Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

USB-C is great but no dang Headphone Jack...

CalMin

CalMin

Contributor
Original poster
Nov 8, 2007
1,933
3,875
So - I'm super pumped about being able to record my podcast directly using my iPad Pro 2018. I got my trusty Yeti mike and plugged it into the iPad with a USB-C adaptor cable and it worked! And then I went to plug my headphones into the iPad to monitor and edit the recording and !@#$ - there isn't one.

Now I need buy a USB hub with a headphone jack to do this. Super frustrating Apple - I know your 'courage' and all that, but this is not a phone, it's a productivity device. You're pitching it as a computer and all your computers still have headphone jacks...! At the very least please make and sell a dongle for this...

In the meantime, can anyone recommend a hub with a headphone jack?

[/rant]
 
  • Like
Reactions: ShaunAFC3
Gigster said:
It’s a legitimate problem. No need for name calling.
Click to expand...

It is a legitimate concern that may lead to you not purchasing it due to the lack of headphone jack, you don't get to the stage where 'I went to plug my headphones into the iPad' to find it was not there if it was even remotely important to you.

Far too many on here are just all about the drama.
 
  • Like
Reactions: PanAm-L1011, tbayrgs, A.R.E.A.M. and 2 others
LeeW said:
It is a legitimate concern that may lead to you not purchasing it due to the lack of headphone jack, you don't get to the stage where 'I went to plug my headphones into the iPad' to find it was not there if it was even remotely important to you.

Far too many on here are just all about the drama.
Click to expand...

You don’t know that. Even though they removed the jack from the iPhone, I didn’t expect it to be removed from the iPad Pro. It’s a ‘pro’ device after all. I can kind of understand their logic with the iPhone and lack of space. I don’t think they have an excuse when it comes to iPad Pro. I’m sure there are going to be quite a few customers that will be surprised to learn that it doesn’t have the jack post purchase.
 
CalMin said:
So - I'm super pumped about being able to record my podcast directly using my iPad Pro 2018. I got my trusty Yeti mike and plugged it into the iPad with a USB-C adaptor cable and it worked! And then I went to plug my headphones into the iPad to monitor and edit the recording and !@#$ - there isn't one.

Now I need buy a USB hub with a headphone jack to do this. Super frustrating Apple - I know your 'courage' and all that, but this is not a phone, it's a productivity device. You're pitching it as a computer and all your computers still have headphone jacks...! At the very least please make and sell a dongle for this...

In the meantime, can anyone recommend a hub with a headphone jack?

[/rant]
Click to expand...

You don’t need a hub, Apple sells a headphone jack adapter for next to no money....
 
  • Like
Reactions: A.R.E.A.M. and AdonisSMU
For me, the lack of headphone jack is somewhat disappointing, but I expected it at some point with the iPad. And the reason I say it’s disappointing, is because I usually like to charge my iPad _and_ listen With my headphones at the same time. I understand there are adapters to address this, but that is not the most convenient route considering my method I preferred.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Freakonomics101, ShaunAFC3 and A.R.E.A.M.
Thanks for all the replies. Yes - I knew it didn't have a headphone jack, and I even already have the USB-C dongle for my headphones. I picked up two when I bought the blasted thing.

I posted this little rant after figuring out that could connect my USB microphone to my iPad and record and it worked!... and then the huge wave of disappointment that followed after realizing that I had nowhere to plug my headphones into.

The truth is, that I'm really liking this iPad - more so than any iPad in recent years. The capabilities are really exciting, but like just about every reviewer has stated, it's hobbled by iOS and (in my case) ports/connectivity. I so badly want it to be my only computer, but these little design decisions keep tripping me up. And that makes me rant. :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: ShaunAFC3
Knowimagination said:
wait dont the yeti mics have a headphone jack on them for monitoring?
Click to expand...

Yes - and it's ok for pass-through monitoring. Just can't tell what the iPad is actually recording that way - and I've been caught out like that before, so I prefer to monitor through the recorder than through the capture device.
 
CalMin said:
Thanks for all the replies. Yes - I knew it didn't have a headphone jack, and I even already have the USB-C dongle for my headphones. I picked up two when I bought the blasted thing.

I posted this little rant after figuring out that could connect my USB microphone to my iPad and record and it worked!... and then the huge wave of disappointment that followed after realizing that I had nowhere to plug my headphones into.

