Hands-on with Belkin's iPhone Headphone Adapter

by Chris Ziegler posted Jul 1st 2007 at 9:29AM

First, a disclaimer: this is a peripheral no one wants, but many will need. The Belkin Headphone Adapter for the iPhone simply allows you to do what you should be able to do without any adapter whatsoever -- plug in a plain ol' set of headphones. This was a pretty clear-cut play on Apple's part to give itself and official accessory manufacturers some license to further scar our already irreparably damaged wallets, and frankly, we're bitter that we had to buy it for a stiff $9.95. But yeah, whatever, let's get on to the good stuff.

Attaching the adapter made us even sadder than we already were. It adds considerable length to the already long device, and it's just barely flexible -- not enough to bend more than 30 degrees or so without getting concern that you're going to break it or the jack. What's more, it looks completely and utterly out of place.

To be fair, though, it gets the job done and the sound quality is great. You won't be able to use a phone headset with integrated talk button and mic, but since the iPhone's just as much an iPod as it is a phone, we consider it our civic duty to attach some decent 'phones to it.

Filed under: Peripherals, Reviews, Others, Apple

Tags: adapter, apple, belkin, features, headphone, headphone adapter, HeadphoneAdapter, headphones, iphone, review

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

Kai @ Jul 23rd 2008 4:04PM

I have NO IDEA why you would pay for an adapter when you can simply plug in your regular headphones and listen to music.. Maybe I got a special iPhone or something here in Canada... but I just plugged my regular headphones (I tried all 3 pairs I own - Sony, Bose, and Stanton) into my iPhone and they all worked.. no special adapter, no extra rubber cut off the jacks...NOTHING!!

I'd suggest you all try plugging your headphones/earbuds into your phone before you spend $10 on an adapter you don't need.

Neutral

Kevin @ Jul 1st 2007 10:50AM

Is this essentially a 2.5 -> 3.5 mm adapter?

Highly Ranked

Atanas Boev @ Jul 1st 2007 3:29PM

No, it is 3.5mm (thin enclosure) -> 3.5mm (normal enclosure) adapter.

What makes me wonder, can't someone just take a razorblade, and cut the corners of a normal jack a bit?

I would first try this, instead ot sticking something so long up the iphone's... ah, it is actually on the top.

Highly Ranked

stevesreed @ Jul 10th 2007 6:08PM

That's what I did with my Bose headphones. just trim a small amount of rubber and it plugs right in...

Neutral

Maztec @ Jul 1st 2007 10:59AM

It seems the min collectivity issue here has more to do with the recessed port than anything else (so the jack size may be slightly different, that's not unusual and when you start to shrink a device it makes sense).

I honestly feel that the recessed port is brilliant and plugging in devices that do not utilize that port is potentially risky. By recessing the port you provide further area to prevent tweaking the sensitive mechanics in the port or in your headset. I have owned far too many cellphone headsets that have been tweaked while in my pocket and resulted in a handset that no longer supports audio or a dead headset. Perhaps I am alone in that experience?

Disclaimer: No, I am not an iPhone owner. Although, I did lust after one until they were finally released and msised a few features that make a difference to me, like data storage.

Neutral

EngadgetFanBoi @ Jul 1st 2007 11:25AM

yahh, this totally could've gone on the main page. weaksauce.

Highest Ranked

Jonathan @ Jul 1st 2007 11:47AM

that is so huge, ugly and impractical.

smaller adaptor please? seriously, that looks so bad. omg.

Neutral

Josh @ Aug 2nd 2007 9:40PM

I know it's not out yet, but i'm holding out for the much more sleek Griffin adaptor (and the itrip while i'm at it).

http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/headphoneadapter/

Highly Ranked

drizz @ Jul 1st 2007 11:55AM

You could just plug in the wired remote that plugs in to the dock connector instead of using this thing

Neutral

Tom @ Jul 1st 2007 12:56PM

The iphone has a normal headphone jack, just recessed so that many phones, especially those with a 90 deg. angle plug, won't fit

I have a sony pair that I love.

I just shaved down the plastic around the plug, and now it fits without an adapter. joy!

Neutral

Kayj @ Jul 1st 2007 1:42PM

Exactly. Apart from the talk capability, if you're just after using your existing set of h/phones, shave down the adaptor so it will fit, or find a spare part connector and whip out the soldering iron.

That Belkin thing is disgusting!

(Not an iPhone user until it gets to the UK!)

Neutral

Ray Valdez @ Jul 1st 2007 1:47PM

The recessed plug port makes perfect sense.

I have owned numerous, if not all, designs of the iPod and the first and sometimes only thing to break on them is the audio jack. Through frequent "tweaking", tugging and bending, the miniplug actually mars and bends the pins that send the L/R audio signal within the device. I would always have static-y or intermittent sound that would only get worse as the damage continued. But, I'll admit, I use my iPods a lot, and I do not treat them well.

Though both of my brother's have had similar problems, luckily Apple always repairs them if you send them in. They've given my completely new iPods, as a remedy. I wouldn't be surprised if Apple knew this was a flaw.

Now, with the iPhone - a device you're stuck with for 2 years - it seems logical to protect this rather sensitive and important part. It is rather sad that I can not use my favorite headphones, but I think a lot of tiny and slick headphone adapters are going to start cropping up. And for now, I like the iPhone earbuds as they have a microphone built in.

