Why do my headphones keep dying???

Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 1:38 am

this is the 2ed pair of Sennheiser HD280 Pro headphones that i've worn out this year
after a month or two they lose their clarity
6 months, the transients are distorting all the time, it's gross

i know it's bad for my ears
but I do like listening to my headphones LOUD.
what can i do to make sure they keep working as good as the first day i bought them?
(don't say turn down the volume..)
or recommend good headphones that won't wear down at high volumes.
i'm tiered of dropping cash on new headphones
I'd be willing to spend up to 600$ if i know i'd never have to spend another dime....

i use them plugged into Motu 896HD
the computer jack
& my ipod

in-ear headphones make me claustrophobic
and open-back headphones aren't an option either
(i need to listen to music at night without bother my spouse)

Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 1:47 am

I don't know about they HD280's but the Sennheisers I've been using have been complaining at a very low volume. But they gave a very good indication of distortion when you pushed them. Does not your headphones do this?

If not. Maybe you have a DC leak frying your phones?

My MOTU 8pre has a insane outputlevel from the phones jack.. No problem blowing phones there.

Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 2:03 am

like i said, the first month i have them they sound great with the volume at 11 on all devices... i wish they maintained quality with usage, but they wear down and are good for the trash.

i've found this interesting aticle about "headphone burn-in"
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=58157
i fear this is my problem....
my headphones sound like crap once they have "burned-in"...???

would i be better getting headphones with a higher Power Handling Capacity? say Sony MDR-V900HD @ 3000mW instead of the HD280 @ only 500mW

Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 6:51 am

I know you don't want to hear this, but it needs to be said.

You say you know it's bad for your ears. Even if you do get 'phones that handle more power, and you listen at insane volume, eventually those are not going to be enough. Your hearing WILL deteriorate. First, the highs will diminish, then you'll be tweaking more highs into them to compensate. Then, it's not really mixed properly. Then, eventually no 'phones will sound good. It won't be them that's the problem. It will be you, and you can't just go out and reline your ears, and buy new eardrums.

If you care anything at all about music, then you will heed the warnings and trust the evidence. You are basically playing Russian Roullette with your ears. You may be sorry when you realize that you can no longer hear properly, and that constant ringing steals all the enjoyment of listening, just because you "like it LOUD" now.

My left ear has a slight drop, and it's because it was the one closest to the drums and pointed more at the amps on stage. Of course, I was invincible, and "it won't happen to ME". It takes me longer to mix anything because I have to calculate in my head if everything is balanced by flipping the headphones or the monitors. Is there too much highs, or even a high-pitched noise, in the left? I don't know until I listen to the left in the right. I no longer subject my ears to that kind of abuse for any length of time.

I like music too much to damage myself further.

Do what you want. Just don't be surprised at the consequences.

Kapt.Krunch

Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 7:01 am

Headphones can be repaired so you don't have to toss them in the garbage. Contact the manufacture and get an RMA and send them back for repair and while you are at it ask them why they failed.

I for one would say that you are simply frying the transducers by putting too much level into them for too long a period. I can't imagine listening to headphones at 11 for any period of time. You know you are ruining your hearing and there are OSHA specs that tell you that you can only listen to "X" level of dBSPLs for such and such a period of time before you will permanently damage your hearing. Do a search on the WWW and see what those specs are. Anything above 85 dBSPL can spell real trouble for your ears especially if you listen to them more than say 4 hours per day.

They are YOUR ears but if you expect to be in audio for any period of time you should really take care of them. See This: http://www.hearingconservation.org/docs/Prac_Guide6.pdf

FWIW

Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 8:51 am

If your headphones are wearing out and frying, think about what's happening with the tiny hairs in your ears. They aren't replaceable, and they don't grow back. EVery blown set of HPs you have represeents lost and damaged real estate INSIDE YOUR OWN biological hearing system.

You should get your hearing checked NOW, right away, becasue it's possible there's nothing wrong with your headphone levels in the first place: You may already be suffering from some hearing loss. Turning up the HPs will only keep pushing the vicious cycle further.

Ignore this advice at your peril: You're putting dangerous SPL right up against your ears, with nowhere to escape except down the ear canal. Loud HPs are even worse than loud speakers.

Sure, it's fun, dangerous and you like living on the edge. Enjoy it while you can, you wild and crazy guy, because in a few years you'll have no reason to post on here or ask for any more advice. Evil or Very Mad

Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 10:58 am

Most likely you are clipping your headphone amp, and that is frying your headphone transducer, especially if you are listening at level "11"!

Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 2:44 pm

yes, my listening habits will ruin my hearing... Embarassed

what kind of headphones should i get that won't be ruined by my habits?

I LOVE the listening experience i have when the headphones are new
I've brought them "burned in" into the store and A/B them with new ones
the sales man claims the wear is normal and expected

how do i shop for headphones that will sound good once "burned in"

Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 3:56 pm

redbort wrote:

yes, my listening habits will ruin my hearing... Embarassed

what kind of headphones should i get that won't be ruined by my habits?

I LOVE the listening experience i have when the headphones are new
I've brought them "burned in" into the store and A/B them with new ones
the sales man claims the wear is normal and expected

how do i shop for headphones that will sound good once "burned in"

NO RECOMMENDATION BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT LISTENING TO WHAT PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO TELL YOU

Embarassed

Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 4:27 pm

What? CAN YOU SPEAK UP THOMAS? I CAN'T HEAR YOU!

Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 5:34 pm

VonRocK wrote:

What? CAN YOU SPEAK UP THOMAS? I CAN'T HEAR YOU!

Sorry for all the caps but I figured he already has his ears blown out.

Do you guys have snow yet?

Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 7:04 pm

There's a good possiblity that what you seek does not exist.
Headphones are usually made for normal listening levels.
And the headphone manufacturers probably don't want to be sued, and so make their products to work within OSHA guidlines.
That being said, The lower the OHMs the louder you can make them, but they won't last forever at hight volumes.
The higher the ohms, will protect the phones elements by distorting sooner, but as soon as you lower the vol, the clarity returns.
Get the lowest ohms and the highest pwr handling you can find. Of course, as mentioned, you might want to make a doctor appt, once blood starts to seep into the ear canal. You might taste it before you see it. So watch for that. If it drips out of the outer ear, you should be able to clean it off the headphones easily with alcohol.
Anything that runs at full throttle will wear out quickly.
That goes for headphones, cars, your body, mic pres, etc.

Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 7:32 pm

I recommend a pair of Mackie SRM450s and an adjustable head attachment device fashioned from bailing twine.

Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 7:46 pm

Just give him a few Technics 1200 headphones and let him continue ruining his hearing.

Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 9:16 pm

Two words....

DUMB

ASS.

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