Apple defines specs for Lightning headphones with 48kHz output

[l3lackmoses]

ars technica: Apple defines specs for Lightning headphones with 48kHz output

 

9TO5 MAC: http://9to5mac.com/2014/06/03/apple-introduces-mfi-specs-for-lightning-cable-headphones-support-arriving-in-future-ios-update/

 

So "Apple has created a new specification for its Made for iPhone (MFi) program that will allow OEMs to make headphones that use the Lightning port instead of the standard headphone jack." Apparently this will allow "headphones that use the specification will apparently be able to receive 48kHz digital stereo output, and headsets with integrated microphones will be able to send 48kHz digital mono input. The headphones could additionally send other kinds of input to the iDevice, including the ability to control playback or launch specific applications." I know nothing about headphones....well almost nothing...but this just seems like an excuse for Apple to have more proprietary bs. That aside it seems pretty cool.

[Sky Daddy]

wow, i hope ipod users have deeper pockets

[Murdoch]

Gotta power markup dem beats somehow.

[Coombzy]

Will Apple's look like this by any chance?

[Totalschaden1997]

Will Apple's look like this by any chance?

Why no aluminium unibody?^^

[werto165]

Why would i want headphones that limit myself to a single use. I personally will never buy apple products, also doesn't this limit using your headphones and charging at the same time which I do all the time with my phone. 

[Buckley]

Is 48khz a lot?

[Altecice]

Is 48khz a lot?

 

yep

[DildorTheDecent]

wow, i hope ipod users have deeper pockets

We do

[LinusTech]

Wow..

 

This is far worse than any far-fetched idea I could have come up with when I frrst heard about the Apple Beats acquisition.

[rambi36]

Wow..

 

This is far worse than any far-fetched idea I could have come up with when I frrst heard about the Apple Beats acquisition.

I 100% agree with you linus. Whats the point of doing this anyways? im pretty sure people prefer headphones that they can use anything with them, not just apple products

[ericlee30]

Whats the point of doing this anyways?

Money, it's all about money and greed, and I bet anything Apple will be successful with these headphones ( shaking head)

[NannerBeans]

Is 48khz a lot?

Too bad most audio isn't even recorded in 48khz so it's pretty much one of those things where they try to fool people with big numbers. 

[Lays]

LMFAO WTF

 

 

Are you serious apple?  LETS TURN BEATS INTO HI-FIDELITY BEATS. 

[kuddlesworth9419]

This is....................Stupid!

[Murdoch]

Is 48khz a lot?

 

It's not the highest sample rate for audio. Personally I'd be amazed if anybody can tell the difference between 44.1khz (Audio CD sample rate) and 48khz. The absolute highest frequency humans can perceive is 22khz (although most can't). you have to take 'a bit more' than double as a sample rate to accurately represent that 22khz Waveform, hence 48khz was chosen as a good standard. The higher the sample rate the more accurately the waveform will be represented. hence sample rates of 96khz, 192khz and higher. Other factors affect what rate is chosen, such as whether it will be used with video.

 

This is all irrelevant though because higher sample rates have absolutely nothing to do with a 'lightning connector' that's just propriety, marketing, locking gullible people into a platform BS. But that's what we expect from Apple.

[Robi_g]

wut? I mean come on the proprietry headphones that come with samsung phones are bad enough and their practically free

[LAwLz]

It's not the highest sample rate for audio. Personally I'd be amazed if anybody can tell the difference between 44.1khz (Audio CD sample rate) and 48khz. The absolute highest frequency humans can perceive is 22khz (although most can't). you have to take 'a bit more' than double as a sample rate to accurately represent that 22khz Waveform, hence 48khz was chosen as a good standard. The higher the sample rate the more accurately the waveform will be represented. hence sample rates of 96khz, 192khz and higher. Other factors affect what rate is chosen, such as whether it will be used with video.

 

This is all irrelevant though because higher sample rates have absolutely nothing to do with a 'lightning connector' that's just propriety, marketing, locking gullible people into a platform BS. But that's what we expect from Apple.

