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Apple's Upcoming Over-Ear Wireless Headphones to Target High-End Noise-Canceling Market
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HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
This is Apple. There are already rumors of both AirPods 2 and 3 in play. Why will Apple want to make headphones that would last much longer than a phone? Around here, the phone logic would even apply to the counterpoint: "you spend $1K for a new phone every year or two but you want a $700 set of headphones to last many times longer???"
Whatever these shall be named, might as well go ahead and stick a "1" on as a suffix: HeadPods 1, AirCans 1, AirHeads 1, because there is probably ALREADY thinking about what will wait for the "2" and maybe the "3" too. It's Apple... where cash flow refresh rules all strategic thinking.
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I'm not saying's past year has been perfect, but I think it's been doing a lot better than 2015 or 2016. iOS 11 is buggy, but the extra features for iPad has been more than worth it. If reports are accurate, they're also slowing new feature development in favor of software stability. The Mac mini and airport stuff desperately need updating, sure, but the modular Mac Pro is coming this year and FaceID has a lot more potential than just unlocking and Animoji, unlike touchID. Overall I think Apple has built the foundations for a solid year ahead but we'll have to see how well they deliver on their promises.
Beats has the worst noise canceling headphones, their tech sucks for this, so they'll be an easy beat, it's Bose you need to worry about.
It would also be ironic if they put little tube amps inside.
Or maybe “ironic” is not the word for it. “Unlikely.” Yeah, that’s the word.
The MDR-1000X and 1000X M2 do arguably have better noise cancelling and some say better sound. I have the 1000X and I do like them quite a bit. However, the microphone on the Sony's is abysmal, while the Bose QC 35 is great for phone calls.
I love my Studio 3s. For my usage they are price-point perfect: pair nearly flawlessly with any Apple device, cancel just the right amount of noise, and deliver excellent sound quality. But, that’s just me... I bought them, I like them.
My only concerns with this tech is how future-proof it is. BT protocols change. A nice set of Cans as someone mentioned before, should last ten years. My concern is Apple will ditch the optional cable, and obsolete the headphones ability to pair with an iPhone XV in 2022.
My only concerns with this tech is how future-proof it is. BT protocols change. A nice set of Cans as someone mentioned before, should last ten years. My concern is Apple will ditch the optional cable, and obsolete the headphones ability to pair with an iPhone XV in 2022.
But it really isn't. If you aren't interested in hashing this out, don't bring it up. On a purely spec-to-spec basis what other speaker system has eight independent amplifiers and drivers for $350? What other system automatically tunes the speaker to the room? The Sonos Five & Google Max come close but for more money—and that's the point.
The AirPod AND HomePod are both pricey but offer a lot of value at their price point. Many people will not be able to justify the expensive of that middle-tier price point (which both those products certainly are) but Apple is banking that enough will to make the investment in the tech worthwhile.
Truly doubt that noise-cancelling would be the primary focus. Apple has to have a better reason than that for creating a separate branded set of headphones. This is the same lack of imagination that pundits had with the HomePod.
I'm not waiting for these. Based on their track record over the past few years, it will take Apple far too long to release a product and when they do it will be overpriced and really only catching up to the competition or slightly behind it--kinda like Homepod.
Wow, apple noise cancelling?
This will be good. I have airpods and the compact nature of them is too amazing to not have for travel or cycling.
But for extended travel like flying overseas, or lying on the couch listening to music would be pretty nice.
Price tag? Yowsers, not so nice.
This will be good. I have airpods and the compact nature of them is too amazing to not have for travel or cycling.
But for extended travel like flying overseas, or lying on the couch listening to music would be pretty nice.
Price tag? Yowsers, not so nice.
1) Touch id is the past Apple is know for ditching the past real fast.
2) They will focus on iOS improving iOS this year, and probably MacOS as well (Just a note I have no issues with High sierra just some design inconsistencies that could be ironed out.)
3) Mac Mini and Mac Pro are probably coming this year.
4) Airport is no longer interesting to invest in, from Apples point of view. Apple just goes further with markets it can innovate.
On the other hand, AirPods are cheap compared to many other quality BT earpods, which I’m sure helped them take off the way they have. Maybe Apple will follow this example and actually undercut the market. I have a feeling a lot of headphones high price reflects the brand at least as much as the tech, so Apple should have pricing flexibility here.
If this rumor is accurate, I just don’t understand the self-cannibalism.
Bose has some good things going for it, but it's by no means the only game in town. The noise cancelling on the Sony MDR-1000X v.2 is crazy good and the audio quality on the B&W PX Wireless is fantastic. Each of those has some disadvantages compared to the others, but that includes the Bose as well. If anything, I would say this market is getting a bit crowded with good choices, but there is still an opening for Apple to compete here if it is able to capture the strength of the others (for me, that would be Sony for noise cancellation, Bose for comfort, and B&W for sound quality) without their respective faults. Whether or not Apple can pull that off, I have no idea.
Wait, another disruptive innovation from Tim.
Instead of an old, classical product category, headphones now suddenly are red hot.
Because ? Because !
And only now, Apple found it time to do it right and enter the market.
No matter if there are 10, 100 or 1000's of (merely the same) products and companies.
Ohh, Jimmy Iovine might put his full weight at it and find a reason to stay another day with Apple.
Because he.....Oaaahhhhhh.... I m getting soooo excited again ...... the idea alone.
Other suppliers are doomed...
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I've always viewed Apple's end game with Beats as being absorbing into the company. Beats is a little odd- Apple usually doesn't buy companies and/or brands and then continue to give such a relatively high level of exposure to the original brand or product. It's usually been a means for Apple to acquire IP, talent, or both.
So Beats has been a bit unique in that regard. I don't even think Beats is or has ever been an especially good brand of products. If anything, an Apple-branded high end headphone (i.e. studio monitors) would, I think, point to a possible EOL of the Beats brand.
Think of it another way: Would you pay $600 for headphones that have a lightning connector only? I don't care what kind of quality they manage to get, I've got better targets to empty my wallet on than headphones I can only use with a single device. And I seriously doubt they are going to be able to make headphones that'd be worth that kind of money. My iPhone X definitely isn't worth it's cost.
It is going to be the new "Adaptive beamforming" mantra for the pure Apple evangelist
I've always loved Bose equipment, I have a Soundtouch in the bedroom, a pair of QC headphones, a set of Companion 5 speakers on my gaming PC, and a Bose system in the car. Are Sonos really that much better? I've never been an audiophile or anything like that.
I have replaced three ear cushions on my Bose Noise Cancelling Headsets at $35 a pop. I do not consider that a desired feature. Make them quality in the first place. Otherwise, great for air travel with OK sound.