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ipod shuffle 3rd gen headphones problem

I would just like to share my weird experience with the earphones of the 3rd gen shuffle, as we all know the problem of the earphones while working out, so after a few days i tried using again my busted earphones and amazingly it worked ok again, the volume controls was doing fine for at least an hour so i thought it was only a small glitch but then after an hour the problem started, you can increase the volume but can't lower it then after a few minutes the volume decreased by itself. I hope all of our messages are reaching apple and solve this problem as soon as possible!

desktop, Windows XP, pentium 4

Posted on Jul 1, 2009 4:47 PM

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158 replies

Jul 4, 2009 8:38 AM in response to donggoboy

We have had the same problem with the earphones and have been back to Apple store three times (first a clean install, then a replacement ipod with earphones, and then just replacement earphones). The trick is keeping them dry. The plastic and tape is a kluge at best. Has anyone tried any of the third party head phones, like the ones by Scosche?

Jul 25, 2009 3:07 PM in response to donggoboy

Hi guys,

I'm using a Ipod 4G (which is great) but my friend don't like the earphones. So when he's using my ipod, he plugs in his old sony headphone which makes him much happier. Now he's planning to buy his own Ipod, a new shuffle but he's got issues with the earphones again.
Is there any possibility to use his old Sony's together with the remote? And is it original by Apple (read buyable from the I store)?

Jul 26, 2009 6:36 AM in response to Schrodinger56

I'll post my results next week, but the placement of the Scosche controller seems like it would be less likely to suffer from the sweat issue just based on not being in "the line of fire." The placement of the controller on the Apple earbuds exacerbates the issue...it's always going to be "downhill" from the sweat coming off your head.

I hope the Scosche controller fixes the sweat issue. The shuffle is a perfect device for working out as long as it will work reliably. I also hope that I'm not going to be a Scosche beta tester...

Jul 26, 2009 12:19 PM in response to 0Ari0

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.

Jul 26, 2009 8:18 PM in response to donggoboy

Well let me tell ya'll a little story about ipods.
Wife got me a 3rd gen shuffle for fathers day and within 30 days I am having issues (from reading these posts sound like ear bud problems). I take it to the apple store and have to make an appointment to talk to one of these pothead genius morons. My shuffle is no 31 days old at time of my appointment I want a refund and all they will do for me is give me a exchange. Guess what they give me just the shuffle and the POS is still screwing up.
What ever happen to 30day money back guarantee? I am planing on taking this trashy POS in the same overly busy apple store on a saturday afternoon and making loud issue of this and hopefully costing this POS company some sales while getting at the very least a new set of head phones which the dumbasses should have given me in the first place!
Oh yeah btw this is the third POS ipod that has failed in my family in less than a year and customer support has done NOTHING!!!!!!
I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER APPLE PRODUCT AGAIN!!!!
BUY GATEWAY AND ZUNE!!!! You'll spend less and be happier!

Jul 27, 2009 11:19 AM in response to Schrodinger56

I overcame the sweat problem using electrical tape. I taped over the remote with a single piece, pulled it quite tight over the controls so I could still use them, then taped over the sliding button (again quite tight). It's not an elegant solution but it does work (one benefit is that the shuffle looks quite badass and Mad Max-ish now) and it's definitely a design oversight on apples part, I only use my shuffle for running so it gets a fair amount of "opportunistic" sweat. I think this problem is compounded by the fact that there just isn't much of an accessory ecosystem for the shuffle, there just isn't much to accessorize!

Message was edited by: dqm67

ipod shuffle 3rd gen headphones problem

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