Philips M1BT query

[JKB]

Hi,

A first post ever, so please don't be too harsh if my questions are moronic.

I am looking into some wireless headphones and it feels as if the Philips M1BTs are fulfilling most of my requirements. However, I am a little confused by all of this apt-x business. A very large number of people are iphone owners, but as far as I can see, these particular headphones are not compatible unless you get an extra adaptor.

Is that correct? I have a particularly ancient iphone and am considering an upgrade, but don't want to render any possible wireless headphones redundant if they are not compatible with a new iphone. Or will the current bluetooth technology in iphones provide the same sound quality as apt-x?

I would be very grateful if someone who knows anything about this could get back to me. Also, does anyone have a definitive answer as to whether a 2012 macbook pro with snow leopard is apt-x enabled? I have had a good search around, but not found anything clear. What I have found would suggest that it is.

On a separate note, if these headphones are not the ones to go for, which are the best for connecting up to a tv (not bluetooth enabled), phone and laptop?

Thanks very much!

 

[quadpatch]

I have the Arcam rBlink bluetooth DAC, which supports apt-x. I tried it with my Android phone, which does support apt-x as well as my wife's iPhone 4, which does not support it. The iPhone sounded noticeably worse in quality playing back the same lossless files. It was way more noticeable than 192kbps MP3 vs lossless for example. As long as your phone has bluetooth it will work I think, I personally found apt-x made a big difference.

I must say that I don't like the sound quality of wireless headphones. It's not the wireless tech to blame for this shortcoming though, it's the fact that the DAC, amp and power is all stuffed inside something which already has things taking up that space, things that need room to breath and suffer from vibration issues. Wireless will never bring the ultiate in sound quality.

Your last question is a little broad reaching. What's your budget? Is it more for music than TV and if so what genres do you like? Do you need good sound isolation, durability and comfort? Do you need portability / will you want to use them outside?

 

[JKB]

Thanks very much. Yes, forget the last question! I am not sure my knowledge is great enough to know exactly what I am talking about.

I think the long and short of it is that I will forget about a wireless headphone. It just isn't convenient if it doesn't work properly with my iphone and I have to get an adaptor for my tv. I was looking for something that would allow me to watch tv without disturbing the wife and perhaps use with my phone from time to time. Wireless seemed pretty convenient, but perhaps I can just invest in some headphones with a long cable. If that is possible. Some more research to be done.