Why won't mobo makers include 1 dual input for both headphones and microphones if there are already like 9 3.5mm inputs on the back of most of them anyway
Why won't mobo makers include 1 dual input for both headphones and microphones if there are already like 9 3.5mm inputs on the back of most of them anyway
25 Comments
External mics
Better to have that and not need it than need it and not have it. Like a streaming setup with a separate stand mic & headphones, or ASMR setups.
Ah a fine addition to the random cable drawer, never know when you might need this
Dealing with this is what sparked my journey into the audiophile universe although its been really fun my wallet wouldn’t recommend. But all seriousness a good external DAC/AMP will change how you hear audio. (And you can put away the adapter for good!)
Because good headphones don’t have mics. And good mics don’t have headphones. If you need an adapter, you need an adapter. It’s better to have both options to give you the most choice. And the consumer should always have choice.
Oddly, I’m in a different camp. I wear a hearing aid with Bluetooth and use a mic accessory that streams to it. That has a headphone input that I use to plug into my PC so I can stream audio to my hearing aid without bothering others. It’s weird, I know, using Bluetooth and a headphone input at the same time! 😆
Because some of us use audio and we like our sinks how they physically are.
No. Combo jacks are dumb. Separate mic and headphones always if i have to game on the onboard audio.
… Why? Separate is better, if you have a combined cable then an adapter isn’t a big deal.
If you want one cable to one port get a USB headset. Geeze.
They have to maintain compatibility with legacy systems. And a lot of new audio equipment in the pro-sumer and professional space still uses separate connectors.
You only need one of these if you’re using a shitty pair of headphones/mic
yes. yes you are.
At least motherboard makers didn’t ditch audio jacks to lure you into buying a grossly overpriced bluetooth headset
There is no right way to do this. What if you have a stereo mic, or a 5.1 setup routed thru two 3.5mm tri-jack ports?
I use a separate headphone and mic
Pretty sure you have the option to use bluetooth, buddy. Or something with a dongle.
Yes, you are indeed crazy for thinking that we shouldn’t still need this in 2025.
My mic and headphones come separate. The world doesn’t revolve around phones.
Especially if you target high quality.
The combined port is very common on cases. If you’re anal about it get an USB headset, guaranteed one cable solution no matter the motherboard or case.
If you are looking for good headphones + microphone, you don’t buy headset. It is much better to buy these separately
The back has so many ports because it’s designed for surround sound or a similar such system. The front is just there for convenience, and is based on the case you own, not motherboard.
So… Motherboards already do this. Also you have to remember that audio is usually the first thing manufacturers cheap out on, so long as “it’s good enough” because most people won’t notice the difference and those that do either already own an external dac and/or amp, or their headphones are USB based.
I have the exact opposite of this problem.
“Give me less options!”
you are crazy, it is still neccessary and will be as long as there is a pcmasterrace 😀
Why would motherboard makers add another jack if it does nothing but combine two jacks already present? Especially when
* The current layouts come from a time when PC headsets typically did have both mic and headphone jacks
* Getting a Y cable is trivial and cheap, and always had been
* Most PC headset manufacturers give you a Y cable if they did combine the jacks
* USB and wireless headsets were already gaining market share by the time 4 and 5-pole jacks became common
* some PC cases do combine the two for front audio
Or did you mean that they should remove the two and replace them with one combined? Then people who use older headsets or separate headphones and mics would need a Y cable.
I won’t speculate which use case is more common but I know in the PC world people tend to frown upon losing ports, and motherboards aren’t even space limited, at least not above embedded sizes. There they did combine them, or more frequently nowadays didn’t put any jack on the board.