Readers ask us: “Do Headphones Lose Volume Over Time?”. Well, the last thing you want is to see your favorite headphones going to waste in a few months. Let’s analyze why this happens.
“Respect headphones as a sign of intentional isolation”
– The Mind Journal
For today’s generation, this is an apt statement. Many jokingly say that when headphones are on, it is an automatic sign of “Please do not Disturb.”
There was a time when headphones solely existed for the iconic Walkmans, but now it has become an integral necessity we cannot do without. Headphones are not just a means to communicate or listen to music. It is much more today.
So, investing in a good pair of headphones is crucial if you want to maintain the well-being of your ears. Naturally, good headphones do not come cheap. Yes, good headphones are known for quality sound production and are built to last a long time.
But do headphones lose sound over a long period of use? Now that’s a million-dollar question.
Let us dive deeper and learn more about this must-have gadget that every Gen Z carries at all times. Myths and truths have blended in such a way, and we have no idea how to differentiate what’s right and what’s wrong information that is being shared.
Do Headphones Lose Audio Quality with time?
We all know that our headphones face quite a lot of stress and rough use in a single day alone. It is almost ten times more than our phones. Since headphones are not coated in a titanium shell, it is bound to wear down over time. Let’s check out a few common reasons for headphones going bad.
#1 Exposure to Outdoor Elements Like Moisture and Sunlight
Most headphones are made of skin-friendly rubber and plastic material. But these materials are not exactly built to withstand elements like moisture and heat. We often use headphones while working out or running. Sweat combines moisture and salt, the two-element elements that are very bad for the headphones.
How To Avoid It?
Always carry a neck towel along to wipe away excess sweat while working out. This will keep your headphone dry and away from neck and forehead sweat. Similarly, when you are outside, try keeping the headphones away from extreme exposure to heat.
You might like to read: Can Bass Break Headphones
#2 Improper Removing Technique
Impatience has become an important personality trait in all of us. We are always in a rush. How many times have you pulled the chord of the headphone instead of the jack?
The jack is there for a reason. It connects the vital portion of the audio input to the wire and the earbuds. It is also the most substantial portion of the headphone.
The moment you pull the chord instead of the jack, it creates tension within the fine wirings inside. Over a while, the internal wiring is bound to separate from the jack connector, and there goes your audio.
How To Avoid It?
You can either buy headphones with L-shaped jacks or choose to go wireless if you cannot change your habit of removing the headphone wire using the jack instead of the chord.
#3 Not Carrying a Designated Headphone Case.
Headphone wires are easily stuck, twisted, or pulled apart if they are not tucked away safely. Our common sense will tell us that it is okay if the headphones are in the bag. But in reality, your bag will have a lot of other accessories too. The wire can get twisted on a simple zipper or your purse. Or the jack can get tangled between charger wires.
How To Avoid It?
Always carry a separate case for the headphones. This keeps them safe from getting entangled or crushed or pulled.
#4 Rolling Cords
To prevent mess and knots, we often roll our headphone cords. This creates tension in the wiring, and thus within some time, you lose audio in one or both sides of the earbuds.
How To Avoid It?
A case is the best solution, or else get yourself headphones that come with a tangle-free cord.
Do Headphones Lose Volume Over Time?
This is a question many people have when they are en route to investing in a pair of good-quality headphones. The answer is yes, and they do lose volume after a certain period.
Why do headphones lose volume?
There is a proper scientific explanation for the problem; it is not because companies use cheap product parts.
Sound waves are constantly produced when you use our headphones. The louder the volume, the higher is the vibration caused by sound waves.
After a certain point of time, the excessive vibration disrupts the sound frequency. The result is a discrepancy in the volume quality.
What begins as simple deterioration of bass and volume, later on, progresses to complete disintegration of the volume along with the presence of lots of buzzing and crackling noise.
You might like to read: Do Magnets Ruin Headphones
How can you stop your headphones from losing volume?
It’s simple logic. Rather than using your headphones at their total notched volume, why not tone it down and make a habit of listening at a medium volume.
Remember that the best volume is that which does not strain your ears or your neighbor. Loud volume is, anyway, not good for your health and can cause permanent damage to your eardrums.
The Choice Between Expensive and Cheap Headphones
If you are planning to buy headphones, there are two questions that most of us ponder upon. Do headphones lose quality over time? If so, is it okay to invest in an expensive quality product?
Before answering the question, let’s take a look at two scenarios.
Buying a cheap headphone may save you a few hundred bucks, but who is going to guarantee that it will not cause damage to your hearing ability?
You can buy a mediocre range headphone, but what is the guarantee that it will last long enough before losing bass and audio?
Headphones of good quality are often created with emphasis on numerous technological advancements. They are fitted with safety measures for the ears in addition to high-quality sound accessories. Along with good quality audio, you are sure that your ears are perfectly safe.
The chances of you needing to get ear treatment are almost nil if you get good quality headphones. Plus, there is an additional service warranty too.
Other Queries and Doubts Consumers Have About Headphones
Why do headphones get quieter over time?
Headphones lose their sound frequency in many cases. The result is diminishing volume. This occurs as a result of loss of shelf life of the internal parts due to continuous use of volume in its highest setting.
How long do headphones usually last?
Good quality headphones can last anywhere between an ear to 5 years depending on the warranty, part replacement conditions, and usability from your end. Many top-end brands offer almost half a decade of full use without any issue.
You might like to read: How Do Headphones Break
Invest to save your ears, not your wallet!
We are living in an age when there is an expiry date for everything. What is important is if the product serves its purpose well before expiring?
Low-quality and cheap headphones may be accessible on the pocket, but they are bound to have numerous ill effects on the eardrum and brain. Inferior quality audio can affect your hearing ability too.
If you do not want to lose your hearing ability, it is best to choose a pair of headphones that is technologically sound and promises absolute safety for the ears and the brain.