Buying new Type-C earphones may seem a straightforward task until you realise that not every USB-C earphone is universal. Some smartphones have done away with the 3.5mm headphone jack, and so USB-C has become the new standard.
As you know, there are a few things to keep in mind when buying earphones. The Type C earphones should be compatible with your phone, comfortable, provide high-quality sound, and not damage your ears.
1. How Does USB Type-C Audio Work?
Music and audio are stored digitally on your phone and can only be heard from headphones/speakers once they have been decoded.
2. Type-C earphones vs 3.5mm earphones
Although 3.5mm earphones use an analogue connection to your source, many USB-C earphones take advantage of the digital bus connection of the Type-C BUS.
USB-C could be a great solution for phones that do not have a headphone jack, but you should know that being able to connect over a Type-C does not necessarily mean it will work.
3.5mm audio connections are not intrinsically better or worse than a USB-C connection; the overall audio performance depends on the entire chain in the audio chain.
3. Check Your Phone’s Compatibility
In some cases, though, your phone has a USB Type-C interface, but it may not support USB-C audio; please refer to your phone specifications to check whether it supports USB-C audio before you buy our earphones.
4. Sound Quality
If you listen to music every day, making sure to check the bass quality of the earphones is paramount.
You can also look at the frequency response, the overall sound clarity, the amount of detail in the audio, distortion levels, the DAC performance, and the quality of the digital signal processing.
5. What Is Important for You?
If you are a YouTube listener, you may want to consider the speech intelligibility rather than the bass response, whereas a music lover will likely prefer to preserve fidelity and detail in the audio.
6. Don’t Overlook the Microphone
If you plan on using your earphones for work or making many phone calls, it is critical to consider the microphone quality as well.
A built-in microphone in your earphones can be handy for calls and online conferencing, as well as gaming and social media voice chats, and leaving voice messages. Pay attention to the speech clarity and microphone placement.
Keep in mind that the microphone performance can depend on your phone and surroundings.
Even a good-quality microphone can struggle in a noisy environment.
7. Cable Durability
The USB-C connector and the cable itself see a lot of wear and tear, so it is a good idea to look for something flexible with a reinforced connector, strain relief, and a tangle-resistant design.
8. Why Wired Earphones?
While many people love wireless earphones, there are some distinct advantages to using wired earphones. They don’t need to be charged, they connect to your audio source instantly, and they are a must if you want ultra-low latency.
