Looking for compatible portable Headphone Amp/DAC for iPhone with lightning connector

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243 points

Looking for compatible portable Headphone Amp/DAC for iPhone with lightning connector

As the title says, I'm looking for a compatible portable HPA/DAC that is actually recognized by my phone if I plug it in. I have tried a FiiO Snowsky Melody -- which claims to work with iOS in their marketing materials -- but my phone will not recognize it as a device, and it doesn't even show up in FiiO's own iOS FiiO Control app. Works fine when I connect to my Mac Mini (Audio MIDI app sees it as a USB device, etc...), but my iPhone hates it, so now I am stuck looking for a different option.

Why does Apple restrict things so much?? It would certainly make things a lot easier if they didn't gate-keep so much.

Ideally, I would like it to have an iOS app that does actually control the device, has some kind of PEQ functionality, and has a FW update available that addresses the DRE distortion issue as it is outlined here:

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/on-the-distortion-of-cirrus-logic-cs431xx-based-devices-a-comparative-review.63038/

iPhone 14 Pro

Posted on Dec 31, 2025 4:13 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

LotusPilot

Level 10

302,012 points

Jan 1, 2026 4:30 AM in response to discostu514

You cannot directly connect your iPhone's Lightning connection to the USB-C input of your FiiO Snowsky Melody - as your iPhone lacks the USB Controller required to connect to a USB device.

To connect your iPhone and FiiO DAC, you will require a suitable USB Adapter:

Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter

Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter - Apple

Don't be fooled by the name of this Adapter - as it incorporates the necessary USB Root Hub/Controller that is needed to communicate with connected USB accessories. You will also require a USB Type-A to USB-C cable.

In addition to a USB port, the Adapter also has a Lightning connector that supports connection of your Power Adapter - this providing pass-through charging of your iPhone and an additional power source for connected USB devices.

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Answer 2

LotusPilot

Level 10

302,012 points

Jan 2, 2026 2:33 AM in response to discostu514

Perhaps you misunderstood the explanation that I have already provided. In more detail...

Yours is fundamentally a hardware issue - not software, or intentional denial of access to connected hardware. Your iPhone has a Lightning interface - not USB. Lightning is not USB with a proprietary plug/connector.

As your iPhone has a Lightning port - and you seek to connect a USB device to the iPhone - you will require a Lightning to USB3 Camera Adapter.

You cannot simply use a USB-C to Lightning cable to directly connect USB accessories to a Lightning equipped iPhone. USB accessories require connection to a host device that incorporates a USB Controller / USB Root Hub - these components being entirely absent from Lightning.

However, the required USB hardware components can be added through connection of the Apple Lightning to USB3 Camera Adapter. This adapter contains an Interface converter, USB 3.0 Controller and USB Root Hub - presenting a USB 3.0 Type-A connection to which you may connect many (but not all) categories of USB devices. USB Device support by iPhone is generally limited to Mass Storage devices, basic HID devices (such as wired Keyboard and basic Mouse) and audio DAC.

For iPhone models that incorporate a USB-C port, you have greater flexibility in the devices that can be directly connect to the iPhone - as the necessary USB Controller is already incorporated in the iPhone hardware; no interface conversion is required.

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Answer 3

LotusPilot

Level 10

302,012 points

Jan 3, 2026 5:14 AM in response to discostu514

You have encountered a fundamental hardware limitation of Lightning. Your options are to use an appropriate Lightning to USB Adapter, or replace your iPhone with a newer model that natively presents a USB interface.

The suggested Adapter, to which you offer considerable resistance, allows simultaneous connection of both USB accessories and connection to power. The pass-through power connection allows the supply of additional power to connected USB devices which draw more power than the iPhone Lightning port alone can supply - and allows your iPad to be charged while using external devices. Connection to external power isn't always needed, but provides useful flexibility.

Instead of the recommended Apple Lightning to USB Camara Adapter, you might instead use the simpler USB-C to USB Adapter:

USB-C to USB Adapter - Apple

This Adapter is smaller (lacking the pass-through power connection) and facilitates connection of many USB accessories. This Adapter presents a USB 2.0 (not USB 3.0).

Either way, to connect your USB DAC to your Lightning-equipped iPhone, you have no alternative other than to use a compatible Lighting to USB Adapter. Like or not, as your iPhone lacks the required USB Root Hub/Controller, you can't use just a Lightning cable to connect USB accessories.

As to your comment concerning "gate keeping", this is simply untrue. Their are hardware limitations (that you have encountered) and iPadOS system architecture restrictions that you may not encounter when using less secure computers such as MS Windows and Android.

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Answer 4

discostu514 Author

Level 2

243 points

Jan 4, 2026 2:39 PM in response to LotusPilot

I fail to see how it's not gate keeping if one were to eliminate/resolve the hardware limitations (i.e. Lightning) by acquiring a compatible adapter or acquire an iPhone that has the USB Root Hub/Controller necessary for the device to recognize the portable/dongle HPA/DAC. The "system permission restrictions" to be able to fully use these devices that FiiO has cited simply wouldn't be there unless Apple was dictating how much control manufacturers can offer their customers using their devices on an Apple product. It is unreasonable to have to use a different platform in order to change settings on these devices.

And it's not just FiiO -- it's the same with the Moondrop Dawn Pro 2 dongle HPA/DAC, and I suspect it's the same with something like the TRN Black Pearl.

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Answer 5

discostu514 Author

Level 2

243 points

Jan 2, 2026 4:15 PM in response to LotusPilot

It's definitely a software thing (last paragraph):

Meaning: Apple isn't allowing us to give you the control over this device because they're gate keeping.

Instead, people have to use the web link control to apply PEQ filters (which I am generally fine with anyway), but at this time it is unknown whether I can enable/disable DRE on this device (the cause of a known distortion problem with Cirrus Logic-based portable HPA/DACs) because Apple isn't giving FiiO users the option to do that.

And by better solution, I meant that there has to be something better than that clunky camera adapter.

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Answer 6

LotusPilot

Level 10

302,012 points

Jan 4, 2026 2:46 PM in response to discostu514

Your definition of "gatekeeping" is questionable.

Lightning, a now deprecated proprietary interface design, did not have the necessary components to directly support connection of USB peripherals. It did support connection of an interface converter that does provide the necessary components.

Nonetheless, all current models of iPad and iPhone are now natively USB-C, resolving the hardware limitations of the Lightning interface. Until (or indeed if) you replace your older devices, the resolution is to use the recommended Adapter.

I wish you well in your quest to find a solution acceptable to you.

-LP

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Answer 7

discostu514 Author

Level 2

243 points

Jan 1, 2026 7:39 PM in response to LotusPilot

There has to be a better solution.

And it doesn't excuse Apple from basically blocking these companies from allowing people to control the devices they purchase through the iOS apps they provide.

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