Teardown Confirms Digital-to-Analog Converter in Lightning EarPods and 3.5mm Adapter

[magbarn]

This just means, if we don't like Apple's DAC, we can simply buy an adapter from a different company that has a better built in DAC.

We have MORE options than ever before.

How is that more options when every lightning equipped idevice has been compatible with an external DAC for some time. In fact I've been using a Lightning to USB female adapter for the last several years and hooking up an external DAC to power my grados.
Now I'm forced to use an external DAC even when I'm using less power hungry headphones like my Shures that don't need external amplification and now can't charge at the same time without using a bulky adapter.

 

[Precision Gem]

I think this whole 1/8" headphone jack is blown out of proportion. If you look around and see people with iPhones listening to music, I would say that 80% of them are using the headphones that came with their phone. So for these, using the new headphones with a lighting connector is no issue. Another percentage of people are using bluetooth headphones, so again, no issue. Then you have a hand full of people using other headphones. For them, these other headphones could be because they lost or wreaked the Apple headphones supplied with the phone, or they bought higher quality headphones. For them, the adapter is a solution, and just leave it attached to the headphones. No big deal.
I'm sure in the next few months you will see many other headphones coming on the market with a lighting connector.
This is going to turn out to be much to do about nothing.

 

[truthertech]

Sorry, but for those of you pining for the 3.5 mm plug, Samsung and others will have to switch to keep up as Apple leads the way in audio quality.

http://appleinsider.com/articles/16...-sound-better-than-legacy-35mm-headphone-jack
[doublepost=1474392248][/doublepost]

I think this whole 1/8" headphone jack is blown out of proportion. If you look around and see people with iPhones listening to music, I would say that 80% of them are using the headphones that came with their phone. So for these, using the new headphones with a lighting connector is no issue. Another percentage of people are using bluetooth headphones, so again, no issue. Then you have a hand full of people using other headphones. For them, these other headphones could be because they lost or wreaked the Apple headphones supplied with the phone, or they bought higher quality headphones. For them, the adapter is a solution, and just leave it attached to the headphones. No big deal.
I'm sure in the next few months you will see many other headphones coming on the market with a lighting connector.
This is going to turn out to be much to do about nothing.

Plus they'll get better sound with the lightning headphones, and better sound is what it's all about isn't it?

http://appleinsider.com/articles/16...-sound-better-than-legacy-35mm-headphone-jack

 

[Return Zero]

The microphone input, perhaps.

Hmmmm. Like a microphone pre-amp? I suppose it's possible Apple amplifies the mic input before it goes into the ADC. Seems a little extreme though ...

Hadn't thought of that... I doubt it though, since none of the previous iPhones have this, at least to my knowledge.

The third speaker?

I can't tell if you're joking, or if you're inferring that there might be two speakers in the earpiece (perhaps one low-powered for phone calls, one for stereo projection?).

 

[dannys1]

It's a shame that people who bought $500+ high-end high quality headphones and have all of their music in FLAC will have to use a dongle with a piece of **** DAC in it.

Because before they were using $500+ headphones and all their music in FLAC (well not FLAC seen as the iPhone doesn't support it, so Apple Lossless) and had to use the built piece of **** DAC...

 

[Nunyabinez]

If you do buy one for your 6s, maybe buy this too, to enjoy the full 7 experience.

http://appleplugs.com/

Did anyone else find this strangely arousing...

 

[bemmster]

The 3.5mm plug is a gold standard, there's really nothing wrong with it. But it's disgusting how Apple is trying to FORCE a change with this just so they can sell more headphones and make money through licensing the lightning port.

So what, now we need to switch over to Apple's proprietary crap just because Apple wants to? Everyone can currently use their 3.5mm jack headphones and stick them into almost any other device... WHY does Apple want to pointlessly fragment this???

Except they aren't forcing you to change anything...they GIVE you an adapter.

So exactly what proprietary crap are you forced to buy? How does this fragment when you can still use the same headphones you have been using? How is that disgusting? Are you forced to buy Apple brand headphones? No other Bluetooth headphones work? No other headphones but Apples work with the lightning adapter that they GIVE you??

