Extension cable for wired apple earbuds WITHOUT microphone issues?

[Jongstar]

I've tried 3 extension cables for the wired apple earbuds. They all produce a constant interference on the microphone of the earbuds (static noise).

I'm desperately trying to use the wired earbuds with my mac (positioned far away under my desk) for video calls, since they are the only good mic quality I've found. Has anyone succeeded in doing this? What were your solutions?

Thanks for any insights.

 

[usagora]

I found this on Amazon and reviewers are reporting it works fine with their iPhone earbuds/mic:

DUKABEL Headphone Extension Cable, 3.5mm TRRS Headphone Extension with Mic Male to Female Stereo Audio Cable for Smartphone,PC,TV,Headset,PS4 Controller,Car,Speaker etc.(4ft/1.2m)

www.amazon.com

There are a lot of others like it too that seem to have good reviews.

If it doesn't have to be an all-in-one (headphones + mic) solution, a good lav mic should do the trick. I use this one:

Rode SmartLav+ Lavalier Microphone for Smartphones,Black

The Rode Microphones smartLav+ provides high-quality audio to your smartphone or tablet. If you're in the film, television, or broadcasting field, you need a lavalier microphone. You can capture crisp, defined audio with a lapel mic that weighs less than a pound. The omnidirectional condenser cap...

www.amazon.com

Of course, you'll have to use separate headphones. I have an external audio interface, so I can plug the lav mic into my iMac directly and then use my external interface for the headphones (or use the external for both mic and headphones).

 

[Jongstar]

I found this on Amazon and reviewers are reporting it works fine with their iPhone earbuds/mic:

DUKABEL Headphone Extension Cable, 3.5mm TRRS Headphone Extension with Mic Male to Female Stereo Audio Cable for Smartphone,PC,TV,Headset,PS4 Controller,Car,Speaker etc.(4ft/1.2m)

www.amazon.com

This is the one I currently have. It produces the same constant noise I have with other extension cables.

- And yeah, I have considered using a separate microphone but it looks mighty stupid to have that thing pinned on my shirt in video calls.. This also requires a reliable audio splitter for it to fit in my Mac Mini, and so the story with static noises begins all over.

I don't understand why no one else is complaining about this problem? I tried it with 2 different Apple headphones, same effect.

 

[usagora]

This is the one I currently have. It produces the same constant noise I have with other extension cables.

- And yeah, I have considered using a separate microphone but it looks mighty stupid to have that thing pinned on my shirt in video calls.. This also requires a reliable audio splitter for it to fit in my Mac Mini, and so the story with static noises begins all over.

I don't understand why no one else is complaining about this problem? I tried it with 2 different Apple headphones, same effect.

Hmm, strange that other reviewers are saying there's no issue. Have you considered trying an over-the-ear headset with mic? Yes, I know you might think it would look "stupid" but I've seen people do this on video calls before and I think nothing of it. It's not a fashion show, lol!

Logitech G PRO X Gaming Headset (2nd Generation) with Blue Voice, DTS Headphone 7.1 and 50 mm PRO-G Drivers, for PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S,PS5,PS4, Nintendo Switch - Black

Hear and sound like a pro with the PRO X Gaming Headset. Pro designed with detachable mic and Blue Voice software for professional sounding voice comms. Featuring next gen 7.1 surround sound and PRO G 50 mm drivers for amazingly clear sound imaging. Soft memory foam padded leatherette or velour e...

www.amazon.com

 

[stiligFox]

Silly question, but are you sure your earbuds are genuine apple?

There are two types of earphones - OMTP and CTIA. The only difference is that these swap ground and mic; most modern devices use CTIA except for things like PlayStation 4 and other devices.

If you try to use OMTP earphones with a CTIA device or vice versa, you might get that static on the line - I experienced the same exact thing when trying to use my apple head phones with a PS4.

On that note as well, Apple added some signal stuff to the mic of their CTIA earphones so they’re not even following the standard fully, so there’s a good chance that the extension cable are messing with the expected signal from the microphone.

it’s hard to put into words what I mean, but I have a feeling this is where the issue is coming from.

CTIA vs. OMTP: Similarities, Differences, and Features | The Cables Land

TRRS is a type of audio cable that stands for Tip, Ring, Ring, Sleeve connectors. It follows two standards, which are CTIA and OMTP. The main difference between the two is that their ground and microphone rings are switched. They might seem like the same but when you try to use Apple earbuds on your

thecablesland.com

The other thing is that the extension cable is acting as an antenna and picking up interference. Have you tried disabling any Bluetooth or WiFi devices around you, as well as turning off as many electronic devices just to rule out that possibility? A cheaply made and non shielded cable could be picking up noise that way.