Impacts of removing the headphone jack [MERGED]

[BobVB]

Funny thing, my 6 started doing that since last week. It's hard to find the right position for it to charge, and sometimes my phone doesn't even charge (especially over-night), and then I wake up, and realise that my phone is on 10%, and it's meant to last me all day. :/

You do all realize that pocket lint builds up in ports, right? Quick mobilization with a wooden toothpick and compressed air jet has fixed many a person with an 3.5mm jack AND lightening port connect problem

 

[Mac 128]

I do a lot of travel and also cross the pond.

1. Charge up before leaving, to 100% capacity. My phone routinely lasts over a day so it shouldn't be a problem, especially considering that there are a couple of times when the phone can't be on.
2. Listen to music in the plane.
3. If battery drops make the decision of what is more important, music or charging.
4. Alternatively, take a nap and charge.
5. Carry a book.
6. Get a Y cord.
7. Get a BT device.
8. Buy another brand.

SO many choices.

"Y chord"? What "Y cord"? If only there was a "Y chord".

SO many sacrifices to make. I guess adapter would be the best choice for me considering i already spent heft amount on sennheiser hd 800. Any idea when Belkin charger/audio adapter is coming out in October? I'm leaving to Korean and Germany on Oct 14th.

CNET says October 10th at Apple Stores, and the Belkin website. So you just might make it.

I've essentially switched over to all wireless listening, but the lack of headphone jack is already proving to be an issue in the car.

2011 Chevy Equinox, despite having fairly good tech integration, doesn't do audio over bluetooth and something wonky with the car's media software has made the iPod integration with my iPhones work haphazardly at best (been having this issue since the iPhone 4 days). Why they've never been able to fix it is another issue, but generally I've come to terms with the fact its easier to just use the aux jack than fool with it. But playing music and using GPS at the same time without being plugged in is a battery killer and I'm finding myself having to choose between powering up or listening in the past week.

Will probably have to bite the bullet for that expensive Belkin adapter when it comes out unless a better solution presents itself.

I have to say, the simplest situation in your case would be a BT dongle for less than $20, and it would allow you, albeit redundantly, to use BT with your car stereo. That way you don't have to plug and unplug the audio and you'll get the convenience of BT finally. It made all the difference in my driving experience when I got one for my car. Don't know how I ever lived without it. I also use it on planes now so I don't have to keep unplugging my headphones from the in-flight entertainment system to let people in and out of the row, and it comes in handy with older rental cars that don't have USB or BT stereos.

 

[JOEBETA]

So I brought my 7 plus and headphones to work but brought my iPad Air. Can't use the headphones lol

I used the lightning headphones on my iPad Pro. Works fine.

 

[vince730]

I have to say, the simplest situation in your case would be a BT dongle for less than $20, and it would allow you, albeit redundantly, to use BT with your car stereo. That way you don't have to plug and unplug the audio and you'll get the convenience of BT finally. It made all the difference in my driving experience when I got one for my car. Don't know how I ever lived without it. I also use it on planes now so I don't have to keep unplugging my headphones from the in-flight entertainment system to let people in and out of the row, and it comes in handy with older rental cars that don't have USB or BT stereos.

Which one do you use? If I could find one that worked well, I'd certainly consider that. I actually found myself trying that a few months ago, but the one I bought had a consistent static interference/"hum" sound in the background that, while very minor and just barely noticeable with background road noise, started to irk me causing me to go back to the standard aux. It wasn't cheap either (cost about $20 on Amazon).

 

[mcvaughan]

Utilizing a Lightning connector for headphones, would that allow for digital audio as opposed to analog? If so, I think that would be a good advantage.

 

[Mac 128]

Which one do you use? If I could find one that worked well, I'd certainly consider that. I actually found myself trying that a few months ago, but the one I bought had a consistent static interference/"hum" sound in the background that, while very minor and just barely noticeable with background road noise, started to irk me causing me to go back to the standard aux. It wasn't cheap either (cost about $20 on Amazon).

The one I bought, and have had very good experience with is by MPOW, and I paid around $20 for it on Amazon. I just looked and it's now only $16.99, and I see one for $13.99 -- not sure if they're the same model. There's also a newer one for $18.99. That doesn't seem expensive to me compared to replacing the head unit in my car, a $40 Belkin adapter which only does one thing, or even the higher quality fabric wrapped Lightning cables and headphone cables I bought to use in my car. Obviously anything can have a defect, but I certainly never noticed anything like you describe from the unit I bought, and I've used it at home in virtual sound-free environment. You possibly have some grounding issues, as it sounds like your whole head unit has problems. So maybe you won't be able to use wireless at all. Does the radio work perfectly?

