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rockss65

Q: New In-Ear Headphones:  One bud is intermintent.

I've purchased the new in-ears and have been relatively happy with their performance with my original iPhone. For some reason, the sound coming from the right bud has become intermittently attenuated.

I cannot duplicate or remedy the problem by moving any of the wires, connections or plugs. So, I don't think it's a wire short.

I first noticed it while listening to iPod while the phone was sleeping. When I woke the phone up, both ears were the same. Since that time it happens when asleep or awake.

My original ear buds work fine. (I was going to say "sound fine", but they are original Apple earbuds afterall.)

Anybody else have a similar problem or solution ideas?

Thanks.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Jan 19, 2009 12:16 PM

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Q: New In-Ear Headphones:  One bud is intermintent.

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  • by Bookgirl13,

    Bookgirl13 Bookgirl13 Feb 2, 2009 10:00 AM in response to rockss65
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Feb 2, 2009 10:00 AM in response to rockss65
    I had the same problem. In the end got a replacement set of headphones as support said they were faulty. New pair worked perfectly, until today, when the left bud has very low sound. Have restarted iPhone, tried the headphones in different devices and it is still minimal sound from the left. Am debating whether to contact support again as I am not convinced that a new set of headphones will be any more stable.

    Sorry that I cannot be more helpful.
  • by Bookgirl13,

    Bookgirl13 Bookgirl13 Feb 2, 2009 10:22 AM in response to Bookgirl13
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Feb 2, 2009 10:22 AM in response to Bookgirl13
    Okay, sound now returned to left bud. This could be because I cleaned the mesh on that bud quite thoroughly, and checked that there was no fluff or dirt in the headphone socket that prevented a full connection with the jack. Or of course it could be due to it being an intermittent fault that just happened to 'correct' itself for the time being.

    Seeing that the left bud of the headphones still did not work when testing on another device, then cleaning the socket on the iPhone was obviously not needed in my case. But it might be a factor for you.
  • by rockss65,

    rockss65 rockss65 Feb 2, 2009 12:40 PM in response to Bookgirl13
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 2, 2009 12:40 PM in response to Bookgirl13
    Thanks. I, too, ended up taking them to the Apple store and they replaced them w/ a pair that work fine. I haven't had any recurring problem yet.

    Don't problems that just "fix themselves" just drive you crazy?? You never feel like you can count on it when you need it.

    Thanks for the reply.
  • by Ian Wish,

    Ian Wish Ian Wish Feb 3, 2009 9:11 AM in response to rockss65
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 3, 2009 9:11 AM in response to rockss65
    I am having the same issue... bought them around Christmas and now the right bud just stopped working... will take them to the Apple store today.
  • by Bookgirl13,

    Bookgirl13 Bookgirl13 Feb 4, 2009 8:22 AM in response to rockss65
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Feb 4, 2009 8:22 AM in response to rockss65
    Just spending an unconscionable length of time on the phone to Apple Support trying to arrange to get another set of headphones, as the sound has gone again. Hopefully the next set they send me will be more robust than the previous ones.

    I think they are much better than the ones you get with the iPod, but these continual problems almost make me wish I had gone with another brand.
  • by Ian Wish,

    Ian Wish Ian Wish Mar 11, 2009 9:39 AM in response to rockss65
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 11, 2009 9:39 AM in response to rockss65
    I had the exact same issue... started with some cracking and low sound, then the right one just quit. Went to the Apple Store and they replaced them... that was about two weeks ago.

    Now the left one has low sound and is crackling... taking them back for a full refund... good performance, great price, crappy quality.