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Removing the headphone jack was one of the best things Apple did - here's why

I

iBrooker

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Nov 20, 2016
416
214
UK
Ever since the iPods came out I wondered why on earth people used them and iPhones as their DAPs - let's face it (and there's no polite way of saying this) they sounded **** - even with 'nice' headphones.

Around the same time Sony was coming out with their digital Walkmans with A-Class amplifiers and some pretty nice DSP technology - and they sounded amazing. I couldn't for the life of me figure out why people would opt for something that sounded so noticeably, significantly worse, yet these people (using iPods) said they 'loved' music.

Anyway, fast forward to today, and thanks to ditching the headphone jack we're seeing more and more bluetooth sets - but these are not just headphones. The latest contain built in DSPs, finally, bringing some amazing sound to the iPhone. At last, I am happy to use my iPhone as my DAP.

I've paired my X with a pair of Sony h.700's - and it/they sound amazing. The h.700's include some of Sony's best DSP tech - Clearbass and a 5 band EQ from their renowned A-Class amplifier Walkmans.

SO...

Removing the headphone jack, in a sense, offloaded the sound tech to some of the best in the industry. And it paid off, because we get a much much MUCH better sound quality.
 
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Sorry, this is bollocks. iPhones have sounded much better than average from the beginning. Apple was one of the few mass-market companies that actually paid attention to sound quality early on. That is, they care about a good, flat output with zero noise and extremely low output impedence. Not snake oil.

By off-loading the DAC from Apple, who was one of the best in the business for portable audio, it's now in the hands of thousands of independent companies, the vast, vast majority of whom don't know the first thing about audio, and their $30 headphones now need to include bluetooth, a battery, a charger, and a dac/amp. This is a huge step backwards quality wise.

(I've been listening to high-end headphone setups for nearly 20 years, and my main rig ran nearly 5 digits when originally purchased).
 
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iBrooker said:
Ever since the iPods came out I wondered why on earth people used them and iPhones as their DAPs - let's face it (and there's no polite way of saying this) they sounded **** - even with 'nice' headphones.

Around the same time Sony was coming out with their digital Walkmans with A-Class amplifiers and some pretty nice DSP technology - and they sounded amazing. I couldn't for the life of me figure out why people would opt for something that sounded so noticeably, significantly worse, yet these people (using iPods) said they 'loved' music.

Anyway, fast forward to today, and thanks to ditching the headphone jack we're seeing more and more bluetooth sets - but these are not just headphones. The latest contain built in DSPs, finally, bringing some amazing sound to the iPhone. At last, I am happy to use my iPhone as my DAP.

I've paired my X with a pair of Sony h.700's - and it/they sound amazing. The h.700's include some of Sony's best DSP tech - Clearbass and a 5 band EQ from their renowned A-Class amplifier Walkmans.

SO...

Removing the headphone jack, in a sense, offloaded the sound tech to some of the best in the industry. And it paid off, because we get a much much MUCH better sound quality.
Click to expand...
I get what you’re saying but it’s not as if the wireless headphones needed the socket to be gone to work. The convenience of being able to use either system is going to be better for some people.

iOS has weirdly good wireless headphone support though. I’ve started using a wireless headset that requires a usb dongle attached to the camera connector kit.. So surprised it even works, but it sounds great.
 
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Hrududu said:
Apple removed the jack because people quit using headphones. Why have your own personal earbuds like its 2004 when you can blast your "content" at full volume so everyone near you has to hear whatever crap you're watching/listening to on your phone's tinny speakers?
Click to expand...
When did people stop using headphones again? And is that why headphones are still provided with the phones?
 
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C DM said:
When did people stop using headphones again? And is that why headphones are still provided with the phones?
Click to expand...

You must be fun at parties.

@Hrududu was being satirical. If they are anything like me, who lives in a urban or suburban environment... these 'utes (millennials) seem to think everyone else needs to hear their music. Whats worse, unlike the 80s when we had loud obnoxious but good sounding boom boxes everywhere.. these mobiles often have tinny sounding headache inducing audio.
 
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Vermifuge said:
You must be fun at parties.

@Hrududu was being satirical. If they are anything like me, who lives in a urban or suburban environment... these 'utes (millennials) seem to think everyone else needs to hear their music. Whats worse, unlike the 80s when we had loud obnoxious but good sounding boom boxes everywhere.. these mobiles often have tinny sounding headache inducing audio.
Click to expand...
Thank you!
 
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iBrooker said:
Ever since the iPods came out I wondered why on earth people used them and iPhones as their DAPs - let's face it (and there's no polite way of saying this) they sounded **** - even with 'nice' headphones.

Around the same time Sony was coming out with their digital Walkmans with A-Class amplifiers and some pretty nice DSP technology - and they sounded amazing. I couldn't for the life of me figure out why people would opt for something that sounded so noticeably, significantly worse, yet these people (using iPods) said they 'loved' music.

Anyway, fast forward to today, and thanks to ditching the headphone jack we're seeing more and more bluetooth sets - but these are not just headphones. The latest contain built in DSPs, finally, bringing some amazing sound to the iPhone. At last, I am happy to use my iPhone as my DAP.

