Innovation or e-waste? Apple rumored to ditch headphone jack

[ApK]

Originally Posted by Shane R

iSure, some do it, but wifi (wireless) is the way for most.

Sure, but wired is still faster and more reliable. Not sure why need or want to encourage a race to the bottom. By all means, have the option to sacrifice quality for convenience. It's often the best choice. But don't take away the option of choosing quality. Even small modern laptops still have an Ethernet port most of the time.

[Conan46]

Interesting article that goes along with this subject.
Toxics In Our Electronics
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/techno...fix/ar-BBoVEL0

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by Shane R

I wish they'd use a connector that was compatible across all different types of devices - like USB-C.

But in the end it's moot. I think 3-5 years from now the idea of physically inserting a cable into a device to listen to audio will be as quaint as plugging a cable into a device to access the Internet is to most of us.

Sure, some do it, but wifi (wireless) is the way for most.

My Wifi-connection doesn't even come CLOSE to saturating my internet speed, and I don't even have the fastest internet available in the Netherlands. My father has a security / observation camera system (used to observe the birds he breeds), which was wireless from 2000 up to 2012. Then it became so bad that reception dropped away completely. I've replaced it with a wired system, and the image is crystal clear.

The wireless space is becoming too crowded to be reliable. I refuse to use wireless, except if it's impossible to avoid (cel phone, tablet) or if reliability is not an issue.

If something *MUST* work, and at full speed / quailty, I'll use wires. And I will keep using wires until someone proves to me that wireless is as secure and reliable in ALL circumstances.

[Conan46]

Katsunami, good point about wireless getting crowded. I can't imagine living in an apartment complex with all the wifi signals. Even in suburban areas it is getting more crowded, and I regularly reboot my router because I notice my neighbors piling up on the same 2.4ghz channel. The 5ghz band will buy us some time, but eventually it will be just as bad. I have my two Rokus wired directly, and considered wired the best option in general wherever possible.

[ApK]

A long while ago I read the George Gilder book 'Telecosm' which described how to manage spectrum to allow for essentially infinite wireless bandwith for all. It was an interesting read (or listen, I got it on Audible), though I'm not an EE to assess it rigorously. Looks like his vision is slow in coming in any case.

[Apache]

I have had a partial hearing loss since I was 19. Because of this I do not buy high quality headphones.
Apache

[Shane R]

I figured I'd return to a mini-explosion of techno-indignation about my wifi comments.

The point stands: for what the majority of people need it for, Wi-Fi is more than sufficient. And there are very good alternatives available for the rest.

It won't be much different with wireless audio in a handful of years.

[GlennD]

There's always been sort of a dual market for music. A number of artists are releasing 5.1 surround sound HD versions of classic albums, and I always have to ask "who has time to sit in the middle of their living room (or wherever their good audio system is) and listen to an album?" I used to do that back in the vinyl days, but most people are happy to sacrifice a certain amount of fidelity for the ability to carry their entire music collection with them. That doesn't mean the audiophile market doesn't exist, but I believe it is a small minority compared with the people who want convenience.

[Phogg]

Originally Posted by GlennD

There's always been sort of a dual market for music. A number of artists are releasing 5.1 surround sound HD versions of classic albums, and I always have to ask "who has time to sit in the middle of their living room (or wherever their good audio system is) and listen to an album?" I used to do that back in the vinyl days, but most people are happy to sacrifice a certain amount of fidelity for the ability to carry their entire music collection with them. That doesn't mean the audiophile market doesn't exist, but I believe it is a small minority compared with the people who want convenience.

I will agree to a point.
Its not an either/ or though.

If you relax best to music you can do both.

Just because this isn't portable doesn't mean I have to give it up altogether.

[crane3]

One can nearly take with them, depending on the size of their library.

I bought a FIIO X3 along with a 128 gb sd card; amazing how much flac files can be held. Will be using it when walking in the summer when the weather is nice(r). Will be plugged in with the AKG 240M instead of the AKG 701 tho.

There are quite a few audiophile music players that are much better than any apple produce & a lower price. As for just sitting & listening to an album(s), when I can always do that; even did that when still working for enjoyment & relaxation.

[Shane R]

What sort of music are you FLAC aficionados listening to?

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by GlennD

There's always been sort of a dual market for music. A number of artists are releasing 5.1 surround sound HD versions of classic albums, and I always have to ask "who has time to sit in the middle of their living room (or wherever their good audio system is) and listen to an album?"

Everybody does. Listening to music in that way is an activity, just like browsing Facebook or Youtube is, or reading, or watching series on TV. Many people who think they have no time would have too much time if they should quit following 20 series on TV, browse Facebook, and look at 147 cat video's on Youtube each day. (OK, I'm exaggerating, but you get the point.)

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by Shane R

What sort of music are you FLAC aficionados listening to?

Everything from Classical to Nightwish and Deep Purple, and from Dire Straits to Enya and Secret Garden.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Phogg

Attachment 145977 Just because this isn't portable doesn't mean I have to give it up altogether.

I used to do that; but no more. My stereo of choice these days is this:

[MikeB1972]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

LOL, Beats....

Do you know what "dynamic compression" and the "loudness war" is?

There has been an ongoing trend to make CD's louder and louder.
<Snip/>

Any idea why they are trying to make CD's louder? Every device I have listened to a CD on, has either a magic spinny knob thing or buttons that make the volume go up or down.

Loud adverts on TV are annoying though.