Bloomberg claims that Apple is planning to revamp its listening hardware in 2019, with “higher-end AirPods, a new HomePod and studio-quality over-ear headphones” tipped to make their debut in 2019.
The story has plenty of details on which partners may manufacture the new devices, and positions the new over-ear headphones as a “higher-end alternative to the company’s Beats line”. What it doesn’t mention, though, is what this might mean for the music that’s listened to through these earphones and headphones.
Ever since the major labels and technology firms like MQA started talking about ‘hi-res music’, we’ve wondered when (or even if) the biggest streaming services – Spotify and Apple Music in particular – would jump on the bandwagon.
Tidal was early, then Deezer, while Napster and Pandora also declared their support at CES 2017. Apple would argue that Apple Music already sounds pretty good, especially when streamed through its HomePod smart-speaker, whose audio quality was one of its key selling points.
Even so, if 2019 *is* the year of higher-end headphones for the company, it’s not wild speculation to wonder whether this might go well with a hi-res tier (or even an across-the-board upgrade) for Apple Music.
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Tools :: We Are Giant
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