Looking for Phone with 3.5 mm 4-conductor TRRS phone connector

[Angstromm]

I'm in the market for a new phone and one feature I'd really like is a 3.5 mm 4-conductor TRRS port. I have a noisy convertible car and would like to be able to use an earbud headset with built-in mic (hence the extra conductor). I've been looking at several phones (for Verizon) and reading/searching through their manuals, etc., but haven't found the info I'm looking for. Any hint/help welcome!

Thanks gang!

 

[Digital Controller]

Hey there!

I have moved this thread into the Device Comparison forums since I know there are going to be some comparison's with devices with that connector you are talking about.

Hope this helps

 

[DarkJedi]

Any reason not to try a Jawbone or other Bluetooth headset? They seem to work well in noisy environments.

 

[Angstromm]

Any reason not to try a Jawbone or other Bluetooth headset? They seem to work well in noisy environments.

I have a Jawbone but it's not loud enough for my noisy, convertible. I need to use earbuds and, in California, we are supposed to use "hands free" devices, so using earbuds and holding the phone's mic up to my mouth isn't doable.

 

[Angstromm]

Hey there!

I have moved this thread into the Device Comparison forums since I know there are going to be some comparison's with devices with that connector you are talking about.

Hope this helps

Thanks so much, really appreciated!

 

[DarkJedi]

So the main problem isn't with them hearing you (hence why I suggested something that uses contact to pick up your voice)... you can't hear them.

If I'm bored at work today, I'll look, but I thought I saw something a long time ago that was a contact mic, but instead of earbuds, it came over your car speakers. Your stereo should be loud enough to overcome the wind I would think. And with the mic being a contact mic, the stereo wouldn't get picked up.

 

[chanchan05]

I had an earbud type headset that uses the basic 3.5mm connection on the phone. I mean all Samsung headsets are earbud types. Can't really understand the issue? Maybe you need a new headset?

 

[Angstromm]

I had an earbud type headset that uses the basic 3.5mm connection on the phone. I mean all Samsung headsets are earbud types. Can't really understand the issue? Maybe you need a new headset?

I want to use an earbud set that comes with a mic for talking on the phone.

There's a difference between phones that accept your standard, 3-conductor (TRS) 3.5mm headset/earbud port and a 4-conductor (TRRS) one. A 3-conductor config allows you to listen to stereo; a 4-conductor config allows you to listen to stereo AND use a mic. That's what I want to do, to have earbuds that come w/ a mic for talking on phone.

Look here for an example of what I'm talking about (note that in the pics that show jacks that they are of the 4-conductor type).

Look at this page under "Uses" for more info.

 

[Angstromm]

So the main problem isn't with them hearing you (hence why I suggested something that uses contact to pick up your voice)... you can't hear them.

If I'm bored at work today, I'll look, but I thought I saw something a long time ago that was a contact mic, but instead of earbuds, it came over your car speakers. Your stereo should be loud enough to overcome the wind I would think. And with the mic being a contact mic, the stereo wouldn't get picked up.

Thanks for your thoughts and offer of help!

Re. the stereo suggestion I'll simply say that's not how I'd like to go. I'm very clear about the solution I want, which is to go w/ earbuds that have a mic.

 

[DarkJedi]

How about trying this? PS 20 BT

 

[DarkJedi]

As a follow-up... here is a site selling wired handsfree headsets that lists compatibility of TRRS phones. Might point you in the right direction? (Compat list is down a ways):
https://www.meelec.com/Articles.asp?ID=155

 

[chanchan05]

I want to use an earbud set that comes with a mic for talking on the phone.

There's a difference between phones that accept your standard, 3-conductor (TRS) 3.5mm headset/earbud port and a 4-conductor (TRRS) one. A 3-conductor config allows you to listen to stereo; a 4-conductor config allows you to listen to stereo AND use a mic. That's what I want to do, to have earbuds that come w/ a mic for talking on phone.

Look here for an example of what I'm talking about (note that in the pics that show jacks that they are of the 4-conductor type).

Look at this page under "Uses" for more info.

Uh, yeah, the default earbud Samsung headset that comes out of the box has a mic for talking on the phone using the headset. And as far as I know, almost every phone company ships their phones with headsets having mics for talking on the phone. I don't really see the big problem here. Get a phone and it will come with a headset with mic that works.

 

[Angstromm]

How about trying this? PS 20 BT

Those look cool, thanks.

And just to be clear, my original request was for help finding Verizon, Android phones that come equipped with a 4-conductor TRRS port.

 

[Angstromm]

Uh, yeah, the default earbud Samsung headset that comes out of the box has a mic for talking on the phone using the headset. And as far as I know, almost every phone company ships their phones with headsets having mics for talking on the phone. I don't really see the big problem here. Get a phone and it will come with a headset with mic that works.

Really, that's news to me! I've bought quite a few smartphones and never received a headset with the phone. I've just looked at both the Samsung Galaxy S3 phone and a few of the S3 bundles out there. The phone itself, as near as i can make out, doesn't come w/ any earbuds and I've seen a couple of bundles that do include them but the earbuds are of the standard type, without a mic. So if you are aware of any Verizon, Android phones out there that come with earbuds that have a mic, please do send along a link. I've been looking without any success.

 

[Angstromm]

OK, I've found out that some of the Samsung phones, including the S3, have a TRRS jack/port. So, good to know.

 

[DarkJedi]

Those look cool, thanks.

And just to be clear, my original request was for help finding Verizon, Android phones that come equipped with a 4-conductor TRRS port.

Yep. I understood. I was just trying to come up with "out of the box" solutions that might allow you to more freely pick whatever phone best suits you.

Best of luck with your new phone! Don't forget to come back here and let us know how you fare.

 

[chanchan05]

Really, that's news to me! I've bought quite a few smartphones and never received a headset with the phone. I've just looked at both the Samsung Galaxy S3 phone and a few of the S3 bundles out there. The phone itself, as near as i can make out, doesn't come w/ any earbuds and I've seen a couple of bundles that do include them but the earbuds are of the standard type, without a mic. So if you are aware of any Verizon, Android phones out there that come with earbuds that have a mic, please do send along a link. I've been looking without any success.

I have no idea where you buy your phones, but every phone I bought has the headset with mic supplied, going way back to 10 years ago when I got my first smartphones (Symbian). I generally get my phones straight from the manufacturer stores, and every unboxing video I find for phones has the supplied headset with mic. Anyway, I can almost guarantee that Samsung has headsets with mic, since that's what every review says, plus my brother just got an SIII a week ago and it came with a headset with mic.

PS: I'm not in the US so I can't say much more than that.

 

[Angstromm]

I have no idea where you buy your phones, but every phone I bought has the headset with mic supplied, going way back to 10 years ago when I got my first smartphones (Symbian). I generally get my phones straight from the manufacturer stores, and every unboxing video I find for phones has the supplied headset with mic. Anyway, I can almost guarantee that Samsung has headsets with mic, since that's what every review says, plus my brother just got an SIII a week ago and it came with a headset with mic.

PS: I'm not in the US so I can't say much more than that.

Thanks for the info! I asked around w/ a few friends and found out that, yes, indeed, the Samsung smartphones come w/ earbuds that have a mic. Thanks to your persistence with me I looked more deeply into this. Funny that all the sites i looked at selling these phones didn't list the earbuds as part of the deal; and Samsung's site doesn't list them either. Like you, I've been buying phones for many years; but unlike you, never had earbuds included. Go figure!

Now all I have to do is find out if any of the current crop of HTC smartphones for Verizion have the TRRS port. Sigh...