The headphone jack is all but gone in the high-end, premium smartphone space. There are a couple of Samsung phones that still have it, but for the most part, phones have shifted to Bluetooth headphones or USB-C headphones in order to save space inside the device to make room for other tech. Whether or not that's a good excuse is an argument for another time, but at the end of the day, it means you'll have to figure out your headphone situation.
But even if you don't have the headphone jack, you can still use your favorite pair of headphones and get some killer audio out of it by using an external headphone amp or DAC. We'll list some of the best options available so you can keep listening to high-quality music on your new phone. And don't forget, many of these will work on phones that do still have a headphone jack if you're just chasing higher-quality audio.
Simple and effective – Soditer Hi-Res USB C to 3.5mm adapter
If you're looking for something quick and simple, Soditer makes an excellent option on Amazon. This USB C to 3.5mm adapter is pretty similar to what comes in the box with many phones, but it's going to offer a step up in sound quality without adding a ton of bulk.
Just like OEM adapters, you simply plug this into your phone, then plug headphones into the adapter. Unlike what comes with your phone, though, this supports sample rates up to 384KHz as opposed to the more typical 192KHz of cheap adapters, plus it can drive headphones with up to 32ohms of impedance. If you've ever had problems with your nice headphones not getting enough volume from cheap adapters, Soditer's solution will fix that problem.
It's also made of very durable materials, so you won't have to worry about this thing fraying or snapping in half from traveling around with you. It works on devices besides phones, too, so you can use it for any tablet or computer that you frequently use your headphones with.
At just $26.99, this adapter will give you a significant boost in sound quality without spending a ton of cash. It's a little bit more than $10 adapters that Google and Apple sell, but you get what you pay for.
Buy it now: Amazon
Higher quality 3.5mm audio – FiiO A1 Amp
If you do still have a 3.5mm headphone jack on your phone, you don't necessarily need an adapter to use your regular headphones. That doesn't mean you can't still enjoy better sound, though, and that's exactly where FiiO's A1 amp comes in.
FiiO is well known for making personal audio devices, like MP3 players, DACs, and other headphone amplifiers. They've been in the game for a long time, and always tend to review really well and sound great.
The A1 amp offers a really portable, rechargeable design that you can carry around with you. Simply plug the amp into your phone with a 3.5mm cable, then plug your headphones into the amp. You'll immediately notice much more headroom and clarity in your music, because now there's an extra, dedicated amplifier helping your phone push audio to your ears.
You can also use the A1 amp to adjust your sound, since it has four different EQ modes. There's a pure flat mode, plus three more options that all have a little more bass and low-end thump. The amp can also handle headphones with up to 100ohms of impedance, which will more than cover whatever headphones you're typically going to use with a smartphone.
This tiny little gadget gets around 13 hours of playtime, and it's only about 1.5 inches wide and 10mm thick. That's an easy addition to your bag or pockets. It's also relatively affordable at less than $30, so you won't have to spend a ton of money to make your music experience that much better.
Buy it now: Amazon
Charge and listen – Wordima USB C headphone adapter
One of the biggest complaints about not having a proper headphone jack on a phone is that you can't charge your phone and listen to music at the same time. Obviously that's not accounting for Bluetooth headphones, but the point still stands; you can't plug your regular headphones in and charge your phone up on the go. It's inconvenient.
Wordima has a gadget that's going to make that much more convenient.
This nifty little headphone adapter plugs right into a USB C port and has connections for both a standard USB C charger, plus a pair of headphones on the opposite side. It's a low-profile way to plug all of your stuff in and not add a ton of bulk to your phone.
It'll pass through fast charging and high-resolution audio, and it only costs $12.99, which is about what you're going to spend on an OEM adapter, anyway. Why couldn't Google make their own adapter like this, again?
Buy it now: Amazon
Ditch the wires – FiiO BTR3 Bluetooth receiver & DAC
There's a reason why so many people are sticking to their wired cans, but there's still definitely an argument to be made for having a wireless music solution. Not having to keep your phone on you or in your pocket, for example, is a big plus to wireless headphones. But what if you could get the best of both worlds?
FiiO makes a portable Bluetooth receiver and USB DAC called the BTR3. This nifty little adapter pairs with your phone wirelessly, and has a 3.5mm connection that you can plug your headphones into. Your phone sends your audio to the Bluetooth receiver, so you're still getting the benefits of having your phone independent from your headphones, but you still get the advantage of a high-quality DAC and your reliable, great sounding headphones.
It also supports aptX for higher bitrate Bluetooth streaming, Bluetooth 4.2 for a more reliable and consistent connection, and playback of about 11 hours. If your phone supports it, you can even pair this DAC up with NFC, and it'll work in your car for better quality audio on the road, too. Lastly, there's a built-in microphone and USB C charging port, so you're getting a pretty modern, well-equipped device.
It's a little more expensive at $69, but if you're itching for better sounding wireless, you can't go wrong here.
Buy it now: Amazon
Audiophile grade – NextDrive Spectra
Maybe you're on this list because you really just want your music to sound significantly better, and you don't care how it happens. You simply can't put a price on audio quality.
The NextDrive Spectra is going to be your best friend. This device comes in a USB C flavor just for your smartphone, and it's a no compromise approach to getting the most out of your music.
This headphone adapter/DAC combo is also one of the smallest on the market while still managing to deliver 32-bit, 384khz playback and crystal clear audio that's raved about across the internet thanks to its implementation of Sabre's 9018Q2C two-channel chip. It's extremely lightweight and doesn't need an extra charge, either.
At almost $130, this is certainly one of the most expensive extra gadgets on our list, and is definitely more for someone that's chasing a truly audiophile-grade sound. And since this is just a DAC without an external amp, you might still need an extra amp to really push some high-end headphones. But if you're looking for something to add a significantly improved audio experience to your smartphone, you can't go wrong here.
Buy it now: Amazon
