ddHifi TC35i Lightning To 3.5 mm Audio Adapter Review – Big Apple
The ddHifi TC35i is a dongle sonically identical to Apple’s lightning audio adapter in a more compact shape with a better shielded and more premium metal enclosure.
Pros — World’s most compact 3.5 mm lightning adapter; good sounding; compact; great design; rugged.
Cons — Pricey.
In this Article
Introduction
When ddHifi released the TC25i, which is 2.5 mm balanced version of their lightning adapter, they were tight lipped about its internals. But rumour had it they used the same chip as found in the Apple dongle (the one that used to come with your iPhone).
And whilst the rumour solidified, Apple themselves never released the specifications of their own adapter. The TC35i analysed for this article also features the Apple chipset, so that the specs published here may give us insight into the Apple’s adapter design.
ddHifi have been specializing in attractive and well-made accessories (and lately also iems such as the Janus) that blend design and functionality in a way that put the whole company up on our Wall of Excellence.
Specifications
| Chipset: Apple C101 | |
| Output Power: 16.8 mW @ 30 ohm | |
| Frequency Response: 20-20,000 Hz | |
| Total Harmonic Distortion Plus Noise: <-75 dB | |
| Weight: 3.7 g | |
| Dimensions (sans plug): 18*17*9.8 mm | |
| Tested at: $49.99 | |
| Product Page: ddHiFi | |
| Purchase Link: DD Official Store |
Physical Things and Usability
The ddHifi TC35i is the world’s most compact and most rugged Apple Audio adapter. Yes, it features the same tech components as its Apple counterpart: a microscopic stereo digital-to-analog converter (DAC), a stereo headphone amplifier, a microphone preamplifier, and monophonic analog-to-digital converter (ADC) – and power converters to run the whole.
The big difference to the Apple adapter is that the TC35i comes in a metal enclosure that is not only much sturdier but it also provides better shielding against electromagnetic interference.
Amplification and Power Consumption
The key asset of Apple’s internal dac/amp combination was a very low output impedance of about 1 ohm, which should be indentical in the TC35i. We ideally want a low output impedance for any music player (<3 ohm) for optimal earphone/earphone pairing.
The Apple adapter not only has an output impedance of <1 ohm, it also has by far the lowest power consumption of all the dongles I have tested. Again, this should also be valid for the TC35i. In terms of amplification, Apple/TC35i handle iems and headphones up to 50 ohm impedance with ease. The 70 ohm Koss Porta Pros are marginal.
Sound
| Equipment used: iPhone SE first generation. |
The TC35i’s sound is neutral, clear, clean, transparent with accurate and tight bass reproduction. In comparison, most dongles such as the Helm Bolt, Shanling UA2 or the AudioQuest DragonFlys are slightly coloured. The ddHifi dongle works well with even the most sensitive multi-driver items.
Anything the TC35i drives sounds excellent be it phone or computer. The Audioquest Dragonflys actually add bass and therefore colour (“warmth”) whereas the TC35i is more neutral. It is hard to find a dongle that equals or surpasses the TC35i/Apple audio adapter in terms of dynamics, clarity, cleanliness, and imaging.
Concluding Remarks
The ddHifi TC35i is the world’s smallest and most compact Apple audio adapter, improved over the original trough better shielding and a more rugged design. And a more premium look and feel. It may not be the most powerful but will drive any iem up to 50 ohm with ease at a sound quality adapted from and designed by the engineers of one of the world’s most influential tech companies. The TC35i delivers proven quality in a better shell.
Until next time…keep on listening!
Disclaimer
The TC35i was provided by ddHifi for my analysis and I thank them for that. You can purchase it from DD Official Store.
Our generic standard disclaimer.
