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USB Type-C Headphones Were Nowhere in Sight at CES 2019 (androidauthority.com)
In a sea of 3D audio products and true-wireless earbuds, USB Type-C headphones were nowhere in sight at CES 2019. From a report: This absence isn't an accident, however. Rather, it's the deafening silence of an abandoned product category. While many looked to USB-C audio as the successor to the famed physical port, the available models aren't catching on, and they don't seem to be going anywhere. Their absence at CES 2019 doesn't paint a rosy picture of their future, either.
In general, it takes new standards quite a while to catch on, however, USB-C was thrust into the limelight far before its time. When Apple and Google ditched their headphone jacks, it limited the pool of audio peripherals to Bluetooth, or the very young USB-C category. Perhaps with a little more time and backing from a few more serious partners this could have matured alongside its older brother the TRRS plug, but it just wasn't to be. [...] One of the biggest issues that companies need to navigate pertains to source and peripheral device compatibility. USB Type-C headphone cables can either be active or passive -- or manifest as a dongle adapter. This inconsistency, paired with the fact that Audio Accessory Mode has yet to be universally supported, results in a barrage of compatibility issues. Hence why many users are unable to operate playback controls or use a headset's integrated microphone.
In general, it takes new standards quite a while to catch on, however, USB-C was thrust into the limelight far before its time. When Apple and Google ditched their headphone jacks, it limited the pool of audio peripherals to Bluetooth, or the very young USB-C category. Perhaps with a little more time and backing from a few more serious partners this could have matured alongside its older brother the TRRS plug, but it just wasn't to be. [...] One of the biggest issues that companies need to navigate pertains to source and peripheral device compatibility. USB Type-C headphone cables can either be active or passive -- or manifest as a dongle adapter. This inconsistency, paired with the fact that Audio Accessory Mode has yet to be universally supported, results in a barrage of compatibility issues. Hence why many users are unable to operate playback controls or use a headset's integrated microphone.
that I still use a 1/8" headphone jack.
Those of us who prefer the advantages of wired headphones over the advantages of Bluetooth ones see no advantages at all in USB-C.
3.5mm FOREVER
3.5mm FOREVER
3.5mm FOREVER
Nobody wants USB-C headphones. We want universal headphones that work not just with cell phones and computers, but professional audio equipment, older audio equipment... and we want it to be near or at 100% compatibility for future audio products. Any digital interface is, by design, going to fail to meet the needs of the ones who purchase it. I for one am glad it was nowhere to be seen.
I take it as a point of pride that I still use a 1/8" headphone jack.
If that gives you a sense of pride I think you might want to set the bar a little higher on your life goals.
I have a hard enough time finding a set of regular wired headphones that I like. I'm not putting myself through that pail for something that works on 2% of my devices (conservative estimate). Anyone who removes the headphone port is an idiot. It seems that audio quality is getting the back seat these days; at one time we had portable music devices. Now that went away because everyone started to use their phones and the phones are forcing us to go to bluetooth so there goes the best path for audio.
Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
I realize the battery doesn't apply to USB-C port, but why touch the jack that works?
Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
I refuse to buy a phone without a 3.5mm jack and SD card slot. Removing either of those is extremely user-hostile and based solely in corporate greed. The argument about people wanting thinner phones is total bullshit. No one really cares if their phone is 0.2mm thinner. People want longer battery life, ease of use, and a phone that doesn't bend to the curve of their hipster asses in their back pockets. People do NOT want to carry overpriced USB Type-C dongles with third party manufacturer lock-out (and potential future DRM lockdown inconveniences a la HDCP) everywhere, nor do they want to carry a different set of headphones for phone and non-phone use. I also seriously doubt that Sennheiser is going to produce USB Type-C professional headphones anytime soon.
Plus, it'll be really hard to use my TRRS-plugged card reader for my credit card processor if I don't have such a jack on my phone.
There is also too few bluetooth headphones that supports HD codecs like aptx-hd (qualcomm) or ldac (sony) or aac (apple).
What I'd like is a simple BT receiver that handle HD codec, and on this gizmo, have a 3.5mm jack so I can plug high end headphone on it, while still being wireless with my phone (that support HD bluetooth).
"Science will win because it works." - Stephen Hawking
Nope it has been long proven that Apple didn't need the space.
Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
I loved this:
One of the biggest issues that companies need to navigate pertains to source and peripheral device compatibility. USB Type-C headphone cables can either be active or passive -- or manifest as a dongle adapter. This inconsistency, paired with the fact that Audio Accessory Mode has yet to be universally supported, results in a barrage of compatibility issues.
So, in other words, a complete repeat of every Bluetooth or USB audio adventure ever. No lessons learned.
(2019 and my 10 year old Sony-Ericsson BT headset still doesn't work with Sony Playstations. But at least the Playstation Store keeps getting new updates, and according to the PS4 patch notes, it must by now have the most "improved system stability" ever.)
Someone had to do it.
USB-C does not prevent that. There is no reason USB-C headphones cannot be the universal interface you desire. Bear in mind that 3.5mm jacks aren't universal either and they are FAR more limited in capabilities. And you can adapt back to 3.5mm jacks if you are so inclined.
the USB standard has already failed here. The fact is that there are already USB-C headphones that work on some devices and not on others. There are USB-C dongles that work for some phones and not others.
this isn't because they're not following the standard (at least that's not the only reason) - it's because the standard setters didn't start with the goal 'Every USB C Headphone will handle audio reliably in every device that outputs audio'
VLC Remote for iPhone and Android
Except that up until USB-C, the world had standardize (more or less) on "one port = one protocol".
USB-C breaks that, so just because the port fits, it doesn't mean the device and cable can actually communicate with each other. This is like when SCSI and printers used the same 25-pin port, but 100x worse.
USB-C puts the responsibility of compatibility on the user instead of the manufacturer where it rightfully belongs.
I have started using usb-c for video and i can say that the aftermarket cable market is abysmal. You can buy a 30-40 dongle (usbc to hdmi for instance) that is garbage, or a $10 one that is amazing. There is zero correlation between quality and price. Just look at the reviews of apple usbc adaptors, most are garbage (with a high price tag). While ugreen, a no name chinese company is performing very well.
You have the newer apple laptops having multiple usb-c ports but one port is full power (next to the power plug), and another one is not, making things like powerpoint clickers have reduced range if plugged into a different port. How bullshit is that! They shouldn't be able to pick and choose what this or that port will support, can we have some standardization please? Was never a problem with usb 2 and usb 3....
Its a shitshow! There are no standards. I basically have to buy 3-4 adaptors and then just see which one lasts the longest or even works right. I had 3 different usb-c to vga adaptors before i found one that worked reliability without blanking the screen every hour or inducing some weird colours.
USB-C having used it for the last year, is NOT ready. there are major reliability and compatibility problems. Best bet is to read the amazon reviews before you purchase. I haven't dont anything with usb-c audio but i bet its a similar nightmare.
As a potential lottery winner, I totally support tax cuts for the wealthy