When Apple quietly created a new MFi spec for headphones, allowing them to connect via the Lightning port rather than the headphone jack to deliver higher-quality audio, everyone expected Apple-owned Beats to be first to take advantage of it. But instead Philips has, ah, beaten them to it …
The Philips Fidelio M2L uses a built-in 24-bit digital-analogue converter and amplifier to provide higher-quality audio than delivered by the iPhone’s own DAC chip. Philips also says that the Lightning connection eliminates interference that can affect analogue audio cables.
We are very pleased to present the Philips Fidelio M2L our first headphones with Lightning connector for digital and lossless connection to Apple iOS devices,” said Christian Bauer, Senior Marketing Manager Headphones WOOX Innovations DA-CH […]
The M2L uses the digital output of the Lightning plug in order to prevent possible crosstalk and interference from the transmission to the analog phone cable.
The headphones claim a good overall spec, with 40mm high magnetic intensity neodymium speaker drivers and breathable, leather-covered memory-foam pads providing good sound-insulation.
Philips hasn’t, though, taken advantage of any of the other possibilities of the Lightning connection, like dedicated iOS buttons. There’s also no word on whether they have a microphone, which is rumored to be a requirement of the MFi spec, though audio input via Lightning isn’t supported in iOS 7.1 and it’s unclear whether it is yet supported in iOS 8.
U.S. pricing hasn’t yet been announced, but with European pricing at €250, somewhere in the $250-300 range seems likely when the headphones go on sale in December.
Via The Verge
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Ah, yes…nice….but will it provide me with an additional 64GB of disk space?
probably not…
apple charges extra for iPhones with extra disk space. If a plug-in external hard drive for iPhone were to come along, it would not by made by apple.
Not by itself but this might be a little closer to what you’d want. http://bit.ly/1CS9uAQ
This is great….a first step. Now let’s hear from all the people that know what 24 bit audio is….or how to play it on iPhone….
Personally my Go-To choice is the FLAC Player App, which I can iTunes File Transfer 16 & 24 bit FLAC files.
There are only a handful of ways, however, to actually output 24 bit audio over USB….certain stereo systems, USB connection in the car, etc…
A dedicated pair of headphones has my interest.
It begins. The headphone jack will die soon. Apple will be able to make a <5mm phone.
Apple will be able to sell you a lightning to 3.5mm audio jack adaptor though, for £39.99.
It really bothers me that 24-bit audio is going to be a thing, as if it really matters to the end user. Sorry to break it to you folks, but you aren’t going to hear an actual measurable difference in sound quality. Especially if you primarily listen to current music.
Have fun choosing between charging your phone and listening to music lol.
It’s obvious you’ve never actually listened to HQ audio on a quality system. There is a WORLD of difference between MP3s and HQ audio. If you’d like you can come to my house, I’ll play you a CD then play the same song in HQ audio (SACD)–like everyone else I’ve done this with, your mouth with drop, you’ll think that you’re actually in the studio while the song is being recorded, the sound is that clear and deep.
Unless the CD is using the same mastering as the SACD this is a totally invalid comparison.
This is why I mentioned a “measurable” difference. Music that’s mixed for 5.1 (as a lot of SACD recordings are) will sound “bigger”, depending on how the elements are panned around in the mix. But at the end of the day, its the same stuff.
People who claim this have never hear a true audiophile system compared to the best buy stereo.
People are buying beats thinking they sound good. They sound atrocious. Terrible, Terrible sound.
You Can hear a difference between MP3 and 24 bit HQ Audio files. And, you can hear the difference between a best buy system vs something like what I have:
NAD C 375BEE, Oppo BDP-105, Paradigm Reference Studio 20 v.5, HRT Music Streamer
Sounds amazing.
lol i love how people assume that. the fact that i’m playing a keyboard in my avatar should tell you otherwise.
There should be a battery in the headphones so you can charge the phone
How come Apple hasn’t been sued over its ear buds?
patent?