One of the biggest improvement to hitwireless headphonesis the inclusion oflossless audiovia USB . Instead of relying on a wireless Bluetooth connexion , which always introduces compression and therefore some red of musical detail , the newest phone let you connect to a smartphone or computer using a USB - C cable , which allow 100 % of those digital music zeroes and one stream to your cans , with no condensation at all .
Sadly , being tethered once again via a cable to our devices is the price we must pay for digital music idol . And generally speaking , I ’m OK with that ( thoughlossless via a wireless connectionwould be so much sound ) . What labor me nuts , however , are the dense , rigid USB - C cables that often ship with USB Audio headphones .
Lest you think I ’m picking on Beats , I ’ve image the same trouble with other cans , too . JBL ’s $ 399Tour One M3 — a mesmerize technological accomplishment — also do with a USB - C transmission line that needs to have its kinks worked out by a massage therapist . Paying more for your headphones does n’t necessarily solve the problem . Lately , I ’ve been spend time with Focal ’s incredible Bathys MG , a$1,299 set of wireless cansthat strait awful , especially when connected via USB - C. You ’d think that at that price , Focal would let in a flimsy , buttery diffuse , tangle - free , braid USB - carbon overseas telegram . Nope . It ’s only microscopically more manageable than the Beats and JBL cables .
USB-C cables may look similar, but they can feel very different.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends
What ’s my beef with strapping cables ? They ’re awkward and they feel regretful . Try plugging one of these hefty cord into a laptop computer . You ’ll promptly encounter that your branch bumps into it on a regular basis . Since there ’s very little give , that translate into movement you may finger through the headphone . If you ’re on the go , plugged into your phone , you may be able-bodied to hear the noise of the line being shove . heavyset cable take more than just electrical energy ; they conduct vibrations , too .
Ironically , the best USB - vitamin C cable television service I have come up across , did n’t even come up with a set of USB Audio headphone . It ’s the power line that hail withMaster & Dynamic ’s MC300 headphone stand . It ’s as tenuous and light as a standard analogue overseas telegram , and very supple . I do n’t retrieve Master & Dynamic ( M&D ) ever intended it to be used as a lossless digital cable , but it works beautifully in that role . In fact , I think M&D simply baffle the whole cable thing in a way that other audio companies do n’t . Both the USB - coulomb and 3.5 mm cable television service that amount with the company ’s flagshipMW75 wireless headphones , are thin , supple , and braided — a joy to use .
Am I make too great of a deal out of overseas telegram quality ? Perhaps . But I distrust that very soon , mine wo n’t be the only spokesperson inquire audio company to make better cables . I also suspect that these same companies know that masses care about cord . beat may not transport the Studio Pro with a nice USB - snow cable , but it will happilysell you a premium USB - coke cablein your choice of four coloring material , for $ 19 . It ’s still not as good as M&D ’s cable , but with a maze - devoid , braided cover , it ’s a big improvement over the stock Studio Pro unit of measurement .
Master & Dynamic MW75 cables. Chef’s kiss.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends
And hey , Sony , if you ’re reading this , I have some advice . Rumor has it that you will soon found yournext - gen XM Series wireless headphones , which will almost sure enough be called the WH-1000XM6 . And while I ’ve heard nothing definitive about their specs , I ’d be shock if you did n’t last include USB Audio ( honestly I do n’t screw how you ’re so former to this party ) . If this is true , please , for the love of lossless , give us a USB - C cable television that ’s as thin and flexible as the analogue overseas telegram you ’ve been hold us for days ( or as close to that as potential ) .
Consider this a call for a higher caliber of cablegram . The sort of cord we can count on ; a more pliable wire . Because if we ’re going to delight all the benefit of lossless hearing , we need to lose these lousy leads .
