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Not saying there aren't use cases where it would be preferred, but you can still use truly wireless earbuds with a Bluetooth capable phone/laptop/desktop that h

Not saying there aren't use cases where it would be preferred, but you can still use truly wireless earbuds with a Bluetooth capable phone/laptop/desktop that has a 3.5mm headphone jack. You can't however jam a plug into a phone without a jack--the option has been removed. There was a time before the headphone jack was dropped that very few people had wireless earbuds or cared, and now that choice to switch was placed on them. When we talk about the ethics of e-waste and repairability, which lasts longer: a pair of IEMs with detachable cables, headphones with detachable cables + replaceable whatever the cup material is made out of, or Bluetooth headphones with battery and a processor? Do my IEMs ever need a firmware upgrade? Are firmware upgrades only deliverable via Android or iOS apps only? Some folks would take the minor inconvenience of having to take off headphones to get up in trade for a product that will last a decade or longer. Some of these earbuds, when you buy them and the battery dies or swells, you have to throw the whole thing out. Instead it feels like the same powers that want us cycling through new smart phones every 3 years, want us replacing the same audio gear just as often.

astrange 4y ago
> You can't however jam a plug into a phone without a jack--the option has been removed. You can use an adapter? Or a headphone amp with a BT receiver, I have one. Considering the light weight of wireless headphones it doesn't seem like they're actually a significant ewaste issue, especially since earbuds aren't repairable either. It is good that larger over ear headphones have replaceable cords, but I don't know, people are too enthusiastic about audiophile headphones - the ones they recommend only work well in perfectly quiet listening environments. In the real world you want noise cancelling, not open ear cans.
- goosedragons 4y ago
  You can get in ear monitors with replaceable cords too. You can even get cords for them to make them Bluetooth. Not even expensive ones, like $20 ones. I think Bose still has wired noise cancelling headphones too.
scarface74 4y ago
USB c headphones are dime a dozen as are headphones with lightning adaptares. But worrying about ewaste from headphones and then buying an Android phone with a piss poor history of long term operating system support is looking at the wrong place
- kuschku 4y ago
  And where were those when I got my current set of headphones in 2006 (!) Why should I throw away headphones that work perfectly fine (or constantly lose and buy new adapters)? It's not like removing the headphone jack helped in slimness or battery runtime – the iPod shuffle had a headphone jack and that worked just fine, almost 20 years ago!
  - scarface74 4y ago
    You’re right. Why would I rebuy my perfectly good cassette tapes and buy CDs and then later on pay $12/month for a streaming service. I really shouldn’t have had to get rid of all of SCSI peripherals either. And Apple really should haven’t abandoned the 32 pin connector either on the first iPod. All of my accessories like my cassette to 30 pin adapter that let me pause and play my iPod from tape deck became obsolete Btw, did you also complain when you couldn’t use your 32 pin iPod accessories with your Shuffle? BTW, are you a runner? Do you travel a lot and go through airports? Wired headphones are really irritating and are always getting tangled. These days, when I run outdoors, I leave my phone at home and run exclusively with my cellular watch. Besides, I have an Apple Watch, iPad, phone and Mac. When I start doing something on one, my Airpods automatically switch. The AirPod shuffle was also not waterproof and running with that and the wired headphones was irritating especially compared to my Watch with AirPods. There are plenty of Lightning headphones available https://www.macworld.com/article/668694/best-lightning-headphones-for-iphone-ipad.html https://www.macworld.com/article/668694/best-lightning-headp...
    - kuschku 4y ago
      Are you seriously suggesting lightning should replace the headphone jack universally? We replaced SCSI with SATA. Or music cassettes with CDs. But the headphone jack is and remains a standard. My audio interfaces have XLR, 6.3 mm or 3.5 mm jacks. My cameras and Zoom recorders use XLR, mini XLR or 3.5 mm. My AV receiver uses 3.5 mm, 6.3 mm or XLR (or banana plugs for passive speakers). These connectors remain the standard across desktop computers, laptops, audio interfaces, professional condenser microphones, mirrorless cameras, audio recorders, etc. I don't see a reason to throw away expensive my Sennheiser headphones nor my IEMs, just because a handful of devices in one industry want to force me into paying more money. > Btw, did you also complain when you couldn’t use your 32 pin iPod accessories with your Shuffle? No, back then I complained that “made for iPod” required a proprietary port which wasn't compatible with either mini-USB nor micro-USB devices. I never bought, owned, or will own a device with proprietary connectors.

