1-800 I need help
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Q: My left earpod is quieter than my right

I've been wondering this for some time, am I deaf in my left ear, or is my earpod generally broken? I want to make them both sound the same. When I take my right earpod out and listen to my left one, and then take my left out and listen to the right, the right earpod is a lot louder than my left. Is this because of earwax/hearing damage/or the earpod is broken. I've tested this with other earbuds as well, and they generally seem to be the same, so even if this is hearing damage, is there anything I can do to fix it? Thanks for the help.

iPod touch, iOS 8

Posted on Oct 5, 2014 11:40 AM

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1-800 I need help

Q: My left earpod is quieter than my right

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Drew Reece,

    Drew Reece Drew Reece Oct 5, 2014 11:57 AM in response to 1-800 I need help
    Level 5 (7,456 points)
    Notebooks
    Oct 5, 2014 11:57 AM in response to 1-800 I need help

    iOS has Settings app > General > Accessibility there is a slider for setting the sound balance. It may help you get an equal balance for your ears.

    I don't think classic iPods have this feature, but look through the settings menus.

     

    I'd suggest you see a hearing specialist there may be something that can be done. The shape of the latest Apple earbuds makes it impossible to compare the volume of the left EarPod in the right ear because they are not symmetrical and sound is reflected differently in each ear.

     

    A trained specialist is going to be more helpful than the internet at diagnosing medical issues. Start with your doctor if you don't know where to get help.

  • by 1-800 I need help,

    1-800 I need help 1-800 I need help Oct 5, 2014 3:07 PM in response to Drew Reece
    Level 1 (56 points)
    Oct 5, 2014 3:07 PM in response to Drew Reece

    Ok bro, so you think it might be just that my left ear is shaped differently than my right? And as for the accessibility I knew that was there, and I knew it worked, but I was just wondering if the earpod was in some way damaged, shaped differently, (i.e) if something was wrong with the earpod.

  • by Drew Reece,

    Drew Reece Drew Reece Oct 5, 2014 3:30 PM in response to 1-800 I need help
    Level 5 (7,456 points)
    Notebooks
    Oct 5, 2014 3:30 PM in response to 1-800 I need help

    1-800 I need help wrote:

     

    Ok bro, so you think it might be just that my left ear is shaped differently than my right? And as for the accessibility I knew that was there, and I knew it worked, but I was just wondering if the earpod was in some way damaged, shaped differently, (i.e) if something was wrong with the earpod.

    I don't know sorry it's just too much to speculate.

    You did mention that other earbuds also sound lower in your left ear too so that suggests you should get your hearing tested?

     

    There is a hearing test app that may give you some indication, however if the earbuds are broken you will get false results, it's only a rough guide.

    https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mimi-hearing-test/id855322098?mt=8

     

    Hearing is not something you want to lose so get it tested. It may be something that can be prevented or mitigated if picked up early.

  • by Johnny Trueman,

    Johnny Trueman Johnny Trueman Jan 20, 2015 4:24 AM in response to Drew Reece
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 20, 2015 4:24 AM in response to Drew Reece

    This solved my problem..Thanks

  • by Frankie1413,

    Frankie1413 Frankie1413 Oct 17, 2015 1:20 PM in response to 1-800 I need help
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 17, 2015 1:20 PM in response to 1-800 I need help

    To fix your sound issue, take a softly bristled clean toothbrush. You can then carefully brush the larger opening of the Earpod. then, (bear with me) suck on the larger opening until you can feel that you are causing air to come through. Then, brush again. This should solve your issue. The main reason why this has happened is ears with an exesesive amount of wax that melts into the earbud.

     

    Hope i was of assistance,

    Frankie H.

  • by sWiFt24,

    sWiFt24 sWiFt24 Apr 19, 2016 9:02 AM in response to Frankie1413
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apr 19, 2016 9:02 AM in response to Frankie1413

    Bump. Yep this works sounds weird but hey you do what you gotta do to not pay for another set of ear pods. Thanks man!