iPhone 7 dumping the 3.5mm phone plug??? Maybe a good thing.

[transmaster]

The rumor mill is going either way in regards to the 3.5mm phone plug on the iPhone 7. I don't really care either way. I know the sound will be much better with a Lightning DAC adapter to a 3.5mm set of earphones. But what I am looking forward to is Apple pushing the issue of Bluetooth wireless earphones. I have not really been happy with the sound of any that I have had the Sony's being the best I have tried so far. The sound can be better. Apple is going to force this issue like they have done in other areas like HTML-5 The tea leaf readers say Apple is supposed to be working on set of wireless earphones to address this issue. They say what Apple is working is a something like The Dash, from Bragi. http://www.bragi.com/ The Dash looks very interesting. I have a taste of what these earphones can do thanks to my Starkeys hearing aids with are fully controlled from my iPhone. They just don't have the microphones, and controls to answer calls and talk through the iPhone. Something like The Dash would integrate nicely with an iPhone and Apple Watch.

The Dash

 

[uofmtiger]

I have a pair of Parrot Zik 2s and they sound decent enough. It has an app with equalizer settings so you can customize them for your taste and you can turn up and down the amount of noise they let in from outside.

That being said, the main issue with Bluetooth headphones is that they need to be charged. I don't have to charge my normal headphones and I can't tell you the number of times I went to grab the Ziks and I couldn't use them because they had no charge left. I believe they came with a cable to plug them in directly if the charge was down, but if I remember correctly, they sounded awful that way.

I mainly listen via the lightning port and adapters now, and for outside activities, I have a cheap pair of Bluetooth earbuds I use. In other words, it wouldn't change my usage at all. However, I know a lot of people aren't happy with it.

As always, I hold off judgment until I actually see what they are offering (rather than getting worked up, like some people, over rumors) and I like to see what benefits they think removing it provides. If it is to make it waterproof or something, I can live with that.

 

[Pio1980]

That'd let me out, not interested if I can't just plug in.

 

[transmaster]

The latest rumor is the iPhone 7 is not going to be the wa-de-doo-da update the one to wait for, apparently, is going to be the iPhone 8 due out for the 10th anniversary of the iPhone.

 

[RamblinE]

Motorola just released the first high end Android without a 3.5mm jack. The Moto Z is the first USB-C only smartphone. The rumors about a Lightning only iPhone have been around for a while but the release of the Z forced my hand a little into buying an iPhone SE. I already like the small foot print and the camera and chipset is identical to the 6S. It's bascally a 6S mini and I'm okay with that while this headphone business shakes itself out.

 

[BMWCCA]

The rumors about a Lightning only iPhone have been around for a while but the release of the Z forced my hand a little into buying an iPhone SE. I already like the small foot print and the camera and chipset is identical to the 6S. It's bascally a 6S mini and I'm okay with that while this headphone business shakes itself out.

Great little phone. Just bought one for my daughter. I loved my iPhone 5 which was in perfect shape when I got my 6 for free in a trade-in offer from Best Buy. I have too many pair of headphones I like to willingly give up the mini plug. But then I use an iPod Classic for music on-the-go, not my iPhone 6.

 

[Beatnik]

Motorola just released the first high end Android without a 3.5mm jack. The Moto Z is the first USB-C only smartphone. The rumors about a Lightning only iPhone have been around for a while but the release of the Z forced my hand a little into buying an iPhone SE. I already like the small foot print and the camera and chipset is identical to the 6S. It's bascally a 6S mini and I'm okay with that while this headphone business shakes itself out.

My Garminfone (Asus) had no 3.5, this was years ago. I used and still have a Sony MW600 stereo bluetooth setup I could plug whatever phones I wanted into and shoot pool with the phone on the table where I could walk up and see the screen as I selected tunes, was pretty cool. Had pause play volume ff rw etc. Even had FM.

 

[BMWCCA]

If you're a serious listener you won't want the compression that Bluetooth creates. I know it depends on the codec used but why introduce something else in the path of your music if you don't have to?

