Earbuds

[JustJon]

Two months ago, my Apple In-Ear buds died in one ear, and I bought a pair of Sony earbuds.&nbsp; They're really comfortable,but during Ron and Fez today, my left ear bud started dying.&nbsp; Is there anything I can do fix this problem with my headphones or am I stuck buying yet another pair?<br />

[Plethora]

<p>the wires heading into the bud will have some sort of strain relief or perhaps a knot <em>inside</em>
the bud to make it more difficult to yank the wire from the solder
joints on the lil speaker in there.... sometimes the knot / strain
relief is not so good.&nbsp; You probably have a marginal connection on one
of the wires in there.... <br />
</p><p>Try pushing the wire into the bud, jiggle it.&nbsp; It'll be a temporary fix at best.&nbsp; If you are handy with a soldering iron, open it up and reflow the solder joints. Or... go to Target and get a new set for $10.</p><p><br /></p>

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by Plethora on 4-25-06 @ 1:22 PM</span>

[kdubya]

Maybe that ear is just going deaf

[blakjeezis]

What?

[Death Metal Moe]

<strong>kdubya</strong> wrote:<br />Maybe that ear is just going deaf <p>I actually thought that because I have a slight hearing loss in my left ear from a construction pratical joke.&nbsp; My left earbud that came with the iPod was slowly dying.&nbsp; I'd adjust and readjust that fucking thing in my ear all day to no avail.&nbsp; Then I bought the same $10 Sony ones we're all talking about in here.</p><p>These things are built to be disposable these days Jon, you know that.&nbsp; I'm afraid you have to get new ones.</p>

[Death Metal Moe]

Sorry, double post.&nbsp; Completley my fault this time.

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by Death Metal Moe on 4-25-06 @ 1:23 PM</span>

[JustJon]

<p>Well, I don't buy the $10 ones because I don't find them very comfortable.&nbsp; These were about $30 and they sounded really good and blocked out outside sound really well.&nbsp; I'm just annoyed that they only lasted 2 months at that price.&nbsp; </p><p>&nbsp;Maybe I'll try cracking them open tonight and checking the solder.<br /></p>

[J.Clints]

<strong>JustJon</strong> wrote:<br />Two months ago, my Apple In-Ear buds died in one ear, and I bought a pair of Sony earbuds.&nbsp; They're really comfortable,but during Ron and Fez today, my left ear bud started dying.&nbsp; Is there anything I can do fix this problem with my headphones or am I stuck buying yet another pair?<br /><p>I had some sony, that died also. I dont know of anything you can do. I just went and bought another pair.</p>

[JPMNICK]

<p>I bought an el-cheapo set from radioshack only because the wire was very long, and i hate short headphone wires. they have been good so far. Plus, most of my headphones break anyway. </p><p>As for the left dying, I am sure it has to do with the solder to the PCB inside. Or maybe you got water on it. </p>

[JustJon]

<p>&nbsp;</p><strong>JPMNICK</strong> wrote:<br /><p>As for the left dying, I am sure it has to do with the solder to the PCB inside. Or maybe you got water on it. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>It was in my ear at the time.&nbsp; I pulled out on of the ear buds for a moment, put it back in my ear and noticed a moment later that the volume dropped on the show.&nbsp; </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>And I was looking at the earphone. I'm not sure I can crack the stupid thing open without destroying it.<br /></p>

[J.Clints]

<blockquote /><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>And I was looking at the earphone. I'm not sure I can crack the stupid thing open without destroying it.<br /></p><p>I tried to open mine and tore it up.</p>

[Death Metal Moe]

<strong>jclintsma</strong> wrote: <p>And I was looking at the earphone. I'm not sure I can crack the stupid thing open without destroying it.<br /></p><p>I tried to open mine and tore it up.</p><p>They do that on purpose so you can't fix simple problems.</p><p>And&nbsp;I agree with you Jon, $30 is a little harder to swallow a few months later. </p>

