Lightning Headphones: Are They Better or Just an Inconvenience?

[MacRumors]

According to some rumors, Apple's iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will not include a headphone jack, requiring headphones to connect to the devices using a Lightning connector. In light of these rumors, we've taken a look at several different pairs of Lightning-connected headphones to explore the benefits and drawbacks of an iPhone with no headphone jack.

In the video below, we compare headphones at three price points: the $45 Brightech earphones, the $300 Philips Fidelio M2L headphones, and the $800 Audeze El-8 headphones to offer some insight into how they sound compared to headphones connecting with a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Apple has perhaps been preparing for the removal of the headphone jack since 2014, when it introduced a Made for iPhone specification to allow third-party manufacturers to create headphones with Lightning connectors instead of 3.5mm headphone jacks.

While Lightning-connected headphones can only be used with iOS devices and prevent the devices from being charged while in use, two obvious negatives, there are also some significant benefits.

Our iPhones today include a 3.5mm headphone jack with a built-in digital to analog converter, or DAC, for playing music, which is then amplified through a built-in amp. Size and cost constraints associated with the 3.5mm headphone jack limit the quality of the DAC and amp, but in Lightning-connected headphones, the DAC and the amp are built into the headphones themselves instead of the iPhone, allowing manufacturers to control sound quality.

In our tests, all of the Lightning-connected headphones, from the $45 pair to the $800 pair, sounded better than comparable headphones connected to an iPhone using the 3.5mm jack, so while many of us may be disappointed with the inconvenience of no headphone jack, at least there's the silver lining of better quality audio when using Lightning-connected headphones.

Note: Philips provided MacRumors with the Philips Fidelio M2L headphones free of charge for the purposes of this hands-on test. Audeze provided MacRumors with a loaner set of the El-8 headphones which were returned at the conclusion of testing and the Britech headphones were purchased by MacRumors. No other compensation was received.

Article Link: Lightning Headphones: Are They Better or Just an Inconvenience?

 

[hybroid]

It's the age of bluetooth headsets now, cut the cords!

 

[levitynyc]

As someone who listens to music at work with headphones while charging...no thanks.

 

[bpeeps]

The only thing I use headphones for are my iPhone, so I am really not bothered if they remove the jack. Though when the jack disappears, I'll opt for bluetooth over lightning.

 

[big-ted]

While Lightning-connected headphones can only be used with iOS devices - that's more than just an inconvenience, it makes them useless for using on anything else but an iPhone

 

[NT1440]

As someone who listens to music at work with headphones while charging...no thanks.

Why don't we see what the actual product will before before poo-pooing the idea?

 

[BeefCake 15]

I don't understand what's wrong with the wireless/Bluetooth headphone option? There are great ones to use starting at $20 on Amazon and up depending on your purchase preference. No reason to stay wired any more practically and even those wireless headphones come with a wiring option.

 

[okjedi]

And... if there is a smart connector, the phone could charge that way if the lightning bolt port is being used.

 

[BeSweeet]

I'd rather not have to deal with dongles or adapters to use my headphones on other devices, or to listen and charge at the same time. I'd rather go wireless at this point, but that won't happen for a while.

I'm still hoping Apple will go all USB-C, but we all know that probably won't happen since Apple loves doing their own thing.

 

[Huracan]

As someone who listens to music at work with headphones while charging...no thanks.

I am in the same boat. I would also add driving in older cars without bluetooth, charging while connected to the AUX port. I would guess that Apple would produce an adapter that would provide an additional port for charging, but I would guess that it would be expensive and inconvenient.

 

[big-ted]

It's the age of bluetooth headsets now, cut the cords!

Can you find me a pair of bluetooth earbuds that sound better or just as good as corded ?

 

[gsmornot]

Bluetooth is fine but like other wireless technologies its not about quality but convenience. Its more convenient not to have a cord handing down when I run so I like wireless. Its easier to get in and out of the car with music if I can wirelessly control and listen. Thing is, cable connected sounds better. Cable connected networking is generally better as well but less convenient.

