Dickwads. Though I will say their coverage is great out here in my part of the Boston 'burbs. Still, can't wait for their exclusive to expire -- if only to put some competitive pressure on plan pricing.
Yeah, it's a seam where the mesh is presumably joined after it is wrapped/shaped. Mine have the same feature, albeit in a slightly different location on the ear cup. They also occasionally clink and I don't give a fuck. Surely we have now entered the realm of the microscopically anal?
Unlikely to be good news for users.
Also quite closely coincident to the latest blow-up over them (or CBS, without their knowledge) allegedly giving user data to the RIAA.
It'd be interesting to know what the functional differences are with the $2200 SA-15S2 -- from which this is pretty clearly derived.
Looking at the respective specs -- the only listed, non-cosmetic change is the power transformer. "Large-capacity toroidal in copper-shielded case."