[J.Clints]

<strong>Death Metal Moe</strong> wrote:<br /><strong>jclintsma</strong> wrote: <p>And I was looking at the earphone. I'm not sure I can crack the stupid thing open without destroying it.<br /></p><p>I tried to open mine and tore it up.</p><p>They do that on purpose so you can't fix simple problems.</p><p>And&nbsp;I agree with you Jon, $30 is a little harder to swallow a few months later. </p><p>no dout. </p>

[JPMNICK]

Yes Jon it sounds like the solder broke. That happens a lot with cheaply made stuff, esp this time of the year with extreme changes in temp (i.e. walking in from the cold into a heated room. Or going from the gym to outside in your car. All those conditions will weaken the solder, as will pulling the earbuds out by the cord.

[kdubya]

<strong>Death Metal Moe</strong> wrote:<br /><strong>kdubya</strong> wrote:<br />Maybe that ear is just going deaf <p>I actually thought that because I have a slight hearing loss in my left ear from a construction pratical joke.&nbsp; My left earbud that came with the iPod was slowly dying.&nbsp; I'd adjust and readjust that fucking thing in my ear all day to no avail.&nbsp; Then I bought the same $10 Sony ones we're all talking about in here.</p><p>These things are built to be disposable these days Jon, you know that.&nbsp; I'm afraid you have to get new ones.</p><p>I have poor hearing in one ear as well, I can't use ear buds and have to use regular headphones. Kind of a drag</p>

[J.Clints]

I dont think there are any earbuds that this dose not happen to. It sucks but what can we do.

[JustJon]

class action law suit?<br />

[OGC]

<p><font size="1">I got a set of these <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007N55MS/104-6365831-8907151?v=glance&n=172282" target="_self">sony earbuds</a>&nbsp;about a year ago. The only place I was able to get them was ebay and even then they were about $30&nbsp;and $10 shipping. They have a neck strap which is convenient for me. The cord is short and these are more designed for the ipod or mp3 player to hang around your neck or sit in a shirt pocket.</font></p><p><font size="1">I inspected them a few days ago I noticed that the wire down near the plug is bare in one spot so I guess I'll be buying another set soon. It really is freeeking annoying that they can't make these things a little more durable. </font></p><p><font size="1">They really do sound good and I'd be more than willing to pay a little more to get something more sturdy. Of course they would rather I buy a new set every year or so. </font></p><p><font size="1">Before I got these I had the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000095SB6/ref=pd_cp_title/104-6365831-8907151?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=172282" target="_self">$30 sony earbuds</a> mentioned earlier and they too didn't last a year. I am pretty handy with a soldering iron so I tried to fix them but had no luck.</font></p>

[badorties]

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>i usually go through two pair of earphones a year ... and&nbsp;for the last two years, i have bought these $10 earphones exclusively:</p><p><a href="http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=3691516" target="_blank"><img height="175" src="http://images.jr.com/productimages/SONMDRJ10BLUE.PNG?CELL=175,175&QLT=67&FTR=7&CVT=jpeg" width="175" border="1" /></a></p><p>i really like the ones that come with an OFC cable, but really can't find them ...</p>

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by badorties on 4-25-06 @ 4:35 PM</span>

[Plethora]

<p>&nbsp;</p><strong>badorties</strong> wrote:<br /><p> </p><p>i really like the ones that come with an <strong>OFC cable</strong>, but really can't find them ...<br /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>que?</p>

[suggums]

<p>badorties, ive had those same ones for a couple years.&nbsp; they're reliable and fall out less cause of the over-ear hook, and the plastic is rather pliable.&nbsp; but the cord also get tangled and knotted in those hooks way too often, and one of them makes my ear hurt after a while so i have to take em out. still, that might just be my pair.&nbsp; good buy for the price, but ill probably try something else soon.</p><p>&nbsp;also, to moe-care to elaborate further on the 'construction practical joke' <br /></p>

