No matter how sophisticated an aircraft pressurization system is, if you descend too late and too quickly, the cabin can only descend quickly, therefore causing ear disconfort. It is simple maths, elapsed time since begining of descend till landing
This is true only in a non pressurized cabin where cabin altitude equals airplane altitude. When packs [Air Cycle machines] are operating normally, cabin altitude rate changes are controlled, typically at no more than 250 to 500 feet per minute. Even when the airplane descents at 4000 feet per minute, it wouldn't affect the cabin rate of change. In a B747 at 35,000 feet with 3 packs running, the cabin altitude would normally not be above 5000 feet. So, descending the cabin from 5000 feet cabin altitude to sea level altitude at 500 feet per minute would take only 10 minutes. A "late airplane descent" from FL350 would be inconsequential.
