What's Inside a USB-C to 3.5mm Audio Adapter?

My USB-C to headphone jack dongle carried its last waveform and before I recycled it I decided to do a quick teardown to see what's inside since I've always been curious.
You can save yourself some time by just looking at this teardown article. I came across it when I searched the name of one of the IC's inside. Perhaps I should have just done a search before tearing down, but where's the fun in that?: www.cabledo.com/google-usb-c-...
#teardown #usb-c #headphonejack
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[@KrisCochrane]

I was wincing through the first couple of mins...honestly thought blood was going to be spilled! Interesting teardown!

[@markeissler]

As others have mentioned: always cut away from yourself. But also, cut along the side of the connector and you're less likely to damage the parts inside. And also, also, a Dremel multi-tool (or similar) with a cutting disc is a much better tool for disassembling this type of thing.

[@chrislingwood3513]

Watching the blade handling in this video should be part of the voight kampff test. I’m sweating buckets.

[@shimmeringtrashpile]

Really cool! Way more in there than I expected.

[@NiHaoMike64]

It's amazing what's inside those adapters, I have a LeEco one that uses a Saviaudio chip based on what the USBview app reports. A nice side effect is that small USB DACs are now a lot easier to find.

[@witzed1]

I share the concern about your fingers and your technique. Having said that, I actually thought the adapter was only wires which in hindsight was really stupid because there is no analog in the USB c pinout. It was also interesting to see all of the logic involved to create a dac in that small space. There is a lot going on so quite and education on my part. Thanks

[@Aina1054.]

interesting, the dac using realtek chip, 8:27 that crab logo and the alc code on the ic, is definitely a realtek chip

[@Jakub98x]

Really enjoyed those sounds in background

[@rameshwarprasadmeena2400]

Excellent informative video

[@vincegalluccio1878]

i was in process of buying a newer phone and found that they do not have a headphone jack. when i saw that 10 bucks got you something that you just plug into the type c jack and the headphones into the adaptor i was wondering what if anything was in the adaptor. well you showed me, us all. enough integrated circuits to maybe control the appolo 9 space craft 50 years ago. and not just wires to different types of jacks. fun watching you do this. thank you, and thank you youtube.

[@makersgeneration3739]

Like the dissection. It was a nice video. 🙂

[@electronicsand3dprintingfu49]

The mysterious yellow tape covering the PCB is called Kapton tape, used for electrical insulation surprisingly it works with very high voltages.

[@IDcircuits]

And it has excellent heat resistance properties. They probably used it to prevent the plastic flowing into the connector openings during the molding of the outer shell.

[@Peter-dz8cq]

Thanks a lot for this video.

[@maicod]

autopsy on a dead cable can be so interesting :) This makes me think of my usb sound-'card'. A tiny device with a USB-A plug that has 3.5mm audio out.

[@SaladHate]

Hey, thanks for delivering

[@JRBElectronics]

great information. much love from India (Assam)

[@bluegizmo1983]

AHHH!!! I'm having a panic attack just watching this! Don't ever cut towards yourself lol

[@unlearned1]

Exactly!

[@tenzackyogi1742]

Usb-C to 3.5mm jack is also known as Digital to Analog converter AKA DAC. Right now technology is surpassed. Theres Mini sound Amplifier attached on it.

[@patrickbarroso2037]

BLADE CUT AWAY FROM HANDS NOT TOWARDS THEM! CAREFUL!

[@panzerofthelake4460]

people learn from mistakes... but some times it might be too late ykno

[@AnimilesYT]

@@panzerofthelake4460 I've cut myself too many times because I cut like that as well. But I often just can't hold on to it and cut away from my hands at the same time..

[@Sherwin657]

cut towards your thumb not your chum

[@yogolee69]

put the blade inclined away and u can cut a tendon or hit da bone

[@SWISSUES]

It wasn't what engineers call a tear-down, was it? More like a pet dog destroying a shoe.

[@saintstormcloud1705]

👍🏼 thank You too

[@dahabitmedi]

thank you

[@KitmanChoi]

Thanks

[@SWISSUES]

Externally, the Dell 3GVVD SA1023z audio dongle looks identical, apart from being black instead of white. I wonder is it the same...

[@johnmatsson4254]

Thanks for the video! Honestly though the first 6 minues could be fast fowarded and the lions part (is that an expression in english too?) of the video is a frustrating viewing of you cutting and commenting a product i probably never will see. Show the inside... thats it.

[@TheRealFobican]

Here I wanted to see the headphone jack part being dissected to see how it works entirely.

[@kevinhargrave6811]

Can you say I BEEN DOING TO MANY HOTRAILS !!!!! Lmao

[@grzegorz75jan]

Thx

[@jesterflint9404]

I understand its stereotyping (don't blame me, it's the environment i grew up), I am really glad a girl (or woman) is interested in this teardown. Have a good one!

[@brianismael4553]

How not to use a knife if you wanted to retain your fingers.

[@misbihave]

hi does this adapter work for 3.5mm headset microphone?

[@wizardwithsmg4753]

Thanks for this, exactly what I searched for and your vid was the perfect answer. I didn't realize it's basically a USB DAC, which is more than I thought it was. I'm also glad you didn't cut yourself, I know I've done so a few times trying to cut something open like that haha.

[@stomil]

Indeed! I didn't expect any DAC in there. I thought USBs pins are just used to carry analog signal from phone's DAC!