[Death Metal Moe]

<strong>suggums</strong> wrote:<br /><p>badorties, ive had those same ones for a couple years.&nbsp; they're reliable and fall out less cause of the over-ear hook, and the plastic is rather pliable.&nbsp; but the cord also get tangled and knotted in those hooks way too often, and one of them makes my ear hurt after a while so i have to take em out. still, that might just be my pair.&nbsp; good buy for the price, but ill probably try something else soon.</p><p>&nbsp;also, to moe-care to elaborate further on the 'construction practical joke' <br /></p><p>I put my tools down and someone put a charge behind the pin, in front of the piston&nbsp;in a construction shotgun.&nbsp; It's a tool that drives pins into steel and concrete.</p><p>I loaded it, shot it and instead of the piston shooting the pin into the concrete, it hit the charge and the pin, sending shrapnel out and creating an extremely loud noise next to my left ear.</p><p>Ever since, every now and then I will suddenly hear a very high pitched tone in that ear and the hearing gets muffled for about 10 seconds, then it goes away.</p><p>Since I've been kinda paranoid about that ear for years now, when that ear's earbud started to die I started to think I was going deaf in that ear due to the damage.&nbsp; Luckily for me, it wasn't the case this time.</p>

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by Death Metal Moe on 4-25-06 @ 6:25 PM</span>

[narc]

I loathe earbuds. Maybe it's just the way my ears are, but I've never tried a comfortable pair. Everytime I've used them and taken them out, for like a day afterwards, it hurts. Earphones are the way to go for me.

[torker]

I've got spuds in my ears.

[FUNKMAN]

<strong>torker</strong> wrote:<br />I've got spuds in my ears. <p>EWWW!</p><p><img height="339" src="http://www.brewskilights.com/Budweiser/budspuds.jpg" width="273" border="0" /></p>

[SatCam]

<strong>torker</strong> wrote:<br>I've got spuds in my ears.<p></p>

The most recent picture of torker:

http://www.firesigntheatre.com/ffthtml/blindnewsboy/potato2.jpg

[OGC]

<strong>narc</strong> wrote:<br />I loathe earbuds. Maybe it's just the way my ears are, but I've never tried a comfortable pair. Everytime I've used them and taken them out, for like a day afterwards, it hurts. Earphones are the way to go for me. <p><font size="1">Are you talking about this type of earbuds ?</font></p><p><img height="203" src="http://www.circuitcity.com/IMAGE/product/detail/son/EC.SON.MDREX71SLWK.JPG" width="203" border="0" /></p><p><font size="1">These come with 3 sets of rubber ends of varied sizes to customise the fit.</font></p><p><font size="1">I have been wearing a pair of these for at least 7 hours&nbsp;per workday for the last 2 years and can honestly say that they haven't caused the slightest bit of discomfort. In fact most of the time I forget they are in. If only they were built better.</font></p>

[JustJon]

<p>&nbsp;</p><strong>richg0404</strong> wrote:<br /><br /><p><font size="1">Before I got these I had the <a target="_self" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000095SB6/ref=pd_cp_title/104-6365831-8907151?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=172282">$30 sony earbuds</a> mentioned earlier and they too didn't last a year. I am pretty handy with a soldering iron so I tried to fix them but had no luck.</font></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Those are the pair that I have now.&nbsp; They worked really well...&nbsp; for those 2 months...&nbsp;</p>

[Reephdweller]

<p>I got the in-ear earbuds from apple. I tried them for a while but could never find them comfortable. I now have <a href="http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=MDRED21LP&Dept=audio&CategoryName=pa_Headphones_FontopiaEarbud" target="_blank">these from Sony</a> and I love them.</p><p><img height="250" src="http://www.sonystyle.com/intershoproot/eCS/Store/en/imagesProducts/650x650/MDRED21LP.jpg" width="250" border="0" /></p>