do you miss the headphone jack?

[tekno99]

It's bothers the heck out of me. The connector is very stiff, unlike my headphone cable. That really makes things awkward. I researched wireless headphones, but the reviews on ALL of them suck (except the AirPods, which would never work for me). The only USB C headphones I could find are sold by Google. I think I will have to try them. I wish Shure would make a USB C cord I could put on my $500 Shure SE535. What's so stupid is that to use USB C headphones or Bluetooth headphones, you don't have to take out the 3.5 mm jack.

Try the hg tone series. Those are out and sounds amazing.

 

[DSnoop]

Most inconvenient thing about mobile devices - Charging. Why would I ever want more to charge?

 

[vansmack]

They are expensive, but the Bowers and Wilkins PX headphones make me not miss the headphone jack at all. They have amazing sound, and I couldn't be happier. Also if you must remain connected, they also work directly with USB-C on the pixel 2, no dongle necessary.

Have you confirmed they work with USB-C for audio?

I've seen reviews that said they do not work with USB-C audio (charging only), but the description on Amazon and on their web site says USC-C Audio (though they only include a USB-C to USB-A cable, which would not work). Asking on Amazon, as usual, provided me with a yes and a no - neither answer being reliable. I also asked B&W, who have not responded.

I tried at Best Buy and it did not work, however, those are a gimped pair as BT did not work either (intentionally per the manufacturer).

I will buy these as soon as I can confirm that USB-C Audio works.

 

[Mike Dee]

Have you confirmed they work with USB-C for audio?

I've seen reviews that said they do not work with USB-C audio (charging only), but the description on Amazon and on their web site says USC-C Audio (though they only include a USB-C to USB-A cable, which would not work). Asking on Amazon, as usual, provided me with a yes and a no - neither answer being reliable. I also asked B&W, who have not responded.

I tried at Best Buy and it did not work, however, those are a gimped pair as BT did not work either (intentionally per the manufacturer).

I will buy these as soon as I can confirm that USB-C Audio works.

In order for the headphones to work that would require the DAC to be built in to the cable or headphones.
If there is no DAC they won't give you sound, except on devices like Moto Z force which have an internal DAC and audio is normally passed through USB C.

 

[vansmack]

In order for the headphones to work that would require the DAC to be built in to the cable or headphones.
If there is no DAC they won't give you sound, except on devices like Moto Z force which have an internal DAC and audio is normally passed through USB C.

Thank you, but that doesn't answer my question (and you've said this many times before on this thread - I understand how DACs work).

B&W claims these have USB-C Audio, which would imply that there is a built in DAC or it uses the BT DAC. But I have not been able to confirm either through B&W or somebody who owns them if this actually works as described. I have seen reviews say that is does, and reviews that say that it doesn't.

What I was asking Pigman, who owns a pair, is to confirm that B&W included a DAC in the headphone for USB-C to USB-C audio.

 

[Mike Dee]

Thank you, but that doesn't answer my question (and you've said this many times before on this thread - I understand how DACs work).

B&W claims these have USB-C Audio, which would imply that there is a built in DAC or it uses the BT DAC. But I have not been able to confirm either through B&W or somebody who owns them if this actually works as described. I have seen reviews say that is does, and reviews that say that it doesn't.

What I was asking Pigman, who owns a pair, is to confirm that B&W included a DAC in the headphone for USB-C to USB-C audio.

Sorry....was trying to be helpful. I even tried to go to their site but can't access it from here.

 

[vansmack]

Sorry....was trying to be helpful. I even tried to go to their site but can't access it from here.

I understand, and I apologize if my response seemed short. I have been trying to get the answer to this for a while now and every response has been different. I so want a flexible head phone solution (BT, USB-C and 3.5mm with ANC) as I am a frequent traveler, and these seem perfect if I can just get someone with a Pixel 2 to tell me yes or no on the USB-C DAC question.

 

[johnnnnnymtl]

Ill check this out! Thanks.
Ive also had my eyes on these, but I juist realized the reviews are also not the best:
Sony WF-1000X – the best wireless earbuds out now | Trusted Reviews

 

[Mike Dee]

I understand, and I apologize if my response seemed short. I have been trying to get the answer to this for a while now and every response has been different. I so want a flexible head phone solution (BT, USB-C and 3.5mm with ANC) as I am a frequent traveler, and these seem perfect if I can just get someone with a Pixel 2 to tell me yes or no on the USB-C DAC question.

I'd love to see headphones with DACs built into the cable or headphones. I'm used to the output of the LG V20 and V30 and as decent as the Pixel Dongle is, some media needs almost full volume to drive my Over the Ear headphones.

