I like my current amp and speakers but they are ancient so have no iPhone dock and the tuner is FM only. In my ideal world I’d buy a special box that has a DAB tuner and iPhone 4s connector. I don’t think it exists.

I tried using the headphones socket to a a set of audio leads from the iPhone but the quality is terrible. Equally streaming DAB is hit and miss from the iPhone as well with long pauses when the kids download porn from the internet. Any ideas?

You could just buy a DAB tuner to replace the fm tuner and then get an iPod dock that plugs into the Apple connector on the iPod and has it’s own DAC to convert the digital signal before feeding it into the aux input on your amp via the standard co-ax leads. Pure do one, as do Cambridge Audio although not sure if the latter outputs an analogue signal or not.

I tried using the headphones socket to a a set of audio leads from the iPhone but the quality is terrible.

I’m confused as to why it’s “terrible”; either there’s something wrong with the connection / source audio, or you have exacting standards which aren’t going to be met.

Equally streaming DAB is hit and miss from the iPhone

You’re not streaming DAB, you’re streaming Internet Radio.

Cougar – Moderator
I tried using the headphones socket to a a set of audio leads from the iPhone but the quality is terrible.
I’m confused as to why it’s “terrible”; either there’s something wrong with the connection / source audio, or you have exacting standards which aren’t going to be met.

Seems to be my night for disagreeing with Cougar! I found this to be the case, but the 30 pin connector to RCA is WAY better than the headphone jack to RCA – don’t know why.

Ok, the 30 pin to RCA is £35 but you can then plug your iPhone into the hifi and get great sound out of it. And you can also stream video from your phone to the television this way and get the audio through the hifi too. Maybe not an issue at home but sure is good on holiday (not as good as HDMI out though)

Surely the signal from headphone socket is pre-amplified hence the buzz I get at the hifi.

The downside of the RCA to 30 pin is no charging.

The 30 pin socket will probably be a line out, so just a buffered audio output stage there. The headphone out will obviously have a gain stage so will be slightly noisier electrically speaking (and thus lower quality) but there should not be an inherent buzz. I suspect your cable isn’t making a decent earth connection. Mini jack connections can be a bit shonky.

Cheap and easy to get an old-style Apple dock these days – they output line-level on 3.5mm. Richer Sounds do a £70 DAB/FM tuner.

I’ve just replaced an older system that broke with a Denon Ceol Piccolo, which is ace. Little shoebox-style system but with no CD. iPod/iPhone dock on the top, does Apple AirPlay, streams internet radio (all the usual DAB stations do internet streams too, usually in better quality), Spotify, etc. Very slick indeed. Superfi and others are doing them for less than £200 now without speakers.

Surely the signal from headphone socket is pre-amplified hence the buzz I get at the hifi.

The downside of the RCA to 30 pin is no charging.

Yes it does it comes with a usb that will charge the iPhone. But will not connect to the computer.

What you need is one of these:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/eSynic®-Composite-Charger-iPhone-Display/dp/B00A20HGQO
30-pin dock for the phone, into RCA stereo plugs for the audio in on the amp, and a USB to allow charging of the phone while it’s plugged into the amp, also HDMI to allow video to be shown on telly.
Simples. 😀

My after market one like the one linked to above didn’t last as long as the Apple version…

Logitech Bluetooth connector to HiFi with phono leads (£25 from Currys / Dixons / PC world)

No idea about the DAB tuner though other than buy a DAB tuner.

why do you want music from the iphone specifically? could it not be replicated on your laptop?

i ask as i too have an old fm tuner, so play internet radio (all dab stations) and all my music through a squeezebox. laptop has the server software on it and all my music. and ive also got the logitech app on my phone so can use that as a controller.

would that suit your needs?

In answer to the original question a Demon DM39DAB is what you require.

toby1 – Member
In answer to the original question a Demon DM39DAB is what you require.

No it’s not, because the OP wants to keep his amp (and speakers).

Seems to be my night for disagreeing with Cougar!

Oh no it isn’t!

I found this to be the case, but the 30 pin connector to RCA is WAY better than the headphone jack to RCA – don’t know why.

Thinking about it, there is a logic to that. Aside from the gain / line as others have said, the headphones will be analogue, the 30-pin may be digital? I can’t immediately find confirmation of this either way, other than comments that the 30-pin to Lightning adapter contains a DAC which may imply that it might.

Still. Either of those may explain why the base connector might yield better results than the headphone jack. It doesn’t really explain why it’s “terrible” though. You’re connecting an amplified source to a line in so buzzing might imply perhaps that your audio level is too low / high for the input, too high would distort and too low would mean you’re amplifying more noise as well as signal; or as RichPenny suggests maybe there’s a bad earth somewhere?

i ask as i too have an old fm tuner, so play internet radio (all dab stations) and all my music through a squeezebox. laptop has the server software on it and all my music. and ive also got the logitech app on my phone so can use that as a controller.

I think this would come close, main problem is the quality of the internet streamed radio which on my iPhone with wifi drops off every now and then (appears to be buffering).

Is this what you mean?

no, havent looked at a receiver, dont know if itd do the same thing or not. if it will, then i saw one in the FS ads a couple of days ago?

this is what im using

EDIT: the internet radio doesnt go through my phone (a la tune-in radio app) or whatever, it goes through the squeezebox via wifi and is great quality with no buffering issues

I recently bought the most expensive headphone to RCA cable that Maplin sell (about £12) and it made a huge difference to the sound quality when playing my laptop through the amp.

