The Gen XY Lifestyle
Best Headphone Solutions for Your New iPhone 7
The removal of the headphone jack from the iPhone will cause a lot of consternation among earphone users, but not to worry: there are plenty of solutions out there as it is.
Since we’re at it, we picked out a variety of headphones and earphones that will add a little something to your listening experience. Not only will they lessen the inconvenience, they might even make music even more enjoyable.
Connects to everything you can think of
The Sony MDR-1ADAC isn’t new, which is all the more astonishing given its flexibility. It has its own DAC (Digital to Analog Converter, which converts your music files into sound) built into the headphones, which means that all the iPhone needs to do is to feed the raw data into it via the included Lightning cable. The 1ADAC supports a variety of inputs, allowing you to use the onboard DAC with mobile devices as well as your desktop computer. It supports high-resolution audio as well (24-bit/192kHz) for a quality audio experience. It’s noise-cancelling as well, so you can enjoy your music in peace too.
S$499
The No-Frills Audiophile Experience
The Audeze Sine made waves (sorry) when it was first launched and was compared with Oppo’s PM3 as the headphones that would bring Planar Magnetic driver technology to the portable mainstream. Planar Magnetic drivers are regarded as more dynamic than regular Dynamic drivers (again, sorry) but are typical too bulky for mobile use. The Sine goes one-up with its on-ear form factor, as well as its Lightning-compatible Cipher cable option that has a 24-bit/96kHz DAC built-in. It’s an elegant yet audiophile-friendly solution that shows that the Lightning option is not without its merits. Install an app like the ONKYO HF Player or iAudioGate and you’re set. The cable is removable, so it means you can easily swap it out for a 3.5mm cable (sold separately) and use it conventionally.
S$829, S$729 for regular 3.5mm version
For the Intended Apple Experience
All wireless, Apple AirPods seems clever on paper: no wires at all, intelligent enough to turn on removed from case, play or pause when inserted into ear or removed, can switch between your Mac, iPad, Watch, and phone and Siri support — yes, it doubles up as a hands-free as well. One charge can last for five hours, and the charging case adds up to 24 hours on the move. It doesn’t have onboard controls so everything has to be done on your phone. It looks set to be an integral part of the Apple ecosystem in the near future, but for now, it’s more a matter of whether it fits your usage patterns.
S$238
Discreet and Elegant
Earin was one of, if not the first, truly wireless earphones on the market. It connects via Bluetooth, has its own charging case, and is pretty simple to use. While elegant, it’s a little more susceptible to stuttering when there’s interference between the phone and the earbuds — something we’re more willing to forgive given its tiny size. Earin focused purely on the listening experience — Earin uses Balanced Armature drivers, which are used in audiophile in-ear headphones — and you’ll be surprised by how good they sound when used with Comply ear tips. The downside is it doesn’t have a microphone built in. Despite its little niggles, you’d be surprised by what you can get out of the Earin.
S$349
Fitness Friendly Companion
Samsung Icon X is the Korean giant’s own version of the wireless earbuds, and it is somewhat like the Bragi and its ilk. It’s more like a smart wearable and has a heart rate monitor, fitness tracker, and internal storage for music playback while working out; and it even has touch-sensitive controls built-in. If you’ve wanted to get a fitness tracker anyway then the Icon X may be a more elegant solution that will cut down on the clutter of having to put on, charge and sync yet another gadget.
S$289
Unrivaled Luxury over Your Ears
The Bowers & Wilkins P7 Wireless is one of the best luxury headphones money can buy — an irresistible combination of comfort and sound quality. It looks fairly understated save for its own logo emblazoned on the face of the earcups, which, face it, you wouldn’t mind having. It’s the wireless version of the regular P7, and is priced — by their standards — rather fairly. It eschews all forms of tech wizardry, opting instead for physical controls and no special features, preferring to direct all its energies to the listening experience.
S$599
