Apple Adds $800 Lightning Adapter 'Audeze EL-8' Headphones to Online Store

[HobeSoundDarryl]

But if Apple standardized on that for all of their stuff, their gravitational pull will warp the universe, and everyone will be doing it. You should know that by now...

That's right. AND/OR everyone else would be so totally wrong/obsolete/archaic for clinging to that old, outdated "abomination" 3.5mm jack that "99% don't want to use any more." Soon music would start sounding worse and worse through the old jack too (or it would sound far superior through lightning even if the source is the same old highly compressed file that scientifically could NOT sound better).

And we'd cook up 5 rare, oddball scenarios where having a tiny round hole instead of a rectangular one would cause some specific, aggravating problem when the stars perfectly align to trigger it.

Of course, the 3.5mm jack would only be obsolete and stupid in discussions of products where Apple has dropped it. If it hangs around in Macs for a while, nobody will make such anti-3.5mm arguments in Mac threads.

And 5 guys will make remarkably passionate arguments about how having the adapter is far superior to having a ubiquitous standards like 3.5mm (we'll cook up some kind of odd scenario logic so we can justify the sensibility of an adapter).

That should about cover it.

 

[Mac 128]

I have a pair of the EL-8 but I doubt I'm going to order this lightning cable once it becomes available separately. Being unable to power and and listen to the headphones simultaneously is a dealbreaker. I stream 6 to 8 hours a day through my iPhone so battery life drains much faster than playing back locally saved files. With the new lightning cable, I'd likely have to stop using my headphones for some time period during the day to recharge the phone batteries.

I don't know why people keep making this argument. There's a very simple solution to this for customers who have your particular need, and it already exists for many many products -- a pass through adapter like this:

All the EL-8 cables detach from the bottom of the earphones. You just swap out the lightning cable for the 3.5mm jack cable.

This is how the other manufacturers will deal with Apple's new "standard". I hadn't really thought about it, even though I know there are many Bluetooth headphones with an optional 3.5mm hardwired cable. The headphone makers who want access to Apple's customers will just offer dual connection models on the higher end. Customers who don't want or need Lightning may end up paying for something they don't use, or buyer lower quality. Apple customers will have many options.

 

[whodatrr]

True that...

Plus, does this mean you can't talk and charge? Me, I use my headphones for the 6 or so hours a day that I'm on conference calls. This would hinder, and not help, my workflow.

If I was an audiophile, I think there would be glowing tubes in the background and not an iPhone! This is a bit of a silly mashup.

 

[jazz1]

$800?

Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!

Go over to Headfi.org. That price is a drop in the bucket

 

[jazz1]

When you read stuff like "28-bit" DACs, you just know it's BS. Anyway, people who are into Hi-Fi probably want to have separate control over DAC, amplifier and Headphones. Nobody is going to shell out 800 bucks for a inflexible solution like that. You can literally only use that headphone on your iPod Touch, iPad and iPhone. Who would want that?

I thought I read it also has a regular jack on the headphone.

 

[felt.]

I personally love the idea of headphones receiving a pure digital stream and using an onboard DAC. Why not add replaceable drop-in opamps while were at it. I like options.

 

[kyjaotkb]

It seems like people are missing a few thngs on this forum:

1) As already mentioned by some (but far from everyone) these headphones come with a 3.5mm jack too, for use with non-iOS sources.

2) the DAC in the iPhone 6/6S is not hi-fi level. Heck, the one in the iPod 5G was probably better, and the iPhone 4 was, too.

3) using an external DAC through lightning is the *only* way to listen to 24-bit audio on the iPhone. And it's a first here - the Philips Fidelio Lightning headphones only have a 16/48 DAC.

4) Audeze manufactures the best or some of the best headphones in the world, which retail for 3 times (or more) the price of these. They have a fantastic reputation for exceptional, uncompromising quality.


All of this makes me think, by the way... Since iPads support USB DACs through the usb camera connection kit, can iPhones with iOS 9.2 support them too? If so, could we imagine a diy setup to playback 24 bit audio on an iPhone without buying this Audeze piece of hi-tech?

 

[anthorumor]

If yes to any of those, I'm guessing you are answering as a shareholder instead of as a consumer.

Apple in 2005- we are answering to the consumers by making insanely great stuff such as the iMac G5, 5th gen iPod, and Mac OS X Tiger.
Apple in 2015 - we know shareholders will love the proprietary stuff, and the thousands of accessories like the iPhone battery case, USB type C adapters, and now this.

 

[m0bus]

True that...

Plus, does this mean you can't talk and charge? Me, I use my headphones for the 6 or so hours a day that I'm on conference calls. This would hinder, and not help, my workflow.

Yeah - my local store had a pair so I picked them up to try out. You're blocked off from using the charge port obviously but there's a quick detach 3.5mm cable you can swap in to use instead if you need to access the charge port. If you swap to the 3.5mm cable you lose the DAC since it's embedded into the lightning cable wires.

They're definitely not for everyone and they sound a bit more refined than the original EL-8 closed but I haven't had a ton of time with them (used to own the EL-8 open backs as well). It seems the DAC is a typo on Apple's site as I checked Audeze's product page and it's listed as a 24-bit DAC (https://www.audeze.com/products/el-8-collection/el-8-titanium) so Apple should probably fix that up as it's a bit embarrassing.

 

[jcmeyer5]

The difference is that Beats are below average to average for the price, far from the best deal around. Audeze makes top of the line products that are very well respected in the audiophile community. These demand a premium price tag because they actually ARE premium.

Premium is just another way of saying "the exponentially higher costs don't justify the incremental benefits."

