Most annoying thing ever, Headphone shorts. - Tilted Forum Project - TFP - Sexuality, Philosophy and Political Discussion

Shauk · 10-14-2006, 01:52 AM

You know, i've probably gone through a dozen headphones in the last 20 years, maybe more.

but now, my 100$+ babies are starting to do this and I don't want to have to buy a new pair.

now, I may just be inexperienced in the ways of the world and what services businesses have to offer, but is there anyway to fix the short that plagues these headphones? regardless of manufactuer, it's always the same, right there at the flexible part of the plug, you can tweak with it and you'll hear the static, lose sound in one or both of the headphones.

who do I go to, to fix this?

AquaFox · 10-14-2006, 03:04 PM

i've shaved off all the rubber on the end part on cheaper phones and tried resodering the tips on... but you got to be careful and soder it correctly or it will just get worse.... it would be imagineable that somewhere sells new ends, like how they sell new plugs for electrical appliances....

monkeysugar · 10-14-2006, 09:08 PM

You can buy replacement tips at radio shack, in the parts drawers for $3-4ish

flat5 · 11-07-2006, 01:36 PM

Make sure the plug is clean...and what it plugs into.

timothy4testes · 11-14-2006, 09:01 PM

the only why to keep from that from happening is by taking care of youre head phone ie not rolling them up so if you figure out a way to do that you'll be fine

goddfather40 · 11-14-2006, 10:50 PM

I agree with monkeysugar; If you are so inclined, go to Radio Shack and buy a headphone jack, or find an old or cheap set of headphones and snip the connector off. Cut the existing connector and an inch or two of the cable. Use some heat shrink tubing to insulate each conductor and then splice the wires from your new connector into the newly exposed wires of your headphones. Any friend or acquaintance with some electronics experience should have no problems with this.

Lasereth · 11-21-2006, 08:01 AM

Wow my really expensive Altec Lansing headphones have did this since the day I bought them. I never knew it was a widespread problem. I do roll my headphones up a lot so I imagine that it has caused the static and loss of power to the left or right side. How is this such a widespread problem? It seems like manufacturers would have noticed it and fixed it by now.

Except mine do it at the volume control, not at the actual plug. I guess I'm fucked if it's doing it in the actual volume controller.

monkeysugar · 11-26-2006, 11:27 PM

Lasereth, if it's beyond the warrantee just crack open the volume control module and it's most likely just a short. Resolder or whatever and it should work just fine.

flat5 · 11-27-2006, 06:47 AM

Lasereth

Volume controls should have a lubricated surface.
If the control had the problem when new, I'd use a "control spray"
on the volume control. You can buy it at electronics parts stores (Radio Shack)
and many hardware stores. Perhaps for about the same price a TV repairman will spray it for you and do it right.

Good luck.

Shauk · 02-18-2008, 04:44 PM

so yeah, I just picked these things back up and rediscovered this issue. it's gotten to the point that they're unusable. any ideas? Is there just a store or something I could probably take them to to have them serviced?

twistedmosaic · 02-18-2008, 05:11 PM

I used to have a pair that my cats had nibble a little bit right below where they attached to the ear, that exposing enough wire that they would occasionally shock the shit out of my cheek. Good times.

MSD · 02-18-2008, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shauk

so yeah, I just picked these things back up and rediscovered this issue. it's gotten to the point that they're unusable. any ideas? Is there just a store or something I could probably take them to to have them serviced?

You can get a soldering iron and a new plug for a few bucks at Radio Shack. If you really don't want to do it yourself, take them to a local music store and ask if they can put a new end on for you.

ratbastid · 02-18-2008, 08:50 PM

Soldering connectors really isn't as intimidating as it seems. Even if you botch it, all you've lost is an inch or so of cable and a little solder.

10-14-2006, 01:52 AM	#1 (permalink)
Shauk Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Seattle, WA	Most annoying thing ever, Headphone shorts. You know, i've probably gone through a dozen headphones in the last 20 years, maybe more. but now, my 100$+ babies are starting to do this and I don't want to have to buy a new pair. now, I may just be inexperienced in the ways of the world and what services businesses have to offer, but is there anyway to fix the short that plagues these headphones? regardless of manufactuer, it's always the same, right there at the flexible part of the plug, you can tweak with it and you'll hear the static, lose sound in one or both of the headphones. who do I go to, to fix this?

