I received my phone today, I normally upgrade on a 2 year cycle, I've had an iPhone 6 Plus 128 gig this last cycle, before that an LG G3 android phone 32 gig. This time I opted for a iPhone 7 Plus 256 gig. The LG was great, better camera then the 6 Plus but its limiting factor for audio nut was the limited storage and at that time Tidal's HF option wasn't an option with the android so that had to go, The camera is awesome.
I won't debate the pros & cons of lossless streaming or Hi-Rez content and if anyone can tell the difference , as for me, simply knowing I'm listening to anything but full or high resolution ruins it for me. as I got more into lossless streaming I found I preferred to use Tidal's download option for offline enjoyment and that means storage and lots of it.
I've transitioned to the point that most mobile listening, say 85% is via an iFi Nano dsd dac/ headphone amp and a set of Sennheiser Urbanite's (wired) so the loss of the headphone jack was a non-issue for me. For this mini review how ever I'm just going to comment on the use of the supplied adapter and some alac content. I didn't detect an improvement or a loss of quality. Listening to some of Holly Cole's Temptation , Norah Jones Come Away With Me, David Elias Vision of Her and Amber Rubarth's Sessions from the 17th Ward were all thoroughly enjoyable. I'd honestly prefer my mobile dac but I don't see the required use of the lightening to 3.5 adapter as a big deal for me, any loss of fidelity measured is certainly undetectable to my ears.
I will note I assumed the area where the 3.5 output was on the prior phone was where the second speaker was placed for the phones stereo speakers, it is not, the stereo comes from the one existing speaker on the right when looking at the phone and the ear piece speaker, music without headphones is outputted in stereo in that manner. What looks like a speaker grill where the 3.5 plug was is for looks only, the room freed up in that area is used by the new taptic engine home button.
I will say I was hoping the new stereo speaker function would improve and increase speaker phone volume (an issue for me a work in noisy work areas ,machines in mechanical rooms) it is improved, normal phone earpiece volume (non speaker) is louder to if needed. That's good for that specific work application, bad news about the speaker phone if someone out in public decides to not have good manners.
All in all, very nice device, not the second coming but a great device and the 256 gig storage is just what the doctor ordered.