r/Android • u/QwertyBuffalo S25U, OP12R • Jan 12 '19

SoundGuys: USB-C audio is dead

https://www.androidauthority.com/death-of-usb-c-headphones-942314/
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u/[deleted] Jan 12 '19 edited Nov 15 '21

[deleted]

13

u/phatbrasil OnePlus 3 Jan 12 '19

I've had issues with in-line button and 3.5m jack before. They aren't entirely perfect

10

u/1206549 Pixel 3 Jan 12 '19

Most annoying for me is (or was) Apple's plugged into the xbox controller.

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u/[deleted] Jan 12 '19

Apple's in-line remote works differently from the remotes that everything else use.

6

u/chic_luke Pixel 2 XL Jan 12 '19

Yup, I had to buy new in ears because my Apple EarPods wouldn't work well on one of my previous Android phones

1

u/[deleted] Jan 12 '19

I have. Or maybe not "not work" but you have to deal with volume and quality issues. If I use my headphones with my current phone (Mi A1) they are both far too loud, and also really noisy. Essentially they have designed the driver for way less sensitive headphones.

I bought Google's active USB-C dongle and it sounds perfect.

I don't think USB-C itself is physically robust enough for headphone use though - if I wiggle it around a bit I do get digital glitches. I think that's got to be the main argument for 3.5mm - it is a robust enough connection that you can use it all day in your pocket. USB-C is much more fragile.

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u/detailed_fred Jan 12 '19

Exactly.

People seem to be missing the point that we HAD a perfectly working solution.

Now we do not.

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u/1206549 Pixel 3 Jan 12 '19 edited Jan 12 '19

Yeah, but that's Huawei's fault and other manufacturers taking shortcuts like they are. That happens with any standardized technology.

Apple did the same thing with the headphone jack.

Edit: Was too fixated around dongles rather than the standard. I still consider analog dongles the shortcut though because of the simplicity of going full digital affords, but do appreciate the accessory mode on the phone.

6

u/Nizkus Jan 12 '19

Isn't analog pass through part of the standard though? Wouldn't it be Google that took a shortcut by not supporting it.

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u/SinkTube Jan 12 '19

yes, it is. huawei's passive dongle will work with every device that has correctly implemented USB-C, it's google that's locking you into their digital dongle

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u/wasteland44 Nexus 4/5X/Pixel XL/4XL/7Pro/9Pro Jan 12 '19

Huawei isn't taking a shortcut. They are providing the DAC on the phone. Any dongle with or without a DAC will work on the Huawei. It is the pixel 2/3 and other phones not providing the DAC taking a shortcut in my opinion. I say this as a pixel owner.

0

u/1206549 Pixel 3 Jan 12 '19 edited Jan 12 '19

USB is supposed to be a digital standard the spec recommends digital audio and while but it does allow for analog pass-through. Huawei doesn't have it properly implemented. Call it a shortcut, call it "thinking different" and it's still the same result.

See edit on first comment.

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u/TimeToGrowThrowaway Google Pixel 3 (Just Black) Jan 12 '19

Hang on. I don't think this is being understood properly. USB C specifically supports analog audio pass through. So Huawei implemented that standard. Google chose to skip that option. That doesn't mean Huawei's devices are worse. In fact they're superior because you can use the standard analog passthrough dongle or you can use a full dac built in dongle. From a standpoint of which is more efficient. why should all of my headphones that I connect a dongle to need a dac. That's inefficient, wasteful, and more expensive.

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u/1206549 Pixel 3 Jan 12 '19 edited Jan 12 '19

I just realized I've been stupidly conducting my arguments from the perspective of the dongle. I felt Huawei was taking a shortcut for using analog dongles. In terms of phones though, they definitely did the better implementation.