How do you see the whole headphonejack thing?

[LovingTeddy]

I went out brought a pair of Bluetooth headphone (Plantronics Backbeat GO 2) about 60 dollars in CAD. I tried it and played my music with it.

The experience is:
1. It does what it suppose to do. Listen to music no problem.
2. The sound quality is not as good as my 50 dollar wired headphone.
3. Wired headphone sounds more full than wireless one and boss sounds lots better than Bluetooth one. I am not sure if I brought a crappy Bluetooth headphone or not.
4. i dislike how Bluetooth pairing works. I have 3 iPhones, 2 iPads and MacBook. With wired headphone, all I need to do is plug in and use it. With wireless headphone. I need unpair with one devices, then press to bottom to reset and repair with different phone. It is very annoying.

Conclusion: Bluetooth headphone does not provide better or equal sound quality than wired headphones. It is very annoying to use same headphone across many devices. I will stick with wired headphone for now. And since Lightning based headphone only works with iPhone, so I will not buy anything only works with iPhone but not others.

I WILL NOT buy iPhone. Removing 3.5mm is biggest no no for me.

 

[masterbaron]

ah, the end is nigh! Yes indeed iPhone 6S may be the last stop for a good while. The press to eliminate the headphone jack is proof positive that Apple wants control so badly they will omit meaningful applications of existing technologies and those who rely upon them.

I've had enough with charging devices and the inherent failure of those devices and/or the run time difference between the iPhone charge and the Bluetooth headsets which means the headset will die before the iPhone and you'll be SOL while in-transit. Bad business all the way around and no new technology to make the removal at least intriguing. Its a dumb-down, and those who buy in deserve the inconvenience afforded them.

It's just the absence of logic - more drain on the iPhone battery and another 2 devices to charge all the while with no compelling improvement to existing battery life or sound quality - and that codec in the Bluetooth headset can't do jack sh-t for a compressed format --- Pure Genius!!

I feel so bad right now having invested so much in Apple for them to take us to the cliff and just leave us ... not to mention the desktop scenario which is equally dismal at best.

Hard to believe really ... really!

 

[Loompy]

At first I was like "WTF is Apple thinking removing the headphone jack" (if they do)
But now I'm really wanting to stop using the earpods because they get uncomfortable and the wires are annoying. Looking forward for a reason to get some nice Bluetooth over-ear headphones

 

[aPple nErd]

I see it like this: a bunch of people are complaining that a majority of users still use the aux jack. I myself do and i probably wont buy the 7 if it doesnt have a jack. I see the people that are for the change in the same way i would see somebody that doesnt drink coffee saying that it should be illegal. They might not use it, but to take away the OPTION of drinking coffee from billions of people around the world would be just plaid stupid. It goes the same for the bigots who are against gay marriage. If you arent going to marry the same sex that doesnt mean it should be illegal for other people that want to since it wont harm them or have any affect on those who dont. Just my 3 cents
[doublepost=1473222107][/doublepost]

For you. Other people see a wire attached to their head as inconvenient.

But why not have the option? Its not like if they would put a headphone jack in it you wouldnt be able to use bluetooth if you wanted to...

 

[AlphaHumanus]

I've got wired and BT. Apple Earpods and Jaybird Freedoms. I have no preference on sound, but the Freedoms are more comfortable and cooler. I happen to use the Earpods 90% more, because the mic is positioned better abs doesn't sound like trash. I need to find a suitable pair of BT headphones for taking calls.
[doublepost=1473223362][/doublepost]What if the dongle is a BT 3.5mm jack with touch controls.

