3.5mm headphone jack or Type-C port, which one is better for plugging in and listening to music?

When buying headphones, we often come across two interface types: C port headphones and 3.5 headphones. So what is the difference between C port headphones and 3.5 headphones? How do they differ in terms of advantages and disadvantages, applicable scenarios, compatibility, etc.?

comtang headset manufacturer will introduce the difference between C port headset and 3.5 headset from the following aspects.

First, what is C port headset and 3.5 headset

C-port headphones, that is, headphones using the USB Type-C interface. USB Type-C interface is a new type of Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, which has the characteristics of bi-directional plugging and unplugging, high-speed transmission, multi-functional expansion, etc. The C-port headphones are a kind of digital headphones.

Port C headphones are digital headphones that receive digital signals directly from the C port of a cell phone or computer, and then convert the digital signals to analog signals through the built-in digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and amplifier (AMP), and then transmit them to the headphone unit to produce sound.

A 3.5 headphone is a headphone that uses a 3.5 mm round plug. 3.5 mm round plug is a traditional audio interface that offers wide compatibility, simple construction, and low cost.

3.5 headphones are a kind of analog headphones, which need to receive analog signals from the 3.5 port of the cell phone or computer, and then transmit them directly to the headphone unit to produce sound.

Second, the advantages and disadvantages of C-port headset and 3.5 headset

C port headset and 3.5 headset have their own advantages and disadvantages, mainly reflected in the following aspects:

1, sound quality

The sound quality of C-port headphones depends on the performance of the DAC and AMP of the headset itself, as well as the output capability of the C-port of the cell phone or computer. If the headset's DAC and AMP performance is higher, and the output capability of the C port of the cell phone or computer is stronger, then the sound quality of the C port headset will be better, and vice versa.

The sound quality of a 3.5 headset depends on the performance of the headset's own unit and cable, as well as the output capability of the 3.5 port of the cell phone or computer. If the performance of the headphone's unit and cable is high, and the output capability of the 3.5 port of the cell phone or computer is high, then the sound quality of the 3.5 headphone will be better, and vice versa.

Overall, there is no absolute advantage or disadvantage of the sound quality of C-port headphones and 3.5 headphones, but rather depends on the specific product and the degree of equipment matching.

2, portability

The portability of C-port headphones is relatively poor, because it needs to occupy the C port of the cell phone or computer, so that you can not use other C-port devices at the same time, such as chargers, USB flash drives, mice and so on. Also, the plug of a C port headset is relatively large, which makes it less suitable to be carried in a pocket or bag.3.5 headset is relatively better in terms of portability because it does not occupy the other ports of a cell phone or computer, which makes it possible to use other devices at the same time. Moreover, the plug of 3.5 headphones is relatively small, which is also easier to carry and store.

3. Compatibility

The compatibility of C-port headphones is relatively poor, because the standards and protocols of C-port may be different for different manufacturers and devices, resulting in some C-port headphones not working properly or giving the best results. Moreover, C-port headphones also need to take into account the headphone's DAC and AMP drivers and settings, and sometimes may need to install additional software or adjust the parameters.3.5 headphones are relatively more compatible, because the 3.5 mm round plug is a universal audio interface, almost all cell phones and computers can be used, and does not require additional drivers and settings, just plug it in to be able to use.

Scenarios for C-port headphones and 3.5 headphones

C port headphones and 3.5 headphones have different application scenarios, which mainly depends on personal preferences and needs. Here are some common scenarios:

1、If you are a music enthusiast who pursues a high-quality music experience and doesn't mind the portability and compatibility of the headset, then you can choose a C-port headset with excellent performance, together with a cell phone or computer that supports high-resolution audio, to enjoy the clarity and delicacy of digital audio.

2、If you are an ordinary music lover, only require the clarity and dynamics of the music, and pay more attention to the portability and compatibility of the headset, then you can choose a cost-effective 3.5 headset, with an ordinary cell phone or computer, to enjoy the naturalness and fullness of analog audio.

3, If you are a multi-device user, often need to switch headphones between different phones or computers, and don't want to buy additional adapters or splitters for your headphones, then you can choose a universal 3.5 headphone with any one of the cell phones or computers that have a 3.5 port, and enjoy the convenience and flexibility of audio.

4, if you are a wireless seeker, do not like the headset cable bondage, and do not care about the battery life and signal stability of the headset, then you can choose a powerful Bluetooth headset with a Bluetooth-enabled cell phone or computer to enjoy the freedom and comfort of audio.

There are many differences between C-port headset and 3.5 headset, mainly in sound quality, portability, compatibility, applicable scenes, etc. The advantages of C-port headset are high sound quality, which can provide high resolution digital audio, but the disadvantages of C-port headset are poor portability, which needs to occupy the C-port, and poor compatibility, which needs to take different standards and protocols into consideration.The advantages of 3.5 headset are good portability, which will not occupy other ports, and good compatibility, which can be used for various kinds of audio. And good compatibility, can be universal various devices, but the disadvantage is that the sound quality is low, can only provide ordinary analog audio. Therefore, when we buy headphones, we should choose the one that suits us according to our preferences and needs!

comtangME540 USB-C digital headphones with built-in custom audio driver and sound quality optimization, smart connectivity and control, and environmentally friendly materials for both product and packaging; for more information or any questions, please email stanley.yang@szcomtang.com.