this post was submitted on 14 Dec 2023
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On a recent post, there were a lot of comments, which said that they were missing the headphones on newer mobile devices.

How many actually use the headphone jack?

I ask, because I have one on my phone, since I really wanted one, but I rarely use it. Like Tops 1/Month.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago

Since I went bluetooth I have to charge constantly which is annoying. But at the same time while I was wired the cBle always got in the way in a way so the phone would fall on the street or some hard floor at least omce but sometimes twice a year and breal.

Since I'm on bluetooth I didn't break any screen in the last 5 years. I'M NOT GOING BACK TO WIRED, IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago

I have a headphone jack on my phone, I still use a USBC-aux dongle because it doesn't suck.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago

When the 3.5-less trend started setting in, I still had a phone with a headphone jack but started looking into wireless Bluetooth digital audio convertors just to prepare myself for the reality that it'll eventually be hard to find a phone that's both....good...and that I could plug my IEMs into.

One I settled on was the Radsone ES100. Besides allowing me to continue to use my headphones, one feature I really liked was its ability to store equalizer settings that could be used with any source, whether it be a Bluetooth device or one I plug the DAC into via USB. I found that there were equalizer apps for Android, but they kept getting killed because of memory limitations I guess. This device externalized the EQ.

Anyways some of the folks who made that branched off and made an even better version, the Qudelix 5K. It has the same features but does a better job of simultaneously connecting to multiple devices (but sadly it doesn't mix the sources...it just has a priority 😔😔😔😔). So I grabbed that upgrade and now the headphone side of my audio is locked in.

I found that getting a Bluetooth DAC helped me feel better about the trend of removing a standard audio connector from devices (which I gotta say, still makes no sense). It still frustrates me that I need to walk around with another device and the limitations of Bluetooth are annoying, but the cool thing is that when my last 3.5mm jack equip device (OnePlus 5) just stopped turning on, I just grabbed a random replacement phone (Pixel 5) and kept the same audio chain.

tl;dr - Consider just accepting that this is the trend for phones these days and try a portable Bluetooth (or even USB) DAC. When you find one you like, moving to any source will be less stressful. It won't matter if it has a headphone jack: you'll be able to focus on other features or even just get a less costly device that'll sound identical to what u know.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago

I did everyday in my car for listening to music when I still had my Pixel4a. Sadly it started to die and I replaced it with a Pixel 8(sans headphone jack) and had to buy a Bluetooth -> aux adapter.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago

I bought the USB c to 3.5mm adapter to keep using the headphones I bought back in 2008.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago

Used to back when I was in high school and it was more common, but bluetooth earbuds have gotten really good sound-wise that the hassle of wires/dac/adapter isn't worth it nowadays for me and basically everyone I know.

Wired headphones sound better usually but I think anyone claiming they're superior to bluetooth in every way is being disingenuous and hasn't tried modern buds.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Sunk into the Samsung ecosystem. When they stopped including a headphone jack on my phone I had to go and buy Bluetooth earbuds. I have a practically unused pair of Shure wired earbuds that are fantastic that I simply can't use.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago (7 children)

I haven’t used wired headphones in about 8 years. Bluetooth all the way.

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[–] Crozekiel 3 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Absolutely use it at least weekly. My partner has Bluetooth wireless earbuds and they are always a problem - dropping connection, short and inconsistent battery life, dying at inopportune times, etc. They don't seem to even notice these issues because they've used wireless for so long, but it always drove me nuts everytime I tried switching.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

As replied under another comment :

I'll be honest... I bought a Poco F4 because the value for money it offered was amazing. Plus, I could unlock the bootloader and shift to a custom ROM whenever I wanted (literally as soon as I could lol. Hate MiUI).

This phone doesn't have a headphone jack, but I was willing to make the jump since my general use of headphones is not as much as earphones. My ears get sweaty or scratchy after more than an hour straight of earphones, and around the same for headphones.

As a result, my overall usage is limited. So, when I got my TWS (paid ₹2000 for an okay pair, no dual device pairing, okayish build quality for the case and an okayish connection. Sound was good tho.)

