2023-08-22 15:44:02
The durability of headphones is one of the biggest concerns we have when buying them. This usually comes at the cost of a number of them thrown in the trash because they have stopped working for some reason, which can be many different. With that in mind, this “definitive guide” was prepared, where I listed seven points that you should keep in mind to guarantee a long life for your headphones.
What to do to ensure a long life for your headphones. Source: Vitor Valeri
Construction Materials
Analyzing the headphone materials that were used by the manufacturer is important. However, note that depending on the type of headphones (in-ear, earbud, on-ear, over-ear), the use of certain materials is necessary to make the product lighter and more comfortable. This causes some confusion, because when we see that a certain model is made of metal, for example, it already draws attention, but this choice can become bad, as it can end up bringing a bad experience if you use it for hours and it does not succeed. Properly distribute the weight over the head or in the shell of the ears.
Construction materials used in headphones. In the photo, the Sennheiser HD560S headphones. Source: Vitor Valeri
Considering that using metals, wood and real leather is not always possible, it is important to note that there are different qualities of plastic. You can find from fragile plastics, which don’t need much effort or an accident to break, to extremely resistant plastics, being able to withstand both impacts and scratches to some extent. However, in the case of using materials that imitate leather (made of PVC/PU), it is preferable to look for headphones that use fabrics such as, for example, velvet or some variant used in sports products, which absorb sweat. and bring freshness.
cable quality
We currently have several cheaper headphones that offer the mechanism of detachable cables. The cheapest types are in-ears and earbuds, where 2-pin and MMCX connectors are used to make the connection. In the case of on-ear and over-ear (circumaural) headphones, it is more difficult to find models that are as cheap as the in-ear headphones, but there is a big problem in buying very cheap models that have this mechanism of detachable cables, the cable quality.
MMCX connection system for connecting cables. Pictured is Final Audio B3 in-ear headphones. Source: Vitor Valeri
When the headset is very cheap (something around US$ 20 or R$ 100), it is difficult to find quality in-ears and earbuds with a detachable cable. Because of this, it is easy to find reports of people with poor contact problems following some time of use. For these cases, it is more advantageous to purchase a fixed cable model or buy a good cable that will be used in future headphone upgrades. Read our articles to find out which cable to buy and when it’s beneficial to get one for your headset.
Foldable or hinged design
On-ear (supraural) and over-ear (circumaural) headphones with articulated design may have problems reproducing music due to poor contact with the internal wire inside the arch (headband). This usually happens when the cable only comes out on one side or when the headset is Bluetooth. To avoid this, just opt for models that the cable comes out on both sides or that have a headband (arc) that is not foldable, such as the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless.
Water and sweat resistance
When it comes to choosing a headphone to use in exercises and/or sports, it is important to check if the model you are interested in is resistant to water and sweat. To do this, just look at the IP rating that the manufacturer reports in the headset manual. You should find this type of resistance in models that are of the in-ear Bluetooth type, as they give you more freedom of movement and it makes sense that they have this protection, as they are ideal for users who need something that is light and wireless. .
I do not recommend that you use over-ear and on-ear headphones that have ear pads (“cushions”) made of PVC/PU materials that imitate leather, as the sweat from the exercises will cause the skin to peel off. part. In addition to these, earbuds are also not suitable, as there is the problem of fixation in the ears, although currently there are some accessories called ear fins (“fins”, “ear hooks”), a kind of silicone hook that attaches to the body of the headphones and fit into the ear grooves.
Ear fin (“fin”, “ear hook”) of the Sennheiser Sport True Wireless Bluetooth in-ear headset. Source: Vitor Valeri
Cleaning the headphones
Cleaning the headphones is important not only to avoid possible ear pain, but also to ensure the best possible reproduction of sounds and to allow the Bluetooth TWS models to have their batteries properly recharged. If there is dirt on the ear pads (“cushions” of headphones) and ear tips (“tips”, “rubbers” of in-ears), the reproduced sound may change. Oil and wax on the charging contacts of TWS headphones and their cases can compromise the transmission of energy to the batteries, in addition to affecting the fit in the ears and the accuracy of the sensors used to pause the music.
Fitting your ears and getting dirt out of the ear pads and ear tips can affect bass, midrange, and treble reproduction. In the case of fitting, this problem usually occurs with in-ears, which depend on the correct sealing of the ear canal, so that the sound does not “leak”. Dirt, on the other hand, can influence due to the way sound reverberates during the transmission of waves to your eardrum. Access this article on how to sanitize your headphones to properly clean them.
Routinely clean your headphones to maintain sound quality, avoid malfunctions, and prevent difficulties charging your Bluetooth TWS in-ears battery.
Build quality for the price
As we mentioned in the topics “construction materials” and “cable quality”, cheap can be expensive. It is important to analyze the quality of the materials used in the headset, including the cables, which tend to have poor contact following some time of use, if they are not good.
Reviews from other users
In order not to make a mistake in choosing, it is important that you look for several reviews (analyses) regarding the headphones you want to buy. In addition, forums, social networking groups (Facebook) and instant messaging apps (WhatsApp and Telegram) can help a lot to get a closer look at what the headset can deliver.
warranty policy
The warranty policy has been extremely important for Bluetooth headphones, which tend to have a higher rate of problems compared to wired ones. The biggest reason for this is the use of several extra components besides the speakers (drivers). The battery and the charging contact are usually the biggest villains for a headset to stop working, but you can also encounter failures or inconsistencies in the signal transmission via Bluetooth due to some hardware problem (parts) or software (firmware and application installed on the cell phone).
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