Connect iPad to KEF LS50 Wireless II

[ROB2009]

Hello…. I’m currently using AirPlay II to stream Apple Music to Kef LS50 wireless II’s.
I’m looking to go wired to take advantage of higher quality music files… just wondering if anyone has any recommendations on DACS and / or connections to use into the Kefs?
Thanks…

 

[Al ears]

Hello…. I’m currently using AirPlay II to stream Apple Music to Kef LS50 wireless II’s.
I’m looking to go wired to take advantage of higher quality music files… just wondering if anyone has any recommendations on DACS and / or connections to use into the Kefs?
Thanks…

Isn't the only wired output from the iPad going to be analogue??
No experience here by the way.
Is there a way to get a digital output from an iPad?

 

[Fandango Andy]

Isn't the only wired output from the iPad going to be analogue??
No experience here by the way.
Is there a way to get a digital output from an iPad?

There is a digital output through the charging port.

 

[Fandango Andy]

Hello…. I’m currently using AirPlay II to stream Apple Music to Kef LS50 wireless II’s.
I’m looking to go wired to take advantage of higher quality music files… just wondering if anyone has any recommendations on DACS and / or connections to use into the Kefs?
Thanks…

I would suggest you start with a quick look at the manual for your speakers to check what I am suggesting:

A quick google suggests you speakers have built in DAC's, and a USB B input, therefore a lightning (or USB C depending on the age of your ipdad) to USB B cable should do the job for less than £20.

 

[ROB2009]

Thanks… iPad has USB-C, the Kefs have Optical, coaxial and 3.5mm Auxiliary inputs.

 

[Messiah]

What 'higher quality music files' are you looking to take advantage of?

 

[twinkletoes]

Thanks… iPad has USB-C, the Kefs have Optical, coaxial and 3.5mm Auxiliary inputs.

The kef have a USB A port

buy this

Amazon.co.uk

 

[ROB2009]

Hi, I understand Airplay2 compresses files using their AAC codec, I want to be sure I’m getting CD quality at least…

 

[twinkletoes]

Hi, I understand Airplay2 compresses files using their AAC codec, I want to be sure I’m getting CD quality at least…

buy the dongal I linked to above you'll get full fat hires once you go into the setting on your apple device.

You Kefs should have a USB B input I believe

 

[ROB2009]

Thanks, the manual says the USB-A is a service port

 

[twinkletoes]

Thanks, the manual says the USB-A is a service port

Sorry I ment USB B (ive corrected y mistake above) this port marked , PC.




stick USB B to USB A in the there with USB C converter from your phone the USB cable will look this
4 quid off amazon



OR you might be able to find these days a USB B to USB C cable forgoing the apple dongal altogether

 

[Messiah]

You Kefs should have a USB B input I believe

They don't.

USB-A only and this is not an audio input.

 

[nopiano]

Surely you need the KEF app to control your wireless speakers which then use their own DAC to stream various providers. That might not include Apple Music which seems incompatible with most streamers.

APP Product Support

PRODUCT SUPPORT APP PRODUCT SUPPORT APP PRODUCT SUPPORT APP LS50 Wireless II KEF Connect Download for Android Download for iOS LS50 Wireless and LSX KEF Control Download for Android Download for iOS KEF Stream Download for Android Download for iOS MUO KEF MUO Download for Android Download for iOS

uk.kef.com

 

[Al ears]

Thanks… iPad has USB-C, the Kefs have Optical, coaxial and 3.5mm Auxiliary inputs.

Is the coaxial socket digital??

 

[ROB2009]

Yes I’m happy to use the Kef app, but I have Apple Music which isn’t supported in the app.

No USB-B on the speakers.

Not sure on the coax type, just says play content through coaxial (eg audio player)

 

[Messiah]

I'm not 100% sure but I think the only way you can achieve what you want is to use a DAC with a USB input (to connect the iPad to the DAC) and coaxial or optical output (to connect the DAC to the KEF's).

With regards to your original question about what DAC, it's been a while since I used an external DAC so others will be better placed to advise on that.

With that being said, I am not sure you would notice a big difference (if any) and Apple are reportedly working on utilising ALAC over Airplay.

 

[Al ears]

I'm not 100% sure but I think the only way you can achieve what you want is to use a DAC with a USB input (to connect the iPad to the DAC) and coaxial or optical output (to connect the DAC to the KEF's).

With regards to your original question about what DAC, it's been a while since I used an external DAC so others will be better placed to advise on that.

With that being said, I am not sure you would notice a big difference (if any) and Apple are reportedly working on utilising ALAC over Airplay.

I would agree. If that coax isn't digital then the inputs on the KEFs is sorely limited and the only way around it is an external dac with optical output, but will not this decide the maximum resolution you can actually transmit from the iPad?

 

[ROB2009]

It might, I don’t want to bypass the Kef amplification or DAC so will probably stay with AirPlay 2 for now.
I’ve had a look at the built in Connect apps, but the user experience is rubbish compared to Apple Music.

Appreciate everyone’s help…

 

[twinkletoes]

They don't.

USB-A only and this is not an audio input.

Oh they took it away. Oh well hard luck. You’ll have to continue with AirPlay then

 

[nopiano]

Yes I’m happy to use the Kef app, but I have Apple Music which isn’t supported in the app.

No USB-B on the speakers.

Not sure on the coax type, just says play content through coaxial (eg audio player)

I must admit that were those speakers to be mine, I’d look at Tidal, Qobuz, or Spotify.

Otherwise, I’d get a dedicated streamer and use digital out. A modestly priced Wiim would be a low risk experiment, plus a suitable length of coax digital cable. But, I don’t recall any streamers with native Apple Music functionality, which seems a massive blind spot on Apple’s part. This should be a few days work from an intern I’d have guessed, but what do I know?

 

[twinkletoes]

Just a thought! do Sonos do any stand alone streamers anymore. They play nice with apple muisc.

Eversolo and or fiio r7 have Apple Music that plays natively. Though you will be doubling up

 

[Fandango Andy]

Thanks… iPad has USB-C, the Kefs have Optical, coaxial and 3.5mm Auxiliary inputs.

Looks like I was misinformed about the USB input (I think that was the what hifi review!), however, I did find the manual online:

https://assets.kef.com/documents/ls50/Product-Manual-EN.pdf

It looks like you do have a HDMI input. I have never seen a USB C to HDMI cable but it appears they exist:

Amazon.co.uk

Google took me to a few forums where people have suggested this method from iphone to amp which is effectively the same as you are doing.

Failing that you are looking at a usb dac such as Audoquest Dragonfly, iFi Go Link Max, iFi Zen DAC V2, FiiO KA2, or a Cyrus Soundkey if you can still find one.

​

 

[ROB2009]

Thanks…. I didn’t think of using the hdmi input!