You know how people were making noise over Apple’s supposed “courage” over removing the headphone jack. Well, if the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) has their way, we may be seeing the removal for headphone jacks from other devices as well. Why you ask? Because USB-IF has published its Audio Device Class 3.0 specification.
With Audio Device Class 3.0, makers of audio equipment can now create devices that would allow them to output audio via USB-Type C ports. Interestingly enough, USB Audio Device Class 3.0 supports both analog and digital audio.
ADC 3.0 is also stated to offer better digital audio support thanks to the fact that digital USB-C headphones will feature special multi-function processing units (MPUs). These MPUs will handle tasks such as host and sink synchronization, digital-to-analog conversion, low-latency active noise cancellation, acoustic echo canceling, equalization, microphone automatic gain control, volume control and others. MPUs will also be able to support the new USB Audio Type-III and Type-IV formats. while remaining compatible with formats supported by ADC 1.0 and 2.0.
USB-IF believes that if more companies would embrace ADC 3.0, it would make the 3.5mm headphone jack obsolete. By doing so, the group believes that devices in the future will be slimmer, have better water resistance, and it would “open the door to innovation.” For those of you who still prefer the old-school jacks, you need not be too worried as the headphone jack will still be here to stay for the foreseeable future.
Source: Anandtech