I am trying to understand if a set of good quality lightning (iPhone) cable to RCA in the analog input of the DAC is better or worse than an unknown quality lightning to digital coax in the digital input? I can only find one lightning to coax cable in existence and it’s from alibaba for $40, so it can’t be good really but will it work better than the RCA analog? I don’t know enough about the DAC to know if the inputs don’t matter and the DAC just does it’s job with the outputs in the same way across inputs?
Is there a particular reason you are determined to use your iPhone with an unknown quality cable and connection as opposed to using an inexpensive streamer like one of the WiiM’s that are on sale everywhere including Amazon and Crutchfield? With them the appropriate cables are included and you aren’t constantly plugging and unplugging input devices.
It sounds like at its basis, your question is which DAC is better - the one in the SGCD or the one in your phone. I’ve never had a reason to compare the SGCD to my iPhone head-to-head, but after 5 years living with the SGCD, I can say its DAC is considerably higher quality than it gets credit for (in my experience, it’s definitely better than the DAC in my Node 2i, and startlingly close to PSA’s DirectStream Jr). I’d be extremely surprised if the phone’s DAC was better in any way. As to the mechanics/feasibility of various conversion cables getting a clean analog or digital signal from your phone to the SGCD, I can’t say. I’ve never tried to connect them by either means.
No reason at all other than I didn’t/don’t know about what is better. Can you point me in the direction of a decent one that is better than the cable I’m talking about? Also, can you confirm, will this then use the DAC of the GainCell and not the phone DAC?
Thank you, I assumed that the GainCell DAC is being used even if I hooked up to the analog RCA inputs but I’m guessing that’s not correct? And if so, I would certainly assume that connecting to the digital coax in the GainCell would be using that DAC and not the phone correct? And if so, then I imagine an unknown cable but using the GainCell DAC should be considerably better than the phone’s DAC. Is there a better way like the other guy mentioned about streaming? I want the best quality possible (reasonable price) for playing my phone’s music through my PSaudio system.
Anything you plug into the Gain Cell’s analog inputs will bypass its DAC. If that device is your phone, then you’ll be using the phone’s DAC.
I’m not an expert on all the ways you can accomplish streaming, especially since I don’t know anything about your home’s internet access and network setup, but I know a pretty surefire way to do it without spending a lot is to get a Bluesound Node (whatever the current generation is called), and coax cables to plug its digital signal into the Gain Cell. Then you control it from your phone with the Node’s BlueOS app.
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Thank you. I think it sounds like the best idea if for me to get a WiiM like dawkinsj suggested, then I can use a good digital optical cable that I have on hand and plug into the GainCell input. Does that mean I will be using the WiiM DAC or since it goes into the the GainCell digital input then I’ll be using the GainCell DAC? And maybe I just need the WiiM mini and save some more money. I only need a bluetooth and a digital optical out, it seems like they both have that and they both use the same DAC. Any thoughts on if that’s okay to get the mini?
I’m not familiar with the WiiM products, so I can’t say with absolute certainty. But in general, any streamer that you can connect to your network (WiFi or Ethernet) and that has a digital output that matches one of the Gain Cell’s digital inputs (coax, optical or USB) should work (though I’ll add that my 5-year old Gain Cell had to go back to Boulder to be updated for its USB input to work with my streamer). After that, it’s a matter of the streamer’s features, including which services it can get, and the quality of its user interface/control app.
I don’t know anything about the cables needed to use the iPhone other than they will be using the phones DAC and not the one in the SGD. Either one of the two lowest priced WiiM models will let you connect via coax or Toslink and use the SGD’s DAC. I personally would go with the second model at $119 but the $73 model will do the job.
Thank you Craig, uh oh, will my SGD need to be sent to PS audio for an “update”? And why would you get the $119 model instead of the $70? Just so I can understand. Thank you.
I wouldn’t worry about the need for updating if your unit is newer than mine, which was made sometime in 2018 or 2019, and it was only the USB input that needed modifying (now that I think of it, I seem to recall the USB problem was unique to connecting Aurender streamers anyway). I got the impression you were more interested in using TOSlink.
Thank you, Yes, I’d like to use the TOSlink, also, I just bought the GainCell used and haven’t had a chance to use it yet, I don’t know when mine was made 
The models about the base one have multiple output options if you think you might use them in the future. If the proposed tariffs do happen the prices on these units will only go up.
Like I said, I wouldn’t worry about it, especially if you’re going to use the optical connection. Even USB is likely to be fine.
Thank you.
As I recall, the USB update was required if you were using a Linux-based streamer. I had to send mine in for that reason (Sonore Ultrarendu is Linux-based).
Bob
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GreggyG, what streaming service are you using? Wiim supports both Tidal and Spotify connect (if I’m not mistaken) and it supports the others within its own app. But it does not have airplay so I don’t believe you can use apple music with it. Meaning you might not have to use Bluetooth
There are plenty of reviews out there comparing the Wiim models i would seek out some of those reviews before deciding that the $79 one is the one for you.
Additionally I’d like to second Craigs Bluesound suggestion. I think the entry level is ~$250 now. Bluesound is an excellent little streamer with a ton of features and an intuitive OS.
Thank you. I mostly just play music that is already stored on my phone. So I would need Bluetooth.
Another reason to consider a Bluesound, you can put your music files on a thumb drive and add them to the Bluesound. Then access and play them via the BluOS app. Would sound a lot better than Bluetooth from your phone.
Just out of curiosity how else do you listen to music? Cds, Vinyl, streaming?
That was it. Thanks for the memory-jog.