[@abirhossain8424]

start from 1:30

[@DaeOh]

Since phones' 3.5mm plugs don't allow two channels for audio input, it's clear that for recording a stereo source, one would need to utilize the USB port. However, most products seem to have made the assumption that you want to use the cable for stereo output, and optionally one channel for microphone. It seems logical that if the chip was implemented correctly, one could provide two channels for input, but I don't trust the manufacturers to have taken that route. It would be so much more affordable than the "interface" options they sell to the music recording market, but is it hopeless?

[@androidpc9656]

thanks ,i wanted to know if anything special inside that ,but i didnt wanna tear my new headphone 😂❤

[@hiteshkumar6139]

Does it produce stereo sound or mono

[@spudunit]

So cool! My first computer was an Apple ][+ so you can imagine how regularly I'm gobsmacked by miniaturization! Nice sleuthing.

[@TheDemoTapes]

Interesting test, thanks for that. I`m still searching for an adapter USB C to Aux and charge. Same sound as AUX, quick loading and without DAC Chip turning off when things are quiet. Impossible task...so far I hate the trend. Bluetooth sounds isnt the same

[@kry29]

whether this adapter already has an ADC convert chip.... Tank's

[@vipxpert]

Should've shown the wires's colors

[@mikhailgavrilenko4300]

I just was scared to see a khife in your hand. Plaese, be careful whith it - use clamp or something, or, at least, cut away from hads. Thanks for your work!

[@mileskapper9676]

I need to splice a 3.5 mm 4 pole male end onto a standard female USB end. I have the USB end and the cable already, how/where do I find the wires from the USB mate up with the 3.5 mm male

[@msadurski]

Which brand/model is this? A Pixel?

[@srrazu]

Do these adapters decrease the audio quality? I mean will I get hi-fi HQ audio with these?

[@W-meme]

Did it work?

[@rishis8714]

They don't mess with the quality, the output depends on the chip (dac). Some high end dongles will definitely increase audio quality to greater extent with direct routing to the dongle, with apps like UAPP.

[@theeabster1983]

No sissies in this video slice and dice. LOL thanks for taking the time. Interesting

[@sosssego]

Use fine cutting pliers

[@soundofthegardenwatc]

i actually wanted to do the reverse. i have usb headphones

[@Allen-R]

Man, I think this just confirms for me that the accessories that came with my Pixel 3 were fake... Mine's just plastic instead of the rubber silicone thing covering them. It sucks too (crackling sound).

[@huckfin1100]

The same thing thats inside your phone, a audio chip

[@user-ct1md9lw9d]

Really people settled for using external USB sound cards I think thats wild

[@TheRealSasquatch]

wire cutters/snips would make this easier ;-)

[@erictingsee]

And they really have to go all that separate components, plastics and rubbers just to replace a pice of metal that already works perfectly. What's next convert all professional audio jacks into ginormus USB typeCs?

[@jaysways7]

Oh if only.... if only I could find a woman like you, I would no longer be lonely and no more searching needed to. My prayers would be answered and dreams would come true. If only I could find that someone and she will say "I do" ❤

[@alexstone691]

i wish they would make a rigid one, like as small as possible but rigid so it cant fail (it obviously can but it would last longer)

[@SteelSkin667]

It probably exists, but I have a rigid one-piece OTG adapter and I find that it puts much more strain on the USB port on the phone than the regular type that has a short cable in the middle. I imagine it would be the same with a 3.5mm adapter.

[@danielsmith6834]

I suspect they don't make rigid ones to avoid mechanical stresses on the USB-C connector in your smartphone,

[@3dpprofessor]

I wonder if Liz could make one from the parts and have it suddenly work.

[@RomitHeerani]

@@SteelSkin667 yep, you can try going the type c earphones route as that'll reduce the number of points of failure, but reduces the flexibility of using whatever earphone or headphone you want. Though I think type c based earphones have an added benefit of additional features, at least based on the Pixel type c earbuds which offer Google assistant without any visual component on your phone screen.

[@RobbyBracamontes]

​@@danielsmith68341:50

[@venkatpentakota6936]

Good postmortem 😀

[@southpark4151]

1:40 - that's an accident waiting to happen.

[@mahimetal]

Not the safest way to cut things open

[@tabineshhtc]

Careful with your fingers

[@julianjam]

Genre: Thriller

[@Joe-fb4eg]

I was taught to always cut away from myself… ended up still cutting myself.. this lady is brave.

[@farhadbd7755]

nice....tnx....safety fast...wear handgloves with knife work.

[@Frame-313]

Fingers! Fingers ! Fingers! 😱🫨😵🙈

[@alyosha_karamazov]

Jesus. Feel free to skip through some of the parts where you struggle to cut things.

[@bluemonty363]

the video with that blade slipping and burring itself right into your thumb....... it would only hurt for a second, and you would probably do it again!!!! Just saying!!

[@sanremosurichiesta3731]

Dario Argento is a beginner compared to you = )

[@h763938940]

Why don't you use scissors at first time?

[@Sherwin657]

so many people telling you what to do. You seem to know what you're doing

[@Olando89]

Mada in China.

[@GEs-ut4bm]

BE MY GRL FRIEND --..--

[@TheDTVOfficial]

USB-C to 3.5mm DAC adapter will drain your phone's battery faster.. your device will attempt to charge the plugged USB.. you'll notice it'll get warm while using it..

[@stevelalancette6988]

Ok... And why buying and using a phone with no headphone jack?! What a waste of crap.

[@Shanker25011976]

Useless

[@crisyorke1328]

Another socialist