astrange 4y ago

> You can't however jam a plug into a phone without a jack--the option has been removed. You can use an adapter? Or a headphone amp with a BT receiver, I have one. Considering the light weight of wireless headphones it doesn't seem like they're actually a significant ewaste issue, especially since earbuds aren't repairable either. It is good that larger over ear headphones have replaceable cords, but I don't know, people are too enthusiastic about audiophile headphones - the ones they recommend only work well in perfectly quiet listening environments. In the real world you want noise cancelling, not open ear cans.

goosedragons 4y ago
You can get in ear monitors with replaceable cords too. You can even get cords for them to make them Bluetooth. Not even expensive ones, like $20 ones. I think Bose still has wired noise cancelling headphones too.

scarface74 4y ago

USB c headphones are dime a dozen as are headphones with lightning adaptares. But worrying about ewaste from headphones and then buying an Android phone with a piss poor history of long term operating system support is looking at the wrong place

kuschku 4y ago
And where were those when I got my current set of headphones in 2006 (!) Why should I throw away headphones that work perfectly fine (or constantly lose and buy new adapters)? It's not like removing the headphone jack helped in slimness or battery runtime – the iPod shuffle had a headphone jack and that worked just fine, almost 20 years ago!
- scarface74 4y ago
  You’re right. Why would I rebuy my perfectly good cassette tapes and buy CDs and then later on pay $12/month for a streaming service. I really shouldn’t have had to get rid of all of SCSI peripherals either. And Apple really should haven’t abandoned the 32 pin connector either on the first iPod. All of my accessories like my cassette to 30 pin adapter that let me pause and play my iPod from tape deck became obsolete Btw, did you also complain when you couldn’t use your 32 pin iPod accessories with your Shuffle? BTW, are you a runner? Do you travel a lot and go through airports? Wired headphones are really irritating and are always getting tangled. These days, when I run outdoors, I leave my phone at home and run exclusively with my cellular watch. Besides, I have an Apple Watch, iPad, phone and Mac. When I start doing something on one, my Airpods automatically switch. The AirPod shuffle was also not waterproof and running with that and the wired headphones was irritating especially compared to my Watch with AirPods. There are plenty of Lightning headphones available https://www.macworld.com/article/668694/best-lightning-headphones-for-iphone-ipad.html https://www.macworld.com/article/668694/best-lightning-headp...
  - kuschku 4y ago
    Are you seriously suggesting lightning should replace the headphone jack universally? We replaced SCSI with SATA. Or music cassettes with CDs. But the headphone jack is and remains a standard. My audio interfaces have XLR, 6.3 mm or 3.5 mm jacks. My cameras and Zoom recorders use XLR, mini XLR or 3.5 mm. My AV receiver uses 3.5 mm, 6.3 mm or XLR (or banana plugs for passive speakers). These connectors remain the standard across desktop computers, laptops, audio interfaces, professional condenser microphones, mirrorless cameras, audio recorders, etc. I don't see a reason to throw away expensive my Sennheiser headphones nor my IEMs, just because a handful of devices in one industry want to force me into paying more money. > Btw, did you also complain when you couldn’t use your 32 pin iPod accessories with your Shuffle? No, back then I complained that “made for iPod” required a proprietary port which wasn't compatible with either mini-USB nor micro-USB devices. I never bought, owned, or will own a device with proprietary connectors.