Jun 27 2007

Apple's iPhone audio gaffes

Belkin's flexible iPhone headphone adapter

(Credit: iLounge)

A couple of small--but I think somewhat serious--issues regarding the audio output of the iPhone have been percolating on the Web for the last week or so. The issues involve the iPhone's headphone/headset jack and the phone's ability to output stereo sound via Bluetooth.

Let's start with the headphone jack. In Walt Mossberg and Katherine Boehret's iPhone review for the Wall Street Journal, they state, "The headphone jack, which supports both stereo music and phone calls, is deeply recessed, so you may need an adapter for existing headphones." Why the port would be so deeply recessed is a mystery, but in case you missed it, the folks over at iLounge had a blurb on a $11 Belkin iPhone adapter the other week to deal with the issue. Who wants an adapter protruding from the side of your cell phone just so you can use that pair of good earbuds you already own?

On the Bluetooth front, rumors that the phone would not support stereo Bluetooth streaming popped up around the Web as soon as it was revealed that there was no A2DP support, but it's now been confirmed that the iPhone only offers mono Bluetooth audio output (essentially for headset use). This means you won't be able to wirelessly stream tunes from the iPhone to one of the many new and improving Bluetooth stereo headphones or Bluetooth speakers. Fans of the cordless headphone concept (I am one) should be a little upset over this because most so-called multimedia phones offer stereo Bluetooth audio output.

At this point, it's unclear whether Apple will be able to add stereo Bluetooth output to this generation of iPhone, but I certainly hope it does soon, especially as many folks are speculating that next-generation iPods will have some sort of wireless streaming feature built into it.

Posted in: Music, Phones
Tags: iPhone, Bluetooth, Apple, headphone jack, Belkin, iPhone adapter
 

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Add a Comment (Log in or register) 27 comments (Page 1 of 3)
iPod speaker docks are screwed too
by audiodonald June 27, 2007 10:11 AM PDT
Mossberg also mentioned that "while the iPhone uses the standard iPod port on the bottom edge, it doesn't recognize all car adapters for playing music, only for charging". People might get upset if they just sunk $300 into a Bose SoundDock thinking it would work with the iPhone. Especially considering that there's no logical reason why it shouldn't work. Bummer.
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iPod speaker docks are screwed too
by audiodonald June 27, 2007 10:11 AM PDT
Mossberg also mentioned that "while the iPhone uses the standard iPod port on the bottom edge, it doesn't recognize all car adapters for playing music, only for charging". People might get upset if they just sunk $300 into a Bose SoundDock thinking it would work with the iPhone. Especially considering that there's no logical reason why it shouldn't work. Bummer.
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Car jack not home speakers
by fotoram June 27, 2007 10:36 AM PDT
Mossberg mentioned "Car Adapter" not home speakers. Since the iPhone is also an iPod, it will work with a sound dock. The problem with car adapters are their ability to send a wireless signal to your car stereo, while the Sound Dock connection is a straightforward connection.
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Car jack not home speakers
by fotoram June 27, 2007 10:36 AM PDT
Mossberg mentioned "Car Adapter" not home speakers. Since the iPhone is also an iPod, it will work with a sound dock. The problem with car adapters are their ability to send a wireless signal to your car stereo, while the Sound Dock connection is a straightforward connection.
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Stereo Bluetooth is not good enough, even for iPod
by phlubbub June 27, 2007 10:58 AM PDT
Sure, David, you might like the "concept" of wireless headphones, but have you actually tried them? I just spent quality time with a set of Motorola S9s, arguably a better pair of Bluetooth headphones, paired with an LG Muziq, one of the newest music phones around. It was a horrible, frustrating experience. Audio quality, at best, was good, but reception issues interrupted songs every few seconds. Simply unacceptable. Apple is right to avoid A2DP, the technology isn't fully formed.
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Stereo Bluetooth is not good enough, even for iPod
by phlubbub June 27, 2007 10:58 AM PDT
Sure, David, you might like the "concept" of wireless headphones, but have you actually tried them? I just spent quality time with a set of Motorola S9s, arguably a better pair of Bluetooth headphones, paired with an LG Muziq, one of the newest music phones around. It was a horrible, frustrating experience. Audio quality, at best, was good, but reception issues interrupted songs every few seconds. Simply unacceptable. Apple is right to avoid A2DP, the technology isn't fully formed.
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Like it or not, A2DP is here to stay!
by minimach June 27, 2007 7:13 PM PDT
On reading of the 'cool' iPhone not supporting A2DP is the last straw for me to decide not to get it. Frankly i think Apple is misrepresenting it by touting that its iPhone is a wireless marvel. In fact, its such a backdated phone without the 3.5G support and now Bluetooth A2DP. Bluetooth A2DP is such a standard nowadays on all new released phones! Come on Apple! And for the writer that says A2DP is not a stable technology, i beg to differ. I own two devices to uses it, one's a Dopod C720W phone and other's a ipod dongle. They work perfectly fine with my Stereo Bluetooth headset!
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Like it or not, A2DP is here to stay!
by minimach June 27, 2007 7:13 PM PDT
On reading of the 'cool' iPhone not supporting A2DP is the last straw for me to decide not to get it. Frankly i think Apple is misrepresenting it by touting that its iPhone is a wireless marvel. In fact, its such a backdated phone without the 3.5G support and now Bluetooth A2DP. Bluetooth A2DP is such a standard nowadays on all new released phones! Come on Apple! And for the writer that says A2DP is not a stable technology, i beg to differ. I own two devices to uses it, one's a Dopod C720W phone and other's a ipod dongle. They work perfectly fine with my Stereo Bluetooth headset!
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question about iphone and a2dp / stereo bluetooth
by glen engelmann June 27, 2007 8:29 PM PDT
who is it that confirmed that the iphone does not have a2dp support or stereo bluetooth? i think i remember that steve jobs said that the iphone would have stereo bluetooth when he introduced the iphone at macworld. any info ont this would be appreciated. thanks.
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question about iphone and a2dp / stereo bluetooth
by glen engelmann June 27, 2007 8:29 PM PDT
who is it that confirmed that the iphone does not have a2dp support or stereo bluetooth? i think i remember that steve jobs said that the iphone would have stereo bluetooth when he introduced the iphone at macworld. any info ont this would be appreciated. thanks.
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