Headphone jack

[CTHarrryH]

My issue is that I would have to have a different headset for phone than MBP than iPad and non - Apple devices I use. Not interested in wireless I have enough devices charging over the place. I'm not a big music on the devices person and even though it might sound better I really don't care. I also travel quite a bit and it is nice carrying only 1 headset and if you forget or something happens you can get another very cheaply everywhere.
Charging and listening at same time is very important to me since I often do work conference calls that last hours and have the phone plugged in so I don't run out of power.
We'll see - I'm sure it is happening and whatever solutions I'm sure I'll find something that works for me. I just hope they are doing this so the screen can be larger in same size frame rather than just to make phone thinner

 

[jasie02]

My issue is that I would have to have a different headset for phone than MBP than iPad and non - Apple devices I use. Not interested in wireless I have enough devices charging over the place. I'm not a big music on the devices person and even though it might sound better I really don't care. I also travel quite a bit and it is nice carrying only 1 headset and if you forget or something happens you can get another very cheaply everywhere.
Charging and listening at same time is very important to me since I often do work conference calls that last hours and have the phone plugged in so I don't run out of power.
We'll see - I'm sure it is happening and whatever solutions I'm sure I'll find something that works for me. I just hope they are doing this so the screen can be larger in same size frame rather than just to make phone thinner

There will be 3.5mm to lightning or USB-C adapter, smaller than any cable you will be carry during travel, so you could use 3.5mm audio jack with your favor headphone. Just think it is part of your headphone, you will be fine.

Example of 3.5mm to USB-C adapter:

 

[steve62388]

If the change to lightning happens you can see all the complaints and headlines now. For their own sake I just hope they include an adaptor in the box, it's not marketing rocket science. It wouldn't cost a huge amount per unit and will save a lot of kick off.

 

[CTHarrryH]

There will be 3.5mm to lightning or USB-C adapter, smaller than any cable you will be carry during travel, so you could use 3.5mm audio jack with your favor headphone. Just think it is part of your headphone, you will be fine.

Example of 3.5mm to USB-C adapter:
View attachment 617466

that won't help me charge at the same time.

 

[jasie02]

that won't help me charge at the same time.

Wireless charge, or split adapter similar use as single USB-C port on new MacBook retina.

Personally, if I could wireless charge my phone, there is no way I will ever connect a cable to charge, unless my wireless charger is not available or broken.

 

[Flow39]

If the change to lightning happens you can see all the complaints and headlines now. For their own sake I just hope they include an adaptor in the box, it's not marketing rocket science. It wouldn't cost a huge amount per unit and will save a lot of kick off.

I agree. I would hope they would include an adapter if they do get rid of the jack. Having to fork over another $30 for an adapter is kind of bad for their image, especially since removing the headphone jack is already controversial enough.

 

[jasie02]

I agree. I would hope they would include an adapter if they do get rid of the jack. Having to fork over another $30 for an adapter is kind of bad for their image, especially since removing the headphone jack is already controversial enough.

I agreed they should, but I bet they are not. They will included a lightning port version of white earbud similar as current 3.5mm version of earbud but with lightning connector, so they could sell adaptor hopefully with better DAC inside.

I would prefer an Apple/Beats adaptor with better DAC inside, so I could use with high end 3.5mm headphone, and pay more for it, than a cheap adapter with cheap DAC. People does not want to pay for high end DAC adaptor, could just use lightning earbud.

Added: I will pay for an external DAC with similar quality as 2015 MBPr 15". Do a A/B test with a decent headphone amp and headphone, you will understand how good that DAC is compared with existing iPhone DAC. The detail, spatial soundstage, and bass impact are all significantly better in 2015 MBPr 15" DAC vs iPhone DAC.

 

[cynics]

I agreed they should, but I bet they are not. They will included a lightning port version of white earbud similar as current 3.5mm version of earbud but with lightning connector, so they could sell adaptor hopefully with better DAC inside.

I would prefer an Apple/Beats adaptor with better DAC inside, so I could use with high end 3.5mm headphone, and pay more for it, than a cheap adapter with cheap DAC. People does not want to pay for high end DAC adaptor, could just use lightning earbud.