I'm not an Apple fanboy, but this whole argument about the headphone jack is absurd. Who cares? The only time this is ever an issue is if you want to charge the device AND listen to music as the same time, and absolutely cannot use Bluetooth headphones, speakers, or adapter instead. This mostly occurs in the car. Then people argue "well what if I don't have any of those Bluetooth things?" Who seriously gets an iPhone 7 and can't get at least a $10 Bluetooth adapter for the car to charge and listen at the same time? Do you seriously want two different cords plugged into your car, draped across your dash, at the same time anyway??

Again, not a fanboy, but people seriously find the most absurd crap to argue about with Apple stuff.

 

[Iconoclysm]

I have avoided posting about the headphone debacle. Here i go.
The headphone jack had to go in order to get all the things the iPhone 7 is in the package. I understand but but I wanted the jack and i am ok with a thicker phone. This all sounds so familiar the issue comes in phones exist like this and they simply do not sell. I admit they are not IOS phones but live on the other side of the aisle in android land. They are cheaper than an iPhone or galaxy and yet they still do not sell enough to keep the design churning. So we have a package requirement we IE apple invented. Thats great issue comes with we can not make the circuits small enough to do what we want at the price we are ok with. This leads to the grand compromise. The removal of the headphone jack. I understand the move I am not pleased with it but i understand it.

I sit here typing this on a macbook pro dongle city to get gigabit ethernet. Apple is just ok with stripping non-multi use ports away in order to cram in more battery or a cool new feature they hope makes you want to buy the product.

I just wished they had started this last year with a dongle for sale that was 24bit or something. Then when they tossed it in the box we were all familiar with it and how to work around the charge and listen issue.

This is similar to how I feel. I don't think anyone is "happy" that the jack is going away, but many of us are prepared and willing to change the way we do things...in fact, it's what many of us like to see is constant change.

 

[HEK]

Seems fine, and shocked at how small they can make a DAC, but the dongle needs a line of code to stop it falling asleep after a few minutes of inactivity. It's bad when you're on hold and lose the mic when the other party connects, or if the volume controls stop working until you unplug and replug the thing. Other than that, it's all good.

Fix coming

So apart from as people have said that iTunes content isnt DRM'd, you do realise if Apple wanted to limit the iPhone to Itunes music they could do that with the same DAC in any iPhone via a software update?

so now you fishing for things to complain about, that have not occurred nor has any indication of happening.
[doublepost=1474393377][/doublepost]

There are definitely better units.

The real question i have though is how does this chip stack up to the chip embedded inside say the 6 or 6s.

I want to see a double blind sound test, with multiple individuals. Then I will begin to believe some of the claims made about how good bad this DAC or that earphone, or that audio file or other somethings are. Too many opinions, claims based on opinions.

 

[LordVic]

Sorry, but for those of you pining for the 3.5 mm plug, Samsung and others will have to switch to keep up as Apple leads the way in audio quality.

http://appleinsider.com/articles/16...-sound-better-than-legacy-35mm-headphone-jack
[doublepost=1474392248][/doublepost]


Plus they'll get better sound with the lightning headphones, and better sound is what it's all about isn't it?

http://appleinsider.com/articles/16...-sound-better-than-legacy-35mm-headphone-jack

what a load of complete and utter nonsense


the jack itself is completely irrelevant to the audio quality and how it sounds. the 3.5mm jack is perfectly capable of relaying exceptional and studio quality audio to any headset.

"lightning" headphones "sound better" not because of the plug that is uses, but because it moves the processing of the sound from a cheaper lower-end Digital to audio converter that most phone companies use inside their phones, and moving it to a higher end one that is included in the lightning headphones.

The same better audio quality can be achieved with the 3.5mm jack if Apple put a higher end DAC inside the iPhone for the audio port. Instead, they removed the audio port, and have made it so all lightning headphones MUST contain a DAC/Amp in them. if you took the identical DAC that used to be in the iPhone and moved it into the cable instead, audio quality would not change.

So lightning headphones sound better than the analogue ones, because they are including higher quality DAC and AMP inside them than what was found in the iPhone. Not because of the jack itself.

