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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[–] daltotron@lemmy.world 5 points 2 years ago

My phone doesn't have a headphone jack. Despite this, I used a pair of shitty wired IEMs every day when I walk my dog. I don't really think bluetooth is all that bad, it works for me most of the time, except on my oldass car which I bought one of those bluetooth to radio short throw transmitters that plugs in the ciggy lighter and it gets really staticky when it rains, but my car's speaker system wasn't doing wonders anyways so I don't think it matters that much.

No, I don't have a problem with bluetooth, but I still think it's probably worse for most every application I could think of, compared to an aux jack. The amount of time I save by having my phone automatically connect to my car compared to plugging in my phone is basically nothing. Takes about 3 seconds for my phone to connect, takes about 3 seconds for my phone to get plugged in. Same with regular headphones. About the only thing I can maybe think of is a wireless speaker, but I tend not to use those very often and you could probably do that over wifi in most applications. That, and the cost of bluetooth is just always gonna be higher than an aux jack, or a wire. Shut up about DACs, too, I don't care. A cost of like 4 bucks for a usb-c to aux cable is going to perform about the same as your pretentious 500 dollar usb-c to usb to usb powered DAC to aux port chain you have going on because of "noise". That's insane. It's insane to carry that shit around in your pocket all day.

Headphones, you're paying more for worse quality, basically every time, and this will hold true for every device. Plus there's always the fuggin batteries and the little stupid case, and I'm not paying more for a new pair of shittier headphones when in 3 years my bluetooth headphones can't hold a charge because the manufacturer didn't program anything for a trickle charge to preserve battery life.

I dunno, this makes me mad, phones not being 16:9 makes me mad, phones not fitting in my dainty little hands makes me mad.

[–] ook_the_librarian@lemmy.world 5 points 2 years ago

Me. Sorry not much to add. I just like it.

[–] GravityAce@lemmy.ca 5 points 2 years ago

A couple times a week. Not dilligent about charging my headset makes the wired option really nice

[–] vortexal@sopuli.xyz 5 points 2 years ago

I always use mine, the audio delay that bluetooth headphones have make them almost useless for me. I'm also not a fan of the fact that they either make loud noises or have some form of a voice to tell you when it's either connected to a device or got a low battery.

[–] AlecSadler@sh.itjust.works 5 points 2 years ago

When my phone had one, I used it probably every day.

I still miss it. All Bluetooth buds I've used have this stupid quirk in Teams, for example, where a call will interrupt the meeting and even if I immediately hang up, it takes like 2-5 seconds for Teams to switch back to Bluetooth. I never had this issue with an aux jack.

I also had a problem the other day where my Bluetooth buds just would. not. connect. for some stupid reason despite having worked OK for a week prior. On my phone with an aux jack that was never a problem.

For music, I used to use a really nice set of Sennheiser's with my phone, and while I'm no audiophile, I swear using an adapter just isn't the same (even though I know technically it should support the same bandwidth).

Another thing I really miss are phones that came with IR Blasters.

[–] Underwaterbob@lemm.ee 5 points 2 years ago

I would if I had one. I did buy a USB-C to 3.5mm cable anyway. So many audio applications are basically unusable with the latency you get with Bluetooth headphones.

[–] HobbitFoot@thelemmy.club 5 points 2 years ago

My current phone doesn't have a headphone jack; I bought adapters since I use only wired headphones.

[–] panchzila@lemmy.world 5 points 2 years ago
[–] bravoseries@lemmy.world 5 points 2 years ago

Still use them. I don't buy phones without them. And I don't prefer wireless so..

[–] crispy_kilt@feddit.de 5 points 2 years ago
[–] jordanlund@lemmy.world 5 points 2 years ago

I don't like having to use headphones I have to keep charged.

[–] Rentlar@lemmy.ca 5 points 2 years ago

Very often. My wired headset connects to sounds better for calls than my wireless earbuds.

[–] siipale@sopuli.xyz 5 points 2 years ago

I use it. I also use bluetooth headphones but wired headphones are more reliable. No connection problems. And I haven't tried bluetooth headphones with microphone so I don't know if they're any good. I need the microphone for phone calls.

[–] aesopjah@lemm.ee 5 points 2 years ago

as a backup. like when on a plane and my wireless ones die. or to plug into stereo aux

[–] Thorny_Insight@lemm.ee 5 points 2 years ago

Yesterday played music via aux cable and I also use my phone as a mic while gaming and need the jack for that aswell.

[–] GuitarAbuser@sopuli.xyz 5 points 2 years ago

I run a small dance association. When I go to a club and want to play some music through the speakers in that club, I need to plug my phone in to their system. Usually there's no bluetooth option. That's why I need the headphobe jack

[–] wookiestackhouse@lemmy.world 5 points 2 years ago

I'm definitely going to be an outlier here, but I still use an ipod nano for my day to day podcast listening while commuting. But sometimes if love to be able to just unplug my earpods from my nano and plug it into my phone to watch a video or something. Can't do that now unless I dig into my bag for a dongle.

It is not my primary method of audio use, I use bluetooth earbuds/headphones in a workshop environment for that so I don't get the cables caught on machinery or materials but I use it when traveling or listening to music at home because the sound quality is better and there is only one device to keep track of or charged. Its not an everyday thing but still a requirement for me.

