Xbox One controller does a great job of stereo output from controller.
OT - The lack of headphone port did surprise me, perhaps they can revise this for future models. To be honest I only use the headphones in handheld mode in bed.
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The Nintendo Switch doesn't have ANY stereo output on it's controllers!!!??? WAT!?
- Thread starter AgentOtaku
- Start date
Xbox One controller does a great job of stereo output from controller.
OT - The lack of headphone port did surprise me, perhaps they can revise this for future models. To be honest I only use the headphones in handheld mode in bed.
sixteen-bit
Member
3DO did it first
I use this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01ABOKRPC/?tag=neogaf0e-20
works just fine, the volume output still isn't the greatest. If you have headphones that use analog volume controls (digital just uses the Switch max volume) you can get some decent volume gains; bluetooth or not.
depends on the two devices.. BT is a much more reliable source now.
quoted for the new page.. for people looking for BT while docked.
Ninja Scooter
Member
I too get a kick when people make shit up as a weak attempt to strengthen their position.
The systems headphone jack output simply isn't loud enough and that's a big deal. I just wish the audio volume went up a few more notches, and it's not that it lacks the power to drive big headphones, I'm talking regular old earbuds and basic headphones, it simply isn't loud enough and I hope its something they can patch. Also wondering if this is an EU issue as there's that law is the there? My android phone keeps asking me every other day if I want to push it to max volume levels, did Nintendo just limit the volume to a low enough level they don't need to ask players? It's a pain in the ass.
Bronetta
Ask me about the moon landing or the temperature at which jet fuel burns. You may be surprised at what you learn.
Lack of a headphone jack is a huge disapointment as I always use headphones while gaming.
Im no audiophile but the PS4 headphone jack works well enough with my Sennheiser HD598.
Im no audiophile but the PS4 headphone jack works well enough with my Sennheiser HD598.
that is exactly what i was saying as well. There's no inherent flaw like that in the technology itself.
The post i was quoting made it sound ("i imagine this to be the case on consoles as well") like bluetooth audio, per se, had issues with noticeable latency. Which is what i was disputing.
AgentOtaku
Member
bobbychalkers
Member
That's my only hardware issue on the Switch.
sugarhigh4242
Banned
Binaural audio might give children bad morals.
ShadowFox08
Member
I'm more upset about the idea of using for voice chat through mobile phones.. Half of it is because I don't have android or apple ios/stores
PyroPaperPlanes
Member
You can use the headphone jack on the Switch system itself while docked. Not the most convenient solution I'm afraid.
As for the audio quality of the DS4 and XB1 controller: They are poor quality for two reasons. One, Bluetooth has a maximum bitrate of 1-2 Mbps. Audio needs to be compressed to hit this limit. Don't forget the controller's output also needs to communicate with the console itself, taking a small portion of that limited data pool.
The more critical reason for poor audio quality is the amplifier built into the controller that has to power the headphones is constrained. It's difficult to build a more powerful high quality amp without either increasing the costs and/or power consumption of the controller itself.
To that end, while buds might sound decent over these controllers, headphone cans that have any kind of impedance will sound degraded when connected to the controller. This is especially true for headphones with high impedance: There simply isn't enough power for them.
As for the audio quality of the DS4 and XB1 controller: They are poor quality for two reasons. One, Bluetooth has a maximum bitrate of 1-2 Mbps. Audio needs to be compressed to hit this limit. Don't forget the controller's output also needs to communicate with the console itself, taking a small portion of that limited data pool.
The more critical reason for poor audio quality is the amplifier built into the controller that has to power the headphones is constrained. It's difficult to build a more powerful high quality amp without either increasing the costs and/or power consumption of the controller itself.
To that end, while buds might sound decent over these controllers, headphone cans that have any kind of impedance will sound degraded when connected to the controller. This is especially true for headphones with high impedance: There simply isn't enough power for them.
even though in this very thread most agree on the shit quality of the DS4 jack... okrite
sugarhigh4242
Banned
I suspect this is a major reason for DS4's weak battery, much more than the LED, which draws very little power.
Shadow Broker
Banned
Doesn't the Pro controller also have new tech in it also? Or was it something else? I remember back when the Switch first launch there was a thread that had all the tech in it listed and Gaf at that time was using that to justify to 10$ more price tag.
PyroPaperPlanes
Member
If the amplifier is running regardless of headphone input, this could indeed be the culprit. Otherwise, headphones will kill the battery life even faster.
Doesn't help the DS4's internal battery has a rubbish mAh.
Fail State
Banned
So because one company does it poorly, another company shouldn't try at all? I mean in this very thread you have people telling you that it sounds really good via the Xbox controller. For the price of the "Pro" controller, it should have had audio out.
Maybe you're responding to something very specific you noticed, but this characterization sounds totally contrived to me. I never saw that response. Were you maybe in a thread comparing their quality to $250 dedicated headsets?
The idea of expecting two audio channels
PS4 headphone jack is fine, and I'd rather have the option than nothing at all. Maybe Nintendo could even... gasp... improve upon what Sony has included? Ahhhh
Sonic Rift
Member
So now Nintendo had the courage to not put headphone jacks on their controllers...
Spukc
always chasing the next thrill
You should be thankful.
playing zelda on a decent surround set is candy for your ears.