My situation meant I didn't really use them as much, although they go for almost 4hrs straight. And if I put them in the case, they go for weeks without needing a charge (case has a built-in battery of 1200mAh). So, whenever I think I need the case to charge I just set it up overnight. The only sad part is it doesn't have dual device pairing. I use my laptop and phone together and I'd kill for this feature, but my budget is thin atm.

I know it's not everybody's case, but this is my case. And while I miss the jack, I don't notice the lack of it. Audio quality is good enough for me. The wires were honestly the worst part of my wired experience anyway.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago

I bought BT headphones to get rid of the cable when I'm outside. So now it's rare for me to use the headphone jack. Only when I use the cable headset for work or when I connect my phone to the stereo amp. So maybe once every other week.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago

Often enough to want it. I use it all the time in waiting rooms.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago

At least a few times a week, or when a new album releases when I'm not at home.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago

Never for headphones, but I use an aux cable to connect to my amp and play along with music

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I use mine whenever I want to use my M50Xs. I tried buds, twice. Galaxy buds and Sony XM4s, the XM4s fell into a pool and the galaxy buds were simply misplaced. The galaxy buds sounded like absolute trash while the XM4 were actually decent, but why would I prefer them over the M50X? Now I'm switching from my note 9 to the pixel 8 pro and I don't know what I'll be doing about the lack of headphone jack.

My girlfriend has it even worse, her car only has AUX, no Bluetooth. I got her a Pixel 8 for Christmas, so she'll lose the only way to put music in her car. I also don't know what I'll be doing about that.

Honest take? We've got neural chips on our phones, we got cameras rivaling pro-level cameras, but we keep losing some very essential and basic features for no fucking reason. The headphone jack should've never been removed. Hell, the IR blaster should've never been removed, I'd kill for a high end phone with such things. Radio is another one, it's never going away as a means of communication, but fuck me for thinking I should have an antenna for radio in a box full of antennas for everything else, right?

Hey maybe I'm wrong about radio and it's just unfeasible to provide good quality signal for all things in a 6 inch box. Maybe I'm wrong about the IR blaster somehow even though TVs, LED stripes, and garage doors still use IR. But it's ridiculous to force no headphone jack as a trend that everyone just follows, all for pricier and shittier Bluetooth buds.

We used to be able to fit all this shit into phones back then, there's 0 reason to exclude them over size constraints now. If the reason is "butt fastah phowns", my 5 year old note 9 still feels more than snappy enough. Maybe we should spend more time making our shit efficient in order to use less space for heat dissipation, as well as better battery life or less battery size for the same battery life. Seriously who needs the kind of computing power found on phones nowadays? Is it really worth it to sacrifice basic QOL functionality for more speed?

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago

Never. Bluetooth headphones and connectivity in the car.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago

At least once a week. Will be a shame when I eventually move onto a phone without a jack.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I don't have one. When I did I used it every day.

Now I have a stupid dongle which I use nearly every day.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago

I’ve been using bluetooth earbuds for several years now. You can walk around freely when connected to your PC, the wires don’t get tangled and noise canceling is great. But one upside of wired earbuds is that you’re not exposed to bluetooth zero days such as the one that recently came to light.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago

I use it sometimes, but used it regularly for music until I busted out an old iPod.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago

Nowadays only in my car. It doesn't have a bluetooth receiver.

It's hard to find a wired earphones with ANC. About a decade earlier I used wired a Audio Technica earphones with ANC.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago

I stopped using it because my cables got always damaged after a few weeks/months of usage. With a (big) phone in my pocket it's just not possible for me to put no stress on the jack.

I actually stopped listening music on the road for a few years after that until I started using Bluetooth headphones/in ears. Now I wouldn't go back to cable even if it didn't break down so fast.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago

It's the only way I listen to music when I'm not in my car or in my house

I had to buy a converter to stick my headphones into to connect to my phone because it didn't have the jack. Which is really annoying because I have really nice headphones and I don't want to sacrifice my sound quality for shitty Bluetooth ones.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago

Currently never, but that's because i dont go out much. If I went out more, even just for jogging. I would be extremely frustrated that my current phone doesn't have a jack. Currently I have to have to so everyone around me can hear my phone as I don't have a converted or a wireless headphone.

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