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If we're talking phones you need an ADC anyways to digitize the microphone signal (unless you're using a dedicated microphone IC). There are many ICs which give you ADC and DAC in one package, the only thing you potentially need is the output circuitry to drive the headphones.

On top of that you need a DAC for your speakers anyway and since phones don't use speaker and headphone outputs for different things you could just route the amplified signal from the DAC through the switch contacts of the headphone jack which disconnects the speakers if a plug is inserted.




Nobody uses the same DAC for headphone output as they do for speakers. There’s dedicated devices for each of these in every system, as it’s just more efficient. Also, most devices allow simultaneous output on headphone and speakers (think, notifications). These devices are all monolithic for the particular function, and generally for good reason.


Yeah? Like that one which has an ADC, hwadphone and speaker driver? https://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/tlv320aic28.pdf?ts=1725285...

We are talkinf about whether additional electronics were the death of the headphone jack – I argue no. If anything it is the jack itself that they wanted to get rid of. Also likely they additionally wanted to sell more earbuds (maybe that was even the primary driver). If anybody could tell us they probably are on HN.


Nobody is using a part like that for any speaker output in a cell phone, let alone a laptop. Modern speaker drivers are closer to 8-12W (even in cell phones) so the wimpy 400mW of that device is worthless. It’s also in a package completely unsuitable for a cell phone, and doesn’t have any of the integrated jack detection that is needed in modern 3.5mm audio codecs.


What kind of part would be used? Just out of curiosity.

And you didn't weigh in on my point about reasons for headphone jacks vanishing.


Something like this if we’re sticking with TI parts: https://www.ti.com/product/TAS2574

Also, there can be many reasons for removing the headphone jack. I personally think the theory that the primary motivator was to drive additional sales for headphones is silly. It’s purely a cost play and the manufacturers decision to say that Bluetooth headphones are finally good enough.




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