-
Yep. The USB c to headphone cable is effectively a shit DAC so replacing it with something neat like a FiiO or Audioquest Dragonfly mini-DAC should be an improvement. The challenge will be getting a neat cable to connect them.
Alternatively, FiiO also do a portable hires music player.
aggi-
Original Pixel XL does have a 3.5mm jack, never tried the USB-C to 3.5 adapter.
I think having to plug something in line with the phone will just put me off listening as much tbh, and I'd rather avoid any unnecessary stress on the port. Though having had a look through FiiO's site, the BTR1 Bluetooth DAC seems like an interesting option.
Spotted a second hand Pioneer on Amazon marketplace for £250, so I've ordered that and will see if it satisfactorily blows my ears off
TvH
To output from the USB-C port? True. Though that's a lot of dangling cables.