Who has the final say? The headphone balance port and the cable interface are chaotic

  When most people cheered for the earphones entering the wireless era, a small number of HiFi enthusiasts were trapped by the two ends of the headphone cable. One end was a variety of balanced headphone jacks. . As far as the current technology level is concerned, it is still a bit difficult for the sound quality of wireless equipment to surpass that of wired equipment. The interface problems at the ends of all headphone cables will continue to haunt audiophiles.
Who has the final say? The headphone balance port and the cable interface are chaotic
    Why is this a problem? Because the specifications of the balanced headphone interface and the cable interface are too many, it causes great inconvenience to enthusiasts who like to toss the cable. In this article, we will not make a lengthy discussion, so we narrowed the scope to the scope of portable equipment, not to talk nonsense, and went straight to the topic.
    Let’s talk about balanced headphone jack first. This interface is becoming more and more popular now because it can effectively reduce left and right channel crosstalk and distortion, better channel separation of headphones, wider sound field, and double the output power. Relatively speaking, the balance port and wire interface in the field of portable equipment is more messy than desktop equipment. After so many years of survival, the balance port on the desktop equipment has basically formed three forms of four-core cannon balance, double three-core cannon balance, and dual 6.3mm large three-core balance. Among them, four-core cannon is the most popular. Basically, balance ports other than four-core cannons are rarely seen. This is the result of natural selection. The design of four-core cannons is the simplest.
    However, the headphone balance port of the portable device is more chaotic. What we can see now are basically cylindrical four-segment balanced interface forms, which have 2.5mm specifications, 3.5mm specifications, 4.4mm specifications, and double 3.5mm specifications. Small three-core balanced interface, as well as the basically eliminated four-core square balanced interface and six-core round balanced interface. Among them, the 2.5mm specification is the most powerful, and is dominated by the player AK, with many followers. The 3.5mm specification seems to be currently only used by HiFiMAN. The 4.4mm specification is a new specification Sony made in 2016, but at the same time Sony has not given up the dual 3.5mm small three-core specification.
22.5mm specifications and Sony’s careful thinking
    The author has expressed many times that the 2.5mm balanced specification can be popular. Whenever using the balanced interface of this specification, I always worry that the overly slim plug will accidentally die. From a physical property point of view, this specification should have been Being eliminated, its unbalanced brother 2.5mm single port appeared briefly on mobile phones, but it soon disappeared, but the 2.5mm balanced version became popular again on HiFi players. My judgment is because everyone follows the AK. As to whether this is the case, further research is needed.
Who has the final say? The headphone balance port and the cable interface are chaotic
AK-dominated 2.5mm balanced interface (Image source: HIEDNY website)
Who has the final say? The headphone balance port and the cable interface are chaotic
The author has always thought that the 3.5mm specification balance port is a compromise in volume, but the reality is that the HiFiMAN family alone can’t stand it alone, and it will not be ruled out in the future. This is of course a pity, but there is no way. The implementation and popularization of the specifications obviously have advantages for the major manufacturers in the industry, and it may be a competition between 2.5mm and 4.4mm in the future.

3 more messy wire interfaces
    Compared with the balance port, the wire interface is more chaotic. The big earphones are okay, now they are basically two- and three-segment 3.5mm and 2.5mm specifications; while the wire interfaces of the earbuds are various, I can’t wait for each manufacturer to make their own specifications. However, in general, it can be basically divided into MMCX series and double pin series. These two forms are currently equal, and there are even more niche four-core interfaces such as JH, which are basically only used by themselves.
Who has the final say? The headphone balance port and the cable interface are chaotic
    The versatility of the MMCX series is relatively better. The common one is the MMCX interface that can be rotated as a whole like Shure SE846. Some of them have a locking device to prevent the rotation of the wire, a concave and convex groove, a pin holder, Fixed spirals and the like are more common. Basically, after the unit is removed, you can connect the wires using conventional MMCX interface.
    The versatility of the double pin system is poor. Some pins are exposed, such as qdc 8sh; some pins are built in, such as Senhai IE80, and some are made of wire plugs. Female, such as the ATH-IM01 of the iron triangle; some of you look very similar, but the pin spacing is different; some are the same, but the thickness of the pins is not the same; and others are not the same. Even if it is the same brand, it is possible to use different specifications on different products. The level of chaos is inexplicable. Find an interchangeable wire unless you know the specifications of each brand.
    For people who don’t toss the wires, it doesn’t matter what the interface looks like. But for serious enthusiasts who like to change wires to experience different sound changes, the chaotic specifications will undoubtedly bring a lot of inconvenience. Different specifications must be equipped with different cables, and someone may not be willing to make a certain type of interface because it is a niche In the market, input and output cannot be directly proportional. Manufacturers may have their own considerations, such as developing their own wire accessories to sell money, but from the perspective of the entire industry, such a separate approach is undoubtedly a huge waste of resources.
Who has the final say? The headphone balance port and the cable interface are chaotic
The design of Dita Awsome interface is of significance for the standardization of interface standards
    Unlike the balanced headphone interface, the wire interface has not yet formed a trend led by industry giants. Under such complex circumstances, it is very necessary for the headphone industry to reach a consensus and standardize the interface standard to achieve resource integration and green development . Achieving this goal will of course be difficult and requires the joint promotion of manufacturers and industry associations. In particular, manufacturers need to be able to stand on the height of the industry to realize the importance of standardizing interface standards. In terms of balanced headphone interfaces, a revolutionary interface design such as Dita Awsome has emerged, which can be extended in the industry. So when will the wire interface appear a relatively clear standardization standard? We look forward to this day coming soon!