PhonAndroid take Jack: can the Type-C USB really replace it?

Goodbye jack!Whether you appreciate it or not, the jack is well left to say goodbye in the telephony world.The iPhone 7 launched the trend and some Android smartphones should follow suit.The jack will be replaced by the Type-C USB.But is it really possible?We make the full point on the question.

When we talk about a jack on the smartphone, we are somewhat mistaken.Indeed, the jack originally displays (1878) a diameter of 6.35mm.Clearly today, the jack is used mainly in the world of show or for musicians.We connect his Gibson Les Paul well to the amp with a jack (I don't want to hear about Fender Stratocaster, no but Oh!).

On the mobile we are in fact talking about mini-jack or a diameter of 3.5 mm.The mini-jack spread quickly, at the same time as the helmets and headphones and in particular the first Walkmann.Then we continued to use this technology.It does not take up space and allows you to listen to music everywhere, all the time, and in optimal quality, according to the equipment of each of course.

But now Apple seemed wise to delete the jack of its iPhone 7, believing that USB Type-C technology would be much better.The jack is old tells us Apple, it's time to replace it.This will promote other more modern technologies.

Other brands have adopted this point of view since the next oneplus and even the HTC U 11 should be devoid of jack.But is it really a good idea?Is the interest in the consumer so obvious?Will we have to “re-equip”?All our answers.

USB Type-C, but what interest?

Why change something that works?We all asked ourselves the question of the interest of the Type-C USB.It turns out that technically, there are some advantages.Today, to listen to your music in optimal quality on your smartphone, several elements must be taken into account.

First there is the quality of the helmet, but also the components of the smartphone without talking about the format of your content.If we look at the components of the smartphone, several questions arise.Which chip is used to manage the sound signal (DSP)?What chip is used to transform the digital signal into analog signal (DAC)?What are the types of amplifiers integrated into the smartphone?

With the USB Type-C, it is now the helmets that will integrate this data.This means roughly that the components integrated into smartphones for the sound part will no longer be so important when choosing your mobile.The different chips will be integrated directly into the USB type-C headphones and headphones.

In practice, if you buy a smartphone in 2017 and a USB type-C helmet, you can change your mobile without paying attention to the technology of its integrated.Your helmet will ensure you the same quality over time.A way to limit the obsolescence of helmets, which is rather a good thing.

HD audio, really?

In general, the integration of fleas into helmets should improve sound quality.Helmet manufacturers are specialists, and we can count on them to compete with the quality of its offered by helmets.

In addition, the USB Type-C will offer other possibilities to these manufacturers, particularly in terms of functionality.We can for example think of effects on music, a particular management of equalization or for example adapting the volume according to the activity.For example if the headset carrier is in the process of running, the volume can increase when it accelerates.For instance.

The other question for users of Android smartphones concerns HD audio.At present, and quite schemically, it is impossible to offer a different sampling frequency from that imposed by Android, or 48 kHz.Except that HD music is based on a frequency of 96 or even 192 kHz.It is therefore impossible today to listen to HD audio on an Android smartphone whatever it is.

If some models such as the Marshmall London smartphone have a marketing message based on better sound quality, it is not on the sampling frequency that this is based.If you want to listen to sounds in Flac or on the Qobuz streaming service (which offers Listening in HD), it is not on Android that it happens.

In reality, there is a small difference compared to other models, but for purists the process is average since it is a question of passing the contents of 96 and 192 kHz in 48 kHz by destroying as little as possiblesecurities.But hey, we are not on real HD audio.

With the USB Type-C, the sampling frequency supported by the Smarpthone will no longer have any importance.Indeed, the chips being in the helmets, they are the ones who will be able to manage the frequency.The only problem is that there would therefore be a system that keeps the frequency of 48 kHz on the smartphone speakers while allowing to pass on from 96 to 192 kHz in the helmets.But at the moment, nothing allows it.HD audio on Android for the moment is wind.

Buy everything?

With the disappearance of the jack, the question of the buyout of the helmets necessarily arises.Because at present, there are few users equipped with helmets or headphones in USB type-C.However, the disappearance of the jack will not leave much choice, we will have to change your equipment if we had wired helmets until then.

Otherwise, two solutions: opt for mini-jack/USB type-C adapters or for wireless headsets.In the second case, this implies a purchase.All this for what purpose?We don't really know because for the moment on Android the quality gain is far from obvious.

Real audiophiles are already equipped today and they certainly do not listen to their music on their smartphone.Music enthusiasts opt for much better quality audio readers, with real HD sound and suitable helmets.This sound quality argument on smartphone is lion to be valid.

And to recharge then!

It is all the less so since if the helmets connect to the USB-Type C port, how do you recharge your smartphone at the same time?This is the big question of purely practical order that everyone is asking.

Because today, in terms of use, we all have the same problem, our smartphones lack autonomy.Listening to music on your smartphone involves doing it when we are on the go, mobility.And as everyone knows, listening to their music can quickly melt the battery.

But then what happens if I want to listen to my music while recharging my smartphone on an external battery in public transport for example?Well I can't.And this is the problem of removing the jack.In terms of use, replacing it with a USB type-C is zero pointed.

So what to conclude?Well, quite simply that this idea of deleting this jack is fully unwelcome.Far from us the idea of making the refractory to the evolution of technology, quite the contrary.We love innovation but only if it is well thought out.And the problem is that all this is very badly thought out, at least for the user.

Because in the end, the deletion of the jack will push many users to "re -equip" themselves, for a gain in quality which is far from obvious at the moment.The worst in the case is that all this did not have to be since it absolutely does not meet the needs of users.

On the contrary, all this strips us of something that was still very useful to us.And it is not because the mini-jack technology is old that it is obsolete or useless, quite the contrary.As the other would say: "It is in the old pots that we make the best jams".Come on, plug in the guitars!