USB-C is found in every Valco device. From over-ear headphones to buds, from speakers to everything. No proprietary connectors, no special cables, no "Valco Proprietary MagCharge Ultra" nonsense. The reason is simple: proprietary chargers are a scam.
A proprietary connector is a cash grab, not an innovation
You know the feeling. You buy a device, the cable goes missing, and a replacement costs 39 euros — because it is "specifically designed for this device." "Specifically designed" here means that some engineer told them to make the connector different enough that no other cable fits. That’s how you create an upsell.
We don’t do this. Not because we’re somehow morally superior (though that’s true as well), but because it’s simply stupid. USB-C is a standard. You’ll find it in your phone, laptop, tablet, and probably soon in your coffee maker, too. One cable is enough for everything.
USB-C is better than any proprietary invention
USB-C has a few very concrete advantages:
- Cables are everywhere. In the hotel room, in a friend’s car, in the office drawer. You don’t need to carry a separate Valco cable with you.
- Cheap spare cables. If a cable goes missing (and they always do), you can buy a new one for a couple of euros from any store. No need to order a special cable from Kajaani.
- Fast charging. USB-C supports fast charging as a standard. We didn’t need to reinvent the wheel.
- The EU will force it anyway. The European Union has decided that USB-C is the standard. We were there first, but thanks to the EU no one else has to invent their own connectors anymore, either.
Henri’s Alfa Romeo breaks down often enough as it is — we don’t need to design products that require special parts.
Repairability and standards go hand in hand
At Valco, the whole philosophy is that devices shouldn’t be thrown away. Jasse and the rest of the service team repair headphones in Kajaani every day. Standard connectors make this easier. The USB-C port is a common component. If it ever breaks, replacing it is straightforward and doesn’t require any special part from some factory back room.
A proprietary connector would have meant a proprietary spare part, its own storage, and its own logistics. That would have increased prices and slowed down repairs. No one benefits from that — except the one selling replacement cables with a margin big enough to fund a small space program.
We fund ours simply by selling headphones.
In short
USB-C is in every Valco device because it’s the best option. Not because it’s trendy, but because proprietary connectors are a cash grab and standards serve the customer.
If some company sells you a 40-euro special cable, they’re not building a Death Star — they’re building their own wallet at your expense. At least we do it honestly.
