We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-06 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want to actually fix the headphone jack inside an aging MacBook Air, choose iPartsleader A1932; if you need to plug Lightning headphones into a modern USB-C MacBook, choose CREHAO 2. These two "headphones for Macbook" products get compared all the time, and honestly they only look like rivals because both carry the word "headphone" in the title. One is a repair part for a broken port. The other is a tiny adapter that lives in your bag. If your real goal is listening on a flight — say, blocking out engine noise with your favorite wired buds — the decision comes down to which Mac you own and whether your jack even works.
• iPartsleader A1932's biggest strength: it replaces a corroded or dead headphone jack on a specific MacBook Air, and the kit already includes the audio board, cable, pry tool and screwdrivers.
• iPartsleader A1932's biggest trade-off: it fits exactly one machine — the 13-inch Retina MacBook Air from 2018 and 2019 — and does nothing for any other laptop.
• CREHAO 2's biggest strength: it lets Lightning earphones connect to USB-C Macs and iPads, with a built-in DAC, charge/data support and a two-pack so you can leave one at home and one in a travel pouch.
• CREHAO 2's biggest trade-off: it's an adapter, not a repair — if your port is physically broken or your Mac is the 2018/2019 Air, it solves nothing.
• Who each pick is for: iPartsleader A1932 for owners of a 2018/2019 Retina MacBook Air with a failing jack; CREHAO 2 for anyone with Lightning headphones and a USB-C device.
This is a repair component, and I want to be blunt about that. The iPartsleader A1932 is an audio daughterboard that carries the headphone jack plus the connectors for one speaker and the Touch ID sensor. Its job is narrow and specific: swap out a jack that's corroded, gummed up with dirt, or physically damaged, and restore wired audio output on a MacBook Air A1932 (Retina, 13-inch, 2018/2019).
The compatibility list is long, but read it as one line: it's for that machine and nothing else. iPartsleader spells out a stack of part numbers — MRE82xx/A through MVH82xx/A — which tells you this board is tied to a particular run of 13-inch Airs. If you're on an M-series Air, a Pro, or any other year, this part is not for you. That's the whole point of listing APN 923-02823 and PPN 820-01124-A: they identify the exact board and cable you're replacing.
What I actually like here is the kit. You get the audio board, the board cable, a pry tool, a P5 screwdriver, a T4 driver that also fits T3 and T5, and a fiber polishing cloth. If you've ever opened a MacBook and realized you don't own the right pentalobe bit, you know why that matters. The cloth is a small touch, but it's the kind of thing you want when you're working around a display.
CREHAO 2: Who It's For
The CREHAO 2 is the opposite kind of product — small, cheap to own, and useful the moment you open the package. It's a USB-C to Lightning audio adapter, sold as a two-pack, that lets you run Lightning earphones into a USB-C port. That covers a wide spread of hardware: iPhone 15 through iPhone 17 families, USB-C iPads including mini 6, iPad Pro 2018/2021/2022 and iPad Air 4/5/6, MacBook Pro 14" and 16" (2021), Mac, iMac 2021 M1, plus Galaxy S22–S25 and Pixel 7/8/9.
The feature that separates it from a no-name dongle is the DAC. CREHAO builds in a lossless decoding chip rated at 24-bit/96kHz, which is the part that matters when your headphones are analog and your port is digital. The company also claims filtering of current noise, which is the sort of thing that shows up as a faint hiss on a plane or in a quiet room. I can't verify that claim, but the spec sheet is at least describing the right job. You also get wire control — volume up/down, play and pause — which is genuinely handy when your phone is in a pocket and your hands are full.
Build-wise it's an aluminum alloy shell, which should help with heat and general wear, and it's plug-and-play with no driver. The connector type is USB Type C, it comes in white, and there are two in the box. The manufacturer lists an 18-month warranty.
Who should buy it: anyone who owns Lightning headphones and has moved to a USB-C phone, tablet or Mac. Who should skip it: anyone expecting it to repair a broken port, and anyone whose headphones are already USB-C or 3.5mm — for those, this adapter is simply the wrong shape.
• Best for a dead or corroded jack on a 2018/2019 Retina MacBook Air → iPartsleader A1932. It's the only one of the two that replaces hardware.
• Best for connecting Lightning earphones to a USB-C Mac → CREHAO 2. The adapter does the conversion the port can't do on its own.
• Best for travel and flights → CREHAO 2. The two-pack means one can live permanently in a carry-on, and it's the kind of thing you want for in-ear headphones for airplane use.
• Best for a DIY repair with the right tools included → iPartsleader A1932. Pry tool, P5, and a T4 that covers T3/T5 come in the box.
• Best for wide device coverage → CREHAO 2. iPhone, iPad, Mac, Galaxy and Pixel are all listed as compatible.
• Best for sound quality claims on paper → CREHAO 2. The 24-bit/96kHz DAC spec is the only audio-quality figure on either sheet.
• Best for a one-time fix you never think about again → iPartsleader A1932. Once the board is in, there's nothing to lose or forget.
• Best for someone who owns neither a 2018/2019 Air nor Lightning headphones → neither. Be honest about which problem you actually have.
In my opinion, the CREHAO 2 is the pick for most people, because most people searching "headphones for Macbook" want to use headphones they already own, not rebuild a laptop. It's a two-pack, it works across phones, tablets and Macs, and it's the one I'd toss in a bag before a flight so my in-ear headphones still work on a USB-C machine. I'd only send you to the iPartsleader A1932 if you own a 2018 or 2019 Retina MacBook Air and your jack is genuinely failing — in that case it's the correct, targeted fix, and the included tools make it a more complete kit than a bare board. Check the current price on Amazon for both, then match the product to your actual problem.
how to use headphones for macbook
On a Mac with a working 3.5mm jack, plug your headphones straight in. If you're using Lightning headphones on a USB-C Mac, plug the CREHAO 2 adapter into the Mac's USB-C port and the headphones into the adapter's Lightning end — it's plug-and-play with no driver. If the jack itself is damaged on a 2018/2019 Retina Air, the iPartsleader A1932 board is what restores the port.
how to connect headphones macbook
Standard wired headphones connect through the headphone jack, and Bluetooth headphones pair from the Mac's sound settings. Wired Lightning headphones can't go straight into a USB-C Mac, so the CREHAO 2 converts the connection and supports the inline volume, play and pause controls. Nothing needs installing either way.
how to connect headphones macbook air
On a 2018 or 2019 Retina MacBook Air, wired headphones use the built-in jack — and if that jack is dirty, corroded or broken, the iPartsleader A1932 audio board is the replacement part for exactly that model. On newer USB-C Airs, use the CREHAO 2 adapter for Lightning earphones. Match the accessory to your year before buying.
how to use headphones macbook pro
MacBook Pro models with a headphone jack take wired headphones directly, and the 2021 14" and 16" models are listed as compatible with the CREHAO 2 adapter if you want to run Lightning earphones. For USB-C-only setups, the adapter handles the conversion and the inline controls. The iPartsleader A1932 does not fit Pro models at all.
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