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The FLAC decoder has been almost completely integer for a long time (and may now be completely so). Apple Music and iOS still do not play FLAC, which is one sig

The FLAC decoder has been almost completely integer for a long time (and may now be completely so). Apple Music and iOS still do not play FLAC, which is one significant reason why I won't buy an iPhone. Transcoding my entire music library certainly isn't "just works".

autoexec 5y ago
> Apple Music and iOS still do not play FLAC, which is one significant reason why I won't buy an iPhone. You can't just install VLC on an iphone?
- LeoPanthera 5y ago
  You can.
astrange 5y ago
iOS supports FLAC, you can play it in Safari and the Files app. It's true you can't add it to the Music app, but you can use another app. Also, the $9 Apple headphone dongle is objectively superior to most audiophile DACs, which isn't surprising since it has a larger R&D budget than that entire industry. (Same goes for Google's IIRC.)
- grumpyprole 5y ago
  I would guess these days, many people buy audiophile DACs for the amplifier stage, for use with demanding high impedance headphones. However, there have been some really bad phone DACs in the past, the Qualcomm audio from the Note4 that I used to own sounded significantly worse than the iPhone using IEMs. What are people measuring with regard to the Apple dongle? Is it "objectively superior" with regard to multiple measurements? It shouldn't be too hard to build a decent DAC and amp stage, at least for ear buds and IEMs, it's just that many manufacturers (e.g. Samsung / Qualcomm) don't care. Apple sell music and so probably should care more.
  - astrange 5y ago
    https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/review-apple-vs-google-usb-c-headphone-adapters.5541/ https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/r... https://www.kenrockwell.com/apple/lightning-adapter-audio-quality.htm https://www.kenrockwell.com/apple/lightning-adapter-audio-qu... It's still useful to have an amp for very high impedance headphones for electrical reasons, otherwise it can be quiet and lack bass (plus drain the battery faster.)

autoexec 5y ago

> Apple Music and iOS still do not play FLAC, which is one significant reason why I won't buy an iPhone. You can't just install VLC on an iphone?

LeoPanthera 5y ago
You can.

astrange 5y ago

iOS supports FLAC, you can play it in Safari and the Files app. It's true you can't add it to the Music app, but you can use another app. Also, the $9 Apple headphone dongle is objectively superior to most audiophile DACs, which isn't surprising since it has a larger R&D budget than that entire industry. (Same goes for Google's IIRC.)

grumpyprole 5y ago
I would guess these days, many people buy audiophile DACs for the amplifier stage, for use with demanding high impedance headphones. However, there have been some really bad phone DACs in the past, the Qualcomm audio from the Note4 that I used to own sounded significantly worse than the iPhone using IEMs. What are people measuring with regard to the Apple dongle? Is it "objectively superior" with regard to multiple measurements? It shouldn't be too hard to build a decent DAC and amp stage, at least for ear buds and IEMs, it's just that many manufacturers (e.g. Samsung / Qualcomm) don't care. Apple sell music and so probably should care more.
- astrange 5y ago
  https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/review-apple-vs-google-usb-c-headphone-adapters.5541/ https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/r... https://www.kenrockwell.com/apple/lightning-adapter-audio-quality.htm https://www.kenrockwell.com/apple/lightning-adapter-audio-qu... It's still useful to have an amp for very high impedance headphones for electrical reasons, otherwise it can be quiet and lack bass (plus drain the battery faster.)