We, like nearly everyone else, have been eagerly waiting for the release of the iPhone 7 and when it finally launched on Wednesday, we weren’t disappointed. Apple have invested heavily in moving away from ‘old’ technologies and creating the ultimate smart phone experience.
Whilst the upgrades are very exciting, there is only one part we truly care about – the sound. There have been two new changes to the iPhone which are designed to alter the way we listen to music. The first is the introduction of stereo speakers. Apple have included a speaker at each end of the handset which is meant to be able to deliver twice the volume of the iPhone 6s. I don’t know about you, but we like the sound of that.
Grado eGrado Headphone
The second more controversial element of the iPhone 7 is the removal of the 3.5mm audio jack. AirPods, or wireless headphones, are meant to remove the hassle of a wire and increase the usage of the three-pin portal. The headphones will live “up to five hours” on a charge and come with a recharging case that can extend their life up to 24 hours.
Even though Apple have been known to move away from ‘old’ technologies much quicker than their rivals they aren’t the first company to remove the headphone jack. Lenovo’s Moto Z and select models from Chinese manufacturer LeEco have launched products without the socket. The companies haven’t had many negative reactions to their products but neither are selling on the scale of Apple.
As with everything at Q Acoustics, quality is key therefore I am reserving judgment on how great these headphones are. Are they just another way for Apple to make more money during a less prosperous financial year and with the looming charge of £11bn in taxes? Or is it genuinely the next big way to listen to music? They did create the iPod so they must know something.
Grado In Ear Headphones
In an article about the launch, What Hi-Fi Magazine’s editor, Simon Lucas said “If you’ve been interested purely in the audio quality then a wired connection has always been the best. You have greater stability – there’s no possibility of drop-outs.”
Yes, the signal quality will have an effect on the sound produced but there is no limit on the quality of the sound a wireless speaker can produce. Our Media 4 Sound bar has a bluetooth function whereby you can play music from your phone directly through the speaker without a cable. It still produces the award winning sound our customers have come to expect from our products. Honing that perfect sound has taken years of research and science. So it is down to whether Apple have taken the time to ensure the quality is not compromised by the lack of a wire
Until we are able to get our hands on these products and test them, we won’t know. So until then, I am reserving judgement.