 

[d5aqoëp]

I see it like this: a bunch of people are complaining that a majority of users still use the aux jack. I myself do and i probably wont buy the 7 if it doesnt have a jack. I see the people that are for the change in the same way i would see somebody that doesnt drink coffee saying that it should be illegal. They might not use it, but to take away the OPTION of drinking coffee from billions of people around the world would be just plaid stupid. It goes the same for the bigots who are against gay marriage. If you arent going to marry the same sex that doesnt mean it should be illegal for other people that want to since it wont harm them or have any affect on those who dont. Just my 3 cents

On the same note I can say the same about people who are against murder. If one isn't going to murder, doesn't mean it should be illegal for other people who want to since it won't harm them or have any effect on the ones who don't want to.



/s

PS: Even I am against removal of headphone jack as the ecosystem has not even developed yet. I hate to carry around dongles and I won't be able to use the crappy Apple provided plastic ear piercings on any other Android. But one thing is sure. I would miss the pain caused by original ear shatterers after prolonged use.

 

[M. Gustave]

I went out brought a pair of Bluetooth headphone (Plantronics Backbeat GO 2) about 60 dollars in CAD...
...I am not sure if I brought a crappy Bluetooth headphone or not...

Yes, you did. With Bluetooth, you really need to stick to Bose, Sony, Sennheiser, the big ones. Plantronics always made cheap junk for voice calls.
[doublepost=1473243493][/doublepost]

Would you carry that Bluetooth adapter in your pocket everywhere you go?

When I was playing in bands, I carried a guitar case, and a backpack full of Boss pedals, batteries, patch cables, guitar cords, strings, and every kind of adapter I might need at the practice space or show. So I'm not feeling sorry for you with a 1 oz Bluetooth adapter.

 

[akash.nu]

Not true. Even modern bluetooth can have regular dropouts going as short a distance as from a back pocket to your ears. Any runner who uses their phone and bluetooth headphones is aware of this. Bluetooth sucks at penetrating through the human body. This is why those new completely wireless earbuds had to come up with another wireless method of transmitting from ear to ear.

I've never had issues connecting my Bluetooth headphones while running or working out. Although while lifting weights I keep the phone away. Wireless is just more convenient.

I only use wired when I know I won't have access to charging point or I know wire won't be an issue.

 

[akash.nu]

I don't see the necessity, but It would make more sense, in getting rid of the headphones jack, to move to usb c.

That is a standard the entire industry can move towards. By sticking with lightning, Apple may gain profit off of accessories in the short term, but may loose in the long term. It seems short sited to me.

The entire industry could move to USB c, with a uniform standard across smartphones, laptops, tablets, cars, etc, etc. Instead, if the industry does, you will need adapters to work outside of Apple prodcuts. Doesn't seem like the best move....

Apple has never followed the industry and I don't think they will in this case either.

 

[akash.nu]

https://securityledger.com/2016/08/ftc-warns-consumers-of-rental-car-data-theft-risk/

Sync your phone to your hearts content.

ALL the features touted by the pro-removal folks could have been true without the removal of 3.5mm. The iPod Touch is thinner, WITH 3.5mm. Other phones are waterproof with the 3.5mm plug. Lightening headphones have been available for a while, it's just that no ones uses them because they are less convenient and less versatile than 3.5mm headphones. Bluetooth needs to be charged constantly, where as you don't have that inconvenience with a wired pair.

Agree with all of your point there. That's why eagerly waiting to see what Apple does in reality. Not gonna jump on buying the device immediately if they release the phone without a solution to all of your points above.

 

[akash.nu]

I don't know why everyone is talking about Apple trying to make profit, did you all think Apple was a charity?!

 

[akash.nu]

bluetooth headphones: pairing issues, volume issues, another thing to charge.
Some would say sound quality issues.
Selection issues--very few quality ones.

I've been fooled so many times by bluetooth where sometimes the music starts startingly loud, or if it doesn't scare me, then an incoming call would or a notification would (more so on Android since it does not have good attention to details like this), or the pairing would take a good minute to find my headphones, or whatever bluetooth accessory it is.

