Editorial: Headphone jack vs. USB audio. Which is better? Comments
- Sorcha
- 3PMD
Sure it "advances" things in terms of the tech used but the average user isn't a tech nerd. What most users want most is to be able to use it and with ease. Having only one port when you want to simultaneously charge and listen is a big bummer.
My biggest concern is that USB-C looks flimsy and that it'll cause headphones to have the same problem that micro-USB caused with charging - the flimsiness which makes you have to constantly wiggle to get it to work and eventually you end up with a warped port and warped cable so you have to replace the entire device. Excuse my language but honestly a piece of $%@*. We don't get to "vote with our dollar" because these things keep becoming standard whether we like it or not. The ordinary user has pretty much no say. But companies are making big money out of us by making products that bend and break, knowing we have no alternative but to give in and spend. The 3.5mm just works and, like old USB and old non-standard chargers, I've never ever had an issue with it bending or damaging or damaging the port. Thin, flat and shallow just can't beat a deeper, stronger, secure fit.
- tabsco
- k78u
Anonymous, 14 Jan 2017USB Type-C Audio is not digital audio. It is mimicking 3.5mm jack signals using USB-C signals.... moreWhat a bummer
- tabsco
- k78u
A year late to the discussion..
An important fact I think you overlooked is that this gives manufacturers access to uncompressed audio to do with as they please. The DACs that phone companies use may be the smallest, but they certainly are not the best. By removing this size constraint, and placing the DAC and amp in a dongle (or headphones) improved sound quality should become available, not to mention the quality should be more consistent from phone to phone.
The way I see it, Apple just gave audiophiles some power. I don't know of anytime apple has ever relinquished power to its consumers.
- Anonymous
- PMCW
I came to this article looking for a discussion of the benefits of the digital output via the phone's Micro-b, micro-C, lightning etc connector, and the use of a decent quality external DAC (such as the Oppo HA-2). That use-case didn't even rate a mention - just the absurdity of using a cheap probably nasty headphone chord based DAC (which I can agree with).
- PaoloT
- nMU8
Wireless audio: I love the idea of having a radio antenna plugged right into my brain. Very healthy.
- Anonymous
- pP}W
ravi-19, 11 Jan 2017If they remove DAC/ADC to make phone thinner ,how would sound flow through speaker and ear pie... moreTheir goal is to remove the "giant" 3.5mm headphone jack. As you already correctly figured out, you still need a DAC/ADC/Amp inside the phone for processing audio to the internal speakers and from the microphone.
- Anonymous
- NG%1
USB Type-C Audio is not digital audio. It is mimicking 3.5mm jack signals using USB-C signals. so the DAC still remains in the phone..
- ravi-19
- U{XY
If they remove DAC/ADC to make phone thinner ,how would sound flow through speaker and ear piece without being converted to analog ??
Hope you answer this.
- muppet
- HCXN
Love this article! Thanks for spending the time and adding a lot of detail that helped clear up many questions I had.
I agree with your thoughts on the analogue being the reliable and obvious choice is many ways.
I do see the advantage of USB audio thought in the fact that you can record RAW audio with more channels on to the device and then copy that to a PC for high-quality post-processing. If we are just talking headphones, then yes USB is pointless. But for more advanced recording its worth it. I record a local bands gig on my mobile, which is a very decent video solution, but the in-device audio recording and processing is just not up to it. If I were to attach a USB interface or USB mic to the device to record the audio into the video from there, then post-production would yield much better results, without me having to fork out on unnecessary equipment to do the same job.
So, are you able to recommend a USB-C interface I could use on Android phones for this specific purpose?
Many thanks
- ESUmanuelynne
- r3HG
Is it impossible for analog (processed) audio to be sent through USB port ? that would be the best.
- Tom
- uu9s
As an avid gamer I always love USB headphones as they offer more control.
Best sleeping headphones
- Mitch16
- Q$b}
What the review completely ignores is the fact that wireless means batteries, which means depletion an recharging. My life is already an unending series of battery-charging events. I don't want another one, thank you. I'll stick with wired headphones.
- Krish
- Hkt{
zodiacfml, 28 Jun 2016Right. When I bought my Sennheisser's, it was revelation.
I was missing a lot when I listen... moreI completely agree with you. Whatever the technology, the ultimate judge of sound quality is our ear which relies heavily on a pair of faithful earphones. I have been using Soundmagic E10 for the last year. Working fine till now and quite enjoyable to. I plan on trying Sennheiser which I have not used before. Could you please let me the model which has impressed you.
Thanks and cheers.
Krish
- Zunguza
- wMHH
On point. This will probably damage the USB port faster than when it is only used for Charging & transferring data.
- Anonymous
- P%vS
The author failed to mention one major disadvantage of wireless headphones and that is, batteries maintenance. The hassle of monitoring battery level and then charging batteries on a regular basis is quite frustrating in my opinion which is just absent in wired headphones.
- ET - the real one
- Pkpx
venki14, 30 Jun 2016Hi,
Nice article and shown some light to understand layman. as you mentioned ADC small ship w... moreActually the author did mention this fact, that both a DAC and ADC (the inverse counterpart: analog - digital converter) is still needed inside the phone, just that this one will not handle the headphones playback. That's it. That's literally the only task it will not perform.
Some phones actually have 2 DAC/amp chips inside themselves, one cheaper and simpler for the normal tasks like call and ringtone speakers, and the better quality one for the headphones. This 2nd would be moved to headphones. Basically no advantage at all, specially since that 2nd DAC that will now be on the headphones can (and probably will) be of way lower quality, unless you spend a lot on headphones.
- venki14
- uuSB
Hi,
Nice article and shown some light to understand layman. as you mentioned ADC small ship will not be available on the phone and it will move with the headphone. This might correct. But basic question is that our handset also has speakers which require ADC to provide the analog output. If the phone doesn't have ADC ic inside, then how digital audio convert to analog and produce sound in the phone speakers. I think the author doesn't talk on that. It would be good to mention
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