Editorial: Headphone jack vs. USB audio. Which is better?
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- Anonymous
- AIA
- 27 Jun 2016
Okay now apple even without doing it has become the leader in removing the 3.5 jack while it hasnt even released its devices
Stop the hype
Apple is never the first to do stuff
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- Eske Rahn
- 3ii
- 27 Jun 2016
To a large extent you are right, but there are a few basic flaws in the article.
Let me start by saying that I prefer the 3.5mm jack with CURRENT possibilities.
But back to the article.
1) You neglect the hassle of charging the wirelesss headset. Yet another device you will have to remember to charge all the time. It is SO much easier that it draws its power from the sound producing device. For some this is balanced by the wireless experience, but the annoyance of an 'empty' headset when you really need it out-balance it big time for others - to each his own, but it is NOT a clean benefit. That is until the time when the wireless set can draw its power from the body-heat or what ever smart solution that will appear... Perhaps some wireless charging in the pocket if headset and phone are worn close.
2) For the audiophile it would be possible to have a really high end digitally connected headset with some advanced DAC, that could survive many phone-upgrades IF (or when) there will be a common digital connection standard. But until it is standardized, it will sure be a pest with an adapter hell (or multiple interchangable cables) as you mention.
3) You omit that there actually were attempts to go for a smaller 2.5mm standard many years ago. (Nokia if I remember right)
4) You also omit the whole microphone thing on the headset! The standard TRS is output ONLY. Thee are a MONO-only microphone extension of that standard (well more than one, at the least OMTP and CTIA that were at war for years). But the single microphone limits the possibility of advanced noise reduction. This I see as the major benefit of any upcoming digital standard.
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- AnonD-46008
- K3y
- 27 Jun 2016
for those who think USB or bluetooth headphones are better than the standard 3,5mm headphone: try listening with a 3 watts of power handling corded 3,5mm headphone and then you will realize the truth
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- AnonD-466368
- mCR
- 27 Jun 2016
cyber, 27 Jun 2016Lightning port is way better than any kind of plug in the m... moreLightning port is way better than any kind of plug in the market,mechanically is perfectly built with no weak spots,micro usb and usb type-c plugs has no advantages ,they are easy breakable and design varying to manufacturers,old 3.5 jack soon will be replaced with some ,,thin" solution anyway
Lightning is very well designed, but unfortunately most of the cables aren't. The market is flooded with unlicensed (and licensed!) cables that don't work very well. I use an app for my MBP/iPad called Duet Display, which allows your iPad to work as an additional monitor. Every third-party cable I've tried, except one, was unable to support this.
Even the official cable suffers from tearing as the material (PVC) is thin and people generally pull the cable instead of the plug. (http://www.vsc.si/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/frayedlightningcable.png).
USB's Type C connector isn't without its problems, though most of those appear to be teething issues. Plus, it's rated for at least 10,000 insertions and extractions (http://www.techtimes.com/articles/119794/20151228/usb-type-c-vs-usb-3-1-heres-the-difference.htm).
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- Gauron
- LKm
- 27 Jun 2016
cyber, 27 Jun 2016Lightning port is way better than any kind of plug in the m... moreYour comment is as close minded, you apple fanboy.
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- AnonD-466368
- mCR
- 27 Jun 2016
** Double posted, sorry **
- ?
- Anonymous
- teX
- 27 Jun 2016
Is Bluetooth the best choice for wireless headphones? Isn't WiFi better because it can deliver a higher bandwith?
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- AnonD-503930
- IWS
- 27 Jun 2016
In my opinion.. i think its better to move on..lets go back to the past..manufactures made own audio output with what they thought best..thanks to nokia they came up with 2.5 mm audio jack..then they moved to 3.5 jack with their xpress music phones..and then all of them came up with universal solution..they made 3.5 audio jack as standart audio output all phones they gonna make.. then it also came to usb and charging..but not apple..they want to make their product unique..they didnt change the usb port to micro usb but they came close with look micro usb..forget all of that..if they can produce audio via usb..why do we even care..but all of them need to remove 3.5 jack and comes with usb audio if it works i think the whole idea was great.. but we are going miss the opportunities to like listening to the music while charging..watching movies while charging.. its bad.. i wanna cry now..ewww....hee
- J
- JY
- MVg
- 27 Jun 2016
AnonD-292864, 27 Jun 2016Why is Apple removing the Headphone jack ? So it can ripp o... moreCos half of you will still buy one
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- Anonymous
- J1C
- 27 Jun 2016
Go Wireless!
