Editorial: Headphone jack vs. USB audio. Which is better?
- Z
- Zahin
- X%e
- 28 Jun 2016
Anonymous, 28 Jun 2016The analog audio and the 3.5 mm jack is required for the ph... moreThank you. It seems at least someone here have brains.
If you people don't want FM, then no one's forcing you to use it. You have no right to decide for the others.
- ?
- Anonymous
- p49
- 28 Jun 2016
Anonymous, 28 Jun 2016LOL.... It's Apple dude, Apple... They are greedy compan... moreThe phone still needs a DAC and an ADC, otherwise the build in speakers and microphone wouldn't work and you couldn't even make phonecalls. Removing the analogue headphone jack would not remove the DAC, ADC or amp, only the jack itself.
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- AnonD-554197
- yHx
- 28 Jun 2016
Can someone clarify?..Would the phones still have speakers to play audio if manufacturers totally ditch the DAC, ADC & amplifiers for USB/lightning audio?
- A
- Alien
- ndn
- 28 Jun 2016
AnonD-531052, 27 Jun 2016With all due respect, i think you are too oldActually im in my 30s. Frankly I don't see how age is relevant with smartphone features lol
All I was just trying to say is that there are a LOT of features I never use, therefore are useless to me. I still think there should be a company to make a custom phone just like we order our cars.
I wish there were a smartphone with top of the line processor and graphics chip, SD Card, waterproof, wireless and proximity sensor and only One camera. That's all I ever use. Selfie camera is there to spy and steal your iris, but you're too ignorant to believe it. Did you know that your network operator remotely access your phone and you never know? Do you know it stores every little thing you press and type then uploads it?
I'm into EXTREME debloating if you have any clue what that means, you owning an S6 hehe (Sammy is the KING of bloatware). I have deleted almost all of the apks in the list mentioned in my previous comment: bluetooth, NFC, radio, wireless hotspot, Miracast, gps and even turned them off in build.prop and in other system files.
Now, having a 2Gb Ram phone, I always have 1.3Gb RAM free and before I had only 600Mb.
To stay on the subject, I like that USB-C charges the phone a lot faster, but I hate it that I cannot charge my phone and use the headphones in the same time.
Don't confuse geeks with old people.
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- Anonymous
- 28 Jun 2016
The analog audio and the 3.5 mm jack is required for the phones' built in FM Radio.
- ?
- Anonymous
- Pq2
- 28 Jun 2016
Unless the headphones have build in dac and amp they are useless wireless
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- ethereal
- GQa
- 28 Jun 2016
Great article from Prasad! Well done and congratulations for such a very informative article! Please keep it up for future too, thank you!
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- ethereal
- GQa
- 28 Jun 2016
Seriously, I mean seriously, you should STOP using the smartphone right NOW! As that thing is absolutely not for you. Get a DUMB phone dude!
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- Anonymous
- 28 Jun 2016
USB audio is bullshit, because for example if you plug your earbuds in your phone, you won't be able to use the USB port simultaneously for other tasks, like charging, using USB OTG devices, ...
Wireless audio is bullshit, because it requires the other device to have it's own built in battery, which will degrade and die over time. And wireless connection always consumes more battery power.
So keep using the 3.5mm audio jack and USB port separated forever! Unfortunately those who created the idea of USB audio and/or those who support it, they have NO common sense. I hate these idiotic trends.
But it's just about Apple devices, for now. I hope LG and other Android manufacturers will not drop the 3.5mm audio jack. Let it be another iPhone specific failure / limitation.
- S
- Sam
- TuE
- 28 Jun 2016
I'm sure that the few square millimeters won't change anything. In the apple case the profits from new license would be the most important reason to switch. and after that comes the advertising and how Jony Ive would talk about the superior design of the connector. Just remember how apple charges 25$ for a lightening cable that has nothing over a standard micro USB.
- m
- mathew7
- SvB
- 28 Jun 2016
zodiacfml, 27 Jun 2016I could have agreed with the Bluetooth/wireless part, but t... moreWireless audio is not the answer. I prefer having a 3ft. audio cable than reducing the charging life to half and being stuck to a power plug with 2 devices instead of 1. The wireless transport will suck power on both ends.
Not to mention the bulkiness of wireless headphones.
All of this while accepting the compromise of Bluetooth sound compression: while walking and bike riding, you should allow the outside noise for safety reasons, thus audiophile headphone costs are unjustified (and if you do have them....would you risk damaging them?)
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- AnonD-554067
- r3H
- 28 Jun 2016
Now I know I'm not a big fan of usb audio but I'm sure I can live with it given the right circumstances. However, when I'll have to forsake my audio in order to get a charge, then it'll be a big problem for me and I'm sure that goes for all the headphone lovers.
Its only a matter of time before the majority of the smartphone brands swim with the tide of USB audio.
I Do hope that they take the opinions of the users into consideration.
- D
- AnonD-92238
- KAe
- 28 Jun 2016
dexterouz, 28 Jun 20161+3 with Xiaomi headphone :P lol...me too
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- AnonD-92238
- KAe
- 28 Jun 2016
I'm voting for 3.5mm jack, maybe xiaomi/Samsung/ oneplus won't ditch this. adding the port not going to make your device any more slimmer..... and yeah, this is also my hate for Apple
- D
- AnonD-422854
- U{m
- 28 Jun 2016
Finally someone mentioned it !! First time i read about Apple's "revolutionary" move (every stale move from Apple is somehow revolutionary) I thought didn't I use same tech with my Nokia N70 or the world really has really short memory !! Though I am a big Samsung fan now, but still Thank You Nokia for really being revolutionary (except recognising the power of touchscreens. Thank u Apple for that one.)
- Q
- Quiapo Dibidi
- XMm
- 28 Jun 2016
What a great article this is! Very informative! I never knew (or even cared about before) how audio is being processed and these basics mentioned are enough to understand the function and how significant each parts are in audio production. I hope gsmarena continues to do articles like this where they expound and explain how things work inside our smartphones which we usually take for granted for all we do is smartphone content consumption. These awareness is i think necessary for each of us to greatly appreciate the functions of smartphones (and other tech for that matter) and we'll have much more knowledge and power which will make us subconsciously vigilant to smartphone manufacturers "gimmicks." I am hoping these kind of articles will become a regular thing here in gsmarena. Thanks and kudos! =)
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- Anonymous
- vfj
- 28 Jun 2016
It's just for cheaper production cost and greater profit... Simple
- ?
- Anonymous
- vfj
- 28 Jun 2016
LOL....
It's Apple dude, Apple...
They are greedy company...
They rid the 3.5 mm jack, iphone don't need a dac inside, cheaper production cost... Greater profit
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- AnonD-126854
- p8y
- 28 Jun 2016
I guess the 3.5" jack will be the magic feature only for the iPhone Pro.
- D
- AnonD-126854
- p8y
- 28 Jun 2016
Well for the iPhone users omitting the jack is total disaster.
I have seen mostly iPhone users on parties , locals, weddings, pubs an so, to ask to be connected to the PA to play their own music from their iPhones. And they are always so annoying to demand it.
If the jack is omitted on the next iPhone and they don't have adapter with them , they will go crazy.
So what is the problem to have both options?
Why whole article about this BS ???