raiders4life12 wrote:

What are the ways I can connect an iPhone 6s to the Cambridge CXA80?

it has USB type B fyi

Also what is the best way to connect a Macbook?

Thanks a lot

The CXA80 has optical digital inputs, a coaxial digital input, a USB input and analog inputs.

The CXA80 has a 3.5mm jack on its front panel, and the Iphone6 has the same connector for audio output. You just need a cable with 3.5mm stereo plugs on each end.

Or, if you want to connect it to one of the analog inputs on the rear of the amplifier, get a cable with the 3.5mm stereo plug on one end and RCA plugs on the other end.

Monoprice has both types of cables for under $5.

I assume the MacBook has a USB connector, so that is easy.

raiders4life12 wrote:

any difference between the front or the back rca? also is there anyway to use usb so i can use the cambridge dac instead of the iPhone dac?

There is no functional difference between the rear inputs and the front jack. They just provide the front jack for convenience in connecting a portable device.

Apple makes an Iphone 3G USB Cable, which sells for $9.99. It is advertised as a data and charging cable, but I do not think the functionality exists in the Iphone to use it for music. I might be wrong about that. Good question.

The High Resolution Technologies Istreamer might be something for you to look into, however.

It claims to provide improvements in audio quality when used with an Iphone, and has its own 24-bit DAC plus its own music storage.

Bringing up an old thread.

What if you want to use the DAC in the amp instead of the iPhone's internal DAC. There exists a cable that is a lightning connector on one end and a USB b connector on the other. Can you connect an iPhone this way and will it output the digital signal into the amp? Will it also charge the phone?

The Cambridge DAC is far superior to iPhone DAC. That being said, you can’t attach an iPhone directly to a Cambridge unit. The USB on back is for the BT-100 Bluetooth dongle. You can either connect via Bluetooth which would be a little lossywith the dongle. You could find a USB device that streams AirPlay which is lossless up to CD quality. Best quaintly would come from attaching a laptop to your Cambridge via USB.

The other solution is to add a network Streamer of some sort but that can be pricey. The CXN is awesome.

While the CXA80 does have a BT100 input, it also has a USB B audio input. It's labeled "USB Audio In"

Where the amp would be situated, I don't want a laptop (and don't want to buy a dedicated laptop just to stream music). I have 3 extra iPhones (4S, 5S, 6) that work great at streaming music. There has to be a way to output the digital signal into the USB B input.

I have not seen a lightning cable of that sort.

A lot of units have specific USB inputs for iDevices. Without one I am not sure you can send a direct digital signal via wire.

raiders4life12 wrote:

What are the ways I can connect an iPhone 6s to the Cambridge CXA80?

it has USB type B fyi

Also what is the best way to connect a Macbook?

Thanks a lot

Hi,
I had the same question about my CXA61.

I have connected my iPhone using a lightning to USB connector from Apple and then a USB A to B type cable.
And it is working as expected.