There's no point of replacing cable with another cable.
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- nobody
- vju
- 27 Jun 2016
Bluetooth headphone!
I used a Bluetooth receiver with my earphone because the 3.5mm output on my laptop was complete junk. While output is not as good as USB audio processor, the result is thousand times better and I now enjoy good sound with an universal audio device on all my devices
- c
- cyber
- d%2
- 27 Jun 2016
Lightning port is way better than any kind of plug in the market,mechanically is perfectly built with no weak spots,micro usb and usb type-c plugs has no advantages ,they are easy breakable and design varying to manufacturers,old 3.5 jack soon will be replaced with some ,,thin" solution anyway
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- AnonD-545216
- PX3
- 27 Jun 2016
I figure it's more for thinness. Also USB-C can output analog audio so who knows if that's what's gaining on the Lenovo/Motorola phones.
Personally I think it would be best to keep the 3.5mm jack for all the reasons already mentioned. As someone shortly before me notes, it's also one of the jacks to most commonly fail because of all the abuse it receives. He states that the USB ports on phones are designed to be more resistant, but I wonder how well they would handle being in pockets with the cable receiving a different pressure/angle from all the movement, all the snagging of cables that happens with headphones and all, PLUS the standard abuse from charging (not to mention the inconvenience of when you want to do both).
Personally I love the convenience of Bluetooth headphones. I had one of the first phones to support stereo Bluetooth audio (Motorola e680i) and what I believe were the first Bluetooth headphones (Motorola ht820) and used the headphones until they truly died. I ended switching back to wired but because I bought a set of v-moda headphones and one advantage is that the cable is replaceable (since in my experience the cable/plug on the headphones dies before the Jack on the device. So with the improvements they've had I can see no reason to not use them for most people as far as quality hours (the need for them to have a charge and the price are valid arguments though).
One thing I am curious about is how stable the connection would be if everybody started using them (I.e. On a packed bus or subway car) since there's bound to be interference since they are all on the same frequency (like what we see with Wi-Fi performance when there's dozens of networked and devices on 2.4ghz, which also happens to be the one used by Bluetooth and other devices, even microwaves).
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- AnonD-292864
- 0Gq
- 27 Jun 2016
Why is Apple removing the Headphone jack ? So it can ripp off it's customers by selling overpriced Lightning to Headphone jack converters or headphones with Lightning connecter.
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- AnonD-543248
- Hkt
- 27 Jun 2016
Very nice editorial.....
Really good job.
Thousands of thanks to the person who made this review.
Gsmarena should appreciate these kind of people for their excellent work
- R
- Raja Sekhar
- NJ8
- 27 Jun 2016
3.5mm is a great universal jack yet, but when coming to USB audio, as the audio chip moves out of the mobile components, there'll be less electric interference which further reduces the noise in the audio. USB headphones might be little bit expensive for now, but they'll come down after sometime. With this, even the cheap mobile phone can produce better audio output.
I'd personally prefer v-moda over beats.
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- AnonD-553789
- 7j{
- 27 Jun 2016
I am very happy to see here you used Xiaomi in ear pro headphone for above picture. It is a superb thing I love it much more than anything
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- pratiush
- uuX
- 27 Jun 2016
3.5 mm jacks are best for me. There are higher chances of usb ports getting damaged.
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- AnonD-472910
- kaJ
- 27 Jun 2016
well someone will have to reinvent the usb port
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- mir
- t7E
- 27 Jun 2016
Type C connectors are thin and will easily get damaged. Its either 3.5mm jack or wireless for me.