The unfortunate thing is this is a way of relaying the cost to the consumer instead of keeping it in the phone. Apple no longer has to care about the DAC inside the phone that is used for headphones. They can now save $.30 off everyphone and let you pay for it when you buy headsets. headsets with included DAC will always be far more expensive than traditional headsets due to the required technologies, chipsets, and even MFI licensing costs. that means more of the headphone cost goes to these items instead of focusing on what I consider the most important aspect, the actually drivers (speakers)

So while my $200 earphones hvae 100% of the costs going to the quality of the cables and the drivers, for the same $200 in lightning headphones you're spreading the cost between drivers, wires, plug, licensing and circuitry. I can guarantee you that the actual drivers and audio quality aren't actually better. might sound better driectly attached to the iPhone, but anything else that already has a decent DAC will sound better with the 3.5mm headphones

 

[uknowimright]

people that post links to apple insider should be considered trolls

 

[ebatalha]

Well!!! The great Mackie brand uses these Cirrus Logic converters too and they are really great.

 

[TypeEE]

If there wasn't a DAC....how else would make sound?

In the phone, then the lightning will use 3 dynamic pins as analog out.

 

[LordVic]

In the phone, then the lightning will use 3 dynamic pins as analog out.

I think it was already confirmed in the spec that lightning cannot carry analogue audio.

While lightning does have pins that can be re-used and changed dynamically based on device, There is (at least last I checked) no circuitry in the phone that brings the analogue signal into the lightning jack so that there's no direct connection for analogue lightning.

as this teardown already confirms, this is true and the signal that comes from the lightning port is digital. It is converted to Analogue in the adaptor itself via DAC in the adaptor.

No matter what, a DAC has to exist somewhere in the chain to convert Digital to audio signal. Human ears cannot hear digital

 

[truthertech]

what a load of complete and utter nonsense


the jack itself is completely irrelevant to the audio quality and how it sounds. the 3.5mm jack is perfectly capable of relaying exceptional and studio quality audio to any headset.

"lightning" headphones "sound better" not because of the plug that is uses, but because it moves the processing of the sound from a cheaper lower-end Digital to audio converter that most phone companies use inside their phones, and moving it to a higher end one that is included in the lightning headphones.

The same better audio quality can be achieved with the 3.5mm jack if Apple put a higher end DAC inside the iPhone for the audio port. Instead, they removed the audio port, and have made it so all lightning headphones MUST contain a DAC/Amp in them. if you took the identical DAC that used to be in the iPhone and moved it into the cable instead, audio quality would not change.

So lightning headphones sound better than the analogue ones, because they are including higher quality DAC and AMP inside them than what was found in the iPhone. Not because of the jack itself.

I'm glad you concede the point that the hundreds of millions of people who will buy the iPhone 7 will be getting better audio quality because Apple switched to Lightning equipped headphones, that's what matters, not your incorrect hypothetical about how Apple could have redesigned the phone to get the same benefits of Lightning, and which ignores all of the other benefits that will be coming to folks who have lightning equipped headphones, such as bi-directional interaction and the resulting capabilities like active noise cancelling, sensors, etc, that will come from the headphones being able to draw power from the phone when needed.

Here's just one sampling of why you'll want Lightning equipped headphones, and why the industry will, once again, be following Apple's lead. I know the truth hurts sometimes, but when you put on those new lightning headphones or the new AirPods you'll find some great relief.

http://www.theverge.com/2016/6/7/11874706/iphone-7-lightning-headphones-reasons

 

[JamieLannister]

Take out 3D touch hardware, put this AD converter in place and voila - 3.5mm jack saved. But oh no we have to waterproof it because we don't know how to do it right without removing the jack and let's save the useless 3D touch and include a ginormous taptic doodle dumb.

 

[Mw0103]

The unfortunate thing is this is a way of relaying the cost to the consumer instead of keeping it in the phone. Apple no longer has to care about the DAC inside the phone that is used for headphones. They can now save $.30 off everyphone and let you pay for it when you buy headsets. headsets with included DAC will always be far more expensive than traditional headsets due to the required technologies, chipsets, and even MFI licensing costs. that means more of the headphone cost goes to these items instead of focusing on what I consider the most important aspect, the actually drivers (speakers)

Explain these "savings." I don't get it. By my estimation, Apple used to provide the following with an iPhone related to sound: DAC, headphone jack (female), headphone jack (male), lightning jack (female). Apple now provides the following: DAC, headphone jack (female), lightning jack (female), lightning jack (male) x 2. Does the lost male headphone jack really cost that much more than the gained male lightning jack???

