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PC World has an article on why USB-C has not been a viable alternative for the 3.5mm audio jack. Problems with USB-C include variable handling of digital to audio conversion, incompatible SOCs inside the cable, and non-standard analog-passthrough. In short, the cables which contain computers themselves are not standardized in behavior and the author's conclusion is that mobile devices must have 3.5mm jacks until the USB-C cable technology gets sorted out enough that they become usable.
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Bring Back the Headphone Jack: Why USB-C Audio Still Doesn't Work
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Don't go surfing in South Dakota for a while.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Aiwendil on Wednesday September 12 2018, @05:59AM (1 child)
I use corded headphones with my cellphone, in fact I specifically picked a corded model*
Main reason why I picked corded is no need to charge it, can hook it up to pretty much any equipment made from the 1970s up until 2017, I still need the microphone placed somewhere so cabling will be needed (yes, I got a separate 3.5mm cable with a "remote control" on it - since the cable is what dies first I specifically selected for detacable cable) and since I also tend to enjoy windy places I must be able to place the mic beneath clothing.
However, even when those headphones are used in a stationary setup I favour cables: being able to vary DAC in use is nice, not having to recharge every 6th hour is great, no issues with accidently pairing with the wrong device (either direction - common when powering up the audio-receiver), no issues when moving between devices, no need to fiddle in menus or remembering what the program was called on the machine in use when hooking up the headphones, and if I want wireless I have two portable bluetooth-audio-receivers with 3.5mm output where I always keep one charged and simply swap receiver when it runs out of batteries. (Then we also have bandwidth issues when wanting to hook up secondary or tertiary speaker).
At home I actually use bluetooth speakers for music where sound quality doesn't matter as much, and it is great for when needing waterproofed speakers you're interacting with. But in in the former case I still keep it permamently cabled (to the charger) and in the latter I need two devices (one always in charger).
Since the advent of the portable bluetooth-receivers-with-corded-output I actually find I can get the best of both worlds (with my requirements on audio quality and sound insulation weight is not an issue, and in situations where I favour weight or small size cabled earphones are a darned good option).
Another pet peeve with bluetooth audio-headphones for me tends to be that far from all have user-servicable batteries and thereby drastically reducing their lifespan to a couple of years
Oh, cabling also tends to save my portable devices, I have dropped most of my portable devices only to have them saved by be able to grab hold of the headphone cables. :)
(* Kingston HyperX Cloud II (iirc). Deteachable cable (3.5mm), detachable mic, even handles Taiko drums, Opera, piano and violins without issues, over ear, keeps noise out and in just fine (ie - can listen on a lower volume, or not disturbing other people when enjoying EBM). Quite frankly the best non-yamaha headphones I've ever had (and the lowest weight ones that I've had that I don't get annoyed at the poor sound of)).
(Score: 2) by Aiwendil on Thursday September 13 2018, @09:14AM
Remembered wrong on one part, it was a Kingston HyperX Cloud Alpha Pro that I have.