Mobile phones, professional players to abandon the 3.5mm headphone port that everyone has been using for many years to use the Type-C interface to make everyone unhappy, but strangely, from the first-line factory to Huaqiang North, have increased the research and development and shipment of Type-C mouth headphones. Type-C How can he make manufacturers force promotion against user pressure?
1, digital VS analog: the maximum difference between Type-C and 3.5mm
The main difference between the 3.5mm jack and USB-C is the way they transmit audio.
The 3.5 mm jack transmits audio as an analog signal. This means that the conversion of a digital signal to an analog signal takes place at the source, such as a computer or smartphone. The analog signal is then transmitted over wire to your headphones.
The USB-C interface, on the other hand, transmits a digital signal. The conversion of digital signals to analog signals usually occurs in headphones, reducing the distance required for analog signals to reach headphones, which reduces the distortion caused by wire and external electromagnetic interference during transmission of the signal.
In addition to this, the use of USB-C interface has several advantages, so that headphone manufacturers are more and more inclined to gradually abandon the 3.5mm interface:
More space on your device
By eliminating the 3.5mm jack and charging port shared interface for audio output, smartphone manufacturers have more space to take advantage of. This allows them to create thinner, leaner devices. It also provides space for other components within the phone, such as external speakers, microphones, or batteries.
Better audio processing components
In addition to more phone space, the USB-C connection method also allows you to bypass the phone's relatively mediocre DAC chip (digital to analog signal chip) or the computer's ordinary on-board sound card, and install a better quality DAC and headphone amplifier directly on the headphone end, or even a dedicated DSP chip, to further improve sound quality, which is much easier than the laborious tuning in the driver circuit section.
A brand type-C headphone advertisement highlights the effect of adding a special decoding chip at the end of the C port to improve sound quality
Better sound quality
Analog signals tend to deteriorate over long distances, which can introduce static electricity and noise to your audio, or make the signal sound weaker. This is especially true for 3.5mm jack headphones, as the analog signal must travel from your phone to your headphones, making it easy to attenuate and interfere en route.
Digital signals, on the other hand, are more robust and reliable. They do not attenuate due to distance, as the binary code that makes up the signal can be easily recovered. As mentioned earlier, the conversion from digital to analog is done through the DAC in the headphones. Since it is closer to the headphone driver unit, it is not susceptible to unnecessary signal interference.
Better software features
USB-C connections are not limited to transmitting audio data, but can also accommodate other types of advanced signal communication. This enables headset manufacturers to incorporate better hardware and software features into their devices, such as active noise cancellation, EQ equalization customization, gesture playback capabilities, and other companion application features.
Now, you can see why type-C headphones are still on the market in a flurry of scolding: it represents the completion of the "last centimeter" of digitization in audio equipment.
Purchase: Pay attention to the elements do not step on the pit
Sound quality is always an important priority when choosing headphones. Since USB-C headphones are generally designed with better DACs and amplifiers, there should be higher expectations for better sound, and it is best to check the following factors when purchasing:
Drive unit type and size
Drive units, also commonly known as horns, are available in different types and range in size from 20 mm to 50 mm.
In general, larger drivers provide louder sound and sharper bass response because larger diaphragms produce more and more powerful sound waves. But ultimately, the overall sound quality of the driver depends on the balance between size, type, and tuning.
Frequency response
Frequency response refers to the frequency range that the headphones accurately reproduce. The standard range is usually 20-20kHz, which is also the range that the human ear can hear. However, some headphones will go beyond this range (10-45kHz) to ensure that audio clipping does not distort the frequencies you can actually hear, giving you a better sound quality experience.
impedance
Impedance refers to the resistance of headphones, in fact, how much power they need to overcome how much resistance they need to work properly.
Low impedance headphones (32-80 ohms) don't require much power and can be used with your phone or computer. Conversely, high-impedance headphones (100-600 ohms) require more input power to push the drive unit properly, so it may only be used on a computer or even with an additional ear amplifier.
sensitivity
Sensitivity tells you how loud a pair of headphones sound at a given power level. High-sensitivity headphones (over 110 decibels) require greater voltage to produce louder sounds, while low-sensitivity headphones require less power and are best used with portable devices.
Wireless dual mode
Headphones with optional wireless capabilities are good for increased flexibility.
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
Headphones with ANC capability minimize noisy noise and allow us to concentrate or hear audio better.
Microphone
If you want to use it for voice calls or game blackouts, it's important to pick a Type-C headset with a good microphone. Over-the-ear headphones generally use a boom microphone that allows you to pick up sound more clearly because it's closer to your mouth. In addition, microphones with noise reduction are preferred.
Companion programs
Another good feature to consider when buying a Type-C headset is the companion app. Software installed on a smartphone or computer that can be paired with a DAC or DSP chip on the headset side to help you customize features to maximize the performance of your headset, preferably with the following features:
EQ balanced customization. Lets you use audio presets to customize or improve your sound quality. Firmware updates. Maintain all software updates for EQ, ANC, and other controls. Personalized controls. Lets you specify actions for specific buttons and gestures on your headset. ANC customization. Allows you to increase or decrease the level of active noise cancellation, alleviating the phenomenon of "false ear pressure".
(For the phenomenon of false ear pressure, please refer to the March 28 Titanium Master public account article "Some people say that "no music, selling noise-canceling headphones is useless", is this really the case?) Third-party application access. Gives you access to your favorite music app and deeply customize related actions and equalization settings. RGB control. If the headset has a light effect, then it is fun to play with the lights through the Type-C interface and control program.
After reading this, are you ready to buy one?