Editorial: Headphone jack vs. USB audio. Which is better?
- ?
- Anonymous
- vx6
- 28 Jun 2016
3.5mm jacks, usb jacks, wireless etc...these companies will just push more to earn more, so for me ? I think I should stick to what I am comfortable (for now) and go with the flow, well, floppy disk and compact disk dominated before, and now what do we have usb storage or like mmc micros sd..I mean technology evolves faster..so I myself would stick for the 3.5mm jack for now.....till the time comes that it is long gone...go with the flow...
- ?
- Anonymous
- IV8
- 28 Jun 2016
Nokia 7650 had a 2.5mm jack and included 2.5mm headset what ajoy
- ?
- Anonymous
- uvB
- 28 Jun 2016
What the point ditching then 2.5mm then?? Phones will still need audio codec chip for onboard earpiece and loud speakers or the'll ditch them as well and make all the phone users talk using headphones/earphones??
Phone trends sounds and feels more like Kim.K story these days....lol
- M
- MasEnha
- 9xx
- 28 Jun 2016
Anonymous, 27 Jun 2016Until there are wide choices for audiophiles, I will stick ... moreThere ARE wide choices for audiophiles.
- M
- MasEnha
- 9xx
- 28 Jun 2016
I'm an enthusiast. The title it self vague by any means. The question better be "Which is more convenient or which is more preferable" instead.
The comparison between both can be billions:1 or 1:billions based on the setup you have shall I answer the question on above, too many variables and can't be concluded.
Atm, why don't we keep both. We use 3.5mm for travelling and USB for home audio. Sometimes, even though audiophiles, no need to have a great setup when travelling because we need fairly quiet environment when enjoying our setup.
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi are good alternatives, but audio processing over it shall be improved.
- E
- Eske Rahn
- 3ii
- 27 Jun 2016
AnonD-375713, 27 Jun 2016some interesting and valid points shown here, maybe I could... moreIndeed.
Actually I got a BT headset many years ago, but never really used it, as it was always dead when I needed it so always needed to carry a wired set as well. I have had a number of NC headsets, and carries a bunch of extra batteries (use 1xAAA) for it, as it 'always' dries out when you really need it. But at least it is 'only' the NC functionality that is gone when the battery is depleted... I would just love if they had the power from the device IF it was a standard plug (and not seriously drained the device battery of course).
As the horrible Iphone hasn't got dab+ and not even FM I have used the headset less the last year or so. My small portable dab+ radio drains its battery so quickly that it is impractical... so I end up not using either.
- ?
- Anonymous
- Qt3
- 27 Jun 2016
Until there are wide choices for audiophiles, I will stick with 3.5mm.
- D
- DantE O2
- g89
- 27 Jun 2016
for music fans 3.5mm jack is the one and only
ALL professional earphones are 3.5mm.and will be.
for casual user it doesn't matter they would use whatever comes in the phone package.
do not talk about music experience at all if the phones does not come with a 3.5mm jack talk about something else.
- z
- zodiacfml
- Hxc
- 27 Jun 2016
I could have agreed with the Bluetooth/wireless part, but the hassle of the wires was just transformed into charging the devices. They dont last long hours too.
Your article is also missing one important technical part which made this craze plausible. That is, Type-C can allow analog audio to pass through the cables and avoid the DAC in the earphones. This is the source of the dilemma as the headset can have multiple additional features while having analog audio.
- D
- AnonD-531052
- NmR
- 27 Jun 2016
Alien, 27 Jun 2016So form what I understand it means you cannot use the headp... moreWith all due respect, i think you are too old
- t
- t3
- 0U2
- 27 Jun 2016
t3, 27 Jun 2016As an audio and technology enthusiast you should have resea... morecome to think of it I was rather harsh. the article still makes a good point.
- ?
- Anonymous
- tug
- 27 Jun 2016
Well, sound is just, sound, i dont give a damn
- A
- Alex
- nIx
- 27 Jun 2016
Really superb article mate. Gave me a clear insight into this, honestly can't thank you enough.
- D
- AnonD-553897
- 4Zf
- 27 Jun 2016
AptX is a LOSSY codec, not lossless. The problem with Bluetooth audio is that your music gets compressed TWICE. Once when you convert your FLACs to MP3/AAC/Ogg Vorbis (or if you buy in those formats) and then again by the A2DP protocol. Almost no one will be able to hear the difference between the losless file and it's lossy counterpart at say 256K. But when you compress the lossy music again, then a lot more people will be able to tell.
So, if you want your music to only have lossy compression applied to it once, you need to use FLAC/ALAC/WAV, and let A2DP do it's compression on that.
- D
- AnonD-503930
- IWS
- 27 Jun 2016
Alien, 27 Jun 2016So form what I understand it means you cannot use the headp... moreLets just say..im really proud of you..
- ?
- Anonymous
- nG4
- 27 Jun 2016
This is a more proffessional tack fro Prasad, and, with almost 98% of this article having no apple bias ,whatsomever, It is a first step to building my appreciation of him as a credible source.
For me, I have an edge+ in my Samsung armoury that I some times use, with an Samsung HS3000 bluetooth headset, ( Both have apt-X) and the sound is incredible.Wheigh that up against , battery recharging, the absolute freedom to loose, forget, break, or swap for different common 3.5mm sets instantly, at will, for different album styles, coupled with possibly, the most important factor of all, and that is, being a Gpig generation, we don't yet know the acrueing damage, many of us, who listen to music prolonged for extended , re occuring periods will sustain. Bluetooth + 3.5mm has it all covered, for me. Regards
- ?
- Anonymous
- n@g
- 27 Jun 2016
On the go I use Bluetooth earbuds (Sony SBH-20) and if I want to listen with full headphones, I connect a USB DAC. I have broken a few 3.5mm jacks and probably won't use them any more on my smartphone.
- ?
- Anonymous
- 9JZ
- 27 Jun 2016
superb Article I read almost 70% of it
- D
- AnonD-551566
- PH0
- 27 Jun 2016
AnonD-4254, 27 Jun 2016Dear Editor, I, a 30y old male, loved your article. I ser... moreu have a really good point there, it MUST be our choice to use either headset we feel like using the most, problem is trending, if mayority of ppl dislikes the jack (for example) companies would lose money by making a phone with the jack, so everybody goes with it and it's soon gone, glady... companies are smart enough to make variant of phones with different specs for ppl to choose, i agree the jack should stay for the ppl that uses it, but i wouldnt mind a jack-less phone since i use BT headset (u get my point) :P