TRRS Madness - Need basic help with TRRS/4-pole headphone plugs

[mwb1]

Up until now I've been only a casual headphone user.  Most of my audio passion lies in the speaker world.
 
About 4 years ago I bought a NuForce uDAC for listening to music while working on my computer, and liked the improvement that that provided.  A year or two ago I bought a pair of  Sony earbuds (nothing special) that I have now come to understand have a TRRS/4-pole plug.  I've used these earbuds with my nuForce uDAC, my various laptops, my iMac, etc. without issue.
 
Recently my nuForce DAC started flaking out, and I purchased a Schiit Fulla 2.  When I received the Fulla 2 I realized it had a 1/4" headphone jack.  No problem, I thought, and I grabbed a 1/8" to 1/4" headphone adapter.  That didn't work.  Well it only worked if I didn't push the 1/8" headphone plug all the way into the adapter.
 
I did some research and found a couple of things online that I think will allow a TRRS plug to work with a TRS jack.  Having to find a special adapter to convert my TRRS earbuds to TRS to work with my Schiit Fulla 2 seems like lot of work, considering I've been using these headphones with a wide variety of other 1/8" jacks without the slightest issue.
 
I had been eyeing a pair of Sony MDR1A over the ear headphones as a possible upgrade to the relatively crappy earbuds I had been using.
Just tonight, after researching these headphones further, I found that these headphones also have a TRRS/4-pole plug and
I can only assume I will have the same issues as I've had with my earbuds.
 
What am I doing wrong here?  I'd like to just buy a pair of headphones and plug them into my new headphone DAC/amp
without dealing with a Rube Goldberg contraption to get them to work.  Am I missing something?  Or is this a normal hurdle
to have to face in the headphone world?
 
Help.
 

 

 

[PurpleAngel]

I believe those Sony headphones come with two cables included, one with a built in mic (TRRS) and the other one is just a regular headphone cable (TRS).

 

[SeaWo|f]

If you continue to buy headphones that have an integrated mic you and trrs will have this issue with some portable hifigear and most/all desktop gear.

 

[mwb1]

Thanks for pointing that out @PurpleAngel.  I think you are right.  It looks like it does come with 2 cables, so it looks like if I did buy the Sony MDR-1A, I could use them with my Fulla 2 without issue.
 
In general though, is TRRS/TRS a huge issue in the headphone world?  I'd really like to use my crappy Sony earbuds without needing to track down a (frankly hard to find) adapter.  I was shocked at how hard it was to find the TRRS/TSR adapter and the only conclusion I could come to was that I was not doing something right, or I was missing some obvious, trivial solution.
 
 

 

[mwb1]

  If you continue to buy headphones that have an integrated mic you and trrs will have this issue with some portable hifigear and most/all desktop gear.

 
 
Thanks, I guess that answers my question.
 
To reiterate, I'm new to the world of headphones, and I guess this is just part of the learning curve for me.

 

[SeaWo|f]

Just want to add that the most important part of any setup is what creates the sound, so the headphones. I am not sure if there is any real audiophile quality gear out there that includes a mic. I know sonys highend stuff doesn't. Since you cant use the mic through the fulla off your smartphone you might want to spend some time researching at your price point the various headphone options offered. And there are a LOT  of options it should be fun if you don't mind reading. 

 

[mwb1]

  Just want to add that the most important part of any setup is what creates the sound, so the headphones. I am not sure if there is any real audiophile quality gear out there that includes a mic. I know sonys highend stuff doesn't. Since you cant use the mic through the fulla off your smartphone you might want to spend some time researching at your price point the various headphone options offered. And there are a LOT  of options it should be fun if you don't mind reading. 

 
I didn't realize purchasing the Fulla 2 was forcing me into the next level where the (sub) entry level gear I was using was no longer acceptable.  I frankly don't have a problem with that, I just didn't realize it was happening to me.  Of course I'll make the necessary adjustments.  I just wanted to make sure there wasn't something I was missing, and it looks like there isn't.

 

[mwb1]

And in my defense, part of the reason I was looking at replacing my crappy Sony earbuds with the Sony MDR1A was I had a feeling my earbuds weren't up to snuff any longer.  My real problem came when I mistakenly thought the MDR1A would leave me in the same position I was in with my crappy Sony earbuds, but that doesn't seem to be the case.  Thanks for the input.  Onward and upward.

 

[SeaWo|f]

If my comment came across as somehow disparaging that was not my intent. So you really have no need to defend where you were coming from. Having the fulla shouldn't force you into a move if you don't feel you want/need it. The great thing about having it is that it opens up many more options because you can now drive things head and shoulders above where you were before. I just wanted to emphasize that opportunity.  

 

[mwb1]

No worries @SeaWo|f .  My post was poorly worded.  I appreciate your input.