Why are Sony headsets incompatible with Apple hardware?

Question

Hello,
Close to one year ago, I had to get my iPod touch 2G replaced due to a defective headphone jack. One staff member at the Apple store told me that Sony, Skullcandy, and some other brands of headphones have a slightly larger plug which wrecks the jack on iPods over time because Sony and Skullcandy (among other brands) have headphone jacks that are just slightly larger than the others. This seems like a reasonable explanation to me.
What I'm wondering is: is this slightly larger jack size exclusive to only a few brands, or does it extend to all brands except Apple's own earbuds? (which would be ridiculous) Secondly, why does this problem occur with ALL Apple hardware, including their computers? (My iMac G5 has the same issue my old iPod touch did.) Do the engineers at Apple not realize that Sony headphones are the choice of not only many home users, such as myself, but also many respected creative professionals around the world? Seeing how Apple hardware is used extensively by these "creative" professionals, such as musicians and music producers, what exactly is the reasoning for making Apple hardware incompatible with these jack sizes? Is there any work around for this incompatibility, such as some kind of headphone adapter I can pick up at Radio Shack?
Since I know that some users here will inevitably believe that I am thick-headed enough to confuse 1/4" jack with the 3.5mm variety, allow me to make it explicitly clear that I am not trying to somehow use a 1/4" jack with my iPod! (that is not even physically possible...)
Also, if anyone knows where I could contact Apple for some sort of official statement of this matter, I would be quite grateful.

Answer 1

musicmannn wrote:
One staff member at the Apple store told me that Sony, Skullcandy, and some other brands of headphones have a slightly larger plug which wrecks the jack on iPods over time because Sony and Skullcandy (among other brands) have headphone jacks that are just slightly larger than the others. This seems like a reasonable explanation to me.
Well it doesn't to me.
What I'm wondering is: is this slightly larger jack size exclusive to only a few brands, or does it extend to all brands except Apple's own earbuds?
In which case, that would suggest that the Apple jack is smaller than every other make, not that everyone else has a larger "plug". But I don't accept "a difference in size" as any sort of explanation. In fact, I think such an explanation is complete rubbish!
Other than that, I agree with Kappy, why would you post a problem about a Sony product on an Apple forum?
What can happen though, is that the back end headphone plug (the bit you grip to remove the plug) can be pushed against other objects when the iPod is in your pocket or bag and then the business end of the plug (the front bit that goes into the socket) is levered over, pushing the headphone jack over as well, and that causes the connection between the socket and the circuit board to break. Hence the problem.
The solution (to minimise the risk of broken headphone jacks) is to ensure that the plug cannot be pushed over while it's in your bag or pocket. I purchased a right-angled 3.5mm adaptor (http://www.keene.co.uk/electronics/multi.php?mycode=KA178) which reduces strain on the socket. In additon, do not leave the plug inserted with the headphone cord wrapped tight around the device when you're not using it, because once again, that will strain the connection inside the iPod.
Phil