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albertfallickwa

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jan 27, 2014
543
40
I have the iPad Air 1st generation and the 1st gen iPad. I was wondering which iPad models have the best quality audio through the headphone jack (best DAC) . Also which one is the best quality through Bluetooth speakers?
 

scaredpoet

macrumors 604
Apr 6, 2007
6,628
360
I have the iPad Air 1st generation and the 1st gen iPad. I was wondering which iPad models have the best quality audio through the headphone jack (best DAC) .

The DACs is each generation iPad have been quite fine, and I highly doubt you're going to hear a truly non-subjective difference given a good pair of headphones. The 1st Gen iPad is no longer supported with current software, so given its limited usefulness, I would choose the iPad Air.

Also which one is the best quality through Bluetooth speakers?

That depends on the speakers, really. Your device streams the audio to your bluetooth speakers via the A2DP profile. It's up to the DAC built into the bluetooth speaker module to decode it.
 

albertfallickwa

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jan 27, 2014
543
40
The DACs is each generation iPad have been quite fine, and I highly doubt you're going to hear a truly non-subjective difference given a good pair of headphones. The 1st Gen iPad is no longer supported with current software, so given its limited usefulness, I would choose the iPad Air.



That depends on the speakers, really. Your device streams the audio to your bluetooth speakers via the A2DP profile. It's up to the DAC built into the bluetooth speaker module to decode it.

Thanks so much for your explanation.
 

Closingracer

macrumors 601
Jul 13, 2010
4,317
1,849
The DACs is each generation iPad have been quite fine, and I highly doubt you're going to hear a truly non-subjective difference given a good pair of headphones. The 1st Gen iPad is no longer supported with current software, so given its limited usefulness, I would choose the iPad Air.







That depends on the speakers, really. Your device streams the audio to your bluetooth speakers via the A2DP profile. It's up to the DAC built into the bluetooth speaker module to decode it.




Eh I doubt Apple is using the same exact DAC in the iPad one as with the iPad Air 2. Even with the Samsung galaxy s3 and Note 4 there is subtle differences between both which both are pretty poor to begin with (US models) the Snapdragon err 4 I think in the S3 and snapdragon 805 in the Note 4. You're going to have an improved DAC though perhaps slightly in the latest model imo
 

scaredpoet

macrumors 604
Apr 6, 2007
6,628
360
Eh I doubt Apple is using the same exact DAC in the iPad one as with the iPad Air 2.

Most certainly not. I'm sure the iFixit teardowns probably show that. But what I'm saying is - at the risk of annoying some audiophiles - the overall difference in output is so tiny most people won't notice. And those that claim they do are probably never going to use it anyway, because they'd rather blow their money on one of these or one of these.
 

Closingracer

macrumors 601
Jul 13, 2010
4,317
1,849
Which iPad models have the best audio quality through headphones?

Most certainly not. I'm sure the iFixit teardowns probably show that. But what I'm saying is - at the risk of annoying some audiophiles - the overall difference in output is so tiny most people won't notice. And those that claim they do are probably never going to use it anyway, because they'd rather blow their money on one of these or one of these.


Lol you can buy some good portable DAC's for cheaper then that.....


As far as that portable player I prefer Google music vast music library with its Spotify like service then worry about FLAC files while I do prefer them
 

albertfallickwa

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jan 27, 2014
543
40
Most certainly not. I'm sure the iFixit teardowns probably show that. But what I'm saying is - at the risk of annoying some audiophiles - the overall difference in output is so tiny most people won't notice. And those that claim they do are probably never going to use it anyway, because they'd rather blow their money on one of these or one of these.

Why the Pono so pricey?
 

BMcCoy

macrumors 68000
Jun 24, 2010
1,718
3,421
It's never seemed like Apple have taken audio quality as seriously as picture(screen) quality. Each device unveiling is filled with rhetoric about how gorgeous the screen is, but I'm not sure we've ever heard much about the audio technology.

And the partnership with Beats headphones perhaps reinforces their feeling of style over quality when it comes to audio.

But I'd love to be proved wrong.

The world of home cinema is advancing along at a cracking pace. The ubiquitous uptake of HD hardware and software accompanied by HD audio, ratification of 4k blu-ray, unveiling of DTS-X and Dolby Atmos.. quality amps and speakers at affordable prices.. all mean that many home cinemas have superb audio as well as picture quality.

