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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 a

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.

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.