How do I connect my new iPhone 15 Pro to DAC?

I used the Apple USB C to USB (full size) adapter or dongle. It works. The DAC plays as usual. I have Apple Music and Tidal on this phone and it works normal. No hiccups. The only cons is I can’t charge the phone at the same time. Where as on the previous iphone, the Lightning camera adapter allows the phone to be charged. I also bought the USB C to Lightning adapter so I can plug the Lightning camera adapter but it doesn’t work. Not compatible with accesory the phone says. My DAC is SMSL.

The port is configured for USB C analog devices unless you go to USB Audio Accessories and choose "Forget All USB Audio Accessories" and then re-insert your DAC or dongle and DO NOT choose "headphones". When it prompts, choose "Other". Outputs digital for DACs, Apples $9 dongle, etc.

Was driving me crazy until I figured that out - it's still nuts how Apple tries to over-simplify this and for me extra nuts as I came from Android which gives you insight and extensive control over the USB C port. But it works now...

My DAC (SMSL SU-6) has USB C in. (i) Connect iPhone 15 to DAC via USB C to USB C cable. Nothing happens - DAC not recognized at all. (ii) Use existing Camera Kit (which is working with iPod Touch) via Lightning to USB C Dongle. "Device not supported" message. (iii) (After "forget all USB devices" in Setting and choose Other Device when it's first time connected) Use non-Apple USB C hub (mine is Anker 6-in-1 with PD) via USB A to USB C cable provided with DAC, plugged into one of USB A port on the hub. IT WORKED! This set up can also charge iPhone while you play music. Note Music App still shows "Headphone" mark but if you go into choose device mode, it does mention "SMSL..." instead of "iPhone". Spent hours on this so I hope this will help who has been struggling this issue like me. I know USB C hub is not so cheap but still less expensive than Apple AV Adaptor (which I don't know if it works or not).

You can get the USB C to USB connector or dongle and then plug the dac’s USB cable to it. Can’t charge the phone simultaneously. Maybe with a wireless charger. There’s another adapter with USB C , hdmi, USB. Expensive though.

I have the ifi I go blu DAC. New iPhone 15, never connected analogue headphones, plugged in usb c it asked me what device chose other, I’m getting sparkly digital out. Settings - sound and haptics - headphone safety - USB audio accessories are there. I have ‘forget’ and a toggle for analogue headphones. Works great.

I bought the Apple USB C to Lightning dongle. I wanted to connect the Lightning camera adaptor to the dongle so I can connect it to an external DAC. But the iphone says the lightning camera adapter is not compatible. Luckily, I have a couple of USB C to USB A or B regular size that I’m using on my Mac Mini. So I took one and plugged it on the iphone 15. It worked. But now, I can’t charge the phone while playing music. There’s another big adapter from Apple it has hdmi, USB and USB C. $65. I hope that works for music and charging at the same time.

Settings->Sounds & Haptics->Headphone Safety->USB Audio Accessories->Forget All USB Audio Accessories

I finally got this to work, but there is definitely some inconsistency with the USB-C port of iPhone 15 and the Apple Adapters.

First, I didn’t actually do anything other than to unplug and replug the adapter a few times for DAC to be recognized. This rears its head when I stop the music for more than a minute or so and then try to resume play. I’d have to start unplugging and repluggjng the adapter before the DAC is recognized.

Second, because I had turned on the “Automatic Dolby Atmos” setting, the phone was always outputting in 44k, so I mistakenly thought that hi-res wasn’t working. Turning Atmos off subsequently output hi-res stream.

Third, in iOS 17, unlike iOS 16, the volume rocker component lets you move the volume setting, but it doesn’t actually affect the output volume. This was throwing me off too, because I was expecting iOS 16 behavior where volume is set to max and you couldn’t change it.

Fourth, I have one DAC that has a dedicated iOS setting and didn’t require the Apple Camera Adapter. That used to work and made the phone go into that fixed volume mode in iOS, but now it doesn’t happen, and both the iPhone and DAC/Amp volumes are functional. I think this means the output is not hi-res digital. I’m working with the manufacturer on that one.

I just remembered my Chord Hugo 2 had a Bluetooth input option and using that after a bit of fiddling about to get the Chord and my iPhone-SE3 to pair, I have at least got the phone outputting digital to my DAC. The quality is not startling and not I think as good as I was getting via the PCM stream to the Lightning socket. I don't think the Hugo 2 uses a very up to date Bluetooth Codec although it claims APTx.

Go to Sounds and Haptics and scroll down to Headphone Safety at the bottom under Headphone Audio. Click on that and then click on USB Audio Accessories. Click on Forget All Audio Accessories and you should be good to go.

However, I’m also trying to connect a Hugo 2 and I can’t get anything better than 16 bit / 44 kHz.

Looks like my Hugo 2 is destined to be a very expensive door stop!

It appears that digital output no longer works on iPhone 15. I have iPhone 15 Pro Max, and I’ve tried it with both the Apple USB-C/USB-A adapter, and Apple USB-C/Multi-AV adapter that I use with my iPad Pro. I’ve also tried it with 3 different DAC/Amps and in all cases the iPhone treats them as a USB headphone, so it is outputting analog signal. It shows a headphone icon and volume setting is with iPhone.

I’ve opened a ticket with Apple Support. If you’re experiencing the same, please open a ticket, otherwise, would appreciate it if you state here how you got this to work for you.

It only shows up in settings if it recognizes something that is potentially not headphones. Mine will work for 5 seconds and then stops. I tried different cables and then one final worked which is weird as the are the exact same cable.

I have tried numerous OTG cables/dongles on the iPhone 15 Pro and various settings but to no avail. It still comes up as “Wired Headphones” which implies it isn’t picking up the DAC (Hidizs S9 Pro), even though it’s 24bit/192kHz output.

Strangely, on the iPhone X it recognised the output device and the LED colour (blue for 24bit/192kHz and green for up to 24bit/96kHz).

Apple, sort it out!

Thanks, but I don’t even have that option under Headphone Safety, so may it never recognized the DAC as a headphone.