 

[transmaster]

According to what I am reading Apple is working with The Bluetooth Special Interest Group to create a new HiRez Bluetooth standard to vastly improve the fidality of Bluetooth headphones/earphones. There is no reason why this couldn't be done. I ran high end wireless (2.4Ghz) Creative Sound Blaster gaming headsets. The only problems I had with them was for the price they could have been constructed better. Sound wise they where very good, especially anti-matter explosions, but really didn't do Barque music very well. The Best Bluetooth headset I have used to date are the Sony lineup.

 

[ictwoody]

You guys watching the Apple iPhone7 keynote? They are dumping 1/8" for sure... but they are including a lightning-to-1/8" adapter from the get go. But honestly, between wireless and lightning, I don't think you'll miss it.

- Woody

 

[uofmtiger]

You guys watching the Apple iPhone7 keynote? They are dumping 1/8" for sure... but they are including a lightning-to-1/8" adapter from the get go. But honestly, between wireless and lightning, I don't think you'll miss it.

- Woody

I only saw a second of it while I was home for lunch. I caught the part where they said Mario Bros is coming to iPhone. I am very happy about that one! I will watch the rest when I get home from work.

If they are including an adapter, I think that will be plenty for most people. Looking forward to seeing their explanation. A lot of live blogging going on, but I would rather hear Apple's spin before reading the critical points about it.

As a side note, most "serious listeners" aren't enamored with the aux out, either. The amp is too weak to use with many serious headphones. I prefer sending the signal to an offboard DAC via the lightning port when I am in "Serious listener" mode. When I am just messing about, like working in the yard, Bluetooth works better since I don't have cables in my path. For those rare times I need an aux, it is nice that they already have one in the box.

 

[whoaru99]

I think it's sorta a shitty deal. Just another dongle to deal with. Of course, it makes a great excuse to buy new accessories, if so inclined.

I'm sure it's great for Apple and I'm sure they'll do a bang-up job of selling more proprietary/licensed connectivity as good for consumers too.

 

[uofmtiger]

I think it's sorta a shitty deal. Just another dongle to deal with. Of course, it makes a great excuse to buy new accessories, if so inclined.

I'm sure it's great for Apple and I'm sure they'll do a bang-up job of selling it as good for consumers too.

You really don't have to deal with it much other than keeping it connected to your headphones that you are already dealing with anyway.

(Of course, I haven't seen the dongle yet, so if it is huge and cumbersome, I retract what I said above. )

 

[RamblinE]

I am headed to the Apple Store as soon as I get off work.

To grab another set of the Apple In-ear 2 way balanced armature IEMs while they're still offering them.

 

[4-2-7]

Apple took the CDP out of their iMacs but sell them separate now. The way I see it they are not supplying a DAC and analog output now, they'll have that for sale also now.

 

[uofmtiger]

Apple took the CDP out of their iMacs but sell them separate now. The way I see it they are not supplying a DAC and analog output now, they'll have that for sale also now.

If they are putting them in the box, that would negate that cost. The only way to get the CDP was to buy it from Apple or someone else if you needed it...as far as I know, it was never included in the box.

Apple has often made trade offs for sleek design and that philosophy has served them well. Many are saying they are removing the aux input now to save space for their next iPhone, which is rumored to be a huge change from past iPhones (losing the bezel and home button).

I bet some of the DAC/Amp manufactures love this move.

 

[whoaru99]

I bet some of the DAC/Amp manufactures love this move.

Maybe. How does Apple treat their suppliers or those that want in?

For example, does anyone except Apple have direct access to send a digital stream to an outboard DAC from the Lightning connector?

Far as I know, you can't unless you buy yet another gadget from Apple.

 

[uofmtiger]

Maybe. How does Apple treat their suppliers or those that want in?

I have no idea, but there are already DACs/Amps out there by non-Apple suppliers that work with the lightning port and camera adapter. Assuming they don't cripple the port, this would be a way for them to more easily market their advantages against the dongle that Apple puts in the box.

 

[RamblinE]

Lightning DACs have been rare and pricey until recently. I justify not think that this is going to bust that market right open or anything.

 

[uofmtiger]

Lightning DACs have been rare and pricey until recently. I justify not think that this is going to bust that market right open or anything.

No one said it would "bust that market right open". I said "I bet some of the DAC/Amp manufactures love this move."

There was already an article talking about it and I bet there will be more:

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

I would expect that the manufacturers will start marketing the same way once they confirm the iPhone 7 works with their product.