I tried using an HDMI adapter (the kind you is find on these tiny USB C hubs to bring along your laptop) for playing proper video and the sound was missing everything under like 200hz, unwatchable. It's clearly made to show spreadsheets and PowerPoints and not much else.
The output is capped at 4k 30hz on the cheaper ones, and I assume the cheaper ones wouldn't have particularly good audio.
HDMI still has the edge over all but the very latest version of USB C, at least with high end equipment. But, it works fine for PowerPoint, which is exactly what I'm using it for.
USB-C supports both digital and analog audio. HDMI only supports digital audio though, so in that case the DAC would be in whatever device you're plugging the HDMI cable into.
so you want like an adapter that can deliver audio separate from hdmi? like it has a hdmi port and a 3.5mm jack? i think i've seen stuff like that but i doubt you'd get a good dac in one of them.
Which is a great approach IMO. The advantages of dongles without the inconvenience. The Framework 16 has 6 ports which is more than enough for me. I use two USB-C, two USB-A, headphone, and SD card. I sometimes swap the SD card slot for MicroSD, and one of the USB-C for Ethernet. I have HDMI and DisplayPort for if I need them.
I agree with the notion, but at the same time, I think no one wants to deal with the mess of having two different kinds of Ethernet plugs. I mean, if you think about it, needing dongles for connecting Ethernet to USB-C is exactly what would happen, if you had two different Ethernet plugs. So, at this rate, might as well start having USB-C ports on routers, so you can run a USB-C cable all the way...
There are docking stations that gives secondary display, power, and wired nerwork connection over single USB-C port. Usually along with keyboard, mouse, and USB-A ports.