 

[Kizzy Catwoman]

I use Bose QC35s (original version) and also have a pair of Sennheiser Momentum 2 wireless. Both connect easily to my Pixel 2 XL and sound is great. Was main reason I didn't care about losing the 3.5mm jack

 

[Pigman]

Have you confirmed they work with USB-C for audio?

I've seen reviews that said they do not work with USB-C audio (charging only), but the description on Amazon and on their web site says USC-C Audio (though they only include a USB-C to USB-A cable, which would not work). Asking on Amazon, as usual, provided me with a yes and a no - neither answer being reliable. I also asked B&W, who have not responded.

I tried at Best Buy and it did not work, however, those are a gimped pair as BT did not work either (intentionally per the manufacturer).

I will buy these as soon as I can confirm that USB-C Audio works.

I am listening to them right now over USB-C. You have to disconnect them from Bluetooth before the USB-C connection will work. I honestly can tell no difference between the USB-C connection and the Bluetooth connection in terms of sound quality. One caveat, they do require power when using USB-C, I am not for sure if they charge from your phone while plugged in. This of course could drain the phone's battery. Trust me on this the sound is amazing. Also, ignore the complaints about the auto off if you wear glasses. Update the headphones firmware first thing. there is then a setting in the app to adjust the sensitivity of the auto off, or you can turn the feature off altogether.

 

[Pigman]

In order for the headphones to work that would require the DAC to be built in to the cable or headphones.
If there is no DAC they won't give you sound, except on devices like Moto Z force which have an internal DAC and audio is normally passed through USB C.

This is incorrect. I believe since they are powered headphones, they may contain their own DAC? Whatever the case may be, I am listening to them right now over a USB-C connection on my Pixel XL2, they work just fine.

 

[Mike Dee]

This is incorrect. I believe since they are powered headphones, they may contain their own DAC? Whatever the case may be, I am listening to them right now over a USB-C connection on my Pixel XL2, they work just fine.

My statements are correct. The fact that it works if you are plugging in a USB C cable would mean that the headphones have their own DAC amp built in.

 

[Pigman]

My statements are correct. The fact that it works if you are plugging in a USB C cable would mean that the headphones have their own DAC amp built in.

Sorry, I re-read my post, and I see that I didn't think it through very well. I meant it is incorrect that they don't work over usb-c, not that they need a DAC to do so. I apologize, for what appears to be a rude and condescending post. But yes, they must contain their own DAC, because they work just fine. B&W claims 50 hours on a charge if you are using them over USB-C.

 

[Mike Dee]

Sorry, I re-read my post, and I see that I didn't think it through very well. I meant it is incorrect that they don't work over usb-c, not that they need a DAC to do so. I apologize, for what appears to be a rude and condescending post. But yes, they must contain their own DAC, because they work just fine. B&W claims 50 hours on a charge if you are using them over ISB-C.

No problem whatsoever....glad you provided the answer

 

[Tomster88]

Hey all,

Considering picking up a pixel 2 but am concerned with the lack of a dedicated headphone jack. Do those of you who have the phone miss the jack?

YES

 

[ocramida]

Dont have a Pixel, but have moved to using BT headphones so Note 8 headphone jack is lonely. Apple may not have been so crazy after all when they pulled it for the 7.

 

[vansmack]

I am listening to them right now over USB-C. You have to disconnect them from Bluetooth before the USB-C connection will work. I honestly can tell no difference between the USB-C connection and the Bluetooth connection in terms of sound quality. One caveat, they do require power when using USB-C, I am not for sure if they charge from your phone while plugged in. This of course could drain the phone's battery. Trust me on this the sound is amazing. Also, ignore the complaints about the auto off if you wear glasses. Update the headphones firmware first thing. there is then a setting in the app to adjust the sensitivity of the auto off, or you can turn the feature off altogether.

You.Are.My.Hero!

My wife, probably doesn't like you as much as I'm about to drop $400 on a set of headphones, but I am stoked to hear that USB-C on these will work with my Pixel 2 XL.

Thank you so much!

 

[LeoRex]

I honestly can tell no difference between the USB-C connection and the Bluetooth connection in terms of sound quality.

Well, if the BT stream and the digital audio signal over USB are similar in terms of quality, that will be the case. Both are providing the headphones' DAC with digital data.

 

[dmxjago]

Not at all as I was already only using 3 Bluetooth headsets. Also I've hear all people are doing is leaving the dongle that came with the pixel 2 xl attached to their favorite head phones as if it was part of the headphones and calling it a day. This way they don't risk forgetting it or losing it.