In a market where the trend is to eliminate the headphone jack on high-end smartphones, Sony remains firm in its conviction to provide the best listening experience to its users keeping the 3.5mm jack.
As explained in a report Computer HeyUnlike its competitors, the Japanese brand continues to integrate the 3.5mm audio jack into its Xperia deviceschallenging current trends that favor wireless connectivity.
Some might wonder why Sony is holding on to this feature in a market that is increasingly geared towards Bluetooth connectivity and cable removal. The answer, according to Jorge Gallego, head of communication at Sony Iberia, lies in the brand’s desire to deliver an exceptional viewing and sound experience.
Gallego analyzed: “Sony wants users to enjoy music and images as the creators intended, providing the ability to experience high-resolution sound through DSEE Ultimate and LDAC support in combination with streaming services.”.
Sony’s justification makes sense
From a technical standpoint, Sony’s justification is sound. Wired connection offers lower latency compared to wireless streaming via Bluetoothwhich is especially relevant in applications such as gaming and live streaming.
Although Bluetooth technology has evolved significantly in recent years, there are still physical limitations that affect the quality of sound transmitted wirelessly. The wired connection provides a more reliable and higher quality audio signal, without being affected by electromagnetic interference or signal loss.
Sound quality is also influenced by the digital-to-analog converter (DAC) used in audio transmission. Devices with an audio jack allow for a higher bit rate and higher sample rate, resulting in more accurate and detailed reproduction of the original sound.
Although high-definition Bluetooth codecs such as LDAC or AptX Lossless have improved in terms of audio quality, they still have limitations compared to a wired connection.