The truth is, that I'm really liking this iPad - more so than any iPad in recent years. The capabilities are really exciting, but like just about every reviewer has stated, it's hobbled by iOS and (in my case) ports/connectivity. I so badly want it to be my only computer, but these little design decisions keep tripping me up. And that makes me rant. :)
Click to expand...

I bought two jacks from other companies other than Apple and they didn’t work on the iPad Pro. still waiting for Apple to deliver the ones they make. I ordered three since I lost a whole bunch of the older version. Did the Apple one work? Also I keep getting the message usb accessory does not connect until you put in a pass code and it doesn’t give an option to put in a passcode when I connect the iPad to my iMac. I have to switch the iPad off and on then enter the passcode and then it connects. It’s really frustrating
 
CalMin said:
So - I'm super pumped about being able to record my podcast directly using my iPad Pro 2018. I got my trusty Yeti mike and plugged it into the iPad with a USB-C adaptor cable and it worked! And then I went to plug my headphones into the iPad to monitor and edit the recording and !@#$ - there isn't one.

Now I need buy a USB hub with a headphone jack to do this. Super frustrating Apple - I know your 'courage' and all that, but this is not a phone, it's a productivity device. You're pitching it as a computer and all your computers still have headphone jacks...! At the very least please make and sell a dongle for this...

In the meantime, can anyone recommend a hub with a headphone jack?

[/rant]
Click to expand...
Here’s one: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/hyperdrive-usb-c-docking-station-silver/6241309.p?skuId=6241309
Certainly pricey, but it exists.
 
CalMin said:
Thanks for all the replies. Yes - I knew it didn't have a headphone jack, and I even already have the USB-C dongle for my headphones. I picked up two when I bought the blasted thing.

I posted this little rant after figuring out that could connect my USB microphone to my iPad and record and it worked!... and then the huge wave of disappointment that followed after realizing that I had nowhere to plug my headphones into.

The truth is, that I'm really liking this iPad - more so than any iPad in recent years. The capabilities are really exciting, but like just about every reviewer has stated, it's hobbled by iOS and (in my case) ports/connectivity. I so badly want it to be my only computer, but these little design decisions keep tripping me up. And that makes me rant. :)
Click to expand...

I bought two jacks from other companies other than Apple and they didn’t work on the iPad Pro. still waiting for Apple to deliver the ones they make. I ordered three since I lost a whole bunch of the older version. Did the Apple one work? Also I keep getting the message usb accessory does not connect until you put in a pass code and it doesn’t give an option to put in a passcode when I connect the iPad to my iMac. I have to switch the iPad off and on then enter the passcode and then it connects. It’s really frustrating
 
Janana said:
I bought two jacks from other companies other than Apple and they didn’t work on the iPad Pro. still waiting for Apple to deliver the ones they make. I ordered three since I lost a whole bunch of the older version. Did the Apple one work? Also I keep getting the message usb accessory does not connect until you put in a pass code and it doesn’t give an option to put in a passcode when I connect the iPad to my iMac. I have to switch the iPad off and on then enter the passcode and then it connects. It’s really frustrating
Click to expand...

The Apple adaptor works fine, but it blocks connecting anything else. I have ordered this for now, but I wont get it until near Christmas.

https://satechi.net/products/aluminum-type-c-mobile-pro-hub
 
  • Like
Reactions: A.R.E.A.M.
I
CalMin said:
So - I'm super pumped about being able to record my podcast directly using my iPad Pro 2018. I got my trusty Yeti mike and plugged it into the iPad with a USB-C adaptor cable and it worked! And then I went to plug my headphones into the iPad to monitor and edit the recording and !@#$ - there isn't one.

Now I need buy a USB hub with a headphone jack to do this. Super frustrating Apple - I know your 'courage' and all that, but this is not a phone, it's a productivity device. You're pitching it as a computer and all your computers still have headphone jacks...! At the very least please make and sell a dongle for this...

In the meantime, can anyone recommend a hub with a headphone jack?

[/rant]
Click to expand...
I sold my Yeti and got the Blue Raspberry mic. No looking back. It’s just awesome. Plus it has a built in headphone jack for monitor.
 
It’s crazy Apple fragmented the heck out of the headphone market so quickly.

I was in Best Buy the other day and saw some of their employees giving bad advice to a confused older woman. I stepped in and helped her for nearly half an hour... found out she had recently upgraded her iPhone, couldn’t connect her beloved Sony headphones, asked for help with that, was convinced into buying a $300 pair of Sony Bluetooth headphones, and was now trying to connect these new wireless headphones to her Yamaha digital piano (she’s a piano teacher).

