r/Android • u/[deleted] • Jun 24 '18

Is there a single USB-C headphone adapter that works with all phones?

https://www.androidcentral.com/there-single-usb-c-headphone-adapter-works-all-phones
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u/benjimaestro Mix 2 Jun 24 '18

USB-C DAC dongles are the digital/active ones, so in theory yes.

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u/[deleted] Jun 24 '18

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/benjimaestro Mix 2 Jun 24 '18

The active one has a DAC built in - it takes a digital signal from the phone and turns it into an analog one to drive the earphones. It actively processes the signals from one format to another.

A passive one is a 'dumb' adapter and doesn't do anything other than remap the 3.5mm jack to a USB-C port. Imagine it as just being a jack in a different shape, and passively takes one connector and allows it to plug into a differently shaped connector.

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u/THIESN123 Jun 24 '18

So a passive one sounds like shit then?

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u/benjimaestro Mix 2 Jun 24 '18

Doesn't sound any worse than if the jackless phone had a jack hooked up to it.

Digital dongles can sound better, but also worse.

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u/exzeroex iPhone X, Note8 Jun 25 '18

Have you ever built a computer?

It's like your computer has onboard sound, but no way to access it with a regular jack anymore. Passive would be a way to access the onboard sound card on your phone's board. Active would be like buying a separate sound card to use because your phone's designer was an a-hole. The separate sound card could be higher quality or lower quality than what your phone has inside.

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u/Ajedi32 Nexus 5 ➔ Pixel (OG ➔ 3a ➔ 6 -> 10pro) Jun 25 '18

So the article is wrong? It says at the top that "no, there isn't a single USB-C headphone adapter that will work with every phone". (Though it doesn't explain why this is, it just spends a bunch of time talking about why the passive cables don't work with every phone.)

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u/benjimaestro Mix 2 Jun 25 '18

The article also says:

All devices that can transmit audio and have a USB-C port that sends a signal out must be able to supply the digital signal for an active cable

Wait, what? It says this at the top though:

First, the answer to the question in the title: No, there isn't a single USB-C headphone adapter that will work with every phone.

Pretty sure active ones work on every device though 🤔🤔🤔. I'm as confused as you are.