Regardless, by creating the wireless AirPods to make up for the lack of
an analog audio connection on the iPhone 7, Apple will reshape the market for wireless audio with these relatively inexpensive earbuds.
Lack of Bluetooth streaming and
an analog audio connection lock non-iPhone users out of listening to digital audio on their smartphones.
It's a fairly straightforward pair of headphones: It only offers stereo sound (no fancy surround option), and it relies on
an analog audio connections.
Not exact matches
Standard
analog 3.5 mm auxiliary input, USB
connection, Bluetooth
audio streaming, iPod
connection, RCA
audio / video input
standard
analog 3.5 mm auxiliary input, USB
connection, Bluetooth
audio streaming, iPod
connection, optional Pandora Link app integration
Standard
analog 3.5 mm auxiliary input, USB
connection, Bluetooth
audio streaming, iPod
connection, SD card slot
Standard
analog 3.5 mm auxiliary input, USB
connection, Bluetooth
audio streaming, optional iPod
connection
Standard
analog 3.5 mm auxiliary input, 2 USB
connections with iPod connectivity, Bluetooth
audio streaming
Optional
analog 3.5 mm auxiliary input, USB
connection, Bluetooth
audio streaming, iPod
connection
Standard
analog 3.5 mm auxiliary input, optional USB
connection, Bluetooth
audio streaming, iPod
connection, HDD
audio storage
In addition to the Bluetooth and USB / iPod
connections, the X1's list of
audio sources includes AM / FM radio with HD Radio decoding, SiriusXM satellite radio (a ridiculously overpriced $ 350 option), a single - slot CD player that can rip
audio to the hard drive for disc-less playback, and an
analog audio input.
standard
analog 3.5 mm auxiliary input, USB
connection, Bluetooth
audio streaming, iPod
connection
On the computer's rear panel are a number of
connection options, including seven USB 2.0 ports (three of which you'll need for the included Bluetooth receiver and the wired keyboard and mouse), two USB 3.0 ports, an eSATA port, a Gigabit Ethernet jack for connecting to the Internet, and S / PDIF and eight - channel
analog audio outputs.
The Asus H81 motherboard supplies two more USB 3.0 ports; four USB 2.0 ports; onboard video
connections in the form of HDMI, DVI, and VGA ports;
analog audio ports; an Ethernet jack; and even a PS / 2 port.
In the box with the speaker is an RCA (male) to 3.5 mm (male) cable and a 3.5 mm to 3.5 mm (male to male) to accommodate
connection of any number of outboard
analog audio devices — think TV, Blu - ray player, or turntable.
It seems more likely that there would be interference sending
audio over the 3.5 mm
analog connection.
The second - gen Chromecast also launched with an
audio - only version designed to bring smart
audio streaming to any speaker with an
analog or optical
audio connection.
Inputs include two HDMI
connections, a digital optical
audio (Toslink) input, and one stereo pair of
analog RCA plugs.
The box includes a 3.5 mm
analog, S / PDIF output for headphones or digital
audio connections, and while there's no built - in ethernet port, the full - sized USB port supports USB - to - ethernet adapters, along with external storage drives and game controllers.
Olive also provides gold - plated RCA
analog audio outputs, if your amp isn't equipped with XLR inputs, as well as coaxial and Toslink S / PDIF
connections if you'd prefer to connect the server to an outboard digital - to -
analog converter (DAC).
The left speaker's back panel houses all of the
connections, including the screw - on antenna for Bluetooth reception, the banana plug - style output that sends sound to the right speaker (a cable is included), an RCA - style stereo input and output, a 3.5 mm
audio input for mobile devices, and a micro USB input for
connection to a computer — a way to bypass the digital - to -
analog converter on your speaker's output and let the HD3 handle things.
Multiple Inputs... including front - panel
connection for iPod and other portable devices: The new Z - Base systems each have two
analog audio inputs, one optical (Toslink) digital input, one coaxial digital input — plus a front panel 3.5 mm
analog stereo input for convenient
connection of your iPod or other portable
audio device.
You generally don't want to use the
analog outputs unless it's your last resort, as digital
audio over either coaxial or optical
connections is preferable to
analog.
You'll also find GigE, ASUS Wifi
connections (you'll get two external antenna in your package from Falcon Northwest), and standard optical and
analog audio jacks.
In layman's terms, that means higher - resolution, less - compressed
audio than what you'd get from a typical USB or
analog connection.
You'll need a separate headset adapter if you want to use it with your Xbox One, but it supports PC
audio with an included USB sound card and simulated (though not particularly effective) surround sound out of the box without
analog connections or a splitter.