ZephrSappire,
I really do respect your opinion on this and other things. I don't think that you are really mad at RSA in general, but the whole industry.
As far as the potentiometer goes, side mounting would prove very difficult for a few reasons:
- would require a way to secure the jacks without any point of contact
- or would require a 90 degree PCB Mounted to the base PCB which again would add width and not be as secure as an on-board solution.
As far as thin-ness is concerned, there are a few things to think about.
If I was putting it together... I would have the hardware mounting (all connections and the battery) and the Power/charging circuits on the top of the PCB. The Amp section would be on the bottom of the PCB. The power and battery sections are the key to the high level of current output and switching to replaceable batteries would be limiting. Also, even if you did mount the Potentiometer sideways, I would imagine that you would get only a few mm thinner since most potentiometers seem closer to squares than true rectangles. The Charging port that Ray uses seems to be the same as his other amps and the same used by many manufacturers. This means no unique PS for charging and it is a part that can be easily/cheaply replaced.
As far as everything goes, it is still a pretty thin amp and is near identical to the Pico, iBasso D2/3, et al. in those terms.
Please do think about the costs/parts involved here with products. Does it really make a lot of sense to develop a Secondary portable potentiometer for something that will sell a thousand units and result in a few mm less thickness? The cost/benefit of that is just not there and would be more money to produce which would go to the end user. I do think that there are some really bargain portable amps out there and you pointed out a few (the Headsix is a real winner in my book with the Minibox E+ not too far behind).
I understand where you are and the frustration in it. However, the bigger issue to me is what in the heck all of these portable sources are doing with these really poorly put together headphone jacks. I can't really even use my iPod touch headphone out because it hisses like crazy (no, it actually does still hiss when music is on - you just don't notice it as much) it is something that I notice even with 32ohm headphones. The power output on that device is also very weak on the headphone out, esp. when compared to older iPods.
For now, this is what we have and it is better than that which came before it. We must continue to improve, but to expect something immediately is unrealistic. I am in the same age group as you and regrettably growing up now gives you this sort of impression of the world. It is important to know that was don't live in a golden age of hi-fi like the 60's and 70's where much of the things that we enjoy now were developed. It would be nice though. A little patience and understanding of the other side can go a long way in things audio and life in general.
ZephyrSapphire, I am still completely with you about the thickness and it would be a VERY nice thing to see in the future. I really want a small digital potentiometer implemented in an onboard solution for thinness and accuracy. However, that would be fairly costly.
Plus, the potentiometer is IMO a huge factor in the sound. Really, try an amplifier with an Alps Blue Velvet and then switch it out for a Stepped one. Those are also audiophile quality potentiometers too with the stepped one really blowing the socks off of the Alps Blue IMO.
Just to stress this, Zephyr, I am with you with regards to this in the industry as a whole.
Cheers and have a (root) BEER