Utilizing a Lightning connector for headphones, would that allow for digital audio as opposed to analog? If so, I think that would be a good advantage.

Digital is the only option output by Lightning. And yes, it does have advantages over the 3.5mm headphone jack. But if you have been keeping up with the debate, you will see that the main issue is that digital audio output from Lightning has always been available over Lightning -- the 3.5mm jack did not have to be removed to take advantage of that benefit.

As a result of the 3.5mm jack being removed as an option, there have been no tangible net gains, along with the compromise of convenience. One argument is that the gain will be in the form of increased demand which will improve competition, innovation, and quality, along with lower prices, for wireless products as well as digital interface headphones.

 

[alphaod]

Since I already have been using Lightning to USB for my DAC, it doesn't matter to me much... If I'm charging the phone, odds are I'm not using it to listen to music.

 

[Dormammu]

I've been using Bluetooth headphones mainly because I frequent the gym every day. Nothing causes me to rage out more than having the earbuds ripped out of my ears
I did use wired headphones at my desk from time to time, but not often enough to make me miss the headphone jack.

 

[mcvaughan]

The one I bought, and have had very good experience with is by MPOW, and I paid around $20 for it on Amazon. I just looked and it's now only $16.99, and I see one for $13.99 -- not sure if they're the same model. There's also a newer one for $18.99. That doesn't seem expensive to me compared to replacing the head unit in my car, a $40 Belkin adapter which only does one thing, or even the higher quality fabric wrapped Lightning cables and headphone cables I bought to use in my car. Obviously anything can have a defect, but I certainly never noticed anything like you describe from the unit I bought, and I've used it at home in virtual sound-free environment. You possibly have some grounding issues, as it sounds like your whole head unit has problems. So maybe you won't be able to use wireless at all. Does the radio work perfectly?



Digital is the only option output by Lightning. And yes, it does have advantages over the 3.5mm headphone jack. But if you have been keeping up with the debate, you will see that the main issue is that digital audio output from Lightning has always been available over Lightning -- the 3.5mm jack did not have to be removed to take advantage of that benefit.

As a result of the 3.5mm jack being removed as an option, there have been no tangible net gains, along with the compromise of convenience. One argument is that the gain will be in the form of increased demand which will improve competition, innovation, and quality, along with lower prices, for wireless products as well as digital interface headphones.

It's a wireless world; change can be difficult for some.

 

[1madman1]

It seems the adapter only passes basic audio functionality. I'm sitting down on the train and using music playback for the first time with the new phone and just noticed that the inline remote (and presumably microphone) with my Sennheiser 880i headset doesn't work anymore. I expect the spare Sony set I have at home wont be any different. Hopefully someone comes alone with decent lightning in ears soon.

Everything works without issue now after today's update.

 

[Habakuk]

Sorry. I didn't read the complete thread, maybe the issue has been debated already.

Anyway. The reputable German computer mag publisher "Heise" has found out that the short phones adapter (delivered with iPhone 7) contains inside a separate digital/analog conversion chip for it's own. And it's quality is worse than the "original" headphone jack (as in iPads, iPhone 6…). This may not affect the average user BUT profs (musicians) who are (were) using the output for a perfect analog signal.

http://www.heise.de/mac-and-i/meldu...nach-dem-verlorenen-Analogsignal-3330831.html
Here is a video inside where they have an insight look on the adapter (@ runtime 32:15) they did split it up.

iPhone 7 gemessen: Audio-Adapter liefert schlechteren Sound

Personally, I hope that Apple NEVER skips the headphone jacks in iPads (which is far more useable than iPhones for music production).

 

[azfalcons]

I used the lightning headphones on my iPad Pro. Works fine.

After playing around I noticed that as well. All good now

 

[BobVB]

Sorry. I didn't read the complete thread, maybe the issue has been debated already.

Anyway. The reputable German computer mag publisher "Heise" has found out that the short phones adapter (delivered with iPhone 7) contains inside a separate digital/analog conversion chip for it's own. And it's quality is worse than the "original" headphone jack (as in iPads, iPhone 6…). This may not affect the average user BUT profs (musicians) who are (were) using the output for a perfect analog signal.

http://www.heise.de/mac-and-i/meldu...nach-dem-verlorenen-Analogsignal-3330831.html
Here is a video inside where they have an insight look on the adapter (@ runtime 32:15) they did split it up.

iPhone 7 gemessen: Audio-Adapter liefert schlechteren Sound

Personally, I hope that Apple NEVER skips the headphone jacks in iPads (which is far more useable than iPhones for music production).

No one has reproduced this report and even it has questions about the DAC differences between the Air and the iPhone.

