Another set of headphones!

SCOOP 64

What is it with inear headphones these days, dont last more then 3/4 months and then only plays out of one ear piece,seems to be always the same problem ,stoppeds playing in one ear,my nieces/nephews parents all complain about the same thing, i have a box of full earphones which will only play out of on ear, i know you get what you pay for,but i wont spend €50/60 ona set of inear headphones, but i shouldnt have too, but i have tried sony,phillips, etc all with the same fault, only plays out of one ear after a while why not the both not working would make a refreshing change!

sullivlo

SCOOP 64 wrote: »

What is it with inear headphones these days, dont last more then 3/4 months and then only plays out of one ear piece,seems to be always the same problem ,stoppeds playing in one ear,my nieces/nephews parents all complain about the same thing, i have a box of full earphones which will only play out of on ear, i know you get what you pay for,but i wont spend €50/60 ona set of inear headphones, but i shouldnt have too, but i have tried sony,phillips, etc all with the same fault, only plays out of one ear after a while why not the both not working would make a refreshing change!

You've answered your own question there. I paid €150 for a pair of Bose in ear headphones 8 years ago and have had zero issues with them. Daily use.

I use cheap ones for working out though. But I expect them to break because they're cheap.

Tombi!

Do you mean the earbuds that come with most new phones?
I don't think I'd ever bought a pair that was more than a fiver. I remember I lost a mate's pair from her ipad and found out they were 30 quid.

SlipperyPeople

SCOOP 64 wrote: »

, i know you get what you pay for,but i wont spend €50/60 ona set of inear headphones

spent around 120 euro on a pair of professional quality shure headphones 5 years ago haven't run into the problems you've encountered yet. Maybe you should think about spending a little bit more to get quality that will last?

K.Flyer

Its usually down to the ultra thin and flimsy cable from the jack breaking. At low prices they are not designed or manufactured for longevity.

One eyed Jack

SCOOP 64 wrote: »

What is it with inear headphones these days, dont last more then 3/4 months and then only plays out of one ear piece,seems to be always the same problem ,stoppeds playing in one ear,my nieces/nephews parents all complain about the same thing, i have a box of full earphones which will only play out of on ear, i know you get what you pay for,but i wont spend €50/60 ona set of inear headphones, but i shouldnt have too, but i have tried sony,phillips, etc all with the same fault, only plays out of one ear after a while why not the both not working would make a refreshing change!

You answered your own question there OP. You aren't willing to pay for one set of quality earphones, but you'll go and buy what, €15 set of earphones four times in a year? I understand even with the €60 earphones the same thing happens, but I've had mine for well over a year now, and the pair before that for about two years. I'm all the time stressing the cable though so naturally over time the wear and tear takes it's toll and one or other earbud gives in.

Sir Osis of Liver.

Cut off one of your ears.

Problem solved and you already have a lifetime supply of headphone.

cantdecide

Paid €80 for some Phillips ones 5 years ago and still work perfectly.

Mint Sauce

Why don't you spend €50/60 and they might last a bit longer. Have SkullCandy ear buds the last year. Wear them few times a week, and still working like the first day I wore them.

Riesen_Meal

I can't abide by cheap headphones, as you say - they don't last...

I have a pair of Sony in ear ones that have lasted about 8 years I reckon as they are in one of them plastic boxes, and not loose and wrapped stuff...

At the moment I am rocking the AiAiAi TMAs, nice cans but not as nice as a pair of Seinheiser IMO...

LDN_Irish

I've had various sets between 30 and 60 and the same thing has happened to all of them. How much should I be spending to "guarantee" a set that'll last?

SCOOP 64

sullivlo wrote: »

You've answered your own question there. I paid €150 for a pair of Bose in ear headphones 8 years ago and have had zero issues with them. Daily use.

I use cheap ones for working out though. But I expect them to break because they're cheap.

This is exactly my point you shoudnt have to spend €150 for set of heaphones for them to work for a few years , €150 for headphones seems madness to me, Dad can i have these headphone bargain at €150 and will last a long time! , O, lost them Dad can you get me another set?"
i not expecting sony phillips to last for years, but 3/4 months!

