Lightning Port-to-Headphone Adapter for iPhone7plus is a complete fail.
May 5, 2017 1:38 PM Subscribe
I can no longer enjoy music through my high-end headphones because the adapter cuts in and out, advances tracks, stops the music altogether, decides it's time to play the audio from an episode of "The Wire" etc. Besides taking this up with Apple, I'd like to hear insight from the forum. Thank you!
This would not be the time to persuade me to use apple headphones.
This would not be the time to persuade me to use apple headphones.
My adapter works fine for playing music. (Not for telephone, but that's not what you asked about.) If you've confirmed that the problem is not with your headphones or with their own plug, try buying a better adapter. I bought mine from the Apple Store.
posted by JimN2TAW at 1:44 PM on May 5, 2017
posted by JimN2TAW at 1:44 PM on May 5, 2017
I've been using the official Apple adaptor with several headphones for the past year with no issues. Perhaps your adaptor is faulty? In that case, you should be able to take it to an Apple store and get a new one, if it's still under warranty for the device (and probably even if it isn't).
posted by archagon at 1:45 PM on May 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by archagon at 1:45 PM on May 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
Get another adapter. I have about 6 of them (they're cheap and I like having dedicated ones in different locations) and none of them have exhibited this problem. I've been using them since the day the iPhone 7 was released.
posted by primethyme at 1:55 PM on May 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by primethyme at 1:55 PM on May 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
This sounds like a phone issue not a headphone issue. What happens when you play music without headphones? I suspect you'll also get track skipping. Get a new adapter, talk to Apple about it but I'd try a backup and factory reset after trying a new adaptor. I've also had no issues with mine.
posted by Crystalinne at 2:09 PM on May 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Crystalinne at 2:09 PM on May 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
The question is implicit in the other responses, but I'm gonna make it explicit: Are you using the official Apple adapter, or a third party?
posted by uberchet at 2:12 PM on May 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by uberchet at 2:12 PM on May 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
This sounds like a particularly weird failure mode, so I'm not sure this is relevant, but try cleaning the lightning port by scraping out any dust etc with a toothpick, and see if that helps.
posted by aubilenon at 2:16 PM on May 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by aubilenon at 2:16 PM on May 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
My adapter is a piece of shit too, and I wish I had an old iPhone so I wouldn't have to rely on this stupid technology. I noticed that mine started sucking more and more with time, so I think it was actually physically degrading in some way (probably got caught and yanked on something one too many times). I'd just try to get it replaced.
posted by stoneandstar at 2:54 PM on May 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by stoneandstar at 2:54 PM on May 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I'm using the apple adapter. I do clean the connection port. This issue is documented in apple forums and articles (because I do Google things before I address the Green) but, as of yet, not resolved. Also, so far, the above answers are coming from those who don't have the problem.
posted by captainsohler at 2:55 PM on May 5, 2017
posted by captainsohler at 2:55 PM on May 5, 2017
I can no longer enjoy music through my high-end headphones because the adapter cuts in and out, advances tracks, stops the music altogether, decides it's time to play the audio from an episode of "The Wire" etc. ...
It really sounds like your phone/adapter system is picking up and executing commands from other people's systems, somehow.
Does this happen when you are at a distance from other phones and users?
posted by jamjam at 3:13 PM on May 5, 2017
It really sounds like your phone/adapter system is picking up and executing commands from other people's systems, somehow.
