this post was submitted on 25 Jul 2025
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Recommendations for USB-C headphones? (lemmy.ml)
submitted 4 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) by zdhzm2pgp@lemmy.ml to c/technology@lemmy.ml
29 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

I have to disqualify the SoundMAGIC E80D Digital USB C Headphones because it looks like their 90ยฐ plug won't fit with the rather thick otterbox case I have on my phone.

Any other suggestions? Would be using primarily for phone but also for laptop, if that makes any difference.

EDIT: Thanks to everyone who responded ๐Ÿ™‚๐Ÿ‘Looks like I've got several good leads to follow, so I'd better get started!

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[โ€“] iopq@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

It says headphones, but they are actually earphones

I can't for the life of me to find a frequency response graph. I can't recommend buying anything without a measurement since you would be buying blind

Here is how you should look for earphones:

  1. Buy something with a replaceable cable so it lasts longer. The cable usually breaks first and it's the cheapest part.

  2. You can buy DSP earphones with a replaceable cable, but I haven't found anything cheap that sounds as good as the 3.5mm connection (which means the DSP sucks). So buy a dongle separately, like the Apple one or something of similar quality

  3. Find the frequency response graph. You can see how your current equipment graphs and compare. You can even use an equalizer (in software) to adjust to what you're buying

If you want my suggestion, buy CCA Trio and the Apple dongle. Although maybe it's expensive after tariffs, lol

KZ Castor for a cheaper option

[โ€“] corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)
  1. You can buy DSP earphones with a replaceable cable, but I haven't found anything cheap that sounds as good as the 3.5mm connection (which means the DSP sucks). So buy a dongle separately, like the Apple one or something of similar quality

I dunno if it's good quality, but the install process and daily use on this item has been great for me, moving my headset easily between machines through a KVM without issue.

Let me know if it sounds good, OP, or see what others may say in response to this one.

I fully support anything that continues with common, reliable hardware - 3.5mm - and interchangeable parts - so no apple, really.

[โ€“] iopq@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

I meant the Apple 3.5mm to usb-c dongle, which does the same job for $9

Of course, if you know that this other one world's for you, by all means

[โ€“] Brkdncr@lemmy.world 8 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Why not just an adapter?

[โ€“] rollerbang@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago (2 children)

You have to make sure to keep an adapter as well then. One more thing to get lost for some people.

[โ€“] corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 days ago

If this is for a computer, then losing that cable is gonna be hard. If it's for a phone, then I worry the earphones will be way higher quality than the phone.

And phones without 3.5mm are just cash grabs for big vendors selling battery-radio earphones with shit sound.

[โ€“] iopq@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I keep mine attached to the cable

[โ€“] rollerbang@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Sure, but not everbody does. Some people use one adapter and multiple devices.

[โ€“] iopq@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

If you use it for multiple devices it's obviously doing more work! But you can just buy two and never disconnect them

[โ€“] h_ramus@lemmy.zip 7 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I use a separate usb adapter to the earphones. iBasso dc03 has separate usb c cable that I've been able to replace when the original broke. Cheap replacement rather than tossing the whole thing away.

For earphones, I use kefine delci as they're comfortable for my ears and sound good enough. When the cable eventually breaks, a new pair is cheaper and the earphones can still be used.

[โ€“] iopq@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I'm blocked from their site, wut

[โ€“] h_ramus@lemmy.zip 1 points 2 days ago

Odd. You can get it from aliexpress for something like โ‚ฌ50.

[โ€“] pH3ra@lemmy.ml 5 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I got a pair of KZ ZSN ProX that have a removable cable you can swap easily with a USB-C one. I had them for 4 years now and they're really durable: for the price (about 20$) the sound is insanely good and if you spend the extra 10$ for the cable you can plug them wherever you want.
Best purchase ever

[โ€“] iopq@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)
[โ€“] pH3ra@lemmy.ml 1 points 3 days ago

Thanks, I didn't know this site

[โ€“] HatchetHaro@pawb.social 5 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

If you're looking for in-ear monitors, I really, really recommend Crinacle's The Hangout. Dude's a legendary audio reviewer and The Hangout only stocks things that are good to him. Yes, that means that even his lowest-priced offerings are awesome. You won't go wrong at all with anything in that site.

For USB-C IEMs, I highly recommend the Moondrop Chu 2 DSP. It's $28, and phenomenal for the price.

[โ€“] iopq@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

It's basically just his opinion. He started three biggest database of measurements, but he's not going them anymore so other reviewers have replaced him

Also I have heard the DSP version doesn't have the best sound quality. I have another cheap pair of DSP IEMs and they sound better with 3.5mm (DSP adds ringing and noise artifacts)

I bought a standalone $13 USB DAC and it sounds perfect to me

[โ€“] HatchetHaro@pawb.social 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I mean, I'd take the professional opinion of an audiophile with actual tuning experience over ten tech reviewers any day.

Also, I've had no issues with my Moondrop Chu 2 DSP, but if for any reason I don't want the DSP I can just swap the cable out for one with a 3.5mm jack.

[โ€“] iopq@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Why would you take an expert's opinion instead of just listening yourself?

You can eq to the fr of the thing you're buying and just listen if you like it.

[โ€“] HatchetHaro@pawb.social 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Because I'm not physically able to try the IEMs myself before I buy them? I'm not made of money, so I can't keep buying and trying things until I find a perfect pair.

Look, I've bought stuff he has tuned, and I liked them enough to continue buying things he recommends. I also don't mind tuning differences because at the end of the day as long as it still sounds great I'm not fussed.

[โ€“] iopq@lemmy.world 1 points 12 hours ago

You can try before you buy. You can use an equalizer to tune your current IEMs to the pair you're buying

There's a tool online you can use:

https://peqdb.com/

[โ€“] impudentmortal@lemmy.world 4 points 4 days ago (1 children)

The AKG Samsung earphones are decent, especially for the price.

[โ€“] iopq@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

The listing is wrong, they have no active noise cancelation:

https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/samsung/akg-type-c

They are fine for the price, but I don't like nondetachable cables

[โ€“] impudentmortal@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Yeah that's odd that the description lists them as noise canceling. They are definitely not.

Are you an alt account for the OP? I see you responding to nearly every comment.

As another comment wrote, seems like your best option would be to buy whatever IEMs you like and then buy a USB C cable for it. Just make sure the pins match your IEMs.

[โ€“] iopq@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

I replied because I researched the topic myself in the past

[โ€“] haerrii@feddit.org 4 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (2 children)

To be honest, the standard Apple wired dirty buds are quite fine. according to reviews they seem to have a very good amp and their sound is very good too. You'll pay a bit of Apple tax, though, they cost around 20 โ‚ฌ.

[โ€“] iopq@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

I've tried the non-pro ones and their sound quality is lacking. This is probably because they just leak all the bass out due to not being in-ear

[โ€“] Raiderkev@lemmy.world 6 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Yep, those and the wired pixel buds from Google used to be pretty decent. Admittedly, I haven't used either in a few years.

[โ€“] pH3ra@lemmy.ml 3 points 3 days ago

I had the Pixel buds too, the sound was excellent but after a couple years the wire plastic got all sticky and stiff so I had to throw them out