So I have tried to use a jack-to-USBc cable with both my phone (Fairphone 3) and SteamDeck. The headset turned on and off. I have two cables and neither work. The cables are these:
However, when I use an USBc-USBc cable, it works fine.
Do I need more specialized jack-to-USBc cable? I read in a previous thread that the cable needs to include a DAC because the headset can handle only digital input and not analog.
If I understand you correctly, you are trying to plug the jack into Phone or Steam Deck and USBc into your headset. I would guess, that your research was kind of right and the cables you tried are the other way round: USBc to Jack and not Jack to USBc.
For Jack to USBc you can e.g. use this cable: https://shop.fairphone.com/de/shop/fairbuds-xl-headphones-usb-c-mini-jack-3-5mm-cable-64?category=5
I was not aware that there was a directionality to a jack-USBc cables. Or is the Fairbuds cable you linked special?
To my knowledge, this cable is indeed special. It is explicitly sold to connect the fairbuds XL (which has only a USBc port) to devices with a jack output, so exactly your use case.
Very often, people want the opposite: They have a phone without jack output and, thus, need the jack on the other side (however, normally a female jack is needed on the other side, but surely there are use cases, where one needs male …)
I figured this was the case, but thanks for confirming this. I wish this was more clear on the product’s page.