10-14-2006, 03:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
AquaFox WaterDog Join Date: Nov 2004	i've shaved off all the rubber on the end part on cheaper phones and tried resodering the tips on... but you got to be careful and soder it correctly or it will just get worse.... it would be imagineable that somewhere sells new ends, like how they sell new plugs for electrical appliances.... __________________ ...AquaFox...

10-14-2006, 09:08 PM	#3 (permalink)
monkeysugar Psycho Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: WA	You can buy replacement tips at radio shack, in the parts drawers for $3-4ish __________________ Pain hardens, and great pain hardens greatly, whatever the comforters say, and suffering does not ennoble, though it may occasionally lend a certain rigid dignity of manner to the suffering frame. - Antonia S. Byatt

11-14-2006, 10:50 PM	#6 (permalink)
goddfather40 Llama Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Cali-for-nye-a	I agree with monkeysugar; If you are so inclined, go to Radio Shack and buy a headphone jack, or find an old or cheap set of headphones and snip the connector off. Cut the existing connector and an inch or two of the cable. Use some heat shrink tubing to insulate each conductor and then splice the wires from your new connector into the newly exposed wires of your headphones. Any friend or acquaintance with some electronics experience should have no problems with this. __________________ My name is goddfather40 and I approved this message. I got ho's and I got bitches, In C++ I branch with switches -MC Plus+

11-21-2006, 08:01 AM	#7 (permalink)
Lasereth Knight of the Old Republic Join Date: May 2003 Location: Winston-Salem, NC	Wow my really expensive Altec Lansing headphones have did this since the day I bought them. I never knew it was a widespread problem. I do roll my headphones up a lot so I imagine that it has caused the static and loss of power to the left or right side. How is this such a widespread problem? It seems like manufacturers would have noticed it and fixed it by now. Except mine do it at the volume control, not at the actual plug. I guess I'm fucked if it's doing it in the actual volume controller. __________________ "A Darwinian attacks his theory, seeking to find flaws. An ID believer defends his theory, seeking to conceal flaws." -Roger Ebert Last edited by Lasereth; 11-21-2006 at 08:03 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

11-07-2006, 01:36 PM	#4 (permalink)
flat5 Junkie Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Amsterdam, NL	Make sure the plug is clean...and what it plugs into.

11-14-2006, 09:01 PM	#5 (permalink)
timothy4testes Loser Join Date: Aug 2006	the only why to keep from that from happening is by taking care of youre head phone ie not rolling them up so if you figure out a way to do that you'll be fine

11-26-2006, 11:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
monkeysugar Psycho Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: WA	Lasereth, if it's beyond the warrantee just crack open the volume control module and it's most likely just a short. Resolder or whatever and it should work just fine. __________________ Pain hardens, and great pain hardens greatly, whatever the comforters say, and suffering does not ennoble, though it may occasionally lend a certain rigid dignity of manner to the suffering frame. - Antonia S. Byatt

11-27-2006, 06:47 AM	#9 (permalink)
flat5 Junkie Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Amsterdam, NL	Lasereth Volume controls should have a lubricated surface. If the control had the problem when new, I'd use a "control spray" on the volume control. You can buy it at electronics parts stores (Radio Shack) and many hardware stores. Perhaps for about the same price a TV repairman will spray it for you and do it right. Good luck.

02-18-2008, 04:44 PM	#10 (permalink)
Shauk Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Seattle, WA	so yeah, I just picked these things back up and rediscovered this issue. it's gotten to the point that they're unusable. any ideas? Is there just a store or something I could probably take them to to have them serviced?

02-18-2008, 05:11 PM	#11 (permalink)
twistedmosaic Inane Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wunderland	I used to have a pair that my cats had nibble a little bit right below where they attached to the ear, that exposing enough wire that they would occasionally shock the shit out of my cheek. Good times. __________________ ☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻ ☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻ ☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻ ☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☻

02-18-2008, 08:50 PM	#13 (permalink)
ratbastid Darth Papa Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Yonder	Soldering connectors really isn't as intimidating as it seems. Even if you botch it, all you've lost is an inch or so of cable and a little solder.