Does this mean that Apple is now getting more serious about sound quality?
While Apple devices are at the heart of many a serious audio rig playing various roles, it is arguable that Apple have not really taken audiophiles seriously. For example, still no high res music on iTunes, high jitter optical digital outs on some Macs, Apple Earbuds, etc. Even their blurb on the Audeze (with lightning connector only!) shows thin audiophile sensibilities--they still talk about low Total Harmonic Distortion for example like we were still in the 70s!
All this said, a Lightning cable with a built in DAC and amp for the Audeze EL8--worth at least an audition, no?