I'm fine with Lightning headphones and don't mind if they only work with the phone. I have lots of "older" style headphones around to use with all of the other devices. Its not a big deal if the pair only works with the phone.

 

[ChrisA]

To all those who say you can't change the phone and listen to music at the same time: I bet some one make a "Y" cable to solve that problem. It will be a little there legged cable that goes to the phone, a USB charger and the headphones

The other cable you will be able to buy, I'm sure is a lightening to 3.5mm headphone dongle so you can use your non-lightening headphones. Maybe also a lightening to 1/4 jack so you can use your studio headphones

Likely there will be cables that do both of the above at once and other combinations as well

 

[tom.humphrey]

I don't understand what's wrong with the wireless/Bluetooth headphone option? There are great ones to use starting at $20 on Amazon and up depending on your purchase preference. No reason to stay wired any more practically and even those wireless headphones come with a wiring option.

As far as I'm aware apple still doesn't support aptx which is used by most bluetooth headphone/speakers for audio transmission. Without this it makes audio quality pretty sucky.

 

[Exhale]

I don't understand what's wrong with the wireless/Bluetooth headphone option?

An additional device with battery you need to keep track of, shorter battery life on the phone itself, doesn't handle interference well, and tends to suffer from distortion when simultaneously using wifi.

The latter two will become more common the more regular BT headsets become.

 

[GoodWheaties]

I don't understand what's wrong with the wireless/Bluetooth headphone option? There are great ones to use starting at $20 on Amazon and up depending on your purchase preference. No reason to stay wired any more practically and even those wireless headphones come with a wiring option.

Because they have to be charged?

 

[FSMBP]

I don't understand what's wrong with the wireless/Bluetooth headphone option? There are great ones to use starting at $20 on Amazon and up depending on your purchase preference. No reason to stay wired any more practically and even those wireless headphones come with a wiring option.

Sound quality, connecting to multiple devices & another device to charge are a few drawbacks. Also, if you use headphones across multiple devices, some may not offer Bluetooth (i.e. work desktops, or pre 2014 PCs in general).

 

[thekeyring]

I'm hoping that if Apple ditch the headphone port, the headphones in the box will be wireless. Then they'll work with other devices.

 

[ProMacs]

error

 

[thekeyring]

Bluetooth is fine but like other wireless technologies its not about quality but convenience. Its more convenient not to have a cord handing down when I run so I like wireless. Its easier to get in and out of the car with music if I can wirelessly control and listen. Thing is, cable connected sounds better. Cable connected networking is generally better as well but less convenient.

It depends - didn't WiFi overtake Ethernet speeds? Because WiFi was more convenient so developed more, where as Ethernet was left behind. I can see a similar thing happening with audio.

 

[braintumor]

No thank you!! The only alternative is bluetooth... I don't wanna end up buying headphones for my iphone and headphones for everything else, or need to to use some kind of adapter... No way!

 

[ProMacs]

What about those of us who use the credit card readers for our business. They all plug into the headphone jack. Companies will have to make new versions and I know they won't be free like the current versions.

 

[zelman]

As someone who listens to music at work with headphones while charging...no thanks.

Yeah. It seems annoyingly restrictive. Perhaps they will have 2 lightning ports? That wouldn't increase thickness.

 

[stu.h]

Surely this is a none-issue.
It's inevitable there will be a charging pass-through connector (if not by Apple, then 3rd party), although I really can't see apple NOT including a pass-through.
Bring on the 7 Plus

 

[gsmornot]

It depends - didn't WiFi overtake Ethernet speeds? Because WiFi was more convenient so developed more, where as Ethernet was left behind. I can see a similar thing happening with audio.

What do you suppose makes the wireless access point work? (an ethernet cable connecting it to the switch)

 

[boast]

I guess this proves the DAC inside the iPhones is not good!