This guide teaches you how to keep your earbuds in perfect condition for years by storing them properly and using them at the right volume.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Preventing Physical Damage
Step 1. Pull the connector, not the cable
When you remove the headphone jack from the device you are using, grab the connector and pull it out. By pulling on the cable, you are putting more strain on the connector, which will eventually be damaged.
Step 2. Shoot firmly, not abruptly
If the headphone connector doesn't pop out easily, remove it by applying steady, firm force. Pulling it sharply could damage it.
Step 3. Do not leave the headphones on the floor
This advice may seem trivial to you, but putting the headphones on the ground is a sure way to inadvertently damage them. When not in use, always keep them on your desk, table or in a drawer.
Step 4. Avoid leaving headphones plugged in
When you're not using them, take them off. If you inadvertently get caught in the wire, you could damage them by trying to get up or move.
Step 5. Roll up the cord when not in use
This is especially important if the threads don't have a divider. If they become tangled or knotted, the power cord inside may be damaged. Don't just put them in your pocket just as they are.
- You can use a paper clip, or use an old plastic card where you have notched notches to wrap the cable securely.
- Do not tie the cables or pull them.
Step 6. Avoid letting the headphones hang down
If gravity pushes on the headphones, the cable inside is put under unnecessary stress. Avoid letting them dangle from your desk or out of your bag.
Step 7. Avoid contact with water
Like all electronic devices, headphones don't get along well with water. If they get wet, wipe off all the water, pour some alcohol over them, and let them air dry for a few hours. In most cases, following this advice minor accidents shouldn't be fatal to the headphones.
Step 8. Avoid sleeping with headphones in your ears
In addition to the damage they can cause to your hearing, if you move around during the night you could bend or break them.
Step 9. Get a protective case for the headphones
If you need to carry them often, you can buy a small box to keep them in. You could find a specific one for your model, or choose a multipurpose one.
Step 10. Invest in high quality headphones
Manufacturers of the cheapest models reduce costs in all possible ways, thereby also saving on the quality of materials. If you use them frequently every day, a quality pair of earbuds will last much longer than cheap ones.
A braided cable with divider prevents cables from tangling and tangling, extending the life of the headphones
Part 2 of 2: Preventing Damage From Audio Devices
Step 1. Turn down the volume before connecting the headphones
Connecting the earphones to a device that is playing at full volume can damage them. Turn down the volume before plugging in and wait to put them in your ears.
Once your headphones are plugged in, turn up the volume to a comfortable level
Step 2. Keep the volume down
Listening to loud audio is dangerous to your hearing and can damage the speakers of the headphones. This can cause permanent distortions and hums. If you feel the sound starts to distort, the volume is too high.
Do not set the volume to maximum, as this increases the chances of damaging the headphones' speakers. If you can't turn up the volume beyond a certain limit, consider buying a headphone amplifier
Step 3. Turn down the bass
Many headphones do not have powerful low frequency drivers; therefore having too much bass volume can quickly damage the speakers if they are not properly controlled. Use the mixer levels of the device you are using to reduce the bass and make sure the "Bass Boost" feature is disabled.
Step 4. Use headphones that can handle the load they are subjected to
This is not a problem if you connect them to your phone or computer, but if you want to connect them to a high quality stereo, make sure they are able to sustain the signal strength. Connecting weakly resistant earphones to a too powerful source can damage them in a short time.
Read the documentation supplied with the headphones to know the impedance and check that of the device to which you connect them in order to set the signal output appropriately
Advice
- Do not roll up the headphones while they are still connected to a device.
- When buying headphones, look for those that are more resistant to traction (you will notice a piece of flexible plastic at the end of the connector). This can prevent the cables from coming out of the earphones.
- If your stereo or MP3 player has a volume limiting system, use it. You will avoid hearing damage and extend the useful life of the headphones.
- Remove the headphones from your trouser pocket before washing them.
Warnings
- Listening to loud music for long periods of time can permanently damage your hearing.
- If the people close to you can hear the music playing on the headphones, this is an open model. Normally, with encapsulated headphones no one else will be able to hear the sound. If your headphones are encapsulated and someone can still hear, the volume is too loud.
