Headphone Jack uproar reminds me of when they introduced Lightning.

[thats all folks]

I'm not trying to pick a fight over this so my apologies if there was any misunderstanding on my part.

You may be right. I guess for one thing the taptic engine was more important than the headphone jack from Apple's standpoint.

no worries. we may not be in complete agreement but you have nothing to apologize for. now if only OP could respond to the growing mess he set in motion here. even moving off the 30 pin connector, lightening did make things a little easier but did it ever realize real improvements?

 

[bluespark]

Why do people keep suggesting that expensive headphones are now useless on the iPhone 7? At a minimum there's a free adapter provided by Apple. Most expensive headphones have detachable cables which can be used with a custom Lightning cable, or even a wireless dongle. Expensive 3.5mm headphones aren't going anywhere, and will have a place in Apple's ecosystem for years to come.

And yes there is a benefit to consumers -- a DAC and amp paired permenantly to the headphones ensures consistency of sound regardless of the device they're plugged into. That's something no 3.5mm pair of headphones has at the moment, each source coloring the sound with its own component quality.

No, and no. As to your first comment, I did not suggest expensive headphones are now useless. The focus of my post was entirely on the analogy between this change and the change from 30-pin to Lightning.

As to your second comment, it's simply incorrect. Use of an external DAC via the Lightning port can be an excellent option, and it can have sonic advantages over the headphone port. I have purchased several DACs over the years precisely because of the sonic advantages. However, that capability already existed with the Lightning port. If you had an external, Lightning-compatible DAC, you could do everything pre-iPhone 7 that you can do now, and with all attendant advantages. Removing the headphone jack doesn't create the benefit you cite.

Finally, don't assume my post meant more than it does. I like Apple, I very much like the iPhone 7, and I'm planning to buy one. I also recognize that removing the headphone enabled the haptic engine (or at least made that possible without additional compromise), so I understand what was involved here. But let's not pretend Apple's decision came at no cost.

 

[bufffilm]

I remember back when Apple retired the 30 pin adapter and introduced lightning there was the same sort of backlash and uproar as there has been over the removal of the headphone jacks.
Fast forward a few years and I don't think many would argue that the change was for the better. It was worth the year or so of mild annoyance at having to use adapters for older devices so that today the technology that we are all using is not old and dated.

I feel the same way about the headphone jack. It's going to be annoying for a while for people who still use the 3.5mm connection on a daily basis. But I'm hopeful it will be worth it in the long run for technology to move forward. At least Apple actually included the adapter this time around.
I think if we could fast forward a few years to when lightning headphones are in abundance and when wireless headphones will have hopefully really taken off, people will realise that, like the change to lightning, the change is moving things forward.

The audio jack going will only get reconciled when wireless charging comes to the iPhone.

 

[sunking101]

The audio jack going will only get reconciled when wireless charging comes to the iPhone.

Perhaps they should have done both at the same time then. If they can't squeeze an aux jack into the gargantuan iPhone 7 Plus in the meantime then Apple have lost it. If Lightning (and not wireless) audio is the way forward for the time being then a separate charging jack would be beneficial, as would Lightning earbuds sans adaptor coming standard in the box. It was a weird move to give us 'old fashioned' earphones...

 

[OneMike]

I remember back when Apple retired the 30 pin adapter and introduced lightning there was the same sort of backlash and uproar as there has been over the removal of the headphone jacks.
Fast forward a few years and I don't think many would argue that the change was for the better. It was worth the year or so of mild annoyance at having to use adapters for older devices so that today the technology that we are all using is not old and dated.

I feel the same way about the headphone jack. It's going to be annoying for a while for people who still use the 3.5mm connection on a daily basis. But I'm hopeful it will be worth it in the long run for technology to move forward. At least Apple actually included the adapter this time around.
I think if we could fast forward a few years to when lightning headphones are in abundance and when wireless headphones will have hopefully really taken off, people will realise that, like the change to lightning, the change is moving things forward.

I have owned and do own devices with a lightning port. That said I think the better would've been going for a standard.

 

[andyp350]

The argument in this thread pretty much proves my point! It's a plug, its really not that big of a deal!

 

[Jimmy James]

The OP's original analogy doesn't hold up. They didn't change the connector. They eliminated it.

 

[dotnet]

This year the iPhone 7 has no aux jack, which at the very least offers no improvement in functionality or sound quality but it does prevent simultaneous listening and charging, which is a massive issue for a lot of folk who used to use their aux jack directly into a hifi/car stereo/etc.

Maybe the issue isn't as massive as you think? Maybe it's as massive an issue as lack of swappable batteries, SD card slots, dual-SIM options?

I wish it were much more of an issue for a lot more people, because then I wouldn't have to wait till November to get the phone I want.

 

[bembol]

The Lightning makes more sense, this was all about money. Nothing more.

 

[noekozz]

You guys are comparing apples to oranges. 3.5 is a universal standard, lightning port is Apple proprietary. Even if the future brings more lightning headphones, they still owe Apples proprietary fees, this is nothing short of profit for Apple from a business standpoint, from a physical standpoint; the jack was removed in order to accommodate the haptic feedback engine and a larger battery. Not courage, not waterproofing or whatever else Apple spews out.

 

[gnasher729]

You think Apple used high-end DACs all these years?....

Well, that's what any serious review so far has said - that the output of all recent iPhones is top of the range. And the same if you use the lightning-to-3.5mm adapter.

