Predict how Apple will attempt reasoning the lack of the headphone jack

[zhenya]

So it doesn't? excuse my ignorance but wouldn't digital be better than analog in most cases considering most cables aren't gold-plated monster cables and hence deliver a weaker signal? and no i am not getting paid by monster nor am I a professional in cable business

Every high-end headphone on the planet currently uses a 3.5mm or 1/4" headphone jack. At the point that the signal passes through the jack the signal is (must be) analogue. The jack is just a connector for a piece of wire. With lightning, all that happens is that the conversion from digital to analogue moves from happening inside the phone to happening in the headphone. While this can be either good or bad for sound quality - good if the headphones are expensive and the engineers have implemented a good dac and amplifier in their heaphones - but in the vast majority of cases - since most headphones on the planet cost less than $25 - moving to lightning will require those headphones to now pay a licensing fee to Apple, and include a DAC and amplifier for that same $25 budget. There is no way this is going to be an improvement over the dac and amp included inside the iPhone which has historically been very good.

 

[Zirel]

Apple doesnt need to justify things. They have fans that permeate message boards everywhere and create the excuses for them.

Anyway, One of my cars uses a tape deck so I use the audio jack pretty often but for me then Im not too worried about the lack of headphone jack. A solution will exist.

And they have haters that permeate message boards, specially those dedicated to Apple, to generate unnecessary buzz.

 

[M. Gustave]

Every high-end headphone on the planet currently uses a 3.5mm or 1/4" headphone jack.

What do you mean by 'high end'? High price? Because sound quality is completely subjective. And high priced studio monitor headphones are designed for professional audio engineers sitting at a mixing station, which requires 1/4" phono jacks. Not terribly relevant to the average consumer.

What you have to also consider is listening environment. I had an amazing sounding pair of Grado SR325i, but I had to sell them because my wife and kids, air conditioners, dishwasher, and honking cars outside all completely ruined the experience for me. Maybe you live alone in a mountaintop retreat, I don't know... but my point is, a pair of noise-cancelling Bluetooth Bose QC35 blows away the Grados, and delivers subjectively better audio quality to me.

 

[zhenya]

What do you mean by 'high end'? High price? Because sound quality is completely subjective. And high priced studio monitor headphones are designed for professional audio engineers sitting at a mixing station, which requires 1/4" phono jacks. Not terribly relevant to the average consumer.

What you have to also consider is listening environment. I had an amazing sounding pair of Grado SR325i, but I had to sell them because my wife and kids, air conditioners, dishwasher, and honking cars outside all completely ruined the experience for me. Maybe you live alone in a mountaintop retreat, I don't know... but my point is, a pair of noise-cancelling Bluetooth Bose QC35 blows away the Grados, and delivers subjectively better audio quality to me.

Grados are among the most open headphones ever made. If you don't have a silent listening environment, they aren't suitable. There are plenty of high end closed headphones if you have a less than silent environment.

High end means things like the Shure SE-816, or Sennheiser HD800 or the Stax SR-009, etc. All of these use a variation on an 'analogue' connector because that connector is not a limitation to sound quality in any way! If you believe it is, then you must necessarily also believe that the very wires that move the signal to the drivers or that ultimately make the sound you hear are also degrading the sound!

 

[DNichter]

What do you think super high end headphones use as their connection... People don't drop thousands on headphones that offer OK sound quality.

I'd think that is a very small amount of iPhone buyers. Apple tend to cater to the general masses, for better or worse.

 

[M. Gustave]

All of these use a variation on an 'analogue' connector because that connector is not a limitation to sound quality in any way! If you believe it is, then you must necessarily also believe that the very wires that move the signal to the drivers or that ultimately make the sound you hear are also degrading the sound!

I have no idea what you're going on about. I don't believe wires, or Bluetooth, degrade sound quality in any practical sense.

 

[zhenya]

never mind wrong poster.

 

[PortableLover]

We think or we believe. That is how the sentence will start.

 

[MaxBga]

I think they're going to start with the fact that it's an old port, and then explain how better the sound quality would be using the lightning port. That's it

 

[valinda]

I rarely use the headphone jacks. I always use bluetooth speakers when I'm in the mood for music. No headphone
jack doesn't bother me.

 

[dumastudetto]

I rarely use the headphone jacks. I always use bluetooth speakers when I'm in the mood for music. No headphone
jack doesn't bother me.

Exactly right. Nobody needs a headphone jack anymore. It's time for everyone to move with the times and adopt wireless options. There are some incredible options out there including Beats branded.

I'm convinced Apple is making the right choice now, and everyone else will follow them within one year.

 

[noobinator]

Using the lightning port for audio output is magical.

 

[BeeGood]

I don't really understand why the *possible* lack of a headphone jack is such a big uproar?!!! I can't remember the last time I plugged any headphones into the jack?!!!! Wireless headphones are so much better, easier and definitely the way to go

Many people don't care about audio quality that much and prefer to use the earbuds that ship with the phone.

The removal of the headphone jack could mean that I'm getting a set of earbuds that will work with my phone and nowhere else (unless Apple includes an adapter for free).

