When I get my new iPhone 7, with the included Lightning EarPods, how will I be able to connect them to my brand new MacBook with Retina display?
Is there an adapter that converts USB-C to Lightning, or the 3.5mm headphone jack to Lightning?
It could be quite simple, in that Apple could allow an analogue signal, via a special 3.5mm to Lightning adapter, to inform the Lightning circuitry to bypass the DAC and send the analogue signal straight to the headphones (the 3.5mm jack supplies enough power to do that). This would be the easiest way to do it. However, assuming Apple doesn't want to implement that protocol for Lightning, a third party could produce a re-chargeable adapter that provides the necessary power for a built-in ADC (which would be kind of silly to then just convert it back again, and it would have to power the headphone's DAC as well). Of course a USB to Lightning adapter would be self powered, but again, Apple has to introduce the protocol to Lightning as well. So far it seems Apple has no interest in supporting Lighting for headphones and other audio devices beyond the native compatibility with iOS.
It's not for use with Apple's EarPods (though I'd much rather carry around an adapter to use them on other devices, than another set of earbuds), it's for high end Lightning headphone's like the Audeze Sine, so as not to have to carry around more than one pair of headphones. There was a potentially large high-end Lightning headphone market, but that seems to have cooled considerably since Apple has not provided the tools to use them on anything but iOS devices.
Maybe my work experience is unique, but I don't think so. Most everyone around me at work has apple earbuds. Sometimes I have my headphones plugged into my phone, and sometimes I need to listen to a video or conference call on my computer. Currently I solve this with 2 sets of earbuds, but just because headphones are necessary enough in our open office configuration that I always carry a backup pair in case I forget them someplace. Still, Apple has a reputation for being meticulous with the details and making the user experience trouble-free, but they missed on this one.
An alternative is to carry just standard 3.5 mm EarPods and the included 3.5 mm to Lightning adapter. Use the adapter with the iPhone and straight with your computer. You need an adapter in either case; why does it matter where you put the adapter?
Preference really. I prefer to use the new headphones that came with my new phone, and I prefer to not have to use an adapter if I don't have to. Your solution requires me to use my old headphones and an adapter most of the time. Apple has said that the 3.5mm jack is old technology, and while that is true, technology fades away when it becomes obsolete. It becomes obsolete when there is a better solution. Apple has most definitely not succeeded in making the 3.5mm jack obsolete. Floppy drives got replaced by CD-roms, which got replaced by USB drives, but the new technology became prevalent, before the old one disappeared. Having lived with lightning headphones for a while now, and not having them be universally useful, I can tell you they most certainly are not better than a 3.5mm plug, and are not going to hasten the demise of the 3.5mm plug.
We have different approaches. I've rarely used any plug-in listing device. I have several Bluetooth headsets, and recently got AirPods. They are the most convenient I have used; the same listening device can be used with multiple sources, including my 2 computers, iPhone and iPad, and it switches between them very easily.
That is a bit of revisionist history, if you go back and read trade magazines each time Apple made radical changes Mr. Jobs would say it was his job to show people what they needed, not follow what they asked for and the trades would say he was doomed to fail. In no way was the replacement readily present, others followed. It is really too soon to tell about the 3.5" plug but some other phone makers have already left it out of their newer models and several companies have Lightning compatible headphones.
But I'm with Lawrence, I have several pair of Bluetooth headphones of various type and cost and I also have the AirPods.
Architor wrote:
Having lived with lightning headphones for a while now, and not having them be universally useful, I can tell you they most certainly are not better than a 3.5mm plug, and are not going to hasten the demise of the 3.5mm plug.
BlueTooth has already done that.
Architor wrote:
Having lived with lightning headphones for a while now, and not having them be universally useful, I can tell you they most certainly are not better than a 3.5mm plug, ...
No, the $2 EarPods (cost to make not to sell) that come with the 7 are identical to the ones with the 6s, they just have a different connector. But have you used these? https://www.audeze.com/products/sine-series/sine-ear-headphone?gclid=CL322sSy7dM CFYMCaQodti8J7Q The app that can be used with them makes good use of the digital domain.
Hello Woodwyn-
Did you ever find a solution for this?
I read some of the replies but not all. I have an iPhone 7 using the lightning headphones that came with it. The supplemental adapter is a female 3.5mm input TO lightning. Whereas, it should be female lighting input TO 3.5mm jack to use on any new MacBook OR a female lightning input to USB-C. All your points and replies are valid, I'm with you... does not make sense especially if I was a new Apple user and the iPhone 7 headphones are the only headphones I own.
HeyNowApple wrote:
The supplemental adapter is a female 3.5mm input TO lightning. Whereas, it should be female lighting input TO 3.5mm jack to use on any new MacBook OR a female lightning input to USB-C.
Then the adapter would not work for its intended purpose: to allow you to use any standard 3.5mm wired headset with an iPhone that does not have a 3.5mm headset jack.
Of course it wouldn't work for its purpose. The iPhone 7 comes with lightning EarPods. The additional adapter that is on the back of the headphone packaging is a 3.5mm female to lightning. So if I have a set of headphones that have the 3.5mm plug, I can use this adapter to connect my legacy headphones to my iPhone 7. Now, since I only own a pair of headphones that came with the iPhone 7, which has the lightning connection, how would I connect those headphones to a new MacBook Pro that only has a 3.5mm input? I can't use the adapter.. and I'm not going to buy another set of headphones when the set I have from the iPhone 7 work well but are not compatible with the newer MacBook Pro.
HeyNowApple wrote:
Now, since I only own a pair of headphones that came with the iPhone 7, which has the lightning connection,
That hits 1,000 on the Bogosity scale. Do you really expect anyone to believe that 40 years after headphones using the 3.5 mm plug became available you have never had a pair? You never had another smartphone (all of which come with headphones)? You have never had a Walkman, an iPod, or any other portable music player? You never bought a higher quality headset than the basic one that comes with all audio devices? And how did you listen to your computer before you got the iPhone 7?
So the answer to the original question "How Can I Use My Lightning Headphones With My New MacBook?" is:
You can't. Because the Lightning headphones need some kind of power support that a mini tele connector on a computer can't provide?
Then WHY didn't you all say that in the first place?
It took me one hour to read through all the answers (and get amazed how rude men are to each other...). (Yes, I'm a slow reader and yes, I'm prejudiced.)
Mohch2511 wrote:
I don't know if this works but.... try using apple pencil lightning to lightning adapter then plug it from one side to ur computer using lightning to usb cable and the other to the earpods........
From the first page of this thread:
XstreamMac wrote:
I tried using then iPad Pencil connector with lighting headphones and it does not work.
How Can I Use My Lightning Headphones With My New MacBook?
