what this brings to mind - doc oct productivity!:
How about a universal headphone pad mounting system that everyone adheres to? Magnetic would be nice…
3 Likes
We’re aware of the need for a 4.4 IEMatch but unfortunately, that’s all we can say!
3 Likes
Had an idea of a dap feature the other day, a little oled screen on on the side that shows the currently playing track so you can see it just at a glance
1 Like
I’m not sure how big the market would be for such a thing, but for every AV receiver out there, I wish there was another version that had no amps, just RCA outputs. Literally just a processor version of every receiver. They don’t have to lower the price even. I’d love to be able to pick up a $600 ssp that did 5.2.4 Atmos and not waste power on Amps I’m not going to use. I know there are AVRs out there with pre-outs but they tend to be the higher priced ones. A $300 HDMI ssp would be a wonderful thing even at “only” 5.1. I’m tired of the huge price of a modern SSP and I don’t like the idea of feeding juice to amps that are sitting unused(I know that the newer Marantz AVRs shut off the amps in Pre mode but those start at a grand I think). With low cost class D amps all over and even low cost tube amps from china(not to mention the DIY options)I’d use a cheap Pre/Pro to intergrate HT into my hifi in a second.
I’d also like to see a component in a retro vintage receiver form and aesthetic but housing a streamer, phono pre, at least one line in, headphone and speaker amps, and a tuner(because receiver). Like an all-in-one but with real style and performance. Just add speakers to start and then acquire other sources as space, desire, and budget allow.
Also, remember those skins for the earlier Fiio DAPs? Why not have those for all hifi components? This stuff doesn’t have to be boring and drab or even stay with the same look all the time now. $30 and you’d have a whole new look for your amp. Leopard print dacs anyone? 
Just a few things that I wish were around but will probably never be.
This would be pretty hard to pull off considering different sizes, but not impossible.
I personally would like to see a universal, industry standard headphone connector. Why do companies have to go and use something unique (e.g. Focal headphones or Warwick Acoustics)?
This would make it much easier to buy higher end cables and use it with any headphone. I do understand going with 2.5mm, 3.5mm, but why something so different that only your headphone uses?
I think that this is certainly doable.
In the case of warwick it’s because they don’t want people trying to plug it into normal energizers due to it’s much higher bias voltage (1800v for aperio and 1350v for the m1) and different driving characteristics, and also because it’s a system that is dsp corrected so it would likely only sound correct on it’s specific amp even if you could use it with others
1 Like
That makes sense, but I’m talking about the headphone-end connectors. Of course, amp-end connectors are made with a purpose (like the one you stated)
It’s for the same reason, they don’t want someone to swap on a cable that either can’t handle the voltage and isn’t safe, or they don’t want people trying to adapt it to try and potentially damage or get a poor experience on other amps
For focal though yes it is proprietary just for the sake of it, they are nice though at least
1 Like
I can’t wait to see what headphone companies can do with an air motion transformer (AMT - think heddphone) and ribbon drivers (think Raal SR1A)… These technology platforms are far more common in full size speakers and are use primarily as tweeters.
I’m excited to see how they can be implemented in the future as full range transducers. The heddphone and SR1A were essentially beta tests or rev 1’s of what is possible. So we should see quality improve and perhaps prices come down over time. If they are able to add bass extension, dynamics, and conquer comfort there is real potential IMO.
1 Like
+1
I fully agree.
I am personally quite curious whether RAAL is quitely cooking up, researching & developing a new model. The future of the headphone space is definitely exciting. We see many companies join the field every year, but we also see many retire. It’s an active field, it never sleeps.