Will 3.5mm headphone jack be obsolete?

[bononos]

I'm planning to get a gaming headphone set instead of a something like the modmic. Would it be better to get a usb headphone instead of the normal 3.5" jacks if they are going to become obsolete in the not too distant future.

Do there sort of usb to 3.5" adapters work well or are there things to look out for?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Plugable-H...sr=8-4&keywords=headphone+jack+adapter+to+usb

 

[ViRGE]

While USB ports are admittedly not going anywhere, 3.5mm audio jacks are also unlikely to become obsolete on PCs any time soon. So you're plenty safe buying the latter.

 

[UsandThem]

I don't even think Apple could pull that off for their Mac lineup (well they could like on the new iPhones), but I would be really surprised. On computers and Android phones, it ain't happening for a long, long time.

 

[DigDog]

the 3.5 pin jack is very cheap, very efficient, and almost everywhere, it's *very* unlikely to be replaced. it's like asking if we'll get rid of toothbrushes, or forks.

 

[whm1974]

the 3.5 pin jack is very cheap, very efficient, and almost everywhere, it's *very* unlikely to be replaced. it's like asking if we'll get rid of toothbrushes, or forks.

This. Apple is the only company that is claiming that the 3.5mm jack is obsolete, and contrary to Apple's RDF, it is only not obsolete, it is nowhere even close to it.

 

[AnitaPeterson]

No.

Aside from Apple, nobody's crazy enough to call for abandoning a standard so universally spread and internationally established. The amount of peripherals using the 3.5mm jack absolutely dwarfs any USB counterparts.

 

[AnitaPeterson]

Also, look at USB over the years - it went from USB-A to USB-C in 20 years.
Some new machines only come with USB-C ports now, forcing users to use dongles for compatibility.

Meanwhile, the headphone jack has remained unchanged for over 60 years.

See http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/apple-iphone-headphone-jack-history-1.3755120

 

[whm1974]

Also, look at USB over the years - it went from USB-A to USB-C in 20 years.
Some new machines only come with USB-C ports now, forcing users to use dongles for compatibility.

Meanwhile, the headphone jack has remained unchanged for over 60 years.

See http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/apple-iphone-headphone-jack-history-1.3755120

I think forcing people to buy dongles is pretty stupid, I mean how many USB C devices are there anyway?

 

[DigDog]

there is a major difference between USB and pin jack. A pin jack can carry 100% of all the data you need. It can carry ALL the audio required. USB has a data limit, and that is why we have developed new types of USB. If we, tomorrow, develop a new audio technology, say, multichannel audio, or portable surround sound, then the pin jack will no longer be sufficient, and will be replaced. But as long as we have two ears, then a two-channel connection capable of carrying all the audible spectrum as the pin jack is, is all we will ever need.

 

[corkyg]

Also, the 3.5 receptacle is a lot smaller than a USB

 

[Rifter]

Not in my lifetime

 

[Mike64]

Also, the 3.5 receptacle is a lot smaller than a USB

And it's dead simple, far more reliable than any digital connector, and even cheaper than dirt. It's not inconceivable that it might disappear from smartphones (including non-iPhones) within the not-too-distantly-foreseeable future, but it's not going to disappear from "electrical/electronic devices" in general anytime within even the remotely-foreseeable future. (Any more than, say, simple mechanical switches in one form or another are going to disappear from those devices...)

 

[dlerious]

No.

Aside from Apple, nobody's crazy enough to call for abandoning a standard so universally spread and internationally established. The amount of peripherals using the 3.5mm jack absolutely dwarfs any USB counterparts.

I thought the new Google Pixel 2 removed the jack as well.

 

[JeffMD]

The jack itself is going no where. For audio philes it is still required, not to mention there are so many devices out there that still require a hard connection. For high end phones we may see a stark change. There will most likely be series of phones that hold on to the jack as to grab the clientele that demand them, but we could very well see most flag ship phones ditching it. How ever I am no longer crying foul as much as I did before. As someone who loves his quality headphones and strives to keep his music collection sourced at high bitrates and the best compression type used, I have had success in finding earbuds and over ear headphones that offer up quality indistinguishable between wired. I love my Sony 100abn for aptx and when oreo is rolled out for my s8, Ldac support will only be better. I also picked up a more portable pair of earbuds, the Advanced Model 3's which have AptX and was thoroughly impressed for wireless earbuds that cost just $79. And frankly if your buying $800 phones but only want to spend $30 on a wired earbud, you are doing it all wrong.

I'll still prefer headphone jacks for utility, and I don't NEED phones to be so thin they have to remove it. However if for some reason I decide to go for a new phone that doesn't have one, I know I won't be left wanting.

 

[renegade800x]

I don't care for bluetooth audio, maybe with version 5 or 6 when bandwidth is greatly improved so lossless playback is possible. I chose a Fiio K1 dongle for now which is cheap and in all ways superior as a DAC and headphone amp than what they put even in top of the line smartphones. It sounds much better - both louder and clearer, with greater soundstage and instrument separation than my Galaxy S8 Exynos which sounds better than my Zenbook laptop which touts Bang&Olufsen audio. lol
Luckily the K1 connects by USB to both phones and pc so my 3.5mm headphones are here to stay.
They can go ahead and strip the 3.5mm, it's badly implemented anyway.

 

[JeffMD]

renegade, that actually brings up a good point. They arn't exactly giving us the greatest DACs in our $800 phones. Maybe ditching it is for the best.. let the masses use wireless and the audiophiles will use usb-c based dongles.

I was unfamiliar with the Fiio K1 till now. At $40 I will have to consider picking one up should I ever decide to go a wired route again.

 

[renegade800x]

Not by far Jeff, DAC implementation is mediocre at best, not powerful enough to drive highly sensible IEMs properly. Initially I thought different, I have a Asus Zenbook UX501VW laptop which touts Bang&Olufsen audio and sounds OK - if you have nothing to compare it to. But I do, I also have a Microsoft Surface Pro (the new one) and it sounds better than the Asus. The Galaxy S8 sounds even better than the Surface which made me believe it's a well thought headphone out.
Then I tried the K1 on the S8 and was blown away by the sound. It's not something you need to listen hard to hear, it's apparent from the first seconds of the first track, be it lossless or not.
The K1 is a $40 DAC&AMP which makes it dirt cheap in audio terms, it's an entry level mid-fi DAC at best which goes to tell how bad the audio in a $800 smartphone & much more expensive PCs must be.
I like the idea of wireless audio and will get on that wagon too but first the technology must mature. Right now aptX is a lossy codec like it or not, you're not getting bit perfect playback in the external DAC using it. Good read here http://www.sereneaudio.com/blog/how-good-is-bluetooth-audio-at-its-best

If you want the K1 make sure it can drive your gear, it outputs 75mW @ 16ohm and 35mW @ 32ohm. I'm using it with iBasso IT01 IEMs and the synergy is great, the very well controlled sub-bass is pornographic.
BTW I highly recommend the IT01 to whoever wants a IEM that sounds waaaay above it's price bracket. They sound head and shoulders above my Sennheiser IE80 which costs 3 times more.