http://www.forbes.com/sites/jvchamary/2016/09/16/apple-iphone-headphone-jack/#3d50299c3019
There ya go... I've included a bunch more in previous threads, but you can go back and check them out as well if this one doesn't help you...
Again... we've had this argument on previous threads... I provided links then - I didn't realize you wanted them again... your "proof" is simply google searches and tech site links when all we're trying to prove is something that should be common sense... It's NOT a big deal to most people - the "proof" will obviously have to wait until we see what happens down the road in a couple years... but iphone sales were actually higher than all these so-called tech experts predicted..
http://bgr.com/2016/09/16/iphone-7-sales-increase-popularity-reasons/
Turns out the lack of a 3.5mm port didn't really matter....
So here's where your anti-Apple bias surfaces... They're big and mighty, therefore evil.... So they aren't innovating as much as they used to.... when's the last time Samsung innovated anything in the cell/smartphone industry? I still remember the Samsung Blade being released shortly after the Motorola Razr.... talk about innovating...
My point of raising Vinyl vs. Optical was simply to bring home the point that this argument is a dated one.... in a few years, no one will care, as the 3.5mm port will be gone from most portable devices... Remember, Bluetooth continues to evolve... The audio quality difference between 2.0 and 4.1 is tremendous - and will only increase as the standard progresses... Who's to say that Bluetooth 6 or 7 might even be superior to any wired sound we have now?
Check out
http://pitchfork.com/thepitch/1305-does-bluetooth-really-sound-worse/
It's just an opinion piece, but it raises the point that music itself is subject to personal opinion - as is, naturally, the quality of said music... the proof that most people can't tell the difference is simply in the fact that more and more people use Bluetooth.... They either can't tell the difference or don't care.... either way, it signals the end of wired...
From the forbes article you linked
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"The 3.5mm jack is over 50-years-old and doesn’t do much besides carry an audio signal. It needs its own power amplifier and digital audio converter, which can be built into headphones, so removing the jack makes room for other things, such as a second speaker."
Most mobile devices do not have an amp, which is only required for headphones with higher impedance. Moving the DAC to the headphones increases the cost of headphones and means that audio quality can vary even more from headphone to headphone than with a single DAC built into the device. In addition a 2.5mm jack could have been used to save space if that is what they wanted.
"The Lightning port is superior to a 3.5mm jack due to how it carries audio signals. “The big problem with the old headphone jacks is that they’re analogue technology,” Reiss explains. “Modern audio formats are all digital, and have been for a very long time.”"
This statement is completely false. The Lighting port is just a dumb pipe, the actual digital to audio conversion is done at the DAC, which is what actually determines the quality of the sound in addition to, of course, what you are listening with. Modern audio is stored digitally and is played analoge, since that is what our brains can process. Being digital has nothing to do with quality. Digital cables are simple, they transmit os and 1s, that's it.
"One drawback of a 3.5mm jack is that its digital-to-analogue converter alters the audio signal prematurely, before it reaches a headphone’s speakers, which can allow data to be lost from a recording."
Another completely false statement, the DAC does exactly what its name infers, converts Digital to Analog. Not to mention, a DAC is still required for the new iPhone so this whole point is self defeating.
"“Generally, the jack itself will have had some audio degradation just getting the audio,” says Reiss, who recommends that you plug headphones into the digital port. “Your best option at the moment is to not use the adapter, but have good headphones that can use the Lightning connector directly.”"
I'd like to see data backing this up. I've heard of some Audiophiles being able to hear a VERY small difference between $500 speaker wires but I have never ever in all my time in audiophile forums head of degradation from the jack.
"CDs store 16 bits of data per sample at 44,100 samples per second (44kHz), but sound can also be recorded with 24 bits at a higher frequency of 96kHz. And while
iPhone 6 hardware supports 24-bit/96kHz, software such as iTunes and Apple Music don’t transmit that to a 3.5mm jack."
If iTunes and Apple Music don't transmit higher sample rate music to the 3.5mm jack that is a software / DAC issue with previous iPhones. There is absolutely no technical reason for not having this feature. I have plenty of DACs on-hand that can output to 48 kHz / 24 bit. These sample / bit rates have been around for years, it's nothing new digital can fix.
"CD quality should be enough to capture a realistic sound and most humans can’t detect frequencies above 20kHz (which is why you can’t hear dog whistles). At the same time, some claim that hi-res audio sounds crisper or more intense, and brain imaging shows that individuals do respond to high frequencies."
Anyone who has to pull the "humans can't hear over or under x frequency doesn't know much about high end audio. Quality sound has never been about reproducing sound outside the human range of hearing. High-end sound is about reproducing what is being recorded as best as possible.
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If you are going to link an article at least make sure it's competent. Since you linked it I have to believe you intended it to be evidence and frankly it is a joke. Not that it is surprising coming from forbes.
"your "proof" is simply google searches and tech site links when all we're trying to prove is something that should be common sense... It's NOT a big deal to most people - the "proof" will obviously have to wait until we see what happens down the road in a couple years... but iphone sales were actually higher than all these so-called tech experts predicted.."
You can check my post history, I predicted the iPhone 7 would sell well. It always sells well and will continue to do so until the brand goes down in value. Excuse my "proof" as you so but you complain that I didn't link enough and now you are complaining that the way I provided it is incorrect. Perhaps I could link each individual thread but then again you would just go back to complaining that it isn't nearly enough people "whining" as you say.
"Turns out the lack of a 3.5mm port didn't really matter...."
Because to you the only variable in the new iPhone 7 is the headphone jack. Yes, the iPhone 7 sold well because they removed the headphone jack, not because it has an amazing screen, excellent hardware, and good design. You'll try and draw whatever conclusion you can won't you? I think you need to read up on how to narrow down a specific variable.
"So here's where your anti-Apple bias surfaces... They're big and mighty, therefore evil.... So they aren't innovating as much as they used to.... when's the last time Samsung innovated anything in the cell/smartphone industry?"
No, this is where you make assumptions. Did I say anything about Samsung? Samsung has been about as good as Apple. No, they aren't innovating because they aren't innovating. If they were Samsung wouldn't be able to steal their market share away simply by copying them.
"My point of raising Vinyl vs. Optical was simply to bring home the point that this argument is a dated one.... in a few years, no one will care, as the 3.5mm port will be gone from most portable devices... Remember, Bluetooth continues to evolve... The audio quality difference between 2.0 and 4.1 is tremendous - and will only increase as the standard progresses... Who's to say that Bluetooth 6 or 7 might even be superior to any wired sound we have now?"
Bluetooth has been around since 1994. If it was going to eliminate wired it would have happened. Just like wired Keyboards and controllers are still around, the disadvantages of wireless (like latency, compression, Reliability, and connection) are a significant factor. Don't go around making general statements that will likely not prove true. Maybe at some point wireless might take over but that is after they solve it's problems.
The opinion piece you provided is very nice. The points made, like audio quality not mattering in places like the Gym and subway is very true. Another point that could have been provided is that Audio quality has actually dropped since 2007. Google Loudness War. Music has gone done in quality and dynamic range over the years. At least with VR becoming more popular, it should result in an increase in audio quality and hopefully Binaural audio finally making it into more recordings. Once again though, remember that this is for specific people in specific locations. That guy going to the Gym might like to come home and watch videos with decent audio at his house.