For DAB, you can’t beat a Tesco £25 Technika portable. And with a couple of sets of rechargeables you can also get surprisingly good reception driving along in the car. I plug mine into the car stereo and can listen to 6 music on the move.

AS Cougar has said the 30pin connector is a digital connection, so you can use your own choice of DAC hence the better sound quality than the headphone jack.

Buy a DAB Tuner and iPhone dock? Checkout the Arcam irDock or drDock.

For DAB, you can’t beat a Tesco £25 Technika portable. And with a couple of sets of rechargeables you can also get surprisingly good reception driving along in the car.

I’m glad you said that actually, cos I was eyeing one up the other day for just that reason. Which model did you get?

I got rid of the FM tuner and connected the TV audio output to the pre-amp to get digital radio. Slightly different sound quality but complete absence of background hiss and click.

Can’t help with the iPhone thing, though…

What are your amp and speakers, out of interest?

I have the older Arcam rDock. Great sound quality and charges the ipod/phone.

Buy a Pure radio, many have ipod docks to connect your ipod and also have line outs to connect to your existing system if you don’t want to use the built in radio.

ps they get great reviews in the press!

I tried using the headphones socket to a a set of audio leads from the iPhone but the quality is terrible.

Odd. We just use a 3.5mm jack pluug audio lead from the iMac / iPhone and the sound quality is excellent.

I would go for the Denon DM39dab.

It will as advertised sync up with your iwhatever, using your iphones charging cable with the music stored on said device accessible from the remote and will give great DAB to boot.

Just run an RCA line/ aux. out from the Denon to your to the aux. in on your existing amp and speakers and bobs yer uncle.

There are some great deals on them!

I have Apple TV connected to my amp and stream everything through that from the iPhone. No issues with sound quality or buffering etc.

correction (sorry)

no aux out on dm39, just headphone/ sub.

maybe have a look on richers sounds as the pricier denon df109dab has aux. outs and iphone compatibility.

I use the headphone jack to RCA no problem (iPhone 4S and iPad1), perhaps my hearing and quality standards aren’t up to your level OP. I also have an Apple TV but I find it drops out on occasion due to poor in house wifi (and cannot change router and power line ethernet already used) so I just plug the phone into the stereo for music.

I had an early DAB radio and thought it a total waste of £100 and totally redundant now with streaming content. Perhaps they are cheaper now.

Cougar – This Technika Portable is the one I got. I use it most days on site and it’s only got about 6″ of antenna left but still seems to get a signal. I can stick an old spoke in if I’m in a poor reception area. They do a newer white one too.

All DAB radios eat batteries but I’ve got a load of AA rechargeables.

Back to the original, I have a TV next to my amp and listen to 6 music at home through that. I recently bought a £50 ROKU box which is amazing and will stream music (and videos and photos) from my phone or laptop to the TV and then through the amp. Spotify too.

Ah, ok. I was looking at some teenytiny pocket thing, can’t immediately see it on their website.

Mr Woppit, it is a Technics SU-x01 with Gale speakers. The reason I like the amp is that it has surround sound outputs and I have cabled behind the sofa speakers for it. I am aware the amp is probably shite but I like it.

The TV idea is how I am currently set up but the TV is on the blink big time. Might be a better idea to upgrade and get an Apple TV at the same time. Shame as I like HiFi separates, for no logical reason at all.

Bad thread. Idling browsing and ending up buying a Denkn DRA-N5….

Thought I’d bump this, as I’ve just been reading about this neat and relatively inexpensive little gizmo on Flipboard:
Arcam’s miniBlink: A Great New Way To Stream Your Music To A High-End Stereo
http://www.forbes.com/sites/marksparrow/2014/01/18/arcams-miniblink-a-great-new-way-to-stream-your-music-to-a-high-end-stereo/

One very cheap way of getting DAB on an old av amp that I have thought about but not implemented yet is to use an old set top box which are dirt cheap and generally have stereo outputs. Lack of display would be a problem if you want to hop around radio stations, but I don’t.

+1 for the Denon Ceol although I have the one with the CD player.
Excellent for streaming and has a built in doc (although I don’t use that). Just needs speakers and you’re away.

Lots of recommendations for mini-systems but if you like your current amp and speakers surely you just need a DAB tuner

Hifi separate DAB tuners seem to be remarkably expensive (and the one cheap one gets lousy reviews). If you don’t mind the odd size there are TEAC T-H300DAB ‘s on eBay both new and used that look OK.

30pin ipod connector to Phono leads gives a line level output which should sound better than the headphone socket. Doesn’t work on the 5 – you need a dock or expensive cable for that as no line out over the new connector.

Bluetooth or Airplay from the phone for convenience for music. Lots of options. I *think* Airplay is better quality as BT is more compressed but someone else will confirm

Having used streaming radio on Squeezeboxes, and tried using a TV set top box, nothing beats the ‘just works’ convenience of a DAB tuner – I’m in the process of collecting things for the new house.

A Yamaha RX-V500D Dab receiver (<£300) will go in one room. DAB, Airplay streaming, Internet radio/DLNA. Seems to do everything but very plastic-y construction
Teac CRH260i DAB (£180 at Richer Sounds) for another – DAB, BT streaming and has both Line-in AND line-out (which is rare on mini systems with DAB).