iPhone 16 Pro USB-C headphones intermittently not working

I have an iPhone 16 pro. I was able to use my USB-C headphones until about 2 months ago. There were not any issues, but one day they worked, the next they didn’t. The phone was purchased in February and the 2 pair of Apple wired earbuds were purchased 7/31/25. Prior to that, I was able to use a USB-C to 3.5 converter, with Apple 3.5 wired headphones.

At that time I went to the Genius Bar, where they ran some diagnostics, confirmed the headphones were working, confirmed the ports were clean, looked at some settings, were getting ready to turn me loose with no resolution, when suddenly the headphones started working with my phone.

2 months later, my phone had intermittent problems with the wired headphones and then it started having problems charging. I went back to the Genius Bar, they told me the primary board in my phone needed to be replaced and I had that done.

I picked up my phone, it was able to charge and the headphones worked, for about a day. The only place I use them, is pretty much at my office desk, th listen to Sirius.

I am about to contact Apple support again, but does anyone have any suggestions for an alternative to the Apple wired earbuds that might run on the iPhone 16 pro?

From what I have read online, it seems that even when using Apple USB-C wired headphones, with the appropriate settings, that there are issues with the phone identifying them as an accessory, so maybe I should just find wired headphones that will identify as an accessory?

Please help! Thank you!