In 2016, Apple did the unthinkable: Removed the ubiquitous 3.5mm headphone jack from the then upcoming iPhone 7. This was largely received as an anti-consumer move, with many crying out that Apple had done this only to force people to adopt their newly released true wireless ‘AirPod’ earbuds. While this was the subject of hot debate at the time, it seems now that Apple was ahead of the curve, with many other smartphone manufacturers following suit to abandon the analog jack.
While this ushered in an era of true wireless dominance, the switch also forced those who wanted to stick with wired earbuds to scramble for ways to convert the analog 3.5mm signal into a digital one. While Apple stubbornly clung to their Lightning connector for some time, as of 2023, essentially every modern device uses a single standard: USB-C.
So, how does USB-C affect the world of personal audio?
The analog jack, while iconic and ‘pure’, introduces variables and hindrances that we cannot control. Its signal path is exposed to interferences, its performance depends heavily on the quality of the host device’s internal DAC, and it lacks the ability to power advanced amplification. Even the best analog implementations face inherent limitations as the audio signals must pass through multiple stages of hardware before it can reach the listener.
USB-C simply solves all of these problems, which is why it is the connection we chose for HARDWIRE.
An Independent Ecosystem
The first benefit of switching to USB-C is that it allows us to remove our dependency on a phone or laptop’s audio circuitry altogether. Instead of relying on the device’s internal DAC and amplifier, which are components often designed for efficiency rather than fidelity; USB-C gives us a clear and direct path to the source. This is what allows HARDWIRE full control over every stage of the entire audio chain.
The moment the signal leaves your device, it is handed off cleanly to our integrated DAC/AMP, where conversion, amplification, and all signal conditioning happen under very specific controlled conditions: ours. This eliminates any potential for distortions and inconsistencies that come from using traditional 3.5mm audio jacks.
A Direct Access to Power
Beyond signal purity, USB-C also provides direct access and control to power delivery. This is essential for the high-power amplifier built into HARDWIRE’s Audio Cortex, power that could not be achieved through the older 3.5mm audio jack.
In analog systems, amplification quality varies device to device. But in a controlled digital system, it becomes standard and consistent. Replicable. By drawing and controlling the flow of power directly through modern USB-C ports, the Audio Cortex is able ensure that all systems receive the same power, every time. This guarantees that the tuning, the detail, the volume, and the sound quality remain consistent whether you plug into a $50 music player, a $200 phone, or a $2,000 PC.
Data Beyond Sound Signals
Another often-overlooked advantage is the presence of a data channel; something 3.5mm analog simply cannot provide.
USB-C allows direct communication between our hardware and the SAN Soundscape app, enabling the setting of EQ profiles, on-device configuration, and firmware updates over time. Analog cables simply have no way to carry this type of data, let alone allow a computer like the Audio Cortex to store it. So, while 3.5mm earbuds require external devices to set EQ, HARDWIRE allows you to store EQ settings and carry them across devices.
Most importantly, USB-C gives us consistency in hardware performance. With fully-analog devices, no two earbud models can ever sound the same due to differences in manufacturing processes of individual components. However, with a digital system with an onboard DAC/AMP, HARDWIRE becomes its own independent ecosystem. You’ll get to hear sound the way we engineered it, free from as many outside variables as possible.
Wired, Rewired.
In choosing USB-C, we are controlling the infrastructure that allows us to deliver exceptional audio without compromise. We designed HARDWIRE to be the wired earbud for the 21st century to meet this new reality.
We seek to push audio to its absolute limit; uncover finer details in the music that color our lives, and provide cinematic auditory experiences.
USB-C allows HARDWIRE to ensure that every detail is preserved, all energy is optimized, and sound is delivered with the care and precision it was designed for. Consistently
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