I wouldn't be surprised if the majority of headphone makers will start adopting a smaller miniplug jacket in order to be iPhone-friendly. Another plus to this is that they could offer this as a feature. (Taking this a little further, does anyone know if microphones cost a lot to integrate? This could be something headphone makers start adopting as well.)

If future iPods have the same design aspect (which I believe is a defense measure) then minor re-designes of headphones will surely start occurring.

Highest Ranked

sr @ Jul 1st 2007 1:53PM

That never happened to me on any non-ipod with a regular non-recessed 3.5mm jack. Why do these stupid things only happen to iPods and now they supposedly need to change the design of a standard jack that we have been using for decades because they couldn't correctly implement a regular 3.5mm jack that devices have been using since the early 70s (without issue I may add).

It's pure bullshit. I need to put this phallus on my iphone to use mt good headphones? May as well have put a 4" external antenna on it.

Highest Ranked

murph @ Jul 1st 2007 2:11PM

why oh why doesn't it support A2DP??

Neutral

avenirex @ Jul 1st 2007 2:16PM

Anybody know anything about Apple's own adapter? Will this work? My local Apple Store only had the Belkin adapter, and I agree, it's too big.

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore?productLearnMore=MA854LL/A

Neutral

keara @ Jul 3rd 2007 9:48AM

That connector is for deaf people trying to use their iphone with as a TTD (telephone device for the deaf).

Neutral

Ray Valdez @ Jul 1st 2007 2:28PM

Hah, you're right. A2DP, or at least ANY bluetooth service besides handsfree would be useful. It's not that I really use OBEX (it syncs well) but it would be pretty nice if I had the option.

But, for some reason I don't think this is a permanent situation. I can't wait for some really great updates!

Neutral

dansus @ Jul 1st 2007 7:15PM

Buy the vmoda duo, sanctioned iphone headphone with excellent sound quality.

Done.

Neutral

David @ Jul 1st 2007 10:52PM

Perhaps the iPhone will force all manufacturers to modify non-complying products.

Neutral

kookoobirdz @ Jul 1st 2007 9:12PM

Belkin and other adapter makers could do a 90 degree model. They could make whatever needs to fit in there fit, and then bend the rest over sideways. That would reduce the overall length in a pocket, say. It could spin as needed to allow access that button on the top right.

Neutral

jeff @ Jul 1st 2007 9:16PM

That adapter is fugly please give us a2dp.

Neutral

Vishwanatha Srinivasan @ Jul 2nd 2007 6:46PM

All I had to do was to slice a layer of the enclosure and VOILA, now it fits and works great.

Neutral

phototravel @ Jul 3rd 2007 1:45PM

If you are frustrated that your sweet High End headphones don't work in the iPhone's jack, go out to Radio Shack and get a 12 inch long 3.5mm (1/8th inch) stereo jack cable that has the in line volume control - I bought mine a while ago but they can't be more than 5-10 bucks. Shave off just enough of the black plastic at the male end (that goes into your headphone jack) to make it fit, and voila - you have an adapter that sounds great, has a built in volume adjustment so you can leave your iPhone in your pocket, it's cheap, and you don't have to cut up your actual headphones, possibly voiding their warranty.

Neutral

rkny @ Jul 3rd 2007 6:33PM

Nearly proprietary sunken headphone jack? No A2DP? I smell something brewing. Maybe an A2DP module attachment, or A2DP enabled via firmware.

Neutral

Bobby @ Jul 11th 2007 9:05PM

Well.... my suggestion is to just make your own. It's cheaper and you can make it as cute or streamline as you'd want.

I made this one:

It's pretty basic and anyone can do it. I mean. If I can do it, so can you. Just know that the soldering metal gets really hot.=!

:-P

Neutral

Bobby @ Jul 11th 2007 9:09PM

for some reason my link didn't show up on my posting, but here's the adapter I made.

http://www.bobbynishimura.com/iPhone_adapter

Neutral

Colt_777 @ Jul 12th 2007 4:03AM

rather than using tape you should get some shrink wrapping. it will look alot more professional and you can get it in heaps of different colours.

also- to join wires together, it is much easier (as well as making a better and longer lasting connection) if instead of soldering, you just fuse the wires together. to do this all you need to do is expose about 7 or 8 mm of the bare wire, squeeze the individual strands in between your fingers so that they go flat, and then spread them out in to a fan shape so that there are gaps in between each strand.

do this with the other wire you need to join, then carefully, fuse all of the strands from each wire together and squeeze them together and twist until they're joined tightly together. after that just fold them down and wrap with tape or shrink wrap. this method works great and the joints stay together firmly.

Neutral

Bobby @ Jul 16th 2007 3:25PM

kewl... I'll try the shrink wrap, but I don't know if you noticed that the wire in new headphones are hair thin and are heavily coated with urethane, or something like it, that makes it hard to expose anything without breaking the wire.

at any rate... thanks for the reply...

Neutral

Colt_777 @ Jul 16th 2007 10:54PM

oh ok. i've mainly only done it for speaker cables and power leads... not headphones...

Neutral

Carlito @ Nov 7th 2007 12:37PM

I just had purchased the iPhone to find out I needed to purchase a special adapter for the headphone jacks. I went to the apple store and they were going to charge me a lot for the item. I then found this company that has a extremely low mark up on all accessories and items. They have many more items than are displayed and ship instantly.

http://www.techsourcepro.com/sections/item_details/?item=iP-N07083

Turns out the adapter is more flexible once it is used. Plus I like the quality of belkin.

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