AlmightyCushion

LDN_Irish wrote: »

I've had various sets between 30 and 60 and the same thing has happened to all of them. How much should I be spending to "guarantee" a set that'll last?

What brand are they? I find Sony and Sennheiser to be very good. I have a pair of Sony earphones and two pairs of Sennheisers and they have lasted years and all are still working perfectly. They cost about 40 or 50 euro each.

SCOOP 64

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

What brand are they? I find Sony and Sennheiser to be very good. I have a pair of Sony earphones and two pairs of Sennheisers and they have lasted years and all are still working perfectly. They cost about 40 or 50 euro each.

Ive tryed sony /philips but not at €50/60 ago .now if your a adult and only buying one pair for yourself ok but you have 2/3 teenagers with the phones you have to look at price , but my point is same fault acurs in most makes (€10/25 price) in a short period of time ,sound lost out of one ear.

Mr_Muffin

I used to buy cheap headphones and the cable would always break. Decided to purchase a cheapish wireless paid (45 euro) and they are brilliant.

I have seen some companies make the cables detachable thus allowing for just a new cable to be used if need be which is a great idea.

I've gone through a lot of headphones over the last few years, pretty much all Sennheiser too. On my third pair of PX100s, had two MM30i fail, and one CX2.00i. A mixture of driver failure or cable breakage.

The third pair of PX100s never leaves the house now and have been perfect for years, with the exception of one of the ear pads tearing, which was easily replaced. So I think it must be down to how I handle them when on the move.

kneemos

I've had cheap pairs for a fiver or so that I've worn for cycling and working with.Been battered, pulled,covered in paint and thrown around,the only issue I've had is having to stick one of the rubber ends back on.

biko

Did you try asking for recommendations in the Headphones forum?

kneemos

biko wrote: »

Did you try asking for recommendations in the Headphones forum?

There's no such thing as the headphones forum.

Fool me once fool on you.

pickarooney

I don't know that the price matters all that much. The size of the cable and the constant use will eventually cause them to break whether they're no brand fiver earphones or 100 euro Sennheisers. I've had the latter break in the exact same way after six months.

The Raptor

Had the best pair ever from a chinese phone repair shop. They were cheap knock offs of the ipod earphones for eight euro. It lasted 5 years until the cat ate them.

I got another pair of skullcaddy or something and they broke. Went back to the cheap chinese pair.

kneemos

You could try glueing the ends so the delicate soldering doesn't get pulled out.

biko

kneemos wrote: »

There's no such thing as the headphones forum.

Fool me once fool on you.

Headphones & Portable Audio Devices
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=624

sullivlo

Karsini wrote: »

I've gone through a lot of headphones over the last few years, pretty much all Sennheiser too. On my third pair of PX100s, had two MM30i fail, and one CX2.00i. A mixture of driver failure or cable breakage.

The third pair of PX100s never leaves the house now and have been perfect for years, with the exception of one of the ear pads tearing, which was easily replaced. So I think it must be down to how I handle them when on the move.

Yes, that's also a factor. Pulling the headphones / wrapping them around the phone will put pressure on the cables. If you're careful with how you handle them, they should last.

LDN_Irish

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

What brand are they? I find Sony and Sennheiser to be very good. I have a pair of Sony earphones and two pairs of Sennheisers and they have lasted years and all are still working perfectly. They cost about 40 or 50 euro each.

Various brands. I've had Sony noise reduction ones that the same happened to. Philips, erm, some others I can't remember. I've never had Sennheiser or Bose so I might give them a try. Thanks.

Hunchback

I have a gorgeous pair of DENON in - ear earphones that cost €130. I used to always factor in (when I was younger) that I would have to replace my earphones every six months, no matter how cheap or expensive they were - they would just stop working in one ear because of use and wear and tear.

Now I religiously put them into their protective case that they come with when they are not in use. I used to just have them sort in a crumpled mess in the pockets of whatever jeans I was last wearing. Unsurprisingly, my earphones started lasting me a few years at a time when I started ensuring they were stored correctly when not in use. When you get years of daily use out of your earphones, €130 starts to look quite cheap. And the sound from a decent quality pair of earphones does not compare in any way to the quality of sound from a cheap pair.

