No Headphone Jack? How to Use Wired Headphones with Mic and Charge at the Same Time

Smartphones without a headphone jack currently represent the majority of options available for purchase. Moreover, it is difficult to find a dongle DAC that allows users to operate headphones with an integrated microphone while simultaneously charging the device. Fortunately, a reliable Chinese manufacturer introduced a solution to these limitations on September 9, 2025.

The Best Budget Solution for Smartphones Without a Headphone Jack

For the vast majority of users, the primary concern is simply restoring the functionality lost with the removal of the headphone jack from modern smartphones. To address this issue, the well-known Chinese audio equipment manufacturer FiiO released the Snowsky Tiny A.

The Snowsky Tiny A allows users to connect headphones with a 3.5 mm headphone jack while simultaneously charging the smartphone’s battery. In addition, the device supports headphones with an inline microphone, enabling phone calls and voice recordings.

What Is Required for a Dongle DAC to Support Headset Microphones?

For a dongle DAC to support microphones integrated into headphone cables, the device must include an ADC (analog-to-digital converter). A DAC (digital-to-analog converter) and amplifier alone are not sufficient, as only the ADC enables the device to receive the microphone signal and transmit it to the smartphone.

Which Headphones Are Recommended for the 3.5 mm Output?

Headphones recommended for connection to the Snowsky Tiny A’s 3.5 mm output are models with high sensitivity and low impedance. The reason is the device’s output power of 34 mW at 32 ohms, which is considered relatively low for more demanding headphones.

I recommend looking for in-ear, on-ear, or flathead earbud models with sensitivity above 100 dB and impedance of 32 ohms or lower. Examples include GK Kunten, Tangzu Wan’er SG 2 Red Lion Edition, Moondrop Old Fashioned and FAAEL Snow Lotus 1.0.

Note that in order to use microphones, the headphone cable must feature a 3.5 mm TRRS connector, compatible with the CTIA standard [1]. This configuration allows the transmission of stereo audio signals together with the microphone signal.

[1] The CTIA (Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association) standard specifies that the four poles of a 3.5 mm TRRS connector must be assigned as follows:

• tip: left audio channel
• first ring: right audio channel
• second ring: ground
• sleeve: microphone

Bonus Tip: Boom Microphone Cables

A cable equipped with a boom microphone, positioned directly in front of the mouth, facilitates clearer voice capture. Although this type of cable is more commonly associated with over-ear headsets, there are now cables designed for in-ear monitors (IEMs) that follow the same concept.

Because IEMs typically feature high sensitivity and low impedance, they are particularly well suited for use with the Tiny A. By selecting models with detachable cables using 2-pin or MMCX connectors, it becomes possible to purchase aftermarket cables equipped with boom microphones.

Examples include:

• Kinera Celest Ruyi
• Pirole
• QKZ Q7 Max
• TRN Redchain Plus

Is It Possible to Connect USB Headphones to the Tiny A?

Yes. The Tiny A supports the connection of headphones with USB cables, such as the Moondrop Chu II DSP and Moondrop Rays.

Does the Tiny A Support Fast Charging?

Yes. The Tiny A supports fast charging with power delivery of up to 40 W (2 A/20 V). It is important to note that the charging protocol supported by the device is PD (Power Delivery).

Is the Tiny A Compatible with Any Smartphone?

Yes. The Tiny A is compatible with both Android smartphones and iPhones. However, devices running iOS or iPadOS do not support the FiiO Control application.

What Does the FiiO Control App Do?

The FiiO Control app allows users to configure several settings on FiiO devices, including the Tiny A. These include:

• Adjustment of the maximum number of volume steps
• Enabling or disabling inline control support for headset cables
• Enabling or disabling the LED indicator light
• Equalization via a 10-band parametric equalizer (PEQ)
• Switching between UAC 1.0 and UAC 2.0

If you wish to use the Tiny A with an iPhone or iPad while applying any of the settings listed above, you must first configure the device using an Android smartphone. After making the adjustments, the Tiny A can then be reconnected to the Apple device.

What Are UAC 1.0 and UAC 2.0 Used For?

The consoles PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch only function with USB Audio Class (UAC) 1.0. Most modern devices, including Xbox consoles, operate with UAC 2.0.

To use the Tiny A with a PS5 or Nintendo Switch, the dongle DAC must first be connected to an Android smartphone. Only in this way can the FiiO Control app be accessed to switch the device from UAC 2.0 to UAC 1.0.

FiiO Snowsky Tiny A: Specifications

General Parameters

• Analog connections: 3.5 mm single-ended (SE)
• Digital connections: USB-C connector for smartphone connection and USB-C port for charging
• Dimensions: 2.9 cm × 2.2 cm × 1 cm
• Equalization support: Yes
• Fast-charging support: Yes
• Inline control and microphone support: Yes
• UAC 1.0 support: Yes
• Weight: 7 g

Audio Parameters

• Decoding support: PCM 32-bit/384 kHz and DSD256
• Noise floor: 5.5 µV
• Output power: 34 mW at 32 ohms; 45 mW at 16 ohms
• SNR: 105 dBr
• THD+N: 0.0032 %

Price and Availability

The Snowsky Tiny A is available for US$ 25.41 at the official FiiO store on AliExpress.