[hammyhavoc]

In 2023, most people who give two shits about running wired headphones are using a USB DAC, even if their phone has a 3.5mm socket as the onboard AD/DA chipset is usually mediocre and struggles to drive most high-end cans.

[lmm]

It's not about high-end or whatever. It's about whether these headphones are going to be usable at all in 5 years' time.

[hammyhavoc]

And they will be if they're sound in terms of construction and somebody is willing to spend a few dollars on a USB DAC.

By your same logic, if you need to use dongles with a brand new MacBook, today, is the MacBook thus not useable?

[lmm]

I see the small number of ports and reliance on dongles as a big mark against the MacBook's sustainability, yes.

[hammyhavoc]

If ultimately you still need to plug something in, what makes it less sustainable exactly?

(I don't use a MacBook in 2023)

[aziaziazi]

It’s simplicity I terms of construction and standard. Here, the older standard (3.5mm jack) seems stronger (not an expert but an user opinion) and easier to source than usb c.

[lmm]

If you can't use thing A with thing B unless you also have thing C, to my mind that obviously reduces the expected lifetime of being able to use the combination, especially when thing C is a third party part.