I would always say - spend the money, keep them in their protective case always, when not in use and then you should have a top quality pair for years and years

Mister Vain

I bought a new pair yesterday for 20 quid and they're great. My previous pair cost about the same but I got a couple of years out of them before one of the ear pieces became loose. I don't like those ones with the little rubber ear pieces, they keep falling out of my ears. I must have very big ears. I prefer the plastic ones that say in my fecking ears.

Sciprio

The reason they break so easily is because they're cheap. Buy a decent pair for €50 and upwards and now only will they last longer but you'll never go back to cheap earphones/headphones as the sounds quality and music sounds way better and not tinny like cheap earphones.

I have a wireless Sony bluetooh set, a pair of sennheiser and a pair of Audio Technica.(Best headphones ever) Buy cheap you get cheap.

mad muffin

Bought a pair of Ultimate Ears superfi.5 Extended Bass in 2007 for €150. Still going strong.

Badly Drunk Boy

kneemos wrote: »

I've had cheap pairs for a fiver or so that I've worn for cycling and working with.Been battered, pulled,covered in paint and thrown around,the only issue I've had is having to stick one of the rubber ends back on.

I use that sort too. When I get a new pair, I usually use insulating tape around the wire near where they plug into the music player, to protect them from the rough treatment that they're bound to get from me. It probably makes them look a bit scruffier but it prolongs their life (and I don't see them as a fashion accessory, the way some people would).

Here's what I know about headphones. Cheap ones break, and even more importantly they sound cheap.

Buy the most expensive Sennhiesers you can afford, you will be unlikely to go wrong and you'll hear so much more definition and clarity in what you're listening to, it's a completely different experience. If you can afford to go Bose, then go Bose, it's not something you'll regret and they'll likely last for years if you're careful how you handle them.

For a cheaper set that sounds more high end, I got some Xaomi Piston 3's a few months ago, and for about $18 they sound pretty good and the build seems good too, time will tell. I still prefer my Sennheiser M2IE's, but they make a great back-up pair.

If you spend as little as possible on headphones, they won't last well or sound too great, and once you go better quality, you never go back.

entropi

Hopefully this post won't jinx the whole situation but I bought a pair of Skullcandy earphones for around 25 euro 2 years ago, and they're still in perfect working order. It's not just the head/earphones themselves, but how you treat them and store them.

I have a pair of sennheisers. They had hardly any use when one of the spongy ear things fell off

internet_user

Where can you get earphones that dont fall out if your ears while jogging? I used to have a samsung pair that were great but i lost them and since then ive bought so many different brands but they keep falling out!

micar

internet_user wrote: »

Where can you get earphones that dont fall out if your ears while jogging? I used to have a samsung pair that were great but i lost them and since then ive bought so many different brands but they keep falling out!

Used to have a pair of Philips sport earphones...they were very good for running and never fell out.

biko

I found a pair of iphone headphones in the washing machine.
Put them in a sock and threw them in with the clothes into the dryer.
Works just fine.

wil

biko wrote: »

I found a pair of iphone headphones in the washing machine.
Put them in a sock and threw them in with the clothes into the dryer.
Works just fine.

Washing machine and dryer forum?

Big fan of Sennheisers.....
But has anyone considered if you are getting through several pairs of headphones or earbuds a year, chances are likely it's your ears will need replacing in a few years.

FizzleSticks

This post has been deleted.

Cantona's Collars

internet_user wrote: »

Where can you get earphones that dont fall out if your ears while jogging? I used to have a samsung pair that were great but i lost them and since then ive bought so many different brands but they keep falling out!

Put the cable over your ear from the back then the bud into the ear,that way they won't fall out when running or walking.;)

The lads I work with constantly buy cheap headphones and within a week or so they are binned and replaced.I bought more expensive ones and they are still going strong,the plus is that the cable has 2 jacks so it can be replaced if damaged rather than throwing out the whole lot.

kneemos

sugarman wrote: »

Pet peeve of mine;

Headphones - Are exactly that. Head - phones. You wear them over your head. 2 big speakers joined by a band, over your head.

Earphones - You wear them in your ear. Also known as earbuds.

