ipod shuffle 3rd gen headphones problem

Gary Kercheck wrote:
UPDATE:

http://www.apple.com/support/headphones/replacementprogram/

It looks like Apple is finally acknowledging this issue. I have no information on design changes made to the replacement headphones. The hope would be that the replacement headphones are improved in some way to prevent this issue from re-appearing.
Gary Kercheck wrote:
UPDATE:

http://www.apple.com/support/headphones/replacementprogram/

It looks like Apple is finally acknowledging this issue. I have no information on design changes made to the replacement headphones. The hope would be that the replacement headphones are improved in some way to prevent this issue from re-appearing.

http://www.apple.com/support/headphones/replacementprogram/

Bwah-hah-ha! If you go through the replacement process it ends with this disclaimer: "Yes, I agree to pay $ 79.00 if Apple does not receive my original product with ten (10) business days of shipping the replacement product to me, or if Apple determines that the product I return has been subjected to accidental damage or misuse *including damage caused by liquids*."

Pretty sure sweat is a liquid, so are we all going to get to pay another$79 for new headphones?

And are the replacement headphones a new model that have an inline control that is moisture-proof?

Wow, Apple sure has screwed the pooch on this one.

It is not the Shuffle, it is just the headphones. No matter how many times you replace them you will have the same problem. It is a design flaw. The inline control bud is susceptible to moisture (especially sweat). When the Shuffle is used with a third party device with no control bud, the Shuffle works perfectly. The "new" headphones are not a redesign; they are the same pieces of crap they sold us the first time.

Apple makes an iPad that can't see certain web pages, an iPhone that cannot make calls, and an iPod shuffle for runners that stops working when you go running with it.

I have gone through Sony headphones and the $80 Apple headphones with the new iPod Shuffle 3rd gen. I am training for my second marathon and I can always depend on my Shuffle to stop working after about 3 miles. Thanks Apple! It seems that condensation gets into the iPod or the headphones or both, but either way they start changing the volume, changing songs, stating and compulsively restating the song and playlist, literally a dozen times during a single song's play. And, of course, the controls stop working on the headphones.

Let them all dry overnight, and you have another 3 miles of usage to look forward to. Lay on the beach instead of working out, and they will work for the life of the battery. For a couple hundred dollars invested in this faulty product, I really wish Apple could get their act together and sell products that work for their loyal customers.

I am an avid runner here by the seashore and the new shuffle is getting moisturized by humidity, salt air, and sweat from 6am till 9am. My new suffle has experienced every problem listed in the blog string. But, the solution for now is to wrap that baby up with tape (very tight) till Apple comes up with a solution. I did buy an ILuv adapter for my headphones (JVC...the ones that wrap around the ear) which has a sturdier controller. Works OK so far.

...in our local Apple store (in Innsbruck/Austria) they have actually started to stock and sell the Belkin adapter as a solution to our problem with the 3rd gen. iPod.

Gareth56 wrote:
So sweat could still be a problem with the Scosche adapter albeit to a far lesser extent than the Apple ones.

Moisture CAN get in through the earphone jack and/or through the switch.
HOWEVER, IF the earphone cord is positioned so that it doesn't carry moisture
to the jack, then it's a non-problem...

0Ari0 wrote:

Gareth56 wrote:
So sweat could still be a problem with the Scosche adapter albeit to a far lesser extent than the Apple ones.

Moisture CAN get in through the earphone jack and/or through the switch.
HOWEVER, IF the earphone cord is positioned so that it doesn't carry moisture
to the jack, then it's a non-problem...

The operative word there of course is "IF".

The "proof" of the matter will be when people try the Scosche adapter out in situations similar to the ones they are seeing the Apple headphones failing.

ipod shuffle 3rd gen. headphones and/or control mechanism failed.
All kinds of audio anomalies - repeats non-play nothing at all


Apple genius at Apple Store gave me a replacement earphone set under warranty. The earphones work again. Use the ipod shuffle during workouts. Could either be heat or moisture related issue with the headphone control mechanism?

podcasts run on manual however podcasts and music seem to still be a problem even using manual.

I have the same issue with the new headphones! I took mine back after 25 days of owning my new shuffle and Apple was gracious enough to replace them.. they have lasted approximately 17 days.. Now the right side is completely out...GRRR.. Frustrating! I generally use my shuffle only when exercising and continue to wonder the same regarding water resistance. If Polar can create watches that are high tech and water resistant.. why can't one of the world’s "leading companies" in technology advancement figure out how to do the same with a less sophisticated piece of equipment like the shuffle?