Added: I will pay for an external DAC with similar quality as 2015 MBPr 15". Do a A/B test with a decent headphone amp and headphone, you will understand how good that DAC is compared with existing iPhone DAC. The detail, spatial soundstage, and bass impact are all significantly better in 2015 MBPr 15" DAC vs iPhone DAC.

Can you imagine how bad lightning earbuds would be? They will need to be cheap like the current one but will need a DAC built into them.

 

[jasie02]

Can you imagine how bad lightning earbuds would be? They will need to be cheap like the current one but will need a DAC built into them.

Actually it might be better than you think, since DAC is out of iPhone PCB, less worry about design noise (electronic signal noise, not sound noise) from main PCB design. They could design DAC inside of 3 buttons module, and make 3 buttons slightly bigger/thicker.

Added: ifixit link for 3-button PCB. Apple certainly could put more in this with slightly size increase.

 

[Tech198]

Wireless charging

they won't get it out in time. I would bet adapters (lightening to lightening/3.5 adapter)

If Apple forces everyone to buy new headphone just for one device they wanna lock u into by doing this, then i say nuts to that...

What if u also use an Android phone too ? u gotta keep two pairs of headphones around. There'll need to be an "expensive" (read) adapter.

 

[Mac 128]

that won't help me charge at the same time.

How's this then...

[doublepost=1456116104][/doublepost]

Can you imagine how bad lightning earbuds would be? They will need to be cheap like the current one but will need a DAC built into them.

I can imagine how fantastic they will be. Apple has to hit the ball out of the park, so I'll bet they take a loss on including the best possible earbuds they can, with a DAC superior to the one currently in the phone. It will be a major marketing point about how amazing Apple Music sounds over Lightning.

What if u also use an Android phone too ? u gotta keep two pairs of headphones around. There'll need to be an "expensive" (read) adapter.

Your need to use an Android phone is absolutely not Apple's concern. There will of course be an adapter and based on the fact Apple sold an iPhone 5 dock with two lightning data connectors, and a 3.5mm Jack with DAC and amp for $29, I'm thinking a much simpler adapter (one Lightning connector passing audio only, and one 3.5mm jack) will be around $20 from Apple and $10 or less from third parties, depending on the quality you need.

But Apple wants you to move to wireless, and to a lesser degree Lightning, so offering a cheap adapter is not really in that interest to encourage customers to keep using relatively cheap 3.5mm products.

 

[Truefan31]

Yeah I don't see wireless charging yet. Maybe the 7s.

 

[Sirious]

I've never charged my iPhone while I use headphones with it.

 

[maflynn]

I've never charged my iPhone while I use headphones with it.

That's what I'm doing right now. I'm working, I have my iphone plugged in listening to work, and charging. I don't have iTunes loaded onto the computer as its a work computer.

 

[jasie02]

they won't get it out in time. I would bet adapters (lightening to lightening/3.5 adapter)

What you call "adaptor" is as complicated as added into earbud. Design principal are the same. Just one terminated with 3.5mm audio jack, and other one terminated with 3 button controls and connection to earbud.

if you get a chance to work for any HW company release replacement product everg year, you will know already design start at least 1 year ago. When you will be buying 7, 7s design will started around same time.

It is mostly testing, mfg processing, improvement, material... Not design.

 

[cynics]

I can imagine how fantastic they will be. Apple has to hit the ball out of the park, so I'll bet they take a loss on including the best possible earbuds they can, with a DAC superior to the one currently in the phone. It will be a major marketing point about how amazing Apple Music sounds over Lightning.

Could very well be we'll have to wait and see....

However I find that unlikely for several reasons.

The obvious is Apple had the same task for sound quality with the iPod (then into the iPhone) and for 14 years has been releasing mediocre ear buds. So if history has taught us anything.......

Secondly for ear buds to benefit from a better external DAC we are talking a very high price set of ear buds. Apples not going to eat the cost of a 200-300 set of ear buds especially since many people don't even take them out of the box. Something like these dual coil RHA's would benefit from a higher quality DAC...

