I agree on the technical stand point here. I have seen many other devices to incorporate the 4.4mm female without the correct approach as you mentioned. Only Sony do. Sony has a “plug detector” implemented on the 4.4 female, which is supposedly to be standard. That means as long as the smallest section of the plug is experiencing discontinuity, the Mute circuit will click in, so no dragging like you said. You can never plug or unplug faster than electricity
It also bother me that LEMO 4 or Amphenol configuration is also similar to XLR-4. It depends on the constructions, but it can also serve as a nice compromises between desktop sizes and compact form....why did the whole industry have to move toward 4.4mm under JEITA ? It is beyond me. You can see some Chinese are making a swapable modular cables using them....why did AK also give in this way ?
The 4.4 sockets is as reliable as the XLR in my opinions...it isn’t so much about the socket itself breaking apart, but it is about the plating that are being stripped clean to the primer layers or bare under metal. I have tried to ply the socket open and break it on intentions...but couldn’t do so without really man handling it the same way the XLR sockets are
Anyways, back to the topic!!! Out for delivery 0_0
My current end game !!!
1/ DMP Z1 Extensively modified (EM)
2/ Hd800SA Gold edition
3/ Furutech-Pentaconn plugs with Litz silvers from Neotech
I don’t know about anyone, but in my opinions the 800SA (Anniversary)
has different sound signatures than the regular 800S from the same source and cables.
800SA has sweeter mid ranges with more liquidity and density, much better bass in energy, controls, textures and especially sub bass is to die for. The Mids and vocal is a little more forward and intimidating. The transient speed has improved to be faster, and I don’t know why or how ? Also the dynamic delivery appears much better rendered than the 800S due to all of the above. Also the overall soundstage is slightly smaller, mainly from the illusions of this more intimidating mid and it thicker density. I would dare to say that the transient responses are more accurate than the 800S as well
The 800S in comparison has larger soundstage, but thinner timbres, deep sub bass to low bass layering and definitions is a little more messy, especially sub bass sounds a little artificially resonated. The transient speed is slower than 800SA. The signature also appeared to be more balanced and neutral VS the 800SA which is more toward (analog like, thicker density and more focused into being a little more dynamic bass and warmth)
Both of these side by sides are pretty much a different headphones, if you pick on minutes details here and there (I would suspect some revamping of the same drivers). But if you don’t care much, then they are pretty similar, and one could argue that it is the tolerances differences between each headphones that uses the same (possibly) drivers ?
Anyways, both are worth having and keeping !!
It will be interesting to hear other people comparisons!
PS: I suspected that the drivers are slightly revamped despite of it being and appearing to be the same, but only similar. It could be using the same diaphragms, the same constructions, but different else where. I am not a professional in designing headphones but with what I have been toying around and came by, it isn’t possible to improve the transient responds just by simply tweaking housing resonances and or pads and seals....more like the magnetic and or the coils ? But don’t take my words for it