As to third party headphone manufacturers: how are they forced to change anything? Those that did not include a DAC and used a headphone jack will be able to continue to do so. Those who want to include a DAC and move to lightning may do so. It's their business decision. The fact that Apple includes an adapter in the box with every iPhone with a DAC for use with legacy headphone jacks undermines any argument that Apple is shifting the cost of the DAC to the consumer.

 

[LordVic]

I'm glad you concede the point that the hundreds of millions of people who will buy the iPhone 7 will be getting better audio quality because Apple switched to Lightning equipped headphones, that's what matters, not your incorrect hypothetical about how Apple could have redesigned the phone to get the same benefits of Lightning, and which ignores all of the other benefits that will be coming to folks who have lightning equipped headphones, such as bi-directional interaction and the resulting capabilities like active noise cancelling, sensors, etc, that will come from the headphones being able to draw power from the phone when needed.

Here's just one sampling of why you'll want Lightning equipped headphones, and why the industry will, once again, be following Apple's lead. I know the truth hurts sometimes, but when you put on those new lightning headphones or the new AirPods you'll find some great relief.

http://www.theverge.com/2016/6/7/11874706/iphone-7-lightning-headphones-reasons

thats not the point at all I made, but good spin buddy

switching the port makes absolutely **** all difference in the quality of the audio. it will entirely 100% depend on the quality of the DAC that is included in the headphones.

as we've already seen in the DAC that comes with the bundled adapter, they are using almost the exact same chip that is already in the iPhone, therefore, the audio quality is going to be identical to that of similarly designed / priced 3.5mm headphones.

there is absolutely NO FUNDAMENTAL audio quality improvement that comes from this change, other than FORCING 3rd party manufacturers of headsets to bundle into their headphones a DAC, thus, increasing the cost of the same quality audio.

yes. Headphone manufacturers can put in the highest end DAC's to improve the quality of audio. But this isn't anything different than any USB based (and lightning) Audio solutions that already exist and can already be purchased before the iPhone 7.

But they did poorly. you know why? Because the overall quality of these headsets for the added price does NOT provide fundamental difference to most users to be able to stand on it's own as a product. Apple therefor is forcing a new revenue tool by removing the 3.5mm jack only and removing convenience and options from the end user.

are there other benefits to digital devices plugged in? Light noise cancelling, sensors etc? Yes. But thats not a lightning standard thing, nor does that benefit the audio quality. Thsoe things also do not require the removal of the headphone jack, as they could have already leveraged the lightning jack since the iPhone 5

 

[JamieLannister]

Explain these "savings." I don't get it. By my estimation, Apple used to provide the following with an iPhone related to sound: DAC, headphone jack (female), headphone jack (male), lightning jack (female). Apple now provides the following: DAC, headphone jack (female), lightning jack (female), lightning jack (male) x 2. Does the lost male headphone jack really cost that much more than the gained male lightning jack???

As to third party headphone manufacturers: how are they forced to change anything? Those that did not include a DAC and used a headphone jack will be able to continue to do so. Those who want to include a DAC and move to lightning may do so. It's their business decision. The fact that Apple includes an adapter in the box with every iPhone with a DAC for use with legacy headphone jacks undermines any argument that Apple is shifting the cost of the DAC to the consumer.

It's easy explanation - when you have a bean counter heading the entire company you are going to see stuff like this implemented. Apple does what they do best - gimp hardware, delay new updated hardware, make marketing excuses, and over price all their stuff with the illusion the ecosystem is somehow unicorn heaven. I'm waiting for the next MBP update to remove everything including the display. This way it's just a piece of metal slab interfaced by buying a seperate detachable display for 100% more.

 

[RedOrchestra]

...many of us are prepared and willing to change the way we do things...in fact, it's what many of us like to see is constant change.

Ah, man ... can the Cult of all that is Apple get any sillier?

 

[DblHelix]

Article Link: Teardown Confirms Digital-to-Analog Converter in Lightning EarPods and 3.5mm Adapter

Now, if only someone can create a high end 24/192 dac or one that supports 11.2mhz DSD. That would be great in a set of high end headphones

 

[LordVic]

Explain these "savings." I don't get it. By my estimation, Apple used to provide the following with an iPhone related to sound: DAC, headphone jack (female), headphone jack (male), lightning jack (female). Apple now provides the following: DAC, headphone jack (female), lightning jack (female), lightning jack (male) x 2. Does the lost male headphone jack really cost that much more than the gained male lightning jack???

