Danny Weber
Learn why an external DAC is essential for lossless audio on iPhone and Mac. Discover how wired headphones and a DAC improve sound quality over Bluetooth.
A recent interview with Oliver Schusser, vice president of Apple Music, has reignited the debate about audio quality loss. Some interpreted his comment as saying that people can't tell the difference, but his point was that lossless audio doesn't work over Bluetooth because wireless transmission requires compression. Even with expensive headphones, the wireless connection forces the music to be compressed—and that's where the nuances that make lossless and hi-res appealing on Apple Music or Tidal are lost.
The good news is that there's an alternative, and it's old-fashioned but honest: wired headphones. And to get the most out of them with an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, you often need one more piece: an external DAC.
A DAC, or digital-to-analog converter, takes the digital audio signal from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac and turns it into analog sound that your headphones and ears can understand. In theory, every smartphone and computer has a DAC built in, but in practice, the internal audio circuits are often simplified, and on laptops they can suffer from interference inside the chassis. An external DAC moves the audio conversion to a separate, dedicated module with higher-quality components.
On modern iPhones and iPads, the situation is even more straightforward: there's no 3.5mm jack, so wired audio comes out as digital via USB-C (or Lightning on older models). A DAC connects via USB-C and then delivers analog through a 3.5mm jack, and sometimes through 4.4mm or 6.3mm jacks for more demanding headphones.
The difference usually doesn't show up as a 'wow, this is a different track' effect. Instead, it feels like a cleaner soundstage: more detailed highs, tighter and more controlled bass, less grain and noise in quiet passages, and better separation of instruments and decay. This is especially noticeable with good wired headphones and lossless or hi-res sources. A DAC with a built-in amplifier can also deliver more confident volume—useful if your headphones are power-hungry and sound quiet from your phone.
But it's important to know the limits: if you mainly listen to compressed streams with inexpensive headphones, the effect will be modest. And if you're not willing to give up Bluetooth for convenience, a DAC won't help—the wireless channel still requires compression.
Lossless usually means CD-quality: 16-bit, 44.1kHz, meaning the recording is stored without loss relative to that format. Hi-res refers to anything above that, like 24-bit at 48, 96, or 192kHz, which is closer to the studio master. These files are larger and more demanding on your audio chain, but they reveal the air, attack, and micro-details that make people invest in wired headphones and a DAC.
One practical note: if you're taking music on the road, it's best to download lossless and hi-res files over Wi-Fi beforehand, because mobile data can disappear faster than your battery.
For an iPhone with USB-C, it's simple: you need a portable DAC with USB-C and your wired headphones. If your iPhone is older with Lightning, check compatibility or whether an adapter is needed. For a Mac, the situation is twofold: many models have a 3.5mm jack, but if you want consistent quality and less risk of interference, it's wise to connect a DAC via USB-C and listen through that.
From there, it depends on your use case. If you listen on the go, a compact dongle-style DAC that draws power from your phone and takes up no space is ideal. If you listen at home or work with audio, a desktop DAC is more convenient: it can offer more connectors, its own power supply, and sometimes outputs for speakers. Some battery-powered models combine both worlds, not draining your phone's battery and providing more power to your headphones.
DACs used to be expensive toys for a niche audience, but the mass market has changed that. Portable models often start at around $100, while more advanced versions with amplification, extra connectors, and better power reserves can go up to $300–400. Desktop solutions also start at about $100, but the price rises with features, number of outputs, and audiophile capabilities.
In summary, a DAC makes sense if you're willing to listen wired, use lossless or hi-res audio, and want to get the most quality out of your iPhone or Mac. But if convenience, no cables, and quick startup matter more to you, Bluetooth will remain the practical choice—just remember that true lossless is physically limited by the wireless transmission itself.
© A. Krivonosov