4 ms·

Wired USB-C earbuds exist.

user_7832 3y ago
Batteries are just one of the many issues when headphone jacks are removed. (Also you can totally use wireless/usb-c headphones with phones with jacks, but that's something hopefully people realize.)
ssl-3 3y ago
They do exist, but USC-C headphones include an entire USB sound card instead of -- you know -- just some headphone electromagnetic bits.
- aeyes 3y ago
  So use any of the ~10$ USB-C to headphone dongles with your favorite headphones. For example the Apple or Google adapters work fine.
  - 8zah6q7 3y ago
    The Apple USB-C to 3.5 mm TRS adapter in particular is a great value. https://www.audioreviews.org/apple-audio-adapter-review/ https://www.audioreviews.org/apple-audio-adapter-review/
    - edb_123 3y ago
      Except for the not-so-minor issue for us Android users: The default gain on Apples adapter is far too low for most proper headphones, and Android doesn't touch the gain and just relies on software-mixer for volume control. This results in a far too low volume. On Apple and Windows devices on the other hand, they are excellent.
- Kirby64 3y ago
  "an entire USB sound card" is literally a single piece of silicon (plus some passive components like resistors and capacitors) that can cost less than 10 cents to manufacture. Not exactly a huge burden here. Additionally, unlike a 3.5mm jack, you don't need to deal with a 'sound card' that can handle almost anything you can plug into it. You get to tailor your headphone/headset drivers specifically to your attached devices. The general-purpose device that can handle anything you can throw at it costs much more.
- TylerE 3y ago
  You know the wireless earbuds have the exact same circuitry built in, right?
  - ssl-3 3y ago
    You know what doesn't have any active electronics at all? Regular headphones. It's just wire and magnets, with some plastic.
    - TylerE 3y ago
      That wire and magnets isn’t gonna do anything unless it’s hooked up to at the very least an amp (+ a dac if were talking digital)
      - ssl-3 2y ago
        Such functions have historically (for many decades) been provided by devices with which headphones are intended to be used.
        TylerE 2y ago
        She every computer still come with a floppy drive? Times and needs and technology change.
        ssl-3 2y ago
        No, of course not. But the floppy drive was supplanted by other means of data transfer and storage that were broadly perceived to be bigger/better/faster/stronger. Is there some aspect of active headphones that is bigger/better/faster/stronger than regular passive headphones?

Batteries are just one of the many issues when headphone jacks are removed. (Also you can totally use wireless/usb-c headphones with phones with jacks, but that's something hopefully people realize.)

ssl-3 3y ago

They do exist, but USC-C headphones include an entire USB sound card instead of -- you know -- just some headphone electromagnetic bits.

aeyes 3y ago
So use any of the ~10$ USB-C to headphone dongles with your favorite headphones. For example the Apple or Google adapters work fine.
- 8zah6q7 3y ago
  The Apple USB-C to 3.5 mm TRS adapter in particular is a great value. https://www.audioreviews.org/apple-audio-adapter-review/ https://www.audioreviews.org/apple-audio-adapter-review/
  - edb_123 3y ago
    Except for the not-so-minor issue for us Android users: The default gain on Apples adapter is far too low for most proper headphones, and Android doesn't touch the gain and just relies on software-mixer for volume control. This results in a far too low volume. On Apple and Windows devices on the other hand, they are excellent.
Kirby64 3y ago
"an entire USB sound card" is literally a single piece of silicon (plus some passive components like resistors and capacitors) that can cost less than 10 cents to manufacture. Not exactly a huge burden here. Additionally, unlike a 3.5mm jack, you don't need to deal with a 'sound card' that can handle almost anything you can plug into it. You get to tailor your headphone/headset drivers specifically to your attached devices. The general-purpose device that can handle anything you can throw at it costs much more.
TylerE 3y ago
You know the wireless earbuds have the exact same circuitry built in, right?
- ssl-3 3y ago
  You know what doesn't have any active electronics at all? Regular headphones. It's just wire and magnets, with some plastic.
  - TylerE 3y ago
    That wire and magnets isn’t gonna do anything unless it’s hooked up to at the very least an amp (+ a dac if were talking digital)
    - ssl-3 2y ago
      Such functions have historically (for many decades) been provided by devices with which headphones are intended to be used.
      - TylerE 2y ago
        She every computer still come with a floppy drive? Times and needs and technology change.
        ssl-3 2y ago
        No, of course not. But the floppy drive was supplanted by other means of data transfer and storage that were broadly perceived to be bigger/better/faster/stronger. Is there some aspect of active headphones that is bigger/better/faster/stronger than regular passive headphones?