There is no way that this is going to end well, although it always does for Apple. Someone needs to calculate the extra money Apple will be making on the selling of bluetooth headphones and ligthning adapters as a direct result of this. I would not be surprised if it's 25 billion over the next two years. Not chump change.

This is a new variation on the gilette give away the razors, make money on selling the blades idea.
Except in this case, Apple makes a new razor that doesn't do anything better, but requires a new set of blades that may or may not cut you while shaving :>

Thank you, Apple!

Out of your huge response I found the razor analogy to be hilarious. Never heard of anybody trying to compare iPhone with razor.

 

[akash.nu]

No problem here. I just rented a car in Washington state and didn't sync my phone. I only plugged it in to keep it charged. I used turn by turn directions via phone speaker.

For music I used the car's radio because I wanted to hear local traffic and news as well as music.

Oh and in the hotel I simply used BT and charged overnight. What's the big deal about a hotel?

I agree. One explicitly need to grant permission to sync with the car. Why'd anybody, in their sane mind, do that on a rented car?

 

[Newtons Apple]

Have not used the jack in years so no problems for me. For others there will be adapters.

 

[akash.nu]

Yes, you did. With Bluetooth, you really need to stick to Bose, Sony, Sennheiser, the big ones. Plantronics always made cheap junk for voice calls.

I have a plantronix but the back beat original edition. I felt the sound quality to be more than acceptable for my casual and gym listening experience.

 

[Cloudane]

Another user inconvenience and another vendor lock-in, with various excuses like water resistance (you can already get water resistant headphone jacks), thinness (2.5mm jacks?) "security", "protecting" your phone from cheap Chinese knockoff stuff etc.

Been there done that. Every year something else gets eroded and you think "well it's okay, I can manage with this, I can live with that, I can do without the other, it sounds like good reasoning" and it doesn't seem to matter. Until you get out and look back and think "wow, look how all that erosion has added up!"
Not this time. The iPhone 7 will omit things that you can live without - it's how they all add up that becomes a problem.

 

[LovingTeddy]

Yes, you did. With Bluetooth, you really need to stick to Bose, Sony, Sennheiser, the big ones. Plantronics always made cheap junk for voice calls.
[doublepost=1473243493][/doublepost]

When I was playing in bands, I carried a guitar case, and a backpack full of Boss pedals, batteries, patch cables, guitar cords, strings, and every kind of adapter I might need at the practice space or show. So I'm not feeling sorry for you with a 1 oz Bluetooth adapter.

See that is the problem. I am not willing to spend several hundred dollars for a Bluetoth headphone when I have some great wired headphone (Like Audio Technical ATH-MX50 and AKG K240 MX II). I don't see the reason why would I invest other several hundred dollars for Bluetooth headphone or Lightning based headphones.

Bluetooth headphone is more or less inconvenience for me. It need to charged, it need to be paired and unpaired when using with different devices. It is just pain in the butt.
[doublepost=1473248306][/doublepost]

I have a plantronix but the back beat original edition. I felt the sound quality to be more than acceptable for my casual and gym listening experience.

While it might be fine in the gym, because ir is pretty noisy.

I tried to use my patronix headphone, it is perry disappointing. Sound sounds very plastic, there is no enough punch to the base. It just more or less equals to some cheap wired headphones.

 

[douglasf13]

Yes, you did. With Bluetooth, you really need to stick to Bose, Sony, Sennheiser, the big ones. Plantronics always made cheap junk for voice calls.
[doublepost=1473243493][/doublepost]

When I was playing in bands, I carried a guitar case, and a backpack full of Boss pedals, batteries, patch cables, guitar cords, strings, and every kind of adapter I might need at the practice space or show. So I'm not feeling sorry for you with a 1 oz Bluetooth adapter.

Obviously, if we're talking situations with other equipment, it's a non issue. I already carry my MacBook around in a bag with a bunch of cables/adapters. The issue is all the other times when I don't have a bunch of equipment with me. Plus, it's another thing to charge.

