Possible to use lightning headphones on other iOS devices?

[Jayson A]

Do you need to have the iPhone 7 to use lightening headphones? Is there some sort of extra pin in the iPhone 7's charging port that allows audio to go through?

I thought it was previously impossible to convert a digital signal into an analog signal through a single wire (without some sort of conversion processor).

 

[willmtaylor]

Lightning has always been for audio, charging, and data. It was designed that way.

 

[Jayson A]

Yes, of course.

How is an digital to analog conversion done without an inline processor? Like the same reason you can't buy an HDMI to Component cable (or vice versa).

 

[willmtaylor]

How is an digital to analog conversion done without an inline processor?

I changed my answer to be more precise.

 

[noteple]

Works with all devices that have a Lightning connector and support iOS 10 or later, including iPod touch, iPad, and iPhone.
http://www.apple.com/shop/product/MMTN2AM/A/earpods-with-lightning-connector

 

[theshoehorn]

How is an digital to analog conversion done without an inline processor? Like the same reason you can't buy an HDMI to Component cable (or vice versa).

I would assume there's a DAC in the headphones that takes care of this...

 

[Jayson A]

I changed my answer to be more precise.

That's not true. You used to be able to use the old dock connector for audio, but that changed when they introduced the lightning port. As far as I'm aware, in order to use the lightning port for audio, it has to be through USB. I've never seen a lightning to analog audio cable for any lightning device.
[doublepost=1473695175][/doublepost]

I would assume there's a DAC in the headphones that takes care of this...

How do you explain the adapter then? What about non-lightning headphones that still have the standard jack?

 

[willmtaylor]

Pretty sure ol' Phil addressed this in the keynote. Did you happen to catch it?

 

[theshoehorn]

That's not true. You used to be able to use the old dock connector for audio, but that changed when they introduced the lightning port. As far as I'm aware, in order to use the lightning port for audio, it has to be through USB. I've never seen a lightning to analog audio cable for any lightning device.
[doublepost=1473695175][/doublepost]

How do you explain the adapter then? What about non-lightning headphones that still have the standard jack?

My understanding is then the DAC is in the adapter too. You have to have a digital to analog converter somewhere and since lightning is digital, it's in the external headphones/adapters.

 

[Jayson A]

My understanding is then the DAC is in the adapter too. You have to have a digital to analog converter somewhere and since lightning is digital, it's in the external headphones/adapters.

How did they fit a converter inside that adapter? It's so small it looks like a lightning cable with a 3.5mm AUX input on the other end. Weird.

 

[willmtaylor]

How did they fit a converter inside that adapter? It's so small it looks like a lightning cable with a 3.5mm AUX input on the other end. Weird.

I guess we'll find out when iFixIt breaks it down on Friday.
Courage!

 

[tubeexperience]

I guess we'll find out when iFixIt breaks it down on Friday.
Courage!

How do you do strike through text?

 

[willmtaylor]

How do you do strike through text?

[brackets] around "s" & "/s" to end it (obviously).

 

[deeddawg]

lightening headphones

Lightning and Lightening are two VERY different things... I don't think I'd want headphones for the latter...

 

[sovereign]

My understanding is then the DAC is in the adapter too. You have to have a digital to analog converter somewhere and since lightning is digital, it's in the external headphones/adapters.

This seems to be correct.

Much, much more info here: http://www.head-fi.org/t/794101/iph...portable-audio-for-the-first-time-in-a-decade

 

[ZEEN0j]

Lightning headphones where available to buy last year. The 30 pin could even do video. I believe that was lost going to the 9 pin connector.

 

[tubeexperience]

This seems to be correct.

Much, much more info here: http://www.head-fi.org/t/794101/iph...portable-audio-for-the-first-time-in-a-decade

That's just wishful thinking.

 

[sovereign]

That's just wishful thinking.

What is?

 

[tubeexperience]

What is?

The overwhelming majority will continue to use the headphone jack for years to come.

It's not likely that humans will evolve be able to receive digital signals anytime soon.

 

[sovereign]

The overwhelming majority will continue to use the headphone jack for years to come.

It's not likely that humans will evolve be able to receive digital signals anytime soon.

Oh.

The point in linking that thread was to agree with a previous quoted post stating that there will have to be a DAC and amp in both the Lightning headphones and the adaptor, since the Lightning port is digital.

 

[Jayson A]

We know that ears aren't digital, but from personal experience, using USB or Bluetooth in the car has always resulted in better audio quality than using the headphone port because the audio receiver decodes the signal.

 

[Jonnybgoode87]

Apologies if I'm miss-understanding, but isn't it possible already to convert lighting to audio - the apple docks have a 3.5 mm out and i can't imagine theres a DAC converter in there, surely?

 

[chiefsilverback]

I was curious as to whether the new EarPods are 'digital' with the DAC and amp included within the connector/mic unit or whether the Lightning port detects headphones and is able to output an analog signal? If it's the former then that means the lightning to 3.5mm adapter must also include these components.

Up until now it has not been possible to get a Lightning to line-out cable. In our car we use the Apple Lightning to 30 pin adapter and then an 'old' 30 pin that splits to line-out and USB for power.

EDIT - on further thought, it is particularly interesting that the apparently the Lightning EarPods and 3.5mm adapter require iOS10 to work, whilst the smattering of Lightning enabled headphone already available will work with current devices. Could it be that there's a software change that allows analog audio from the Lightning connector when it detects either of these accessories?

 

[deeddawg]

Apologies if I'm miss-understanding, but isn't it possible already to convert lighting to audio - the apple docks have a 3.5 mm out and i can't imagine theres a DAC converter in there, surely?

Yep. Also see http://www.apple.com/shop/product/MMX62AM/A/lightning-to-35-mm-headphone-jack-adapter?fnode=97

 

[Jayson A]

Yep. Also see http://www.apple.com/shop/product/MMX62AM/A/lightning-to-35-mm-headphone-jack-adapter?fnode=97

I think he meant before the iPhone 7 reveal. Was it possible to convert lightning to 3.5mm before the keynote? The answer is the iPhone dock with the AUX port on it. However, the dock is plenty big enough to have a DAC in it, no?