Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion HiFi & HT Chat Using Explorer 2 with iPhone 6 and headphones

The USB on the car is in input.
It allows your car to read the files on the device you plug into it.

BMW?
Just you say Y-Cable.

Meridian once suggested that Explorer should work with an iPhone is connected through the camera connection kit (CCK?). I think someone tried and it worked although iirc needed a powered hub for power.

However, I don't think the camera connection kit is a viable product anymore due to the demise of the old style connector plus there seem to be different versions of the CCK (when I plugged mine into my iPad 3 it said that mine was not a supported product which, although an official connector, was purchased in classic iPod days). I don't know whether the more up to date alternatives would work.

This is a link to the lightening based Apple CCK. Compatibility with cameras seem to be a bit hit and miss let alone with non camera devices. But if there was a non quibble returns policy when buying, I guess its worth a shot although the need to use a powered hub would seem to make its use as a portable device somewhat limited which, as the item linked only seems to support iPad, portability may be less of an issue.

I mentioned USB Y cable as our cars have both USB and 3.5mm jack input. The USB could power the Explorer was my thinking whilst the jack would receive the music input. I prefer using my Note 2 for streaming over my iPhone so i can keep speach and music seggregated.
I think for now i'll stick to low quality via Napster and give it a try as soon as Tidal / MQA is available on Sooloos, as only then i'll subscribe.

Cheers!

This couldn't work.

The jack on the Explorer is an output, not an input. The only input on an Explorer is USB.

Yes it could, I think:
iPhone or Note2 USB out to Explorer and car USB via USB Y cable.

Explorer jack out to car jack in.

Cheers!

(PS Gizze, Lexus)

Quite a bit of time has past so was wondering if anyone may have found a working mobile solution to this. Mainly e2 into iPhone 6.
Thanks,
Andrew

I use my i6 through my E2 and Prime powered using the USB 3 camera connection kit and externally powered via the lightning socket only on the USB3 kit.

For portable use, whilst i have not tried it, cont see why it would not work with an external battery pack - we have a couple of 5000mWh TPlink battery packs which work very well for other uses.

The length of the lightning cable on camera kit is a bit short to prevent a birdsnest of cables, but you can get lightning extension cables that, whilst i have not tried with camera kit, works well with another lightning accessory i have, even when 2m long.

Thanks and cheers Ian

Just for clarity, it's the USB 3 version of the camera kit with a lightning socket for power.

Needs the recent camera kit firmware but you get prompted to download that the moment it's plugged in.

Hi,

Works for me, using iPadPro > Apple USB3 adapter > Explorer2 > headphones + power to adapter from the iPad charger.

Without the charger connected, the 1st light on the E2 flickers occasionally but there is no sound. I'm playing music directly off the iPad, or streamed from Tidal. I'll look into getting a battery pack to try that option.

Also works with a Jitterbug added.

Brian

Hi,

Just an update to say that I've run this with a Belkin 'mixit Power Pack 4000' battery pack and it all works fine.

Brian

I have listened to Red Book and HiRes music files through the lightning connector from my iPhones 5S and 7 to the Explorer2. You do need an adapter and something like a hub (or my REGEN) to provide enough power, so it's not a very compact, portable combo.

No MQA from TIDAL, however, because the iOS version doesn't support Master functionality AFAIK.