Apple have absolutely got a grip on portable connectivity, immediacy of content, and hardware with great UI. If Apple want to progress further into the domain of a complete home audio-visual solution, then audio is an area they need to first of all catch up, and then secondly innovate.

Perhaps their streaming music plans include high quality lossless audio, that can be routed through home systems? That would be a great start.
Apple TV needs to fix its audio encoding issues, as well as upgrading to 24bit/96khz. It also needs to move on from DD5.1 to HD audio formats.
 

scaredpoet

macrumors 604
Apr 6, 2007
6,628
360
Why the Pono so pricey?

Because Neil Young.

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It's never seemed like Apple have taken audio quality as seriously as picture(screen) quality. Each device unveiling is filled with rhetoric about how gorgeous the screen is, but I'm not sure we've ever heard much about the audio technology.

They've most certainly taken it seriously. and a google search will show there are quite a few audiophiles who praise the DACs built into iOS and Mac devices. they're typically superior to the stock DACs in most laptops (except for those who advertise premium sound).

I think it's just more that good audio has been a given on Apple products, an expectation. Not something that Apple feels should be sold as a unique innovation because it's always been there. Almost like hyping how you can make PSTN phone calls with your iPhone, or browse the web on your MacBook Pro.

And the partnership with Beats headphones perhaps reinforces their feeling of style over quality when it comes to audio.

The acquisition of beats was for its streaming service, and less so about its headphones (though selling pricey hardware is frosting on the cake).

Apple TV needs to fix its audio encoding issues,

What audio encoding issues do you speak of?

as well as upgrading to 24bit/96khz.

"The rationale behind high-resolution audio is that by maximizing the sampling rate and bit depth, you also maximize audible detail and dynamic range in the music you're listening to. This sounds great on paper, but in practice it's an absolute fantasy." - Source
 

Yr Blues

macrumors 68030
Jan 14, 2008
2,687
889
i'm sure there will be a lightning cable or USB-C cable high-fidelity headphone in the near future
 

Closingracer

macrumors 601
Jul 13, 2010
4,317
1,849
It's never seemed like Apple have taken audio quality as seriously as picture(screen) quality. Each device unveiling is filled with rhetoric about how gorgeous the screen is, but I'm not sure we've ever heard much about the audio technology.



And the partnership with Beats headphones perhaps reinforces their feeling of style over quality when it comes to audio.



But I'd love to be proved wrong.



The world of home cinema is advancing along at a cracking pace. The ubiquitous uptake of HD hardware and software accompanied by HD audio, ratification of 4k blu-ray, unveiling of DTS-X and Dolby Atmos.. quality amps and speakers at affordable prices.. all mean that many home cinemas have superb audio as well as picture quality.



Apple have absolutely got a grip on portable connectivity, immediacy of content, and hardware with great UI. If Apple want to progress further into the domain of a complete home audio-visual solution, then audio is an area they need to first of all catch up, and then secondly innovate.



Perhaps their streaming music plans include high quality lossless audio, that can be routed through home systems? That would be a great start.

Apple TV needs to fix its audio encoding issues, as well as upgrading to 24bit/96khz. It also needs to move on from DD5.1 to HD audio formats.


Err what? You been living under a rock? IPhones have ALWAYS been the best possible audio player out there in terms of phones. Apple DAC is one of the best and Qualcomm has one of the WORSE in the business. Given the fact 99% of the flagship models in the U.S. Uses Qualcomm cpus for Android and Windows phones ( sorry Idk anything about blackberry) that's pretty poor audio quality. Samsung uses the Wolfson DAC in their cpu SOC which is pretty good. Haven't tested out the other cpus out there like mediatek and etc so. Sent comment on those.




Once again Apple is the best in terms of Audio quality through headphones and doesn't need to "improve" like you want to insist. They should always improve but they are the best in smartphone DAC'S.



Audiophiles are quite hard to sell 2 but selling video quality is fairly easy. A lot of people say good sound quality is depending on how much bass there is which is partially why beats are so popular.

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you need to get some good headphones instead of ipad , like the beats studio


Beats studio? Really? They aren't even close to great sounding headphones. Try Sennheiser or AKG.
 
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