5 ms·

I also don’t understand the love for analog, with all the crackling from interference or poor connection.

legacynl 4y ago
I don't understand the 'love' for digital. Why would you want to replace your headphones with wireless ones that are more expensive, can run out of battery, can't plug into your amplifier, and are probably impossible to repair.
dspillett 4y ago
As much as I wouldn't be without my bluetooth headphones (usually bone conduction for a little extra safety/comfort/convenience) and don't use a 3.5mm jack on anything mobile myself, I can definitely agree it has advantages that are attractive enough that some really want it over what I prefer: ♯ No extra device to remember to charge (unless, perhaps, you have big noise-cancelling cans). ♯ No running out at an inconvenient/irritating time if you don't charge them (or are just out for a long time). ♯ Standard fitting so anything can plug in, makes carrying a spare set (or buying one in an “emergency”) inexpensive. ♯ Easily plug in a double+ adaptor too (not seen it for a while that I remember, but there was a spate of people on public transport listening to the same music that way). Try that with BT. ♯ No pairing issues (tell me you've never had them, even with supposedly good quality kit, and I'll call you a lier!). ♯ Easily switch between devices (my headset doesn't always want to connect when I switch from work to personal phone, so I have to go through the BT-on-and-off-again-at-both-ends dance. At least these days decent devices (and most cheap ones) remember multiple pairings, it used to be even worse. ♯ The crackling from a poor connection was rare with a good jack+socket in my experience, and BT is not immune to interference in busy environments. I've also experienced BT dropping out temporarily if devices get too close (i.e. I sit and bend to adjust a shoelace while my phone is on a trouser pocket). And of course there is little reason not to have a standard jack as a fallback option, even if you do usually use wireless playback.
- dontlaugh 4y ago
  Most of that would also apply to wired digital headphones. It's the analog bit I don't get. Why would I want to give up data integrity until right up to the speaker?
  - dspillett 4y ago
    Ah, you were segueing further from the 3.5mm jack than I thought. If there was a wired digital standard as ubiquitous or at least as nearly as, perhaps people would be wanting that instead. The 3.5mm jack debate on phones is not about digital/analogue, it is about what people know, understand, _already have_ or can easily afford/access. They don't specifically want analogue, like people buying vinyl, they want the port that common head gear plugs into, for the reasons I and others have mentioned, and that port being analogue is just a coincidence of its history.
coeneedell 4y ago
Yeah all those high end headphones with famously crackling connections.
LoveMortuus 4y ago
To me, it's more about the device being self-sufficient, meaning it works without me having to repeatedly put effort into it. Wired headphones work just as they are, regardless of time that has passed, I know that as long as they're not broken, I can always take them out of my bag and they'll work. With wireless headphones, it's always a question, do I have enough battery for this trip, what to do if I run out of the battery, the answer is usually just taking additional wired earphones with me, just as a backup. The same reason is why I use wired mouse and wired keyboard, I don't want to have to think about the battery nor knowing that there will come a time when I'll have to change the battery or charge the keyboard. As others have mentioned, there are benefits to wireless devices, but everything has a Yin and a Yang, you get wireless but you trade something else in exchange.
- dontlaugh 4y ago
  Wires can make sense, but why not wired digital? No chance of data loss and the DAC is guaranteed to be matched to the speakers and is permanently and reliably connected to them.

I don't understand the 'love' for digital. Why would you want to replace your headphones with wireless ones that are more expensive, can run out of battery, can't plug into your amplifier, and are probably impossible to repair.

dspillett 4y ago

As much as I wouldn't be without my bluetooth headphones (usually bone conduction for a little extra safety/comfort/convenience) and don't use a 3.5mm jack on anything mobile myself, I can definitely agree it has advantages that are attractive enough that some really want it over what I prefer: ♯ No extra device to remember to charge (unless, perhaps, you have big noise-cancelling cans). ♯ No running out at an inconvenient/irritating time if you don't charge them (or are just out for a long time). ♯ Standard fitting so anything can plug in, makes carrying a spare set (or buying one in an “emergency”) inexpensive. ♯ Easily plug in a double+ adaptor too (not seen it for a while that I remember, but there was a spate of people on public transport listening to the same music that way). Try that with BT. ♯ No pairing issues (tell me you've never had them, even with supposedly good quality kit, and I'll call you a lier!). ♯ Easily switch between devices (my headset doesn't always want to connect when I switch from work to personal phone, so I have to go through the BT-on-and-off-again-at-both-ends dance. At least these days decent devices (and most cheap ones) remember multiple pairings, it used to be even worse. ♯ The crackling from a poor connection was rare with a good jack+socket in my experience, and BT is not immune to interference in busy environments. I've also experienced BT dropping out temporarily if devices get too close (i.e. I sit and bend to adjust a shoelace while my phone is on a trouser pocket). And of course there is little reason not to have a standard jack as a fallback option, even if you do usually use wireless playback.

dontlaugh 4y ago
Most of that would also apply to wired digital headphones. It's the analog bit I don't get. Why would I want to give up data integrity until right up to the speaker?
- dspillett 4y ago
  Ah, you were segueing further from the 3.5mm jack than I thought. If there was a wired digital standard as ubiquitous or at least as nearly as, perhaps people would be wanting that instead. The 3.5mm jack debate on phones is not about digital/analogue, it is about what people know, understand, _already have_ or can easily afford/access. They don't specifically want analogue, like people buying vinyl, they want the port that common head gear plugs into, for the reasons I and others have mentioned, and that port being analogue is just a coincidence of its history.

coeneedell 4y ago

Yeah all those high end headphones with famously crackling connections.

LoveMortuus 4y ago

To me, it's more about the device being self-sufficient, meaning it works without me having to repeatedly put effort into it. Wired headphones work just as they are, regardless of time that has passed, I know that as long as they're not broken, I can always take them out of my bag and they'll work. With wireless headphones, it's always a question, do I have enough battery for this trip, what to do if I run out of the battery, the answer is usually just taking additional wired earphones with me, just as a backup. The same reason is why I use wired mouse and wired keyboard, I don't want to have to think about the battery nor knowing that there will come a time when I'll have to change the battery or charge the keyboard. As others have mentioned, there are benefits to wireless devices, but everything has a Yin and a Yang, you get wireless but you trade something else in exchange.

dontlaugh 4y ago
Wires can make sense, but why not wired digital? No chance of data loss and the DAC is guaranteed to be matched to the speakers and is permanently and reliably connected to them.