Apple Music is scheduled to release a high-resolution audio streaming format in 2016 featuring a 96kHz/24 bit sampling rate for the subscribers. This format will be entirely compatible with the Lightning port, which will be available in all the upcoming Apple devices.
Apple recommends the usage of the new port instead of the 3.5mm audio jack to experience the enhanced audio quality. However, the lightning port with iOS 9 is compatible up to 192kHz/24Bit, but we don’t have any information about the availability of streaming music in this specification.
There are reports that many third party audio equipment companies are in the process of manufacturing their own lightning cables with an anticipation of Apple’s upcoming improved sound quality.
The headphones developed using Lightning technology is capable of receiving lossless stereo 48KHz digital audio output and sending mono 48KHz digital audio input from Apple devices.
The third party Lightning headphones are already available on Amazon.com. The headphones developed by Soul Electronics consist of an advanced driver and circuitry design with IPX5 waterproof resistant. It also includes antibacterial ear hooks.
Philips also released M2L/27 series Fidelio Premium Headphones with an optimized Lightning connector for iOS devices, which has a capability to deliver excellent audio output.
As you can see manufacturers have already started to design and develop headphones with lightning connectors anticipating enhanced audio output in 2016. We hope these products will also be available in India in the upcoming months.
The lightning headphones will also ship with digital-to-analogue converter for backwards compatibility with wired headphones.
