# Can you use an external DAC with older iPads?

**URL:** <https://forum.headphones.com/t/can-you-use-an-external-dac-with-older-ipads/24523>\
**Category:** DACs and Digital\
**Created:** [November 4, 2024, 12:16am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/can-you-use-an-external-dac-with-older-ipads/24523 "2024-11-04T00:16:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Nightjar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/dfb087/32.png) [@Nightjar](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Nightjar)\
**Post date:** [November 4, 2024, 12:16am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/can-you-use-an-external-dac-with-older-ipads/24523/1 "2024-11-04T00:16:55Z")

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I have an iPad 6th gen  
It has the headphone Jack and I can get the lightning port to use with an apple dongle.

For these older models with the headphone Jack is it impossible to use an external DAC through the lighting port?

Cheers

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**Author:** ![pennstac](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/pennstac/32/381_2.png) [@pennstac](https://forum.headphones.com/u/pennstac)\
**Post date:** [November 4, 2024, 3:00am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/can-you-use-an-external-dac-with-older-ipads/24523/2 "2024-11-04T03:00:31Z")

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You need to connect an Apple camera adapter to the port and then the DAC to the adapter. I favor the larger card/adapter 3 which has better transfer speeds and you can also charge at the same time.

Third party adapters can work too

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**Author:** ![Nightjar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/dfb087/32.png) [@Nightjar](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Nightjar)\
**Post date:** [November 4, 2024, 3:05am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/can-you-use-an-external-dac-with-older-ipads/24523/3 "2024-11-04T03:05:06Z")

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So that’s the only way for data transfer?

Thanks man

I actually have a camera adapter. Haven’t tried it. We crazy audiophiles have a bunch of crap on hand. Lol

Btw. Does the camera adaptor have a DAC in it? I don’t think so

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**Author:** ![generic](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/generic/32/61169_2.png) [@generic](https://forum.headphones.com/u/generic)\
**Post date:** [November 4, 2024, 11:11am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/can-you-use-an-external-dac-with-older-ipads/24523/4 "2024-11-04T11:11:14Z")

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No DAC in the Camera Adapter. It was originally meant for…cameras… It’s just a cable connection hub or de facto mini docking station.

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**Author:** ![Nightjar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/dfb087/32.png) [@Nightjar](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Nightjar)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2024, 1:35am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/can-you-use-an-external-dac-with-older-ipads/24523/5 "2024-11-05T01:35:51Z")

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Nope it didn’t work for whatever reason.  
I’ll write to Apple to see what’s up.

Interesting

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**Author:** ![pennstac](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/pennstac/32/381_2.png) [@pennstac](https://forum.headphones.com/u/pennstac)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2024, 2:49am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/can-you-use-an-external-dac-with-older-ipads/24523/6 "2024-11-05T02:49:15Z")

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If it’s an Adapter 2, it sometimes doesn’t work, especially with high res AAC or FLAC/ALAC files. I generally don’t have any problems, going back as far as an original iPad Air that I used to have.

If your DAC draws more power than the lightning port can reliably provide, try adding power via the Adapter 3’s lightning port. Depending on the headphone, you may prefer to use a battery than a charger connected to AC. I’ve had some hum with iSINE and Audeze LCDi3/LCDi4 planar IEMs unless I went to battery. Have had no issues using Dragonfly Black or Cobalt, iFi XDSD, and Sabaj DACs.