 

[redman042]

Let's face it. If you have bought into the Apple ecosystem, you're going to have to accept updating your accessories a little more often than with other platforms. There will be benefits in doing so, but it's going to cost a few bucks.

When Apple switched from 30-pin to Lightning, I had to toss the 30 pin cables and buy extra lightning cables. I like having extra ones in the house, car, and office. That cost a bit of money, but they are much better connectors than the 30 pin and they made room for bigger speakers and such on the phone. So I'm benefiting daily from the change.

With the loss of the headphone jack on the iPhone 7, that has prompted me to buy a bluetooth adapter for my 2011 vehicle that only has a wired aux input. Cost me $15 on Amazon for a nice one. The benefit is that now when I get in my car, I just insert the phone in the charging cradle mount that I have, and bluetooth connects automatically. I don't have to plug in another cable that used to dangle across my console.

For headphones, I already bought Jaybird bluetooth buds which work well and sound great and can be had for less than $60 (last year's model) on Amazon. They sound very close to wired buds and it's definitely nice to not be wired to the phone when I'm listening.

If I want to hear the best possible sound, the 7 ships with a headphone adapter which I'll use to plug in my Sony cans. As for the DAC, all Apple has done is move that from inside the phone to outside of it. Having to mess with an adapter is a little inconvenience, but I really do appreciate that the iPhone 7 is now water resistant, has a bigger battery, has larger and louder speakers, and has improved haptics. I will benefit from those features, enabled by the loss of the headphone port, daily.

Buy yes, Apple does force us to adapt to new technologies a little sooner than many may want. I don't expect everyone to be happy with that, especially if money is tight.

 

[dotnet]

We cannot be sure of all the reasons for the jack removal, and why it happened at this point in time, without the benefit of hindsight. It'll all become clear eventually. I believe Apple's longer term strategy is to go completely wireless, and I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if within the next two or three iPhone models even the lightning connector disappeared.

 

[Mac 128]

Everything Sunking says. Skipping the jack is just a rip-off. Pure greed. A wireless connection will never be as stable and noisefree as a wired one. It's a pain in the ass.

Never is a very long time. I would not take your bet.

No, and no. As to your first comment, I did not suggest expensive headphones are now useless. The focus of my post was entirely on the analogy between this change and the change from 30-pin to Lightning.

As to your second comment, it's simply incorrect. Use of an external DAC via the Lightning port can be an excellent option, and it can have sonic advantages over the headphone port. I have purchased several DACs over the years precisely because of the sonic advantages. However, that capability already existed with the Lightning port. If you had an external, Lightning-compatible DAC, you could do everything pre-iPhone 7 that you can do now, and with all attendant advantages. Removing the headphone jack doesn't create the benefit you cite.

Finally, don't assume my post meant more than it does. I like Apple, I very much like the iPhone 7, and I'm planning to buy one. I also recognize that removing the headphone enabled the haptic engine (or at least made that possible without additional compromise), so I understand what was involved here. But let's not pretend Apple's decision came at no cost.

No my comment wasn't incorrect. I was not commenting on the relevancy of the need to remove the jack. Rather I was commenting on the benefit of putting the DAC in the outboard gear being plugged into the iPhone. Ergo, more to the point you seem to be debating, removing the headphone jack forces any manufacturer who wants to be part of Apple's ecosystem to put a DAC and amp into their gear, where the existence of the headphone jack only encourages business as usual. Now, any headphone maker that wants to be compatible with the iPhone will likely design one headphone with a DAC & amp and 3.5mm analogue bypass jack, and either add a wireless radio and battery, or ship with either a detachable USB-C cable, Lightning cable. I would also expect some headphone manufacturers to build custom adapters to replace Apple's for their older headphones such that they can enjoy the same quality of sound as newer headphones. And over time, increased demand, and competition will lower the cost, and raise the quality. That wouldn't really happen if the headphone jack was still there.

I never implied Apple's decision came at no cost. But it's not like there's no benefit to the customer either.

 

[thats all folks]

The argument in this thread pretty much proves my point! It's a plug, its really not that big of a deal!

You must be reading a different thread! you've made no point at all! no one is backing you up! what you've done is rationalize the situation rather than face it. you may have some support in that.

 

[andyp350]

You must be reading a different thread! you've made no point at all! no one is backing you up! what you've done is rationalize the situation rather than face it. you may have some support in that.

My point is that the level of upset and discussion thst has gone into the removal of the headphone jack shows that most people have severely over reacted to what is not actually a very big deal at all.

 

[NorthSeaBeach]

My point is that the level of upset and discussion thst has gone into the removal of the headphone jack shows that most people have severely over reacted to what is not actually a very big deal at all.

No they haven't. You're entitled to your opinion only.

 

[thats all folks]

My point is that the level of upset and discussion thst has gone into the removal of the headphone jack shows that most people have severely over reacted to what is not actually a very big deal at all.

the point is that you've offered nothing but a vague, unsubstantiated opinion. and you are starting to demonstrate a bit of smug arrogance.

 

[DadBod630]

Yeah, I'm not really buying this "it's for the best" stuff. Apple removed an option and gave us nothing new. We had wireless before, we had Bluetooth before. The vast majority of people didn't mind wired earphones at all and for those who did, Bluetooth earphones have been on sale for years. Apple removed a cheap, cheerful and widely used interface from the iPhone and we're supposed to applaud it because, well, Apple said so.

The 3.5mm jack was "cheerful"? What is wrong with you?