In headphones you don't need it, but it is useful for other things. You can read about why you want above 48KHz here, in the "Oversampling" section.

That's not about headphones, but I just want to make sure we don't get more people going around saying "anything over 44.1KHz is useless".

It's not because we can hear over 24KHz, but because digital filters can easily create audible distortion if your sampling rate is just above what you need.

 

 

I think this is incredibly stupid by the way. First of all, who wants to use a lightning cable for their headphones? Great, now we got a bulkier connector for them, exactly what nobody has asked for. Secondly, who wants to buy a pair of headphones which only works with their iPad and iPhone? Thirdly, it's a digital signal! Why put a DAC in the headphones instead of using the one in the phone? It seems so wasteful to me. Instead of having 1 good DAC, you will now have to get two. One in the phone (which they can't replace since they need it for the speakers) and one in your headphones (and a lot of companies will probably cheap out on it).

 

 

wut? I mean come on the proprietry headphones that come with samsung phones are bad enough and their practically free

Samsung phones comes with proprietary headphones? This is news to me.

[aom]

wut? I mean come on the proprietry headphones that come with samsung phones are bad enough and their practically free

no they don't. I dont know about the media buttons, but the earbuds themselves work with any phone or device.

[Zeke]

And then they would sell Lightning-to-3.5 adapter for $29

[Misanthrope]

Here's a friendly tip Apple: Look at what proprietary shit has done for Sony. Yeah it works fine when you're the top dog but that's a position that's damn difficult to maintain throughout the years, even for a giant of pretentiousness like you Apple.

[Murdoch]

In headphones you don't need it, but it is useful for other things. You can read about why you want above 48KHz here, in the "Oversampling" section.

That's not about headphones, but I just want to make sure we don't get more people going around saying "anything over 44.1KHz is useless".

It's not because we can hear over 24KHz, but because digital filters can easily create audible distortion if your sampling rate is just above what you need.

 

Yeah dude, I agree which is why I said "The higher the sample rate the more accurately the waveform will be represented." For certain applications you need higher accuracy, there's no debate about that. I wasn't saying 44.1khz is all you'd ever need in any circumstance.

 

My point between not hearing the the difference of 44.1khz vs 48khz was down to the fact I've already heard some Apple fanboys say stuff like we need to drop 3.5mm connections and move to 48khz "HD-Audio" which is clearly fucking ridiculous. We're talking playback on mobile devices here most likely with compressed lossy audio. It's almost completely irrelevant whether it's 48khz or 44.1khz and it has literally nothing to do with 3.5mm.

 

/sigh

 

It makes my head hurt.

[BallGum]

Seems like a pretty poor excuse for an obvious attempt to squeeze money. C'mon Apple, you didn't do too badly at WWDC, and now there's this BS.

[WanderingFool]

Yeah dude, I agree which is why I said "The higher the sample rate the more accurately the waveform will be represented." For certain applications you need higher accuracy, there's no debate about that. I wasn't saying 44.1khz is all you'd ever need in any circumstance.

 

My point between not hearing the the difference of 44.1khz vs 48khz was down to the fact I've already heard some Apple fanboys say stuff like we need to drop 3.5mm connections and move to 48khz "HD-Audio" which is clearly fucking ridiculous. We're talking playback on mobile devices here most likely with compressed lossy audio. It's almost completely irrelevant whether it's 48khz or 44.1khz and it has literally nothing to do with 3.5mm.

 

/sigh

 

It makes my head hurt.

The headphones being proprietary is a major pain, but I do understand the 3.5mm connections being replaced (accompanied) by other digital ones...since the 3.5mm do carry analogue signals and rely on each devices DAC.  Imagine if they build a good quality DAC into a headphone that accepts digital audio (and not some proprietary connection), you wouldn't have to worry if a device has bad audio, instead you just have to worry if your headphones do.

 

Apple really needs to stop locking their devices down though

[Mooshi]

No self respecting audio enthusiasts would ditch their gear which utilizes headphone jacks and established brands in the business for this hipster shit.The only group I see this appealing to are those that make dubstep on their laptops.