AgentMcGeek
macrumors 6502
I'm not sure it would have such an impact on the decision. iPhone/iPad selling volumes should provide enough sellings.
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Next rMBPs Ditching Headphone Jacks for lightning/USBc?
- Thread starter rhyzome
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I'm not sure it would have such an impact on the decision. iPhone/iPad selling volumes should provide enough sellings.
maflynn
macrumors Broadwell
Agreed, but it presents a unified effort to promote their products and standardize on a specific technology
MrAverigeUser
macrumors 6502a
Ok - I meant: "It´s all about NOTHING BUT money."
And this is about to produce more and more customers who stayed with them since a long time - because before now, it was NOT all about nothing but money.
Perhaps you now understand better what I wanted to point out...
While Lightning is useful as audio out for some scenarios, it's the most limiting port available as far as options go. Only a few iOS devices have it, no macs have it, and no third parties use it. Why buy a fancy new set of wired headphones if they only work on a port for one of your devices? You would no longer be able to have a single primary pair of headphones, as you say.
So that leaves bluetooth as the only viable remaining option, if the 3.5mm jack was removed.
Then this 2015 13 inch Macbook will by my first and last purchase. I listen to music with a ton of different headphones and no way will i support this and will only buy Android devices and windows. If they offered it through USB C I would consider changing my stance but no way will i support it using the lightning port which is proprietary technology that is only usable on Apple devices. Same thing with the iPhone if they replace the lightning port with a USB C port and removed the headphone jack I will for sure buy the iPhone 7 but will seriously consider keeping my 6 Plus or going back to Android devices.
*facepalm*
Who cares! It's like saying you won't buy a new computer because it doesn't have a 3.5" floppy disk drive because your digital camera uses that. Both are out of date at some point and eventually this issue will be gone.
Unless you're using legacy headphones for a particular reason (in which case, an adapter will be available for you...) then it really won't matter.
In the future, I'd welcome USB-C or Lightning headphones. They're just like any other peripheral. Why not connect it using a shared port? Having a separate analog audio output that is prone to interference, doesn't carry power for noise cancelling or anything, is really ridiculous in this day and age.
Unlike most people here I have absolutely not attachment to Apple Nor windows either really when i think about it and ill use what I think is best. I am not paying for an overpriced adapter to use my expensive headphones with that I have spent around $1,000 + between them all. Nor will i support Apple in using a proprietary cable adapter or a proprietary headphone I can ONLY use for one or two devices. I have a windows laptop, Game consoles controllers, cellphone, and my Macbook that I regularly use my headphones with and buying a headphone with a lightning cable is useless outside the Apple ecosystem. I won't buy a dumb adapter out of principle because I don't believe in proprietary cables for only one or two uses. USB C maybe but Lightning port? no way I rather go using CD players then support Apple in forcing us to use their dumb proprietary cable system which is overpriced anyways. there is -100000000000000000000000000000000% chance ill ever buy another Apple product if they decide to make headphones to be plugged into my iPhone or new macbook with a proprietary cable. USB C is one thing but Lightning cable which is ONLY USABLE ON APPLE DEVICES? No way . I will go back to android and never buy another macbook new after this one dies.
I am for progress but not in with "Apple progress" and their way. As it is its dumb they use proprietary SSD's in their MacBooks to basically charge us a premium for more internal storage.
maflynn
macrumors Broadwell
Seems kind of odd to own a ton of different headphones.
Anyways there will be a dongle being offered, but if you're hung up on the headphone jack, then you're correct. You will not be buying a another Mac (if they do indeed drop it).
This. USB-C with Thunderbolt is enough to do pretty much everything. Not everything will be compatible with it at first, but "universal" is in the name and the other technology will just have to catch up.
Why would they use an expensive proprietary port that has no other use on the machine?? It makes sense on the phone to use one port for everything especially if they are considering a better water resistant rating but there is no monetary or functional reason for them to do the same thing on a laptop. In my opinion there is no chance of this happening for those reasons.
I use three different pairs of headphones very regularly. One for home use (open headphones), one for being in public (passive noice cancellation), and another for commuting on my bicycle. Each serve their purpose very well and I will not replace these either because of a proprietary port. My headphones are also around the $1000 mark combined.
- Out of curiosity, do you mind sharing which headphones those are? Especially the open-back ones.
Opened ones generally sound the best imo but horrible for portable use since it has zero isolation and brings in noise as well
Mr. Buzzcut
macrumors 65816
What's with harping on interference? Do you realize digital signals are subject to interference? And if it's higher order bits, a small amount in interference can be much nastier than analog. Beeps, clicks, screeches. Maybe not likely but let's hear from anyone who has experienced audible interference with their analog headphones who doesn't also have a neighbor with a 1kw CB or amateur radio.
And the posts about simplicity? What is simpler than a direct electrical connection to your speakers or headphones? Certainly not a tumor in the cord that has failure prone IC chips and is also outputting analog along the rest of the cord (lol). Only cans will be able to accommodate the electronics internally.
- Yes, I know. I was curious about the specific models he's using. You, too, if you feel like sharing.
If course 🙂 The open ones are Sennheiser HD650 which I bought 8 years ago or so. My being in public ones are Beoplay H6 (although they will be replaced with Beoplay H7 soon) and my commute ones are Marshall Major FX. Nothing kills headphones like biking which is why I have that pair of fairly inexpensive ones.
- Nice. I'd love to give those Sennheisers a try. Should be great for classical. Myself, I make do with just one pair for all-round use. The decent but not perfect Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. I also had Beyerdynamic DT660, but they didn't work for me at all.
maflynn
macrumors Broadwell
I balk at spending 100 on earbuds 😱
And I'm not one of those types, so I guess I cannot relate.
They are actually very good for basically anything. I have thrown so many different styles of music after these headphones, and they deliver every single time. One of the best purchases I have ever made. I have unfortunately never heard the Audio-Technica that you own.
Hehe. I guess we all feel that way about various things 😀 Good sounds is one of my passions which is why I enjoy and prioritize having good equipment. Hence why I will not support Apple if they decide that a 3.5mm minijack is now obsolete.
- And that fundamental difference in priorities is superbly manifested in the post directly above this one and below yours. 🙂
Bluetooth...
RadioGaGa1984
Suspended
throAU
macrumors G4
Not sure what you're driving at with that, but bluetooth being a digital signal all the way to the speaker driver is potentially less subject to electrical noise being picked up by the cable.
Plus... no cables.
- I've nothing against digital signals.
I'm driving at the fact that Bluetooth is a method of audio transmission driven by convenience rather than quality. Because of latency and its susceptibility to interference (such as with USB 3.0 devices), it isn't really suited for high-quality or audiophile products, let alone any sort of professional applications.
It's perfectly fine for the wide mass-consumption market, and there's nothing wrong with that market, but it just isn't ready for hi-fi - though I'm sure the day will come when it is.