Both.. If you purchased it from Apple Store, they will replace it pretty much indefinitely.. Just a pain for you since you will need to go back or call them directly and they will send you a new pair and you send yours back.. Good Luck.. Sorry to hear.. This is one of Apple's big blunders... Should have left the controls on the unit, let us use sealed headsets like the regular Ipods and maketed the in-line function as just what it is.. a marketing scheme to entice you to buy the shuffle.. That would have worked out for everyone..

Yep, I am a runner, and am having the same problem as everyone else on this post with the 3rd gen shuffle headphones and sweat. I have given up in trying to use the shuffle on runs, and have gone back to using my old nano - a real pity, as the shuffle is so easy to carry with the tiny clip.

I think I might try the new Belkin ones, as the controls are down by the waist, and not directly in the sweat drip zone. I read one review of the Belkin headphones, that said they are more rugged than the originally supplied ipod ones, although there is NO claim to be sweatproof. I am a real Apple fan, but think they really missed the boat on this one with the poor headphone/control design. Hey Steve Jobs and company, please DO something to fix this problem!

Got my Ipod shuffle 3g this weekend, and it lasted fifty minutes. Took it to the apple store, and they were shocked. Never heard of this, tried to hook the shuffle itself to Itunes, no it is the headphones! They give me a new pair sealed in a plain white envelope. I wonder why they happen to have extras in plain packaging like that? Known defect, perhaps?

Here is the problem, the switch on the headset is spring loaded, and requires a slight gap, and movement between the two halves of the switch. You can split it in half with your finger nail and see that there is no moisture barrier along the sides of the control. There are two tiny gaskets at each end where the cord comes in. The gaskets are useless, because the sides are wide open.

I guess I will try tape on my new set.

I am very upset, I had same problem with the Nike sports watch. Nike at least acknowledged, and pulled the product.

I'm new here, so I apologize in advance if this topic has been covered in more detail elsewhere, but here goes.

I too just recently received a new shuffle, and have been experiencing the 'sweat in the switch' problem. In my case, the unit keeps repeating my play lists.

When I rinse the switch in clean tap water and dry it out, it works fine until it gets wet with sweat again.

The shuffle itself is not getting wet, and is clearly responding properly to the middle-button-depressed mode, so I'm convinced it's not a problem with the shuffle itself, but with the switches.

I've disassembled the switch unit. It consists of three snap-dome switches, an IC and a few discretes. I believe the function of the IC is to encode the switch press into a digital stream that's probably added to the DC power. (The headphones have four signals, which are almost certainly left audio, right audio, return and power.) The switch circuits are probably pulled up with 1 Megohm or perhaps perhaps 470 K resistors, so a little salty liquid would easily masquerade as a closed switch.

I'm working on a fix, but be aware that the odds of destroying the switch are pretty good, so proceed at your own risk.

The dis-assembly is straightforward, but not for the faint of heart. Pry the halves apart, as they're held together with spring clips, not glue. If you try this, a good rework microscope, steady hands and some dental picks and exacto knives are essential. There are four plastic spring clips molded to the side of the unit that has the smooth finish (not the side with the depression in the middle.) There's also a metal clip inside this cover with two retention clips. The metal piece is glued to the plastic cover in two places, and I broke one of the glue joints on mine. I'll have to use 910 adhesive to attempt a repair. This is a bit of a pain to get apart, which is why you'll need magnification and steady hands.

Cut the tops off the plastic studs that retain the red printed wiring assembly (PWA) to the plastic case. The board will need to be glued back in later.

I've coated the board on both sides with Humiseal brand conformal coat, which is what military hardware manufacturers use to keep jungle slime from mucking up the electronics in various gear.

When it dries I'll reassemble it, and report back on my results.

I agree with your sentiment, but unfortunately successfully using other headphones doesn't rule out the unit. What appears to be happening is that moisture in the unit (jack or board) is affecting the "advanced" navigational signals from the headphone controls once they reach the unit. Simple sound out seems to always work.

The best experiment to further verify this would be to test with TWO 3rd gen units. Once symptoms present with the 1st unit, remove the headphones (being careful to wipe dry the male minijack connector), and then immediately put them into the 2nd (dry, not near the body) unit.

I would do it, but I only have one 3rd gen unit.

"It's the unit itself, NOT the headphone controls."

Highly doubtful. I wear my Shuffle while cycling, with the unit clipped to my helmet, away from sweat. The inline control unit usually ends up touching my (sweaty) skin.

Also, if I change to other headphones (I bought the in-ear model so I have the original ones that came with the shuffle) they work just fine. That is, until I wear them while I'm working out and sweating.

The Shuffle also worked fine when engaged in activities that did not involve contact with sweat.