There have already been external DACs for audiophiles and those with high-end equipment which audiophiles have already been using

http://www.techradar.com/news/phone...ree-dacs-will-keep-the-music-spinning-1321629

Now that Apple has removed the DAC conversion for all but its internal speakers, expect there to be more high-end DAC converters available that exceed the quality of both the new adapter and the old internal iPhone DAC.

 

[Mac 128]

Sorry. I didn't read the complete thread, maybe the issue has been debated already.

Anyway. The reputable German computer mag publisher "Heise" has found out that the short phones adapter (delivered with iPhone 7) contains inside a separate digital/analog conversion chip for it's own. And it's quality is worse than the "original" headphone jack (as in iPads, iPhone 6…). This may not affect the average user BUT profs (musicians) who are (were) using the output for a perfect analog signal.

http://www.heise.de/mac-and-i/meldu...nach-dem-verlorenen-Analogsignal-3330831.html
Here is a video inside where they have an insight look on the adapter (@ runtime 32:15) they did split it up.

iPhone 7 gemessen: Audio-Adapter liefert schlechteren Sound

Personally, I hope that Apple NEVER skips the headphone jacks in iPads (which is far more useable than iPhones for music production).

While not posted here, it's been discussed at length elsewhere in similar threads (the translated Heise article conclusion at the bottom). "Worse" is a highly subjective label. While quantifiable, these two articles demonstrate just how insignificant "worse" is. And I guarantee you, if you think this affects professionals in any substantial way, you're wrong. The idea that a "professional" is even relying on the headphone jack on an iPad or iPhone anyway, calls into question the level of professionalism were discussing and how relevant it is to Apples decisions.

http://www.head-fi.org/t/627111/wha...y-of-iphone-ipad-ipod-touch/285#post_12872457

https://translate.googleusercontent...2.html&usg=ALkJrhhxPgCxr5ncqQAXc4M9wKD3CZXgLA

 

[PanAm-L1011]

I think the removal of the headphone jack is the best thing about the iPhone 7. The sound, with the headphones that came with the phone, is fantastic. I always used to give those white headphones away because the sound sucked. Now it is fantastic. We will see how not being able to charge while listening impacts things, but I'm not usually using the phone while listening to music.

 

[Mac 128]

Big mistake on the part of Apple. This suppression of -Jack port will cost them dearly. You will see in the coming weeks, the disappointment on the sales figures.

Apples iPhone sales were already in decline. The question is whether they will fall back to iPhone 5s levels after the spectacular surge of the 6, which can be easily explained by getting large screen introduction, continued to a lesser degree with the 6s.

The lack of a headphone jack will contribute to some losses, whether from existing customers not upgrading when they otherwise would, or new android customers not switching platforms when they otherwise would have. But the new camera on the Plus is likely going to make up for that in many cases, as well as the new black color options. It's unlikely many will jump ship over the headphone jack.

But the headphone jack alone is not going to be enough to seriously affect Apple's sales. It's specious reasoning at best with so many other contributing factors, like incremental improvements, and repetitive design. The headphone jack is but one contributing factor to Apple's declining sales figures, and a minor one at that. Perhaps the overwhelming factor is market saturation, and lack of expansion opportunities.

 

[PanAm-L1011]

Big mistake on the part of Apple. This suppression of -Jack port will cost them dearly. You will see in the coming weeks, the disappointment on the sales figures.

People said that when they got rid of the dvd drive in their Macs and switched to lightning port charging. It didn't happen then, and it's not going to happen now. BEST thing they did IMO. The sound through the speakers is so much improved and the sound with the stock headphones that come with the phone through the lightning port is vastly better than previously. Great move. So so glad they did it. I was skeptical until I heard the difference in sound quality.
[doublepost=1474736806][/doublepost]

Utilizing a Lightning connector for headphones, would that allow for digital audio as opposed to analog? If so, I think that would be a good advantage.

It's not a good advantage, it's an amazing advantage. I was shocked when I pulled the headphones in at how great the sound was. Way way way way better.

 

[Mac 128]

People said that when they got rid of the dvd drive in their Macs and switched to lightning port charging. It didn't happen then, and it's not going to happen now. BEST thing they did IMO. The sound through the speakers is so much improved and the sound with the stock headphones that come with the phone through the lightning port is vastly better than previously. Great move. So so glad they did it. I was skeptical until I heard the difference in sound quality.
[doublepost=1474736806][/doublepost]

It's not a good advantage, it's an amazing advantage. I was shocked when I pulled the headphones in at how great the sound was. Way way way way better.

You are fooling yourself.

I posted results above, which at best will sound no different than the same headphones over the headphone jack, and at worse, are quantifiably worse sounding.

