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More rumors that Apple might drop the 3.5mm headphone jack on the iPhone 7

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Re: More rumors that Apple might drop the 3.5mm headphone jack on the iPhone 7

#61

Post by darkr »

There are already portable combined DAC/headphone amplifier units that support lightning input (either directly or via a USB converter). I did have one for a few weeks but sent it back it as the minor difference in sound quality wasn't worth the effort of carting it around.

The combined heft of both the phone and the DAC unit (most of them are similar size but twice the thickness of an iPhone) makes for an uncomfortable pocket bulge. Aside from being another thing to carry around. it's also another thing to keep charged (like I haven't got enough of those things in my life already).

Sure, the DAC on the iphone isn't the best in the world, but it's certainly good enough. Only when concentrating wearing studio-quality headphones in a silent room can I tell the difference between the two, and those times that I am sat in a silent room, it's at home (which has a decent audio setup not dependent on my phone).

I guess there will be smaller units produced that are perhaps powered through the lightening port (if this is even possible?), but likely the sound quality produced by them will be similar to the on-board DAC/amp circuit.

Re: More rumors that Apple might drop the 3.5mm headphone jack on the iPhone 7

#62

Post by saurik »

dijit wrote: post #20

Shit, we only just got all phone manufacturers working with the same standard. Remember those tiny little jacks 2.5mm (used most recently in my memory for xbox 360). I hated that, you're locked in to one set of headphones and when they break (which they do, because they're made of garbage and greed) then you have lost a function of your device. Obviously Apple will have a plethora of other headphones to choose from,…

Knowing Apple, there will be an adapter. FWIW, while I complain a lot about requiring adapters to do almost anything, my headphone is the one place where I really wouldn't mind just having to have a 1" flexible adapter that I would likely effectively treat as a semi-permanent extension cable on my headphones.

Re: More rumors that Apple might drop the 3.5mm headphone jack on the iPhone 7

#63

Post by saurik »

grandalf wrote: post #35

I think that 3.5mm jack is a source of many repair issues for Apple. - pocket lint routinely finds its way into the jack. - most male connectors are manufactured with low precision, which causes added stress to the socket. - some male connectors are long, creating a lot of leverage if force is applied in the wrong direction. - water gets in easily through the socket. - the socket is very fat and forces the phone to b…

Wow. You have almost convinced me that it is actually correct for all of the ports on my computer to require a first-party adapter (as I have also dealt with too many low-quality USB, VGA, etc. plugs)... you have drastically increased the probability of my buying a MacBook.

Re: More rumors that Apple might drop the 3.5mm headphone jack on the iPhone 7

#64

Post by 7952 »

ntumlin wrote: post #2

Is there any major downside to the 3.5mm jack? Especially that hold a candle to the cheapness of them and how widespread they are?

The socket tends to wear instead of the jack. This makes them more suseptable to damage. I wouldn't be surprised if a significant number of devices get warranty returned based on this.

Re: More rumors that Apple might drop the 3.5mm headphone jack on the iPhone 7

#65

Post by larrik »

zepto wrote: post #39
larrik wrote: post #17

This would seriously make me consider switching to Android after being iPhone only since the 3G. The fact that both of my ports (3mm, lightning) on my 6 started flaking out about the time the warranty expired helps, too.

Why would it make you consider switching?

I use the 3.5mm jack a lot on the Aux In port in various places (both my vehicles, standalone players), plus when I need to use headphones.

Re: More rumors that Apple might drop the 3.5mm headphone jack on the iPhone 7

#66

Post by twiceaday »

If we assume they will drop the 3.5mm jack in favor of using the lightning port for headphones that would mean we couldn't listen to music via headphones while charging the phone. That would be my biggest issue.

On the plus side it would be nice if they put an extra speaker where the headphone jack currently is for stereo sound and so that the speakers are harder to obstruct.

Re: More rumors that Apple might drop the 3.5mm headphone jack on the iPhone 7

#67

Post by donatj »

zepto wrote: post #43
donatj wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

USB 3 can carry alternative signals though. Just sell an adapter and get rid of it. Also, has apple ever really cared about pissing people off?

What do you mean by 'alternative signals'? Lightning can carry USB3 anyway and since you need a cable anyway what's the benefit in not using lightning?

A standard cable used on more than one brands devices. A standard that hundreds of thousands of devices are likely to adopt.

Re: More rumors that Apple might drop the 3.5mm headphone jack on the iPhone 7

#68

Post by jkestner »

wlesieutre wrote: post #59
jkestner wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Those $50 adapters have a microprocessor in them to map/convert the eight pins to whatever signals are needed. Lightning does not have an analog audio channel, so I'd bet this adapter would also need a (simpler) microprocessor and the attendant cost. Your $30 guess sounds right, and Apple probably won't even include an adapter as long as they include Lightning or Bluetooth earbuds. People who are fussy enough about h…

Yep, I'm assuming it comes with Lightning earbuds and if you want anything else you're on your own. Bluetooth earbuds would be a pretty hard sell if they come out and say "We're changing to Lightning for better audio quality. Here, have some bluetooth earbuds with worse audio than your old wired ones." EDIT: How small can you make a decent DAC anyway? All the audio ones I've seen are way too big to put on an adapter…

Right, I think it's more likely they do Lightning earbuds. 1) reinforces the concept, 2) doesn't have the fuss of another thing to charge, 3) Apple can do them cheaper than anyone else if they don't have to pay a licensing fee.

Re: More rumors that Apple might drop the 3.5mm headphone jack on the iPhone 7

#69

Post by zepto »

donatj wrote: post #67
zepto wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What do you mean by 'alternative signals'? Lightning can carry USB3 anyway and since you need a cable anyway what's the benefit in not using lightning?

A standard cable used on more than one brands devices. A standard that hundreds of thousands of devices are likely to adopt.

Presuming you are talking about USB-C connectors, lightning devices far outnumber them at this point, and there are already hundreds of millions of lightning devices.

As to 'used on more than one brand's devices' - what benefit do you think his provides?

Re: More rumors that Apple might drop the 3.5mm headphone jack on the iPhone 7

#70

Post by zepto »

larrik wrote: post #65
zepto wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would it make you consider switching?

I use the 3.5mm jack a lot on the Aux In port in various places (both my vehicles, standalone players), plus when I need to use headphones.

So an adaptor would be a lot of hassle or you'd need several of them. That makes sense.
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