As to third party headphone manufacturers: how are they forced to change anything? Those that did not include a DAC and used a headphone jack will be able to continue to do so. Those who want to include a DAC and move to lightning may do so. It's their business decision. The fact that Apple includes an adapter in the box with every iPhone with a DAC for use with legacy headphone jacks undermines any argument that Apple is shifting the cost of the DAC to the consumer.

the adapter in the box is the one big "huh" that looks like an afterthought. I'm willing to bet if there wasn't all the speculation pre-launch and apple didnt have every single press gallery in the world screaming about the negatives of the removal of the 3.5mm jack, they would not have even included the adapter.

as for costs It's far cheaper to throw a DAC and 2 plugs on some wire for an adapter than it is to embed the DAC into the integrated circuitry inside the phone.

Apple is saving money on this still. And what they're not saving, they'll make up for by selling millions of replacement dongles at 9.99, millions from selling lightning cable splitters for charging / listening at the same time, and lets not forget that every single lightning based device must pay Apple licensing for MFI program.
[doublepost=1474395926][/doublepost]

Ah, man ... can the Cult of all that is Apple get any sillier?

thats not the cult of Apple.

many of us, even non-apple fanboys love that technology is always ever advancing and that everyday there are newer, faster, better ways of doing things we previously may have done manually or labourously.

However, Change exclusively for the sake of change, or change that is negatvie to the users but only beneficial to the bottom line of a corporation is not-defensible change.

I'm always willing to do things in new ways, if those new ways are actually beneficial and make sense

the removal of the headphone port though, newp.

 

[Mw0103]

It's easy explanation - when you have a bean counter heading the entire company you are going to see stuff like this implemented. Apple does what they do best - gimp hardware, delay new updated hardware, make marketing excuses, and over price all their stuff with the illusion the ecosystem is somehow unicorn heaven. I'm waiting for the next MBP update to remove everything including the display. This way it's just a piece of metal slab interfaced by buying a seperate detachable display for 100% more.

Ah, you just want to complain and to believe what you want to believe without critical thought. Got it.
[doublepost=1474396710][/doublepost]

And what they're not saving, they'll make up for by selling millions of replacement dongles at 9.99, millions from selling lightning cable splitters for charging / listening at the same time, and lets not forget that every single lightning based device must pay Apple licensing for MFI program.

This, along with AirPods and wireless Beats, is a better hypothesis based on much firmer ground than "this must be cost cutting."

 

[Rigby]

German computer magazine c't has measured them. According to that the adapter provides worse audio quality than the headphone jack on the 6S. I posted a link to their article here:

https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/23474556/

BTW, here's a followup from them (news article in German):

http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meld...dapter-kann-Rauschen-verstaerken-3327892.html

According to this, besides the lesser dynamic range, the Lightning adapter also exhibits non-linearities at lower signal levels which can amplify low-level signals like tape hiss or dithering noise.

 

[sziehr]

This is similar to how I feel. I don't think anyone is "happy" that the jack is going away, but many of us are prepared and willing to change the way we do things...in fact, it's what many of us like to see is constant change.

I am not happy about it but as an audiophile i never regarded the headphone jack on a smartphone to be of much worth. Small space so small OP amps. Small space and cost savings so normal lower end DAC single stream. I however use the heck out of the jack while i am at work humming along making the very same money i am about to give to you apple. I use it in the data center with my already owned and very pleased with in-ear monitors. I use it in my car. I use it in other peoples cars. I have to this day never had a bluetooth headphone experience that was worth more than a wet noodle. I have a nice pair of bose over eat BT 4.0 headphones. I get scratchy connection or connection issues or they loose pairing or they refuse to re-connect. This is with an iPhone. The Retina macbook pro i have here simply spits in the face all all BT headphones they are scratchy or glitchy or down right horrendous to use.

So what do I do, quite simple i plug in my headphones to the powered 3.5mm jack on the side or bottom and i jam right on.

So to me taking away the jack before I a competent System Admin / Developer could make it work with zero friction is the definition is crazy.

I long for the day i can power up my bose toss them on and rock out like you see in the apple adverts. That day is always a day away it seems.