[–] Copernican@lemmy.world 5 points 2 years ago

The $15 USB adapters is kind of annoying, but I think I really only am really peeved about it is when I am flying and can't charge my phone and listen to music at the same time. For me I think there are a few factors that have made my headphone jack less necessary.

  1. Covid and WFH. I used to listen to music on my commutes and in the office from my phone on wired cans. Now I WFH and have speakers or have headphones running from my PC's DAC.
  2. Streaming Speakers/Receivers that are wifi enabled. I no longer have to worry about using AUX inputs on my speakers, since I have wifi enabled devices that allow me to "cast" music to any device in my home from my phone instead of plugging it in or using a weak bluetooth connection.
  3. Android Auto or other car/phone USB/bluetooth integrations. No longer need to use Aux in cables to a car to listen to music.
[–] creed10@lemmy.world 5 points 2 years ago

literally every day while I work so I can listen to music

[–] WaterWaiver@aussie.zone 5 points 2 years ago

I do a good 50% of my phonecalls on wired earbuds or wired headset. It's much more convenient than holding the phone, especially for long calls.

[–] phx@lemmy.world 5 points 2 years ago

I do but it's certain circumstances where it make sense (on aircraft or when I've got a good pair of wired earbuds/headphones on me). Sometimes I use Bluetooth, sometimes wired but I appreciate having a CHOICE!

[–] Tlaloc_Temporal@lemmy.ca 5 points 2 years ago (2 children)

I use wired headphones easily 80% of the time I use any electronic device capable of sound, and >99% of the time I'm actually listening to that sound. I would sooner take a phone without speakers than without a dedicated 3.5mm jack. (I could be convinced with two USB-C ports though)

I don't need more weight on my ears, another thing that can die, either buds that can be lost or an all-in-one that can't survive my pocket, and I definitely don't need another drain on my phone's battery. I'm not against Bluetooth headphones in general (I do use an over-ear set occasionally), but they will never be my go-to.

A proper poll on use time/duty cycle would be interesting.

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[–] dewritoninja@pawb.social 5 points 2 years ago

I use mine quite often with my senhizer 206

[–] PM_Your_Nudes_Please@lemmy.world 5 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

I used mine almost every day. My Lightning>1/8” adapter has a permanent spot in my pocket, inside of a miniature altoids tin to protect it.

But I also work as an audio technician, and use my phone for sound checks. And professional audio gear doesn’t use Bluetooth, for a variety of reasons. So I bet my use case is probably a little skewed.

[–] dani@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago

I would if it had one.

[–] haganbmj@lemmy.ml 4 points 2 years ago

Before I updated my car I used the headphone jack regularly for playing music there. Otherwise it was relegated to a couple situations a year like air travel.

Now that I've got a newer vehicle I just have all my music on USB there.

[–] T00l_shed@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago

I would use it, if my phone had one.

[–] xlash123@sh.itjust.works 4 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

I regularly use wireless earbuds, which are extremely convenient, but I am not looking forward to the day when the battery is insufficient for me and I can't replace it due to "innovation". I also miss out on having splitters so that 2 people can listen to the same audio. I know Bluetooth LE is supposed to fix that, but I don't even know what devices support that. Like others said, having the choice is important, but Apple's "bravery" and market domination removed that from us...

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[–] notapantsday@feddit.de 4 points 2 years ago

Never ever. It wasn't the reason why I got my current phone, but I thought I would use it at least sometimes. I don't.

[–] zipzoopaboop@lemmynsfw.com 4 points 2 years ago

I use it regularly on steam deck, but not phone

[–] Zoomboingding@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago

Only a little. I use Bluetooth earbuds most of the time. I have an older work vehicle without Bluetooth though, so I still have to use the aux cord on some drives.

[–] MartinXYZ@sh.itjust.works 4 points 2 years ago

I use it a lot. Both to listen to music while on public transportation and to connect the phone to my stereo at home.

[–] Okami_No_Rei@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago

I use it daily for connecting it to my car stereo, and about once a month when I mow my lawn or have to fly on a plane. I'll never buy a phone without one.

I prefer wired headphones. I don't want to worry about keeping them charged, and the few pairs of wireless headphones I have tried died or had the buttons stop working after a few uses from getting waterlogged with sweat, while I've been using the same pair of $6 wired headphones for 10 years without issues.

I don't care for Bluetooth or USB audio connections as they don't always work intuitively, they might take multiple button presses to set up, and every manufacturer seems to think they need to be set up in a slightly different way, while the auxiliary audio cable just works with no setup.

[–] Professorozone@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago

Every Monday when I game with a buddy online.

[–] Shurimal@kbin.social 4 points 2 years ago

Comes in handy at work all the time when I need to test a piece of equipment.

And the best-bang-for-buck IEM-s still are wired only. Have my sights set on Moondrop Lans for xmas.

[–] theKalash@feddit.ch 4 points 2 years ago

Yup, I use it regularly.

[–] onlinepersona@programming.dev 4 points 2 years ago

There's probably a lot of selection bias going on right now, but I feel compelled to say "I won't buy a phone without a jack".

The convenience of not having to charge headphones is great. I use them so infrequently that when I pull them out on a trip, I don't want to go "ah shit, forgot to charge them". But on long trips, bluetooth kills my battery so jack is the only way to go for me.

[–] glibg10b@lemmy.ml 4 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Every single day since I bought it. My last phone too.

[–] spare_muppets@lemmy.ca 4 points 2 years ago

I use wired headphones daily thru a USB c adapter

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