Bose ditched the headphone jack without ditching the headphone jack

I’ve been testing the new Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen), and one of my favorite upgrades isn’t the improved ANC, Immersive Audio, or even the extra headband padding. It’s USB-C audio, but more specifically, the included cable.

Bose actually ditched the dedicated 3.5mm jack this time around, but alongside the usual USB-C to USB-C cable for both charging and wired listening, it includes something you don’t see very often: a USB-C to 3.5mm cable. So, despite losing the headphone jack on the cans themselves, you can still connect directly to old-school 3.5mm sources without a silly dongle or adapter.

It sounds like a small thing, but after using it, I want every pair of headphones with USB-C audio to come with one.

Bose made USB-C audio way more useful

The QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) no longer have a dedicated 3.5mm jack, which may sound like a downgrade at first. Instead, Bose uses the USB-C port for pretty much everything. Connect the included USB-C to USB-C cable, and you can listen to digital audio at up to 24-bit/48kHz while charging the headphones at the same time.

But it’s the USB-C to 3.5mm cable that really opens up your options. The obvious use case is an airplane, where I can plug straight into the seatback entertainment system without digging around for a dongle. My 2023 MacBook also has a 3.5mm jack, so I can use that or USB-C depending on what’s convenient. And with the right 1/4-inch adapter, I can even plug them into the headphone jack on my Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 when needed.

That’s what I like so much about Bose including both cables. I’m not forced to choose between USB-C and old-school analog gear. I can use whatever connection makes sense at the time without worrying about whether I remembered to bring the right dongle or adapter.

Maybe it’s time to ditch the headphone jack

USB-C audio itself isn’t unique to Bose. Sennheiser and JBL offer it on competing headphones, while Sony’s WH-1000XM6 still doesn’t support audio over its USB-C port. But after using the QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen), I’m starting to wonder if premium wireless headphones need a dedicated 3.5mm jack at all.

Bose uses one USB-C port for charging, digital audio, and even microphone output. When I need to connect to an analog source, I grab the included USB-C to 3.5mm cable. I haven’t really lost anything by having one less port on the headphones.

Bose even gets the little details right. Both included cables match the color of the headphones, which isn’t something I can say about every premium pair I’ve tested. Even Sony’s 1000X The Collexion headphones don’t come with a color-matched cable. Does that really matter? Of course not. But when you’re spending hundreds of dollars on headphones, thoughtful little touches are always appreciated.

I’m not saying the 3.5mm connection should disappear. Quite the opposite. Give me USB-C audio as the main wired connection, throw a USB-C to 3.5mm cable in the box, and I still get the best of both worlds. We pay enough for premium headphones that this should be standard.