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B013BL45T6/ref=psdc_12097478011_t1_B011KULTU8



Third and probably the most obvious is the marketing point. Selling the iPhone 7 on something the iPhone 5 can already do (plus more with its 3.5mm port) is not a good marketing point. No will buy an iPhone 7 because of this because no one needs too...well unless you have an iPhone 4S and even then there are similar options available.

IMO they will briefly talk about how great lightning audio is and include similar quality ear buds to what they have now.

Keep in mind that's just my opinion based on Apples history across their entire product line. I hope I'm wrong and they include an impressive audio solution...just seems wishful thinking to me since you can't even find that in an Apple Store let alone boxed in every iPhone.

 

[jasie02]

How's this then...

I can imagine how fantastic they will be. Apple has to hit the ball out of the park, so I'll bet they take a loss on including the best possible earbuds they can, with a DAC superior to the one currently in the phone. It will be a major marketing point about how amazing Apple Music sounds over Lightning.

Cynics,

You quote the wrong person, not from me, they are from Mac 128.

 

[cynics]

Cynics,

You quote the wrong person, not from me, they are from Mac 128.

Sorry about that!

 

[Mac 128]

Could very well be we'll have to wait and see....

However I find that unlikely for several reasons.

The obvious is Apple had the same task for sound quality with the iPod (then into the iPhone) and for 14 years has been releasing mediocre ear buds. So if history has taught us anything.......

Secondly for ear buds to benefit from a better external DAC we are talking a very high price set of ear buds. Apples not going to eat the cost of a 200-300 set of ear buds especially since many people don't even take them out of the box. Something like these dual coil RHA's would benefit from a higher quality DAC...

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B013BL45T6/ref=psdc_12097478011_t1_B011KULTU8

Third and probably the most obvious is the marketing point. Selling the iPhone 7 on something the iPhone 5 can already do (plus more with its 3.5mm port) is not a good marketing point. No will buy an iPhone 7 because of this because no one needs too...well unless you have an iPhone 4S and even then there are similar options available.

IMO they will briefly talk about how great lightning audio is and include similar quality ear buds to what they have now.

Keep in mind that's just my opinion based on Apples history across their entire product line. I hope I'm wrong and they include an impressive audio solution...just seems wishful thinking to me since you can't even find that in an Apple Store let alone boxed in every iPhone.

Apple will put at least the same quality DAC in their earbuds as was built into the iPhone. Unlike the iPods, and iPhones, et al, of the past; Apple won't have to be concerned with accommodating a wide variety of headphones being plugged into the device anymore, so they can make custom adjustments to the DAC and amp that precisely enhance the earbuds they include. Literally without changing any of the hardware, in this manner they can noticibly improve the sound quality.

As for marketing, while I fully expect Apple's Lightning pods to work with previous Lightning devices, there may be one significant difference -- the iPad Pro introduced a 17-pin Lightning 2 connector. What Apple would be marketing would be HQ audio, and that may require more than the legacy 9-pins. In other words, only the people buying the iPhone 7, or iPad Pro will be able to listen to HQ audio.

While I fully respect your opinion based on Apple's history, this is also a pretty significant move. Apple is going to want to shut down the critics before they get started, just like when they removed the physical keyboard from the original iPhone. And that's the equivalent of what's happening here. Hence, why I think Apple might put a little more money into the earbuds for this next launch. They're gonna want to sell people on Lightning, who aren't already wireless converts. And frankly, there's absolutely nothing wrong with showcasing the Lightning technology on the iPhone 7, which is also compatible with earlier model iPhones. People will still have to go out and buy Lightning earbuds in order to get even basic quality Lightning audio, whether or not HQ audio is backward compatible. And, they may not be available to anyone but iPhone 7 customers at first. And since Apple has some control of the Lightning licensing process, they may only green light high end Lightning headphones at first to ensure an excellent experience. Regardless, I fully expect the iPhone 7 to have many more features than HQ sound, which means people are still going to buy it whether can buy a $40 pair of Lightning earbuds to use with their iPhone 5 or not, and Apple still makes plenty of money selling accessories to previous iPhone models.