With the launch of the iPhone 7 and its supposedly non-existent headphone jack fast approaching us next week, a lot of audio manufacturers have had to think a little differently about how they design their next pair of headphones. Using a Bluetooth headset is one solution, but Libratone's new active noise-cancelling Q Adapt In-Ear buds will be using the iPhone's Lightning adapter instead, negating the need for chunky battery packs when you want to drown out your surroundings.
It's by no means the first pair of Lightning-powered headphones that have been released, but the Q Adapt In Ear hope to stand out with its customisable active noise cancelling (ANC) options. Using its four-button remote, you can select up to four defined ANC profiles with a simple click, or use the 'City Mix' scroll wheel inside Libratone's mobile app to pick your own perfect setting.
The first step allows you to hear all your surroundings, while the fourth activates the Q Adapt's full ANC capabilities. The app does a good job at helping you visualise your ANC settings as well, as the cityscape in the lower half of the scroll wheel will fade in and out as you go from one end of the spectrum to the other.
That's not all, either, as Libratone's new Hush feature allows you to momentarily mute your music and halt the ANC so you can still listen in on things like transport announcements or take part in a conversation without needing to remove your headphones. Just press and hold the ANC button and your music dips almost instantly.
The Q Adapt In Ear comes with three different types of ear tip, and will be available in white, black, rose gold (especially for your iPhone) and nude brown, each of which comes with a corresponding woven cable. The iPhone support doesn't stop there, either, as the remote's microphone also works with Siri, allowing you to issue voice commands and take calls from your phone.
Libratone's also bringing its City Mix ANC to its new Q Adapt On Ear headphones. You can either use them wirelessly over Bluetooth or via its standard 3.5mm jack, allowing Android users can get in on the action as well as those using older iOS devices.
Just like the rest of Libratone's audio portfolio, the Q Adapt On Ear headphones utilise its universal touch-based control system, so you can simply swipe and tap its iconic bird logo on the right ear cup to play and skip tracks.
The City Mix ANC has a dedicated button underneath the right ear cup, but you can activate Hush just by covering the bird logo with the palm of your hand thanks to its built in proximity sensors. It's extremely easy to do, and it worked surprisingly well during my hands on demo.
The Q Adapt On Ear headphones also come with a microphone for taking calls, and can be daisy-chained with another Bluetooth device so two people can listen to the same thing at once. As for battery life, Libratone's estimating around 20 hrs of listening time over Bluetooth.
You won't have to wait long to get them clapped round your ears, either, as both sets of headphones are launching this October. The On Ear model will cost £219, while the In Ear headphones will cost £159. We'll bring you our final verdict as soon as review samples are available.