Any real advantages to lightning connected earphones?

[hakr100]

I've got several sets of pretty good earbuds and earphones with the 3.5 connector, and I'm pleased with their sound quality. These are $100+ items I've had for a few years. Other than being "fashionable" with the latest from Apple, are there any advantages in the sound you hear as a result of using earbuds or phones with the lightning connector?

Thanks!

 

[Truefan31]

I've got several sets of pretty good earbuds and earphones with the 3.5 connector, and I'm pleased with their sound quality. These are $100+ items I've had for a few years. Other than being "fashionable" with the latest from Apple, are there any advantages in the sound you hear as a result of using earbuds or phones with the lightning connector?

Thanks!

Not really right now.

 

[matrix07]

I've got several sets of pretty good earbuds and earphones with the 3.5 connector, and I'm pleased with their sound quality. These are $100+ items I've had for a few years. Other than being "fashionable" with the latest from Apple, are there any advantages in the sound you hear as a result of using earbuds or phones with the lightning connector?

Thanks!

Don't think so. It's only analogue vs. digital I believe.

 

[barryblack]

There could be some advantages in the future, but there aren't many/any headphones that take advantage of it. A few things that could be better:

- noise cancelation without having to carry a second battery back
- phones with custom digital-to-analog chips that could produce better sound with settings that are tuned to the specific headset.
- Equalizer in the headphone and controlled via an app.
- more power to the headphone speaker

 

[dukebound85]

Don't forget now we can look forward to DRM audio! Oh boy oh boy

 

[0007776]

Don't think so. It's only analogue vs. digital I believe.

All sound is analogue by the time you hear it no matter which connector it leaves the phone. In theory high end headphones could get a digital signal and have their own DAC that is better than the one built into the iPhone, but that's about the limit to theoretical advantages.

 

[matrix07]

All sound is analogue by the time you hear it no matter which connector it leaves the phone. In theory high end headphones could get a digital signal and have their own DAC that is better than the one built into the iPhone, but that's about the limit to theoretical advantages.

That's true. No one has a show for it though.