[jacobweber]

Thanks to the helpful advice on this forum, I just bought the Sharp MD33 earphones from AudioCubes, and I'm very happy with them. But since I must find something to complain about...

The headphones' plug is an unusual one, with an extra ring around the sleeve (three instead of two). This seems to indicate that there's an extra conductor for some reason. Anyway, if you plug it directly into a normal stereo headphone socket, the conductors don't all line up, and you only hear audio out of one ear. The included extension cable converts this plug to a normal stereo plug, but it's pretty long.

So - is this some sort of standard plug that I'm unaware of? Would I be able to find a smaller adapter to convert it to a normal stereo plug?

Thanks,
Jacob

 

[saturnine]

Its called a "four-pole" connector, and is made for Sharp's line of MD players IIRC. The extension converts it to a regular connector.

 

[jacobweber]

That was fast!

Four-pole connectors, huh? That's pretty annoying. I guess I'm stuck with the long adapter.

Thanks,
Jacob

 

[DaHoboFest]

what do you mean? like how my Eggos have a short straight cable, then an extension right angle cable?

 

[stinn]

i have the 33s as well and man that cable is annoying. With the extention it is WAY too long. I've wondered if it would be worth it to recable them.

 

[DaHoboFest]

if its what sony does with some headphones, then the extension piece is a good length by itself, but the original is too short by itself.

 

[hugz]

People solder the extra ring, connecting the 2 sections, thus making it a 3 pole connector. i'll try find the thred

 

[hugz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by hugz People solder the extra ring, connecting the 2 sections, thus making it a 3 pole connector. i'll try find the thred

http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=89108

 

[loco26]

jacobweber, if you want to get rid of the annoying cable, go for the Creative-version of the MD33s, named EP-630. it has a normal stereo-plug and the cable length should also be perfectly fine.

and FYI, the EP630 don't have this "behind-the-neck" cable design.

 

[stinn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by loco26 jacobweber, if you want to get rid of the annoying cable, go for the Creative-version of the MD33s, named EP-630. it has a normal stereo-plug and the cable length should also be perfectly fine. and FYI, the EP630 don't have this "behind-the-neck" cable design.

Damn, wish I'd known about the Creative version before I got the sharps. The stupid cable design plus the stupidly long extention. Maybe I'll cut down the extention and make it a couple feet shorter.

 

[Julz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by stinn The stupid cable design

Well, to say it's a "stupid" design is a little harsh. It was designed for a specific purpose as clearly stated on Audiocubes web page...

J

 

[jacobweber]

Yeah, I wish I had know about this (and about the Creative) before I bought it. Now the question is, do I trust my soldering skills enough to try to fix it myself?

Still, I'm very happy with the 'phones....they seem to be the perfect balance between price, sound quality, and comfort.

 

[stinn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Julz Well, to say it's a "stupid" design is a little harsh. It was designed for a specific purpose as clearly stated on Audiocubes web page... J

I didn't mean the 4pole system, I knew about that before hand and I'm fine with that, I mean the short left plug wire long right plug wire thing. I know it's supposed to be for behind your head but that just doesn't work on me.
It's not a big problem and stupid might have been harsh. It's just an annoyance, I really do like the phones. I find them to be a "fun" contrast to my 555s.

 

[Julz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by stinn I didn't mean the 4pole system,

Oh OK, my bad, I thought you meant the 4 poles...

Sorry !!