Here's one of many reviews http://thewirecutter.com/blog/apple-lightning-earpods-headphone-adapter/

It's great if you think they sound better. They don't. And yes, people value convenience over quality and functionality, or even reliability, in many instances. Wifi is proof of that. So some will skip the iPhone 7, and it will hurt Apple's bottom line.

 

[PanAm-L1011]

You are fooling yourself.

I posted results above, which at best will sound no different than the same headphones over the headphone jack, and at worse, are quantifiably worse sounding.

It's great if you think they sound better. They don't. And yes, people value convenience over quality and functionality, or even reliability, in many instances. Wifi is proof of that. So some will skip the iPhone 7, and it will hurt Apple's bottom line.

I know what I hear. I never used the stock headphones before because they sucked and the sound was terrible. The sound is way better with the white headphones through the lightening port. I don't think they sound better, I know they sound better. WAY Better.

And you've posted one source. One. Google it, and there are dozens of sites lauding the sound through the lightning port. No one that believes digital sound is better than analog sound is fooling themselves. Fact is fact.

 

[Mac 128]

I know what I hear. I never used the stock headphones before because they sucked and the sound was terrible. The sound is way better with the white headphones through the lightening port. I don't think they sound better, I know they sound better. WAY Better.

To you. Glad you enjoy them.

http://thewirecutter.com/blog/apple-lightning-earpods-headphone-adapter/

That will absolutely not be the case for everyone, as the above review points out. Since the DAC and amp are not improvements over the sound delivered over the headphone jack from those built into the 6s, and the EarPods themselves are not improved designs, there is no way the sound can be technically improved. But the mind is a funny thing, which is why placebos can be so effective in modern medicine.

 

[PanAm-L1011]

To you. Glad you enjoy them.

http://thewirecutter.com/blog/apple-lightning-earpods-headphone-adapter/

Thanks, I am enjoying the improved sound very much.
[doublepost=1474738045][/doublepost]http://www.mensjournal.com/gear/articles/4-upsides-of-the-iphone-7s-lightning-port-w438356

 

[kas23]

Well, Men's Journal, guess we end the thread now.
[doublepost=1474761731][/doublepost]

Utilizing a Lightning connector for headphones, would that allow for digital audio as opposed to analog? If so, I think that would be a good advantage.

Digital audio. I've never heard of this before. What's digital audio? Every headphone or speaker on planet Earth can only produce analog audio. Humans can only hear in analog. Now where the digital signal is converted to analog (before or after the lightning port) is immaterial, but all digital signal must be converted to an analog signal.

 

[Mac 128]

Thanks, I am enjoying the improved sound very much.
[doublepost=1474738045][/doublepost]http://www.mensjournal.com/gear/articles/4-upsides-of-the-iphone-7s-lightning-port-w438356

Not really sure if that Men's Journal link was supposed to back up your claim beyond your subjective perception, but it doesn't. Not only does it get basic digital audio concepts wrong, it's not even specifically about the EarPods of which you're making your personal observation.

The relevant section of the article follows:

Lightning Headphones Sound Better. Much Better
Finally, there's maybe the biggest benefit of the multitasking Lightning cable — it transfers audio files with less data loss. That's a jargon-y way of saying that music comes through cleaner. That's especially important for high-quality digital music, the kind of huge-bitrate tracks that can sound amazing when pumped through the right home audio system, with the requisite receiver, preamp, digital-to-analog converter and loudspeakers, but that sound merely good when squeezed through headphones. Where standard earphones left much of that extra data behind, Lightning earphones will retain the quality of tracks. This also means that high-resolution audio (HRA), which is a significant step up from the quality of streaming music or even CDs, will finally hit the mainstream.

Until now, listening to HRA on headphones has required being tethered to a PC, or buying a dedicated music player, or else pulling off an arcane techie runaround, using obtuse apps to store and play HRA tracks on devices that aren't set up to natively play them, such as the previous iPhone. Even then, Lightning headphones were the best way to guarantee that all that upgraded audio quality was surviving the trip from the phone to your ears. But now that Lightning cables are the iPhone's only wired connection for earphones, it's expected that the iPhone 7 will play HRA natively, and that this next level of audio bliss will be available to everyone.

 

[Sy7ygy]

It's a wireless world; change can be difficult for some.

It, really is not. The push for Wireless technology supersedes anything Apple has a clue of. They make gimmicky toys for consumers, don't be fooled into thinking otherwise.

 

[BobVB]

It, really is not. The push for Wireless technology supersedes anything Apple has a clue of. They make gimmicky toys for consumers, don't be fooled into thinking otherwise.

Humorous since iPhones are the least gimmicky smart phones on the market.