There is no such thing as in ear headphones:pac:

https://www.google.ie/url?q=http://www.whathifi.com/best-buys/best-in-ear-headphones&sa=U&ved=0ahUKEwiky57agJbMAhWBDRoKHdM_A1MQFgg0MAA&usg=AFQjCNFeYTr2bSFcPHJ_TBYFgNBCyL7bOg

Esel

kneemos wrote: »

https://www.google.ie/url?q=http://www.whathifi.com/best-buys/best-in-ear-headphones&sa=U&ved=0ahUKEwiky57agJbMAhWBDRoKHdM_A1MQFgg0MAA&usg=AFQjCNFeYTr2bSFcPHJ_TBYFgNBCyL7bOg

Some mad prices there! :eek:

Mister Vain

Bose me hole. Beats by Dr Dre is what the cool kids are using these days. I saw a young one with dreadlocks at the train station the other day with them. She was head banging while spitting onto the tracks. Cool fooker she was.

Discodog

Deleted User wrote: »

I have a pair of sennheisers. They had hardly any use when one of the spongy ear things fell off

You can buy replacements on ebay

Cienciano

I spent about 50 on a set of sony ones about 7 years ago that are used daily. Finally broke about a month ago and I got these :
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00I3LV11K/ref=cm_cr_arp_mb_bdcrb_top?ie=UTF8

Definitely worth spending a bit more on headphones, the comfort alone is worth it

Xaracatz

I spent many €€€s on cheap earphones - definition of false economy. In fairness, I was always broke at the time, but buying cheap earphones every other week probably didn't help. Found the fake Apple ones best in terms of sound, but one side would always stop working after a short while.

Got a pair of Beats (don't judge me) and they're still going strong two years later. And I am pure careless with the poor feckers. If they're not in my ears, they're wrapped around my phone, hanging out of my bag, or, once, just sitting in a pool of water. Definitely money well spent. Great for running too - they have that in ear suction thing going on.

kneemos

Mister Vain wrote: »

Bose me hole. Beats by Dr Dre is what the cool kids are using these days. I saw a young one with dreadlocks at the train station the other day with them. She was head banging while spitting onto the tracks. Cool fooker she was.

Classy with an attitude.

blue5000

http://www.instructables.com/id/Sugru-Earbuds/

Wrap some of this stuff around the ends of the wires.

Muahahaha

Thing I don't like about earphones is the price differentials. Like you can get cheapo ones for €3, sometimes they'll last, other times they won't but the sound from them won't be great. The if you go into the €15-20 range they will sound better but are equally as likely to break within 6 months. Then the next price point seems to be €40

I wouldn't mind spending €20 on earphones but in my experience you don't always get good value for money. Dropping €50 on them seems to be the way to go but its a fair wedge of cash for what you're getting.

ballyharpat

I have a set of Shure that I bought about 5 years ago, I used them for running, out in all weather cycling and I travel with them, they have a thicker cable and are as good as the day I bought them, I went to a forum specially for headphones and took their advice…… They cost around e80

Frikadellen

Hold on to the receipt and swap them for a new pair if they break within the year.

gormdubhgorm

SCOOP 64 wrote: »

What is it with inear headphones these days, dont last more then 3/4 months and then only plays out of one ear piece,seems to be always the same problem ,stoppeds playing in one ear,my nieces/nephews parents all complain about the same thing, i have a box of full earphones which will only play out of on ear, i know you get what you pay for,but i wont spend €50/60 ona set of inear headphones, but i shouldnt have too, but i have tried sony,phillips, etc all with the same fault, only plays out of one ear after a while why not the both not working would make a refreshing change!

I used to have this problem all the time.
Main reason was I was not looking after the headphones/earphones properly.
I was wrapping the headphones around the mp3 player.
This causes the headphones to stretch breaking the wire and or connection part when it bends.

The solution was simple do not wrap the headphones around the mp3 player.
Buy a case for the headphones so you can store/carry them when they are not in use.
This prevents the headphones from getting tangled up.

Source: I have had the same working headphones for well over a year now. Before I used to go through a lot of headphones and it used to be a head wrecker.
PS dear headphones are a rip off just buy ones that are reasonably priced no brand names!