LinkSlayer64
Member
Well, I mean, the portable does have a headphone jack.
outunderthestars
Banned
Yep. No headphones or bluetooth. It is really damn annoying
PyroPaperPlanes
Member
The other audio limitation the Switch has is audio output is limited to Linear PCM (Bitstream isn't available). Linear PCM is perfect for Stereo and HDMI Surround Sound. However, if you have an Optical Cable in the chain for whatever reason (e.g. TV Output to Amplifier), Surround Sound will not work and sound choppy.
Right, right. Brain fart in the way I wrote that out.
as many have said in here (including myself), BT A2DP from the console makes a lot more sense in this case than putting the jack in the controller.
1) saves battery life on the controller
2) most common need for "wireless-from-the-console" audio is docked gaming, where the Switch is plugged in and the drain of using BT audio won't matter
3) the change only has to happen one place, the console, and can be done as a system upgrade, vs. releasing entirely new controllers with the feature
to me people are really focusing on the wrong thing. I agree there needs to be a change, but it's enabling A2DP on the Switch, not physically changing controllers already on the market.
This isn't at all a limitation. Bitstream is something that is ONLY needed for optical audio, an audio output format that frankly needs to go away. Going to bitstream means lossy compression, and over HDMI it makes virtually no sense as anything on the other end of that HDMI cable will handle the uncompressed LPCM just fine.
bitstream audio and optical out are legacy support. Not including them isn't limiting, it's moving on. The few uses left of Dolby and DTS lossless codecs are all around saving space (on disc) and reducing streaming bandwidth (Dolby Plus). In home theater there's no need for either.
Savantcore
Unconfirmed Member
I didn't know this so thanks for the heads up OP. Pretty disappointing from Nintendo, I use it all the time on my PS4 and X1.
BLUElightCory
Member
I think that for $80 people have a right to complain about the lack of a headphone jack. It's so convenient to have one, both competing consoles have it for less money. I bought a Pro Controller and just assumed it had one, because why wouldn't it? Whoops.
Also, people having audio issues with the DS4 headphone connector might be using headphones with higher impedances that don't play nice with consumer level electronics or weaker amps like the one in the controller. I'm an audio engineer and while it's nothing special I would never call it bad, it's fine. People are comparing it to a non-wireless solution solution or a dedicated DAC/amp, which isn't fair.
Also, people having audio issues with the DS4 headphone connector might be using headphones with higher impedances that don't play nice with consumer level electronics or weaker amps like the one in the controller. I'm an audio engineer and while it's nothing special I would never call it bad, it's fine. People are comparing it to a non-wireless solution solution or a dedicated DAC/amp, which isn't fair.
NOLA_Gaffer
Banned
I had no idea this was such an expected thing until people starting complaining about it.
D
Deleted member 752119
Unconfirmed Member
More likely they just have 2.4ghz interference causing drops--or they care more about audio quality and it's not good enough for them.
PyroPaperPlanes
Member
I wonder if HD Rumble is consuming some of the Bluetooth bandwidth too. Plus, these controllers already have sync issues (although I think that's more a design flaw with the controllers than Bluetooth itself).
Ninja Scooter
Member
And are those the same people complaining about the lack of a port on the Switch?
sugarhigh4242
Banned
Yeah, it would be interesting to see a battery benchmark with and without the headphone connected. I'm surprised i haven't seen that on GAF by now, actually. Even if it's not the amp, maybe the bluetooth chipset in the DS4 draws more power than usual due to the need for audio bandwidth.
D
Deleted member 752119
Unconfirmed Member
But the Xbox 1 controllers have audio out (built-in now, via adapter earlier on) and much better battery life. So I doubt the audio has much to do with the DS4's poor battery life.
DragonGirl
Member
Are people using headphones with really short cords? I have a pair of moderately priced headphones that came with a wire more than long enough to span between the Switch and where I sit about 5 feet away - for the few times I wanted to use headphones. We're talking about iterations of convenience here, not a major lack of function.
There is no reason to look at the battery attachment and conclude that they might release a headphone jack
The joke is most definitely on me for assuming such a progressive feature, that was even on their prior system, would make it to the Nintendo Switch. I honestly did not know
I can understand maybe the absence on something like the Joy-Cons as yeah, they would move around, so not really practical....But forgoing them on your flagship, $70 "Pro Controller"!!!???
Would it have been THAT expensive to add something such a established feature? Even Microsoft realized it was absurd not to have the function natively built-in and eventually revised the XboxOne gamepad.
I guess I was just caught off guard. I currently have a Switch being shipped out to me on my deployment and I exclusively play with headphones due to the nature of where I'm at/what I have available to me
So yeah, I'm guessing my only option is an exceedingly long stereo cable running all the way to the Switch itself when playing via TV?
Once again, this is NOT a flame thread or anything like that. I was genuinely shocked and surprised
If they are going to forgo the output jack, they should at least allow bluetooth audio. In fact I would prefer that.
MisterR
Member
Yep, that didn't happen. I've never heard anybody saying anything like that.
Doesn't' the Switch output 2 channel Stereo only?
OT but I made the mistake of getting Zelda on the WiiU at launch and a Switch (without Zelda) last week. I had one divine beast left when I got the Switch. I can't even look at the WiiU any more unfortunately so the Princess will have to wait.
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