 

[whodatrr]

As a recovering audiophile, I'm now a bit out of touch. But when I was last into it, there was a kind of conflict between simplicity and quality (cost aside). While services like Apple Music and the lossy audio we download from today's sources sounds OK on mediocre gear, it sounds absolutely horrible with audiophile rig. This is akin to taking a 4"x8" photo that may look nice on FaceBook and blowing it up to poster size. For me, lossy digital audio sounded worse on audiophile gear than it did on cheap crap.

Ha, I tell myself that's why I got out of it, but having a bunch of kids running around and a limited bank account are the biggest reasons.

But seriously, to the up-to-date audiophiles on this forum, what would you listen to with these? I'd hate to lay out that kind of dough for headphones that I could just use on my iPhone, especially since most of the audio I do have on their is lossy crap. Just wondering where the tech is today?

 

[radio893fm]

For the love of God, please do not listen to Pitbull on those things.

 

[a0me]

• Because you prefer proprietary connectors that will only work with highly select hardware?
• Because you desire keeping up with separate adapters to be able to use the same $800 headphones with non-Apple audio equipment (with the adapter probably priced at a typical premium for an Apple proprietary jack to standard jack adapter), and/or
• Because you believe existing iDevices are too thick and thus the headphone jack must go in support of even "thinner" case designs (ignoring that the thinner iPod has a 3.5mm jack proving there is still plenty of room for "thinner" without having to go to an Apple-only proprietary jack)?

If yes to any of those, I'm guessing you are answering as a shareholder instead of as a consumer.

Or maybe manufacturers could agree on creating a new standard to replace a hundred year old technology?

 

[whodatrr]

But with audio, some old analogue technologies have heart...

I'm just saying...

But I agree that today's digital sources may need an upgrade.

Or maybe manufacturers could agree on creating a new standard to replace a hundred year old technology?

 

[Kajje]

Honestly, that's just not true. I have a very recent TV and one that is 8 years old. I have a brand new car and a 10 year old car

I was talking about the Apple TV Panel and the Apple Car.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Or maybe manufacturers could agree on creating a new standard to replace a hundred year old technology?

OK. How about one that is not owned by just ONE manufacturer then... maybe an "open" one that won't come with steep licensing fees all flowing to a single corporation?

 

[kahkityoong]

That's actually a MID range price for audiophile headphones

Actually this is the entry level Audeze headphone. Different people have different standards for their listening pleasure. It's usually those who have the lowest standards or plain ignorant that can't understand the finer things in life cost a bit more.

 

[kahkityoong]

Premium is just another way of saying "the exponentially higher costs don't justify the incremental benefits."

Or another way of saying you're cheap.

 

[kahkityoong]

But with audio, some old analogue technologies have heart...

I'm just saying...

But I agree that today's digital sources may need an upgrade.

Some new technology which you might consider having a heart to pair with an iPhone. http://www.aloaudio.com/amplifiers/continental-dual-mono

 

[m0bus]

But seriously, to the up-to-date audiophiles on this forum, what would you listen to with these? I'd hate to lay out that kind of dough for headphones that I could just use on my iPhone, especially since most of the audio I do have on their is lossy crap. Just wondering where the tech is today?

You can pretty much listen to anything since they're not really analytical headphones like say a Sennheiser HD800. The problem with a lot of the audiophile community is they get wrapped up in analyzing the music vs just listening to it. These are a "fun" headphone more like the Fostex TH600's that you wouldn't use for mastering, analyzing or mission critical stuff but something you put on and give a nice, clean, fun sound to the music. I've been listening to both Spotify, Apple Music, and my local music library (ALAC) and fun is really the best word I can use to describe the sound signature of these. There's also an app when you plug into the phone/iPad you can download that allows you to EQ the headphones as well and store presets.

 

[ctg7w6]

I was talking about the Apple TV Panel and the Apple Car.

Oh, duh haha. I suddenly like your original reply much more now!

 

[felt.]

I've been listening to both Spotify, Apple Music, and my local music library (ALAC) and fun is really the best word I can use to describe the sound signature of these.

Alrighty then. 'Fun' it is, let me get out my wallet.

Or another way of saying you're cheap.

Everyone in the pro audio world knows it's easy to get 98% there, it's the last 2% that will cost you an arm and a leg. Have you considered the fact some people don't believe the last 2% warrants a 6000% markup?

 

[Kiwikat88]

Everyone in the pro audio world knows it's easy to get 98% there, it's the last 2% that will cost you an arm and a leg. Have you considered the fact some people don't believe the last 2% warrants a 6000% markup?

The problem is that many consumers have been led to believe that their 20 dollar (or "free"/included) earbuds are already 98% there, when they're really garbage. I'm not advocating that just anyone should go out and spend 800 bucks on headphones, but there are some really good deals to be had from $50-200. It really IS worth spending money on good headphones if you listen to music regularly.

 

[kahkityoong]

Everyone in the pro audio world knows it's easy to get 98% there, it's the last 2% that will cost you an arm and a leg. Have you considered the fact some people don't believe the last 2% warrants a 6000% markup?

Yup I considered it but there's a big difference between not finding paying for the best worthwhile and being cheap. Both your comment and the initial one I referenced fall in the latter category.

 

[kahkityoong]

But seriously, to the up-to-date audiophiles on this forum, what would you listen to with these? I'd hate to lay out that kind of dough for headphones that I could just use on my iPhone, especially since most of the audio I do have on their is lossy crap. Just wondering where the tech is today?

I personally would not purchase these headphones because it would limit my listening to the iPhone only. It's easy to listen to non-lossy formats like FLAC on an iPhone with Apps such as the Onkyo player. The much more expensive Audeze LCD-X sound perfectly good out of an iPhone but of course scales up with better equipment so I wouldn't have problem with the entry-level EL-8 either in terms of sound quality. My issue is the lack of flexibility with the lightning cable only allowing lightning capable sources.