the low-frequency response of your audio system, resulting in richer, fuller bass.

The iPhone can pass through upto 768. No you're correct—the iPhone can pass through up to 768khz/24 bit to any external DAC. For its internal DAC it can only play a maximum of 48Khz/24 bit.

The Apple Lightning or USB C to 3.5 dongles are cheap enough and punch above their weight. You can use a 3.5 to RCA Y adaptor to run it to a stereo. I do not think DACs beyond that are needed unless you listen to classical. Then it is a must.

Go to Settings, then Privacy. Go to Audio quality. Then choose very high for the streaming quality. Here, you can also adjust the download quality and toggle the auto-adjust quality on or off.