ddHiFi MFi07F Lightning To USB-A Female OTG Cable Review (2.0) – Different Class
The ddHiFi MFi07F Lightning To USB-A Female OTG Cable is a higher-quality equivalent to Apple’s Lightning to USB Camera Adapter used for connecting DACs/amps, digital cameras, flash discs, card readers or keyboards to your iPhone or iPad.
In this Article
Introduction
The Lightning connector was introduced with the iPhone 5 in 2012, replacing the (in)famous bulky 30-pin dock connector known from the earliest iPods. Simultaneously, Apple offered the Lightning to USB camera adapter, used to download photos from digital cameras to iPads.
Audiophiles used the Camera Adapter to attach DACs or DAC/amp combinations to their iPhones and iPads. AudioQuest were the first manufacturer to produce a battery-less dongle DAC (“DragonFly Black”) that drew below 100 mA current to work with iPhone. The “Black” decoded music while circumventing the iPhone’s internal audio circuit (iPhones from model 7 on did not have such circuit anymore).
AudioQuest, being a leading premium cable manufacturer, never produced a competitor to the Apple model, and nobody else did either. The Apple model had to do for audiophiles. Until now… ddHiFi present their MFi70F alternative.
Specifications
| Plugs: Lightning/USB-C OTG, USB-A female Wire Structure: Power/ground wires and signal wires are symmetrically twisted and shielded Outer Insulation: Highly transparent PVC (Made in the USA) Wire Conductor: High purity oxygen-tree copper Shield Material: High purity oxygen-free copper with silver plating Cable Diameter: 0.4 mm Cable Length (excluding connector): 9cm Weight: 14 g Product Page: ddHiFi Purchase Link: DD Official Store |
Physicals
Both ddHiFi MFi07F connectors, the USB-A and Lightning, are made of metal. The strain reliefs appear to be reasonably sturdy. The cable is dirt repellant and relatively stiff.
ddHiFi MFi07F compared to Apple Camera Adapter
The Apple Lightning to USB Camera adapter has held a monopoly for almost 12 years. It looks cheap, feels cheap, but works, until the cable or strain reliefs start fraying…hence I use my own strain reliefs as shown in the photo below. At $29, it is quite pricey. For $4 more, you get a sturdier metal/PVC construction in the slightly longer ddHiFi MFi07F.
Sound using the ddHiFi OTG Cable
I did not care about connecting digital cameras or flash drives, I focused on the MFi07F’s USB-decoding and audio capabilities. I could not hear a difference between the ddHiFi MFi07F and the previous Apple gold standard. I also did not run into any USB decoding issues with the MFi07F.
Concluding Remarks
Finally an OTG adapter that does justice to my DragonFly Cobalt. No, it does not function any better than the Apple monopolist, however it is built much better and it looks classier, at a comparable price.
Until next time…keep on listening!
Disclaimer
Our generic standard disclaimer.