Having said that, this really doesn't bother me at all. 99% of what I listen to is on my phone and I almost never need to charge my iPhone while listening to stuff. But I do get why this might annoy people.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

It's been explained ad infinitum here why lighting will offer no advantage in sound quality yet we continually have a large number of people who assume that it will. This is why Apple will have no problem making this change. Most people hear 'digital' and assume it must be an improvement...

Apparently not enough. Care to enlighten us?

 

[2457248]

the 3,5mm jack is a bag of hurt

 

[lugworm]

Apple tend to cater to the general masses, for better or worse.

Wrong. Apple cater to Apple. Whatever will pull in the biggest profit, regardless of what customers think. If they are so intent on wireless technology, why not wireless charging ? The technology has around for long enough for it to be adopted, along with decent screen technology, but these additions must have an adverse effect on profits, otherwise they would have been adopted by now. Apple only cares about Apple. Anyone who thinks otherwise is deluding themselves.

 

[I7guy]

Wrong. Apple cater to Apple. Whatever will pull in the biggest profit, regardless of what customers think. If they are so intent on wireless technology, why not wireless charging ? The technology has around for long enough for it to be adopted, along with decent screen technology, but these additions must have an adverse effect on profits, otherwise they would have been adopted by now. Apple only cares about Apple. Anyone who thinks otherwise is deluding themselves.

Your post opened my eyes and im sure fellow MR members. Thank you. Now my purchase of my new iPhone 7 will be in the right frame of mind as I fork over my $1000 on the 256gb plus.

 

[daijholt]

I for one don't really care that it's bieng removed.

I may not agree everything apples does but I like the fact they are willing to push the envelope even if it means pissing off people at times.

Which is exactly the way Steve Jobs did things. People will get pissed off at a major change like this, but they'll get over it when they realise its for the better in the long term.
[doublepost=1473064555][/doublepost]

Wrong. Apple cater to Apple. Whatever will pull in the biggest profit, regardless of what customers think. If they are so intent on wireless technology, why not wireless charging ? The technology has around for long enough for it to be adopted, along with decent screen technology, but these additions must have an adverse effect on profits, otherwise they would have been adopted by now. Apple only cares about Apple. Anyone who thinks otherwise is deluding themselves.

The reason apple haven't introduced wireless charging is because the current design of the phone just doesnt allow for it. You can't transfer a wireless charge through a several millimetre thick sheet of 7000 aluminium. Next year when they move to a glass back, it'll be there for sure. Not even apple can wish away the laws of physics.

As for the screen technology, you may be right, although the real reason is probably because the average consumer doesn't really care. It's more than adequate to do the job its supposed to do and average people won't ever question it. Also, the dual camera system on the 7 plus will cost apple more to build, not less, so your profit theory isn't entirely correct.

 

[9646829]

I think they will just say the did "tests" or something and found out X many user don't use it or they use wireless that it justifies getting rid and moving to lightning/wireless.

Personally I'm not bothered either way as I don't use headphones with my phone.

 

[lugworm]

Your post opened my eyes and im sure fellow MR members. Thank you. Now my purchase of my new iPhone 7 will be in the right frame of mind as I fork over my $1000 on the 256gb plus.

ooooohhh....sarcasm. That's me slapped down then.
So you're happy to splash out $1000 on two year old tech ?

 

[Jsameds]

"The sound quality of Bluetooth is inferior"

...

Still listens to 128kbps MP3s

 

[zhenya]

Apparently not enough. Care to enlighten us?

The answer is laid out clearly in this thread. If you don't believe me, do your own research. This is a matter of fact rather than opinion though. Lightning may offer some additional features, like powered noise cancelling headphones, but it can't possibly improve quality on its own.

 

[Robstevo]

The way I see it...

Blue tooth offers:
Great portability
Not so great sound quality

Headphone Jack offers:
Okay portability
Okay sound quality

Lightning jack offers:
Okay portablity (draw backs can be fixed with other adaptors = $$$$$)
Great sound quality.

So you would have 3 options of listening to music, and apple is getting rid of the mid ground, leaving you with the choice of two extreme end.

Except that is just plain wrong.

The headphone jack can offer amazing sound, if you get amazing headphones. The same goes for lightning.

The lightning cable won't automatically offer great sound out of thin air....

 

[twinlight]

I belive we get same old crappy earpods but with lightning connector. No adapter included and wireless airpods with no extra features except decent battery for those who wants to go wireless, $199.

On the premium segment we get a couple of new Beats with lightning connector and included lightning to 3,5 mm adapter. Apple doesn't want adapters on the iPhone so Android users with Beats get that treatment instead.

Maybe a premium Beats with fitness features and wireless. But not a chance we get a Bragi competitor. You want that they have the Watch for you.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

The answer is laid out clearly in this thread. If you don't believe me, do your own research. This is a matter of fact rather than opinion though. Lightning may offer some additional features, like powered noise cancelling headphones, but it can't possibly improve quality on its own.

Actually, it is not, otherwise I wouldn't have asked. You were asked this before in this thread, and your only answer was 'It will be more expensive to buy headphones', so no.