Maybe Apple should bring back the recessed jack from the first iPhone, since we all apparently feel like carrying around adapters now?

 

[7enderbender]

I highly recommend the tiny Bose Bluetooth adapter, it's pricier than the cheapo Chinese adapters, but it works flawlessly, sounds great, and has a solid build quality.

https://www.amazon.com/Bose-727012-.../B00NTUEDMY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1473206860

That's not the point. How many of these stupid Bose gadgets am I supposed to buy? And for the record, I never ever would buy anything Bose. Overpriced bassy BS that I wouldn't want under the kitchen cabinet let alone in the living room or my music room.
Now, any time I'm in someone's studio, car or one of the band practice rooms I have to remember bringing one of these adapters just to hook up the phone (as a storage device for my own work or to check out another artist, etc) to a piece of professional audio gear. No, those don't run on bluetooth and they won't any time soon.

 

[0007776]

Being able to use headphones on multiple devices without adapters is a very basic feature, and not having it is a deal breaker for me.

 

[7enderbender]

If your whole life (apparently) revolves around the 3.5mm jack on your phone, then I guess the newest iPhone won't appeal to you, and you'll need to find an alternative.

But if you're expecting Apple to cater to the tech needs of musicians - the only remaining consumers of the vacuum tube - I wouldn't count on it.

No, I haven't counted on that since they removed Firewire and now even USB from standard computers. It's just sad since the audio-visual crowd was what kept Apple alive before they went 110% consumer market. And there is no alternative, that's the annoying part, and these bastards know this. I have several Macs now, have converted my audio and photo software to be Apple compatible, iPhones are integrated with other devices and iTunes purchases. So I'm stuck - and Android gizmos seem even more unappealing, while Blackberry (unfortunately) is dead in the water.

And yes, I use plenty of vacuum tubes. Those niche markets are thriving, including some high tech companies that are piggy backing on those. I don't get why the same company that wants us to buy Logic Pro X and Mainstage is so inconsiderate when it comes to the basics of hardware needs.

 

[douglasf13]

No, I haven't counted on that since the removed Firewire and now even USB from standard computers. It's just sad since the audio-visual crowd was what kept Apple alive before they went 110% consumer market. And there is no alternative, that's the annoying part, and these bastards know this. I have several Macs now, have converted my audio and photo software to be Apple compatible, iPhones are integrated with other devices and iTunes purchases. So I'm stuck - and Android gizmos seem even more unappealing, while Blackberry (unfortunately) is dead in the water.

And yes, I use plenty of vacuum tubes. Those niche markets are thriving, including some high tech companies that are piggy backing on those. I don't get why the same company that wants us to buy Logic Pro X and Mainstage is so inconsiderate when it comes to the basics of hardware needs.

I'm just gonna buy the SE to last for a few more years, and then I'll see what new technology could help mend this.

 

[Bacong]

I would assume most of you use one pair of headphones with your iPhones, right? Just keep the adapter connected to them. I'd wager a guess that the vast majority of people who use an iPhone use the headphones included, so I don't really see a problem.

 

[douglasf13]

I would assume most of you use one pair of headphones with your iPhones, right? Just keep the adapter connected to them. I'd wager a guess that the vast majority of people who use an iPhone use the headphones included, so I don't really see a problem.

Nope, that's the point. Wife's car, my several pairs of headphones that I keep at work, home, etc., other people's stereo systems, etc. I use the 3.5mm jack quite a bit.

 

[7enderbender]

I would assume most of you use one pair of headphones with your iPhones, right? Just keep the adapter connected to them. I'd wager a guess that the vast majority of people who use an iPhone use the headphones included, so I don't really see a problem.

The problem is not the headphones. I could easily leave one of the stupid adapters connected to my Shure headphones. The issue is all those occasions where you quickly want to pull your phone out to connect it to somebody's audio gear in a more professional setting.