39 replies to this topic

[Taikomochi]

So I recently got Lost: The Last Episodes and have been listening to it frequently. I had this great pair of ear buds, but they broke the day before I got my CD. The wiring had already been messed up so that the left ear was silence, but I managed to tape the wiring into place so that it played anyways.

So I got out a pair of cheaper white ear buds to start listening and they had this obnoxious scratching noise every time the bass was too much on the music, like crinkling plastic. I got out a very old and cheap pair of headphones and they did this to a lesser extent. I even tried by clunky $160 Bose which are somewhat breaking down and they made the same scratchy noise.

So, not wanting to deal with this, I used my last $16 to buy a pair of Phillips ear buds. Band new. I thought $16 would buy a decent pair. Usually I only feel ripped off if it's below $10. The first thing I heard when I plugged them in was that same scratchy noise.

I HATE dealing with this crap.

I'm curious, though, does anyone have suggestions on how to make my ear buds not do this? Because I'm stuck with them.

EDIT: And they've just completely blown out and are extremely quiet, imbalanced, and make that scratchy noise 100% of the time... I am going to exchange them for another pair later as I can't find the receipt to return them. Maybe I'll get lucky.

[Stefancos]

$16 is far to low a price, go 50 bucks or more!

[Taikomochi]

Well, for me, $16 is usually enough. When I buy $50 headphones/earbuds, I'm always very pleased, but the wiring always breaks down within 1-3 months because of my overuse, so I'd rather just stick with cheap earbuds.

[Koray Savas]

The $30 Apple earbuds are the ideal choice IMO. They last long and they have good sound. Also, when they break, it's not like you got ripped off.

[Taikomochi]

I have had really good experience with Apple's earbuds. My pair lasted about 6 months, which is way longer than usual. Alas, I don't have $30

[Koray Savas]

Mine have been going on for over a year. They'll die soon though. The little piece of plastic that wraps around the jack is worn off. Once that goes, it's only a matter of time before wires start popping up. This had happen to every one of my earbuds.

[Taikomochi]

That's exactly the same way my Apple pair came apart. I wonder if that's a design flaw.

[Koray Savas]

I think it definitely is, because it inevitably happens.

[Stefancos]

The default Apple earbuds that come standard with an iPod sound rubbish and are very uncomfortable.

[Koray Savas]

They fit fine in my ears.

[Stefancos]

Because you never had better.

[Koray Savas]

I've never had headphones that fit better? I don't see how that's debatable.

[Trent Bennett]

I bought these pair of earbuds from Sams Club a few months ago and they've literally been the best earbuds I've ever owned.

http://www.amazon.co...s/dp/B0035BHB5S

The highs, lows and bass come in very naturally and are great for film scores. They are also very good noise cancellation earbuds. You do get different sizes for the "pads" to go on the earbuds themselves. I use the smallest ones as the others are too big for my ears. These also have been the most comfortable earbuds I have ever had. I can wear them for a long time with out my ears hurting.

As you can see in the photos on Amazon it does come with a headphone splitter. So if you want someone to check out the music you're listening to and if they have headphones or earbuds, you can pull that out and plug it in so the two of you can listen.

I would recommend these to anyone looking for a good pair of earbuds.

[E.T. & Elliott]

For work, I use in-ear phones at the moment. I've been using Sonys for over a year. Okay sound and they actually stay in my ears for hours on end. Something like these:

http://www.amazon.co...VC9QMP7YCR9XQ7J

[Charlie Brigden]

The default Apple earbuds that come standard with an iPod sound rubbish and are very uncomfortable.

I agree, they're awful.

[Trent Bennett]

I too agree the regular Apple earbuds sound like crap. I don't see how people can listen to them.

[Taikomochi]

I don't mind them. Admittedly, they are uncomfortable, but my ears get used to it quickly. I can deal with that and lower quality if it means not having to constantly be scrounging to buy a new pair, and it does.

[E.T. & Elliott]

They don't fit me well, but a bigger problem is that my earwax funks them up. Mine turned a gross yellowish color after a couple weeks use and I couldn't clean them.

[Taikomochi]

Ahaha, yes. The apple ones are the only ones I've ever gotten wax on. I always feel gross about sharing them

[king mark]

The Apple white earbuds suck ass

I've been using these for 4 years. They sound as good as my over the ear headphones

http://www.trustedre...ng-Earphones/p1

[Blumenkohl]

So I got out a pair of cheaper white ear buds to start listening and they had this obnoxious scratching noise every time the bass was too much on the music

1. Try the track from a different source (if you listen on computer, try iPod)
If scratchy noise go to step 2

2. Play the track on your computer and reverse the output so left is right, and right is left.
If the other side is now making the scratchy noise go to step 3

3. If you are here, the recording is a piece of shit and your earbuds are fine.
If you insist this is not the problem, go to step 4.

4. If you're certain the recording is flawless, then you may be a hairy beast. This is a common phenomenon where your hair can sneak in through the holes in the earbuds and lay to rest on the driver. At certain frequencies the hair will vibrate causing the irritating buzzing plastic sound. The odds of this occurring on every headphone at the same time is pretty low. Please see step 3.

[Taikomochi]

Well, I'd say it was my own hearing, but I tried it on a pair of Apple ear buds that my friend had the other day, and it didn't happen.

