Will the potential lack of a jack be a deal breaker?

[nate0]

Not for me. I have moved to BT Transmitters/receivers. Much better sound quality than the DAC onboard assuming the user has capable headphones.

I'm not debating with you just adding info...
For any device supporting ldac or a version of aptx and the device does not have a custom DAC then yes. Bluetooth will normally sound as good or better. Any real audio nerd knows though that over the wire will always be better in the end if a DAC is present. It will take a while for Bluetooth to catch up to that. For the average consumer using Bluetooth it won't matter...

Again I still feel there is no real reason to remove the jack except for financial reasons. From a consumer perspective we are not saving any dollars on the price tag and it is not adding any features by doing so, if you know what I mean.

 

[Mike Dee]

Be nice if every maker of a phone lacking a head phone jack included a pair. I'd have a collection by now...dongles and adapters are the lamest excuse to make money... Apple is good at this.

They are the only ones charging extra.

 

[Mike Dee]

I'm not debating with you just adding info...
For any device supporting ldac or a version of aptx and the device does not have a custom DAC then yes. Bluetooth will normally sound as good or better. Any real audio nerd knows though that over the wire will always be better in the end if a DAC is present. It will take a while for Bluetooth to catch up to that. For the average consumer using Bluetooth it won't matter...

Again I still feel there is no real reason to remove the jack except for financial reasons. From a consumer perspective we are not saving any dollars on the price tag and it is not adding any features by doing so, if you know what I mean.

You don't need a custom DAC to sound better than Bluetooth. I've got Sony Bluetooth headphones with LDAC and they are as good as it's gets with Bluetooth but my wired Audio Technicas still outperform then whether I am using a device with an onboard DAC, a DAC built into the the Dongle or through LG's Quad DAC. Incidently the DACs built into a dongle are usually better than most devices with an onboard DAC. I've get Google's, HTC and Razer dongles. The Pixel and HTC are very good but Razer beats them out.

 

[nate0]

They are the only ones charging extra.

Not nescesarrily. Patent wise yes. I believe even to market a dongle or whatever and to include a name like "Note xx+" being compatible with it means somebody is getting paid...

 

[Mike Dee]

Not for me. I have moved to BT Transmitters/receivers. Much better sound quality than the DAC onboard assuming the user has capable headphones.

What Bluetooth receivers and transmitters do you have that outperform an onboard DAC.

 

[nate0]

You don't need a custom DAC to sound better than Bluetooth. I've got Sony Bluetooth headphones with LDAC and they are as good as it's gets with Bluetooth but my wired Audio Technicas still outperform then whether I am using a device with an onboard DAC, a DAC built into the the Dongle or through LG's Quad DAC. Incidently the DACs built into a dongle are usually better than most devices with an onboard DAC. I've get Google's, HTC and Razer dongles. The Pixel and HTC are very good but Razer beats them out.

Sony ldac might be the only exception actually. There is quantitative testing to prove wired over bluetooth is better. But it's subjective as I mentioned. Audio nerds will only argue that.

 

[Mike Dee]

Sony ldac might be the only exception actually. There is quantitave testing to prove wired over bluetooth is better. But it's subjective as I mentioned. Audio nerds will only argue that.

Even the Sony isn't as good wired and I love the Sony. If you start out with higher quality sound files is where you really see the difference in quality between wired and Bluetooth. That said, most people don't know what to listen for and for the most part will be happy with middle of the road sound.

 

[msm0511]

I haven't had a phone with a headphone jack since the iPhone 7. It hasn't been an issue.

 

[nate0]

Even the Sony isn't as good wired and I love the Sony. If you start out with higher quality sound files is where you really see the difference in quality between wired and Bluetooth. That said, most people don't know what to listen for and for the most part will be happy with middle of the road sound.

This is what Samsung is banking on and it's a smart move on their part...Bluetooth in its infancy was not as reliable and had other qwerks. By now it's a total viable option for many applications in the Mobile space.

 

[nate0]

Attention**
This just in

 

[darkestred]

What Bluetooth receivers and transmitters do you have that outperform an onboard DAC.

I have an ES100 and FIIO BTR3. With the exception of LG and maybe...SONY? No other phone DAC sounds as good. I also use a pair of custom IEMs.

 

[darkestred]

I'm not debating with you just adding info...
For any device supporting ldac or a version of aptx and the device does not have a custom DAC then yes. Bluetooth will normally sound as good or better. Any real audio nerd knows though that over the wire will always be better in the end if a DAC is present. It will take a while for Bluetooth to catch up to that. For the average consumer using Bluetooth it won't matter...

Again I still feel there is no real reason to remove the jack except for financial reasons. From a consumer perspective we are not saving any dollars on the price tag and it is not adding any features by doing so, if you know what I mean.

I agree wire is better but not all DACs are created equal. Of course other items in the chain affect audio, as well.

However, i can tell you right now my BT devices sound better than plugging my IEMs into my s8.

I also agree that the jack should never have been removed.