Editorial: Headphone jack vs. USB audio. Which is better? Comments
- Anonymous
- ssb
"We have wireless chargers now but we are still arguing which cable is better for transferring audio instead of using the free air around us."
The people using wireless chargers and the people that still use wired audio are NOT the same people. Also, wireless chargers are rubbish in my eyes, so to me this point is moot. You have to exactly position your phone on the charger (which is awkward) or use a wireless charging dock (which could easily be replaced by a dock with a plug in the bottom). Either way, wired option is better. The only good application I've seen so far is wireless powered mice (not Corsair's one since that has the same issues as other Qi chargers, doesn't charge while in use). Only when I can charge my phone by placing it on any point of a large surface will I adopt wireless charging.
Also, the glaring disadvantage of wireless audio wasn't even mentioned. The battery. Not only does it add more weight to the headset, making the experience less comfortable, but also it dies. The only reason I'm thinking about wireless mice is that this issue has been solved, but it hasn't been solved for audio.
- Anonymous
- pVN
Such a sad and uninformed article. The quality of USB c audio is the exact same as the 3.5mm jack one. It turns into an "analog port" for the purposes of audio transmission.
Of course you'd know that if you researched the topic for one minute. Such an embarrassment.
USB c = 1 million times better than anything else despite what you fanboys are saying. One port beats having one million ports. Oh and there are charger cables that allow to listen to music as you charge. So that other point is mute.
A non article designed to rile up fanboys. You fanboys are wrong in this, no mater how hard you wish to keep us back, no matter how heroic your attempts are, despite you, the rest of the world will progress. With or without you. It is only a matter of choice if you want to follow tech to their logical progression or be set on your technophobic ways...
- Mack Danny
- q8g
You mentioned 1 or 2 new things that did't work out & nothing of all the others that did. All I'm saying is that everything doesn't all ways turn out the same.
Mack Danny-
- Sorcha
- 3PM
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.
- AnonD-693374
- k78
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
- AnonD-693374
- k78
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
- PMC
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
- nMU
Wireless audio: I love the idea of having a radio antenna plugged right into my brain. Very healthy.
- Anonymous
- pP}
AnonD-631271, 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%
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..
- AnonD-631271
- U{X
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
- HCX
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
- r3H
Is it impossible for analog (processed) audio to be sent through USB port ? that would be the best.
- Tom
- uu9
As an avid gamer I always love USB headphones as they offer more control.
Best sleeping headphones
- AnonD-581915
- 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
- wMH
On point. This will probably damage the USB port faster than when it is only used for Charging & transferring data.
- Anonymous
- P%v
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.
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