Skip to main content

This portable amp will upgrade your iPhone’s audio, and has a secret power

Many of us have come to rely on our phones as our primary listening devices when it comes to music, but they don’t exactly provide the best audio quality. Try to drive a high-end pair of headphones with your phone’s built-in amp, and things get even less optimal.

A new product called Pebble (not to be confused with the smart watch) launched on Kickstarter today. It aims to give iPhone, iPad, and iPod users a more enjoyable listening experience by combining a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and headphone amplifier in one package. We’ve seen these before, but this one aims to be both easier to use and more affordable.

Recommended Videos

Updated on 03-15-2016 by Kristofer Wouk: Shortly after the campaign launched, Kickstarter was contacted by Pebble (maker of the smart watch) with the request that the product name be changed. Now the project is known as Cobble.

“[Cobble] was created to allow general mobile users to enjoy high resolution music without having to lug around a big and bulky portable amplifier,” a representative told Digital Trends. “Aside from convenience, it is also price friendly, meaning it’s not going to cost you an arm and a leg to enjoy quality sound.”

The Cobble plugs into the Lightning port on your iOS device, and allows 24-bit/48 kHz to 192 kHz playback, meaning that it’s somewhat future-proof. If the rumors are true and future iPhones are released with just a Lightning port instead of a headphone jack, this will work as an alternative to whatever Apple provides for compatibility with standard headphones.  Where this really separates itself from other DAC/amp combos is that it’s fully compatible with your earphones, and you can use that mic to control media or take calls, something the team says is a world-first.

While the Cobble team says any headphones will be improved by its device, better headphones will obviously see better results. “If you are using a high quality headphone with your iPhone, it is like driving a performance sports car as a 4-cylinder compact,” the representative said. “Attach a [Cobble] and start listening to your favorite music without sacrificing quality.”

At least at the start, the Cobble will only be available for those using Apple devices. We asked about other devices like PCs and Android devices, but the team said that with so many different devices out there, it’s tougher to offer a seamless experience, so for now it is only focusing on iOS.

Backers of the Kickstarter will be able to get a single Cobble for $70. However, during the campaign’s early stages, early bird pricing is available for a limited number of units — 300 can be had for $60 each, and 100 can be had for $45 each. A limited number of 50 units can be personalized by the backer for just a little more at $80.

The campaign is aiming for a modest goal of $18,000, with a number of stretch goals in place to attempt to push the numbers higher. The campaign kicked off only today, and will come to a close on April 15. Assuming the campaign is funded, rewards are expected to ship as early as June 2016.

For more information, see the Cobble Kickstarter page.

Kris Wouk
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kris Wouk is a tech writer, gadget reviewer, blogger, and whatever it's called when someone makes videos for the web. In his…
Galaxy S25 Edge leak reveals a look that’s almost iPhone Air like
Galaxy S25 Edge

Two highly anticipated smartphone models are set to launch before the end of the year: Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge and Apple’s iPhone 17 Air. Newly released images of the Galaxy S25 Edge, scheduled to arrive this month, reveal a striking resemblance to rumored images of the iPhone 17 Air, which is expected to hit the market in September.

The Galaxy S25 Edge, which Samsung teased earlier this year, will arrive on May 13. When the phone launches, it’s expected to be one of the thinnest smartphones in the world.

Read more
iPhone prices are increasing, but not for the reason you think
Apple Invites on iPhone.

The average sales price of iPhones is increasing, but it isn't for the reason you think — or at least not entirely for that reason. According to new data from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP), the average price of an iPhone has increased by $18 to $971. That's up from $953 in the fourth quarter of 2024.

While many are quick to point to tariffs as the cause, the impact of economic factors isn't clear yet. The current trend towards higher-priced iPhones lies entirely in Apple's recent decision to end the iPhone SE and iPhone 14 lines. Analysts use metrics like the U.S. Weighted Average Retail Price (US-WARP) to determine the average sale price, since Apple stopped publicly reporting those numbers at the end of 2018.

Read more
The iPhone 17 might see a huge RAM upgrade
Alleged render of iPhone 17 air in silver color.

We already expected the iPhone 17 to be a big step up, but a new rumor suggests it might be an even bigger technical leap than first thought. According to well-known tipster Digital Chat Station, the entire series will use Apple Intelligence on a "large scale," and every phone in the lineup, from the base iPhone 17 to the iPhone 17 Pro Max, will have 12GB of RAM.

This leak corroborates earlier suggestions from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, giving it even more credibility. Considering all current iPhones max out at 8GB of RAM, this represents a 33% jump — not something to scoff at. Digital Chat Station goes on to say the phones will use the TSMC A19 Pro, the most powerful chip in an iPhone yet. When you put all of that together, it's likely the iPhone 17 lineup will be much faster than current models.

Read more