[Blumenkohl]

It may also help to let your new headphones burn in a little bit, and let everything inside break in a little.


Find yourself a "Pink Noise Loop" and set it it to loop, and play it through the headphones at a tad higher than normal listening volume (but not too much...you don't want to damage the phones) for a day.

This lets everything loosen up a little inside, making it less likely playing music at loud volumes will damage something inside. Some claim this (usually positively) affects sound quality on some headphones, I personally don't think so. But it's a good practice from a mechanical point of view.

[Taikomochi]

Hmmm, that's interesting. I hadn't considered that it was the newness of the ear buds. I'll have to try that.

[Koray Savas]

You people need to clean your ears! Literally!

[Trent Bennett]

You people need to clean your ears! Literally!

I keep mine cleaned regularly. However, even a tiny bit of wax still manages to build up on my earbuds. All though it doesn't take much to clean them.

[Taikomochi]

I left the pink noise on for 16 hours and it doesn't really sound different. I guess I'll leave it on for longer.

[Maglorfin]

Guys, you gotta stop using those pathetic earbuds and start thinking about this instead:

[Taikomochi]

I have a pretty fancy pair of around ear ones, but I don't like to wear them when I'm mobile or doing stuff because they are generally socially awkward and dorky. I know a lot of people like to sit down and just take in the music, but I just listen to music when I do everything.

[Maglorfin]

I have a pretty fancy pair of around ear ones, but I don't like to wear them when I'm mobile or doing stuff because they are generally socially awkward and dorky.

You have a point here, though it's getting more and more acceptable being seen in public with a huge set of cans on your head. I've seen many guys on the street with such headphones without being looked or frowned at by people all the time.

[Taikomochi]

Really? I don't much see headphones as on the rise. Seems like aside from heavy at-home listening, they would otherwise be snubbed out by ear buds.

[Stefancos]

1. Try the track from a different source (if you listen on computer, try iPod)
If scratchy noise go to step 2

2. Play the track on your computer and reverse the output so left is right, and right is left.
If the other side is now making the scratchy noise go to step 3

3. If you are here, the recording is a piece of shit and your earbuds are fine.
If you insist this is not the problem, go to step 4.

4. If you're certain the recording is flawless, then you may be a hairy beast. This is a common phenomenon where your hair can sneak in through the holes in the earbuds and lay to rest on the driver. At certain frequencies the hair will vibrate causing the irritating buzzing plastic sound. The odds of this occurring on every headphone at the same time is pretty low. Please see step 3.

It may also help to let your new headphones burn in a little bit, and let everything inside break in a little.


Find yourself a "Pink Noise Loop" and set it it to loop, and play it through the headphones at a tad higher than normal listening volume (but not too much...you don't want to damage the phones) for a day.

This lets everything loosen up a little inside, making it less likely playing music at loud volumes will damage something inside. Some claim this (usually positively) affects sound quality on some headphones, I personally don't think so. But it's a good practice from a mechanical point of view.

All this, for a pair of 16 Dollar earplugs?

[Blumenkohl]

I've done more for your $15 mother.

[Taikomochi]

Back to the original question:

So, I was given a very fancy, excellent sound quality set of ear buds. I still heard the crackling on them. I have made the following deductions:

-It is not the ear buds, as I have heard this crackling on multiple pairs, one of which being very expensive and recommended because of it's excellent sound quality.

-It is not my iPod because I hear the crackling on my computer also.

-It is not the individual files, because I had both those of my own CD rip and ones I found online have the same problem. It is also not the specific recording because nobody here has mentioned it.

-It is not my own hearing. I found a pair of headphones that sounded fine and did not have the crackling, but I can't use them after being given these ear buds. Also, I switched Left and Right channels. I found that the crackling was in the same place, at the same time just in a different ear. I highly doubt both my ears would have the same problem at the same time.

I do have a cold, so I guess it is possible that this could mess with my hearing, though I doubt it would last two weeks, seeing as the other symptoms only popped up a few days ago. However, I don't know enough about that sort of thing to make such conclusions.

Any thoughts?

EDIT: http://www.netdoctor...ent/202304.html This seems like a possible answer. It says it lasts a long time, so that would explain why I have been having it for the last few weeks.

[Trent Bennett]

I still would highly recommend the ones I posted. They are definitely the best pair of earbuds I have bought.

[Taikomochi]

I saw that exact pair at Cost Co. yesterday and chose not to buy them because I went with the pair I was given. We went to an Apple store inside a Microcenter and asked the guy his preferences and he said the Altec pair I got was probably the best they had.

[Blumenkohl]

By switch the left and right channels, I meant the actual signal coming from the computer. So that way the signal that should go to the right earphone will go to the left earphone.

[king mark]

Do you have the bass boost on the ipod/itunes Equaliser? That can cause crackling of some files

[E.T. & Elliott]

The left phone of my Sonys shorted out today. Mother f'er.

Now I'm temporarily using my expensive, nice-sounding, but shitty Christmas gift Bose in-ears from a few years ago. They do NOT stay in my ears. Ugh.

[Taikomochi]

By switch the left and right channels, I meant the actual signal coming from the computer. So that way the signal that should go to the right earphone will go to the left earphone.

I know. I tried both.

Do you have the bass boost on the ipod/itunes Equaliser? That can cause crackling of some files

No.