The best pair of headphones you can plug into your iPad or iPhone

Early this month, Apple introduced the Audeze EL-8, as the “world’s first headphones with a fully integrated Apple Lightning cable.”. The headset is the latest of a line of high-end devices created specifically for discerning audiophiles.

It goes without saying that, at $800, the price tag does match the intended audience. With that said, the 3.5mm jack version of the EL-8 has been around since this summer, and was given a rating of 4.5 stars by Digital Trends, in regard to spectrum quality, instrumental separation, dynamic expression and gain on smaller devices like smartphones and portable music players, with the downside of being too bulky for travel.

This particular model, presents a few differences in respect to its non-Lightning predecessor. Aside from the connector, which allows for 28-bit digital signal (twice as much as the old 3.5mm audio jack), the body is built in aluminum instead of wood, with a driver that is four times larger than most comparable headphones.

Best ever sound quality from an iPad or iPhone

Using the EL-8 with an iPhone or iPad requires the included Cypher cable, which, as mentioned earlier, is a 24-bit Lightning cable that allows to experience a full-spectrum listening experience from any iOS device, at max volume, with no sign of distortion. This is accomplished through the Cypher Lightning cable, which includes its own amp and processing.

The same processing and amp are also used during phone conversations, or when sending instructions to Siri via the built-in, in-line microphone.

More than a subtle hint to music professionals

The 28-bit digital signal carried through the Cypher cable allows for twice the audio quality when sampling and mixing sound tracks on GarageBand or similar apps. This makes the EL-8 invaluable with a device like the iPad Pro, on which, with reference to GarageBand, allows for a more comfortable experience, and more room, when using virtual piano keyboards, and virtual string instruments.