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
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Impacts of removing the headphone jack [MERGED]
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"Y chord"? What "Y cord"? If only there was a "Y chord".
CNET says October 10th at Apple Stores, and the Belkin website. So you just might make it.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
I did use wired headphones at my desk from time to time, but not often enough to make me miss the headphone jack.
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).
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).
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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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
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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
Well, Men's Journal, guess we end the thread now.
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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.
[doublepost=1474761731][/doublepost]
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.
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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:
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.
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