USB-C headphone adapter not detected

[Froger96]

Hi All,

I have an Apple USB-C to 3.5mm Adapter that I want to use as a DAC for when I travel to be better than my laptops onboard sound (especially as I have been having some issues with it) I have tried on both my PC and my laptop and neither show the device anywhere. it's like nothing has been plugged in. My PC is the only one with a USB-C port. But i have adapters for normal USB for my laptop. But neither device detected it. I also tried a second USB-C headphone adapter which also doesn't show up. They show up on my phone just fine but neither adapter works on either PC or laptop and I am not sure what to do. I can't find it in device manager or anything.

Does anyone have any advice on how I could get these to work? I could get another normal USB DAC/AMP but I would rather use the apple one as it is meant to have some pretty good specs for it's price and I already have it anyway.

 

Thanks

[dizmo]

Could be that it just won't work with your laptop. Some devices won't read that kind of thing unless it's a certain type. It's an issue with Samsung phones as well.

[GuiltySpark_]

14 minutes ago, Froger96 said:

Hi All,

I have an Apple USB-C to 3.5mm Adapter that I want to use as a DAC for when I travel to be better than my laptops onboard sound (especially as I have been having some issues with it) I have tried on both my PC and my laptop and neither show the device anywhere. it's like nothing has been plugged in. My PC is the only one with a USB-C port. But i have adapters for normal USB for my laptop. But neither device detected it. I also tried a second USB-C headphone adapter which also doesn't show up. They show up on my phone just fine but neither adapter works on either PC or laptop and I am not sure what to do. I can't find it in device manager or anything.

Does anyone have any advice on how I could get these to work? I could get another normal USB DAC/AMP but I would rather use the apple one as it is meant to have some pretty good specs for it's price and I already have it anyway.

 

Thanks

That adapter isn't a DAC, its a passive adapter and the Apple devices its designed to be used with output an analog signal through the USB-C port. Your laptop likely doesn't unless its specifically designed for audio.

[Kilrah]

Windows normally pops up a notification to tell you it's not compatible when you plug a passive adapter. 

[SupaKomputa]

the adapter is not a soundcard.

USB-C to headphone needs a dedicated audio wiring to operate, not all USB-C have this enabled, especially laptops.

[Froger96]

1 minute ago, Kilrah said:

Windows normally pops up a notification to tell you it's not compatible when you plug a passive adapter. 

But that's the thing, I get nothing. Like nothing has been plugged in at all?

 

17 minutes ago, rickeo said:

That adapter isn't a DAC, its a passive adapter and the Apple devices its designed to be used with output an analog signal through the USB-C port. Your laptop likely doesn't unless its specifically designed for audio.

People seem to say it's a dac, and people have suggest it as a DAC to then supply an AMP as a good set up. 

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/apple-usb-c-to-3-5-mm-headphone-jack-adapter.23420/reviews

and

https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/ecf1ud/apple_usbc_to_35mm_adapter_impressions/

and

https://www.audioreviews.org/apple-audio-adapter-review/

I am not sure if there is a misinterpretation on my side of this or  not?

[GuiltySpark_]

I'll be honest, looking at it then looking up this and it being $9, I was certain it was just a passive adapter. 

 

https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MU7E2AM/A/usb-c-to-35-mm-headphone-jack-adapter

 

If there is a little DAC in there, that seems out of character for Apple and I don't see a more expensive version. Interesting. I know the similar thing that came with my old OnePlus 6t was strictly a passive adapter. 

[Kilrah]

1 hour ago, Froger96 said:

But that's the thing, I get nothing. Like nothing has been plugged in at all?

It doesn't always do it, I have 2 passive adapters and only one pops the notification...

 

 

[Froger96]

Just an update on this. I ordered another one as it was cheap enough and other poeple had it working and it works straight away. So think the adapter itself was just a bit dying (have also seen a lot of people talking about them dying easily.