Does this happen when you are at a distance from other phones and users?
posted by jamjam at 3:13 PM on May 5, 2017
Is there any reason you haven't updated to 10.3.1? It fixes a pretty bad 0-day in the wifi firmware.
posted by Talez at 4:22 PM on May 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Talez at 4:22 PM on May 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: It's definitely not picking up commands from other devices. And it has nothing to do with wifi. I'll go to apple.
posted by captainsohler at 5:53 PM on May 5, 2017
posted by captainsohler at 5:53 PM on May 5, 2017
Response by poster: @jamjam: The audio for The Wire is playing because it's the show I've been watching on my device. It starts playing because the signal from the headphone to the device keeps shorting because, presumably, the adapter is a POS.
posted by captainsohler at 6:03 PM on May 5, 2017
posted by captainsohler at 6:03 PM on May 5, 2017
I'm not trying to solve your problem. But there's a remote execution exploit in the wireless firmware in iOS versions prior to 10.3.1. You should upgrade now.
posted by Talez at 6:42 PM on May 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Talez at 6:42 PM on May 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
And in any case taking it to Apple will mean the first thing they try is a software update and factory reset. Might as well try it yourself and save the time.
posted by spitbull at 8:57 PM on May 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by spitbull at 8:57 PM on May 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
It really sounds like your phone/adapter system is picking up and executing commands from other people's systems, somehow.
That's not a thing.
captainsohler, random track skips or other unwanted button commands are almost always an issue with the headphone hardware chain, but if that third-party headset plays nice with other digital devices that you own, you can rule that out as the source of the problem.
Your adapter is covered under the warranty of your iPhone - any Apple Store will exchange it for you.
posted by tantrumthecat at 6:49 AM on May 6, 2017 [3 favorites]
That's not a thing.
captainsohler, random track skips or other unwanted button commands are almost always an issue with the headphone hardware chain, but if that third-party headset plays nice with other digital devices that you own, you can rule that out as the source of the problem.
Your adapter is covered under the warranty of your iPhone - any Apple Store will exchange it for you.
posted by tantrumthecat at 6:49 AM on May 6, 2017 [3 favorites]
Regular headphones use a three-contact TRS (tip-ring-sleeve) audio jack - one contact is grounded, and the other two carry the left and right channels. Headphones for smartphones that include a built-in remote or microphone use a four-contact TRRS (tip-ring-ring-sleeve) jack, with the extra contact used for remote signals (tap to play/pause, double-tap to skip, hold for voice control, etc.) and to carry the signal from the microphone. Your adapter is designed to work with both TRS and TRRS - if you plug regular headphones into it, the fourth contact should just be unused. Somewhere along the signal chain, your adapter is picking up signals on this fourth contact, causing your phone to act like you're jabbing the button on a non-existent remote at random.
There's not a good standard for the geometry of TRRS connectors - most modern smartphone manufacturers have kind of settled on the same implementation, but it's not enforced by anyone, and sometimes you can run into problems. That said, usually the problems are the other way around, i.e. your headset just works like regular headphones and the remote doesn't work. That suggests the problem is with the adapter.
Do other headphones work OK with this adapter? If so, it's probably just an incompatibility with the geometry of your headphones and the adapter's contacts. This is unlikely, but possible if the headphones are older or an unusual make. If multiple sets of headphones exhibit the same problems, the adapter's dodgy and you should get Apple to replace it. You could try cleaning it out with a toothpick, but I wouldn't bother until you've asked Apple if they'll replace it for free.
posted by spielzebub at 3:28 AM on May 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
There's not a good standard for the geometry of TRRS connectors - most modern smartphone manufacturers have kind of settled on the same implementation, but it's not enforced by anyone, and sometimes you can run into problems. That said, usually the problems are the other way around, i.e. your headset just works like regular headphones and the remote doesn't work. That suggests the problem is with the adapter.
Do other headphones work OK with this adapter? If so, it's probably just an incompatibility with the geometry of your headphones and the adapter's contacts. This is unlikely, but possible if the headphones are older or an unusual make. If multiple sets of headphones exhibit the same problems, the adapter's dodgy and you should get Apple to replace it. You could try cleaning it out with a toothpick, but I wouldn't bother until you've asked Apple if they'll replace it for free.
posted by spielzebub at 3:28 AM on May 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: I went to the Apple Store. The adapter was replaced.
posted by captainsohler at 11:56 AM on May 23, 2017
posted by captainsohler at 11:56 AM on May 23, 2017
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posted by captainsohler at 1:38 PM on May 5, 2017