Here's a crazy one for ya... Over the past few months i have gone through 5 pairs of headphones all experiencing the same problem.. the right ear starts to crackle and eventually cuts out completely. The first pair to go was a brand new Shure E4 (msrp about $300) and it lasted a few months. After sending it in under warranty, I received another brand new pair and this time they only lasted about one month. I figure it's a problem with Shure. I cut my losses and move on to use a pair of Bose Tri-ports and V-Moda's Vibe depending on whether I felt like over-the-ear or earbud. After about a month, and within a few hours of each other, the sound in both headphones cuts out on the right ear. Naturally, I need to test my hypothesis that the iPod is the cause of my problems, so I run to Fry's and purchase a $3 pair of phones. These lasted about 2 days (~8 hours) before the sound cuts out on one side. I have absolutely no idea how this could be happening, but I would like to know before I send it in under warranty. Any theories here?
As for additional info... the iPod is a 5th Gen 30G, used several hours every day, at very reasonable levels (i care about my ears).
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I doubt your iPod is the problem. Its just either poor QC, poor design, or bad quality control. Also, earphone cables are sooooo thin that they are naturally prone to breaking. Like you, i've gone through countless earphones in the past 20 years. The most durable was an unheralded stock MDR-ED136 Sony that came with a Discman, which I beat up quite badly, but which lasted 10 years. But everything else has never lasted longer than a year. So now for casual listening on the go, I don't spend anything over $10 for earphones. When I want better sound, I use my full-sized headsets.
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Logic dictates... IT'S YOU!
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Ya i thought it was me too... but I've run tests now and every pair of headphones used w/ the ipod only lasts about 2 hours (cheap coby and apple ones were used for testing). This is now 7 pairs with the EXACT same problem... maybe i am just the unluckiest person in the world, but i doubt it.
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