Best Buy employee was convincing her she could probably plug this USB Bluetooth dongle into her piano to turn it wireless. It was a dongle for keyboards and mice that said it required Windows on the back... clearly not for audio and not going to work with a proprietary piano OS.

But then I pointed out that the whole scenario was moot, as there would be too much latency to use any wireless headphones with a piano in real time.

She was going to have to keep using her old headphones with the piano. When I mentioned that she could just buy a headphone dongle for the iPhone, she had no idea.

This isn’t Apple’s fault, but this showed what happened when they took the dongle out of the box this year. It allowed this woman to get easily upsold to the tune of $300 even though she can’t use wireless for the thing she uses the most, her piano.
 
  • Like
Reactions: StumpJumper and subjonas
QquegChristian said:
It’s crazy Apple fragmented the heck out of the headphone market so quickly.
Click to expand...

Yes - it's a real mess isn't it. I have an iPhone XS (lightning connector or Airpods) and iPad Pro (USB-C or Airpods), a Zoom H6N (headphone jack), Microsoft Surface (headphone jack), Macbook Pro (USB-C/headphone jack) Bose QC35 (wired) noise canceling headphones and I use most of them daily. Various Apple earbuds accumulated over the years with either a lightning connector or a headphone jack. A bunch of headphone jack to lightning connectors. Two recently purchased Apple USB-C to headphone jack connectors.

I love the Airpods, but they are Apple only. I don't like Beats wireless products. I would get Bose noise-canceling wireless, but they don't have a W1 chip and are not as elegant. I still have many devices (including my work PC) with only a headphone jack/plug so I need to need to keep a wired analog solution around anyway.

Sheesh.

I suppose things will eventually get better when the iPhone, iPad, Macbooks and PCs are all USB-C.
 
  • Like
Reactions: secretk
Not to bash the OP. But Yeah, It’s kinda hard to sympathize with anyone who is surprised that Apple removed the headphone jack after they purchased one of the new iPad pros. It’s already common knowledge that Apple removed it from their iPhones. Most people buying such an expensive device like the new iPad Pro would have done some basic research beforehand and found out very quickly the headphone jack would be missing. Be that as it may...you can just return it if it bothers you that much. Or you can easily buy a hub as you mentioned if you want to keep it. Pretty simple. But complaining about it, especially here on Macrumors, is not going to get you much more than eye rolls i’m afraid. Lol. No offense.

Apple does things like this all the time. People grumble, but life moves on. People adapt.

I am sure you’ll find a happy solution and move on too. Everything will be okay.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CalMin
You just have to buy a proper audio interface; one that has both input AND output.

A one sided audio interface is junk anyway (unless you want to force speaker output (I'm not even sure you can still do that, btw).

That again, you need to charge it at the same time, so there's hubs in the mix. PITA
 
  • Like
Reactions: CalMin
Greenmeenie said:
Not to bash the OP...
Click to expand...

Yeah - I only feel slightly bashed by your comments :p. The fact is, that the new iPad is awesome. These aren't "problems" they are irritants and aren't these forums meant for us to complain to like-minded tech enthusiasts? In the real world, no-one gives a hoot about our techie troubles. On the forums, we should be able to complain about headphone jacks, dongles, various 'iphone/ipad/mac-gates', uneven LCDs, dead pixels etc. Aren't you all the only people in the world that care at all about this stuff?? :) :)
[doublepost=1542820483][/doublepost]
Macalway said:
#23
You just have to buy a 'proper' audio interface; one that has both input AND output.

This is not a limitation, as a one sided audio interface is junk anyway (unless you want to force speaker output (I'm not even sure you can still do that btw).

So this forces you to be smart! (oh, and courageous! and.....broke.)
Click to expand...

You must work for the credit card company... :p

It's true, part of the fun of being into tech like this is solving problems and finding better solutions. It will work itself out in time and I will be even happier with the final result. These transitions are hard, but it's the kind of problem that I like to figure out...
 
Next iPads could do with 2 USB C ports! I think it's better than it was with the iPhone where you would need one set for the phone, and another for your mac or anything else (now you need one set for your iPhone and one set for your iPad, and if yo don't have a USB C mac then another set for that :p). The 3.5mm jack became a universal standard for a reason! considering the latest iPhones are no smaller than the 6s, and certainly no smaller than the 5s, I don't think the 'we need the space for other things' argument is very credible. And certainly not for much larger iPads.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back