I've paired my X with a pair of Sony h.700's - and it/they sound amazing. The h.700's include some of Sony's best DSP tech - Clearbass and a 5 band EQ from their renowned A-Class amplifier Walkmans.

SO...

Removing the headphone jack, in a sense, offloaded the sound tech to some of the best in the industry. And it paid off, because we get a much much MUCH better sound quality.
Click to expand...
Removing Floppy Disks FTW. Everything else has been reductive.

And beige. They got rid of that first.
 
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Bluetooth technology is still inferior to wired direct sound. Someday, we will have lossless bluetooth or some other wireless protocol that can replace a plug, but we are not there yet.

Each Bluetooth manufacturer manipulates and processes what you hear to “improve” the listening experience, based on the headset. It’s smoke and mirrors. I’ve yet to find a set of Bluetooth headphones that can come close to the listening experience of my wired 1more triple drivers. I’m trying desperately to cut the cord, but I’ve been sadly disappointed thus far. I’ve just ordered my 4th Bluetooth headset, the highly ranked jaybird X3s. If these can’t compete, with the 1more’s I’m going back to wired for awhile.
 
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Jjayf said:
Bluetooth technology is still inferior to wired direct sound. Someday, we will have lossless bluetooth or some other wireless protocol that can replace a plug, but we are not there yet.

Each Bluetooth manufacturer manipulates and processes what you hear to “improve” the listening experience, based on the headset. It’s smoke and mirrors. I’ve yet to find a set of Bluetooth headphones that can come close to the listening experience of my wired 1more triple drivers. I’m trying desperately to cut the cord, but I’ve been sadly disappointed thus far. I’ve just ordered my 4th Bluetooth headset, the highly ranked jaybird X3s. If these can’t compete, with the 1more’s I’m going back to wired for awhile.
Click to expand...
It’s like security, a sliding scale between convenience and performance.

Having no passwords to remember and enter is convenient, but insecure without an alternative.

It was very convenient to use phones without a passcode, but less secure...until TouchID.

Now, FaceID has almost made using a secured phone as convenient as an unsecured phone.

On the other hand, we are still at the stage where Bluetooth adds convenience but doesn’t approach the experience of wired connection...the sliding scale at play.

I have a pair of Sony studio monitor headphones I love. I just replaced the pads after wearing them for 20 years. I’d also love a pair of BeatsX for when I don’t want to be teathered to my music player.
 
Vermifuge said:
You must be fun at parties.

@Hrududu was being satirical. If they are anything like me, who lives in a urban or suburban environment... these 'utes (millennials) seem to think everyone else needs to hear their music. Whats worse, unlike the 80s when we had loud obnoxious but good sounding boom boxes everywhere.. these mobiles often have tinny sounding headache inducing audio.
Click to expand...
Given the written medium and the type of things that people post, generally speaking, without knowing more about the poster from past posts or seeing a more direct indicator, one can never know.

On the other hand seems like the implication that it was a realistic comment after all. Having lived in an urban and sunurban environments around plenty of millenials and others, I can't say that I really have across more than just a few isolated cases over years of people listening to music via the speaker on their phone. But, sure, let's bring the inane party commentary.
 
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C DM said:
Given the written medium and the type of things that people post, generally speaking, without knowing more about the poster from past posts or seeing a more direct indicator, one can never know. But, sure, let's bring inane party commentary.
Click to expand...
I think you and I would have fun making cynical comments about them at the party.
 
Hrududu said:
It was a wry comment about how it seems anytime you're in a waiting room, walking down the street, or in just about any public place seems some kid has noise blasting from their phone rather than using headphones thees days.
Click to expand...
I probably don't even need all the fingers from just a single hand to count how many times I've come across this over the years. Sure, it's an anecdotal experience, but it seems like the generalization going the other way would similarly be so.
 
Jjayf said:
Bluetooth technology is still inferior to wired direct sound.
Click to expand...

I agree. But the convenience of Bluetooth wins for me. I know the Airpods don't boast the sound quality of wired earphones, but the simplicity of built in features and freedom of wires really has made my listening experience much preferred, even if it means I risk the sacrifice of sound quality.
 
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I dont see what the big deal is other than spending more money to buy lightning specific headphones to replace your 3.5mm ones.
 
Princess Cake said:
All I know is I use a pair of Skullcandy earbuds I paid $15 for and I'm sure they have more bass and presence than Apple's offering where you add a Zero to that price.
Click to expand...
I went all the way to buying a V30+ for quad DAC and headphones in box! Guess we're part of a niche now. Last thing I need is another electronic contraption to charge.
 
For me, yes, it was s good move to remove the headphone jack. I’d been using wireless headphones exclusively a year or two before the headphone jack demise.

This endless argument has no “winners” as there is always someone that doesn’t like or embrace the change.
 
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When I moved from my Motorola KRZR to iPhone 3G, I was grateful to have the built in headphone jack for “real” headphones instead of dealing with the mini USB set you had to buy separately to listen to my MP3s on the KRZR.



Since the 7, however, I’ve only felt that the technology went backwards with removal of headphone jack. Sure, I’ll deal with it, but for me, it was an unwelcome change
 
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