Lightning-connected headphones from Philips and JBL

[RAMd®d]

The two new models — JBL's Reflect Aware in-ear version and Philips's Fidelio NC1L on-ears — not only draw audio signals from the Lightning port, but power as well. That enables both sets to provide active noise canceling without the need for batteries.

At press time, AppleInsider had not yet been able to confirm if either of these headphones could be used with a standard headphone jack, either through an adapter or other means.


http://appleinsider.com/articles/15/01/0...ps-and-jbl

[sekker]

Very cool if there is programmable noise canceling.

[deckeda]

The FIRST advantage they have---completely missed by the author--- is that a headphone or earbud that connects via Lightning is using its own amplifier and its own DAC, since the Lightning port doesn't offer analog line-out audio. (Apple's $30 Lightning to 30-pin adapter includes a tiny DAC inside.)

That's not a guarantee of better sound, but the freedom to potentially have it (or to have a worse DAC and headphone amp than your iDevice has, depending on your perspective.)