eteina
Head-Fier
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2016
- Posts
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- 39
I feel one of the main reasons is because Apple volume control is wired opposite from Android volume control. So manufacturers either have the following 4 choices with regards to volume control:
1. Add a switch to manually select between Apple/Android.
2. Add active circuitry to detect the type of phone plugged in & automatically select between Apple/Android.
3. Settle on one or the other wiring standard (which they almost always choose Android because many of these manufacturers also manufacture Android phones), leaving half of their phone user base out in the cold.
4. Omit volume control & just provide mic with single 'universal' button.
More and more they are choosing option 4.
#1-3 add additional costs, both in hardware & licensing to cover the Apple wiring (because I am pretty sure they have to pay Apple a patent licensing fee to wire it the Apple way).
When you're talking a pair of KZs that sell at a street price of $7, the wholesale cost is probably $4. So $1-2 additional manufacturing cost for a 3-button volume control (plus licensing fees) represents up to 50% increase in costs. Add to it losses due to QC defects and warranty claims from wiring faults & button failures, and it doesn't take a genius to see why they often would rather just save the headaches and K.I.S.S.
I agree with eteina that it would be nice to at least include it on higher priced models.
Nicely explained!