earphone deterioration

[RichD]

Twice, I've experienced earphones go dodgy in the same
peculiar way: one side attenuates in volume.

What might cause such a condition? If it's an
intermittent solder joint, the sound would break,
there would be a crackling noise. Instead, it simply
goes soft.

The type that insert into the ear, not the pods.


--
Rich

 

[Michael Terrell]

On Tuesday, September 10, 2019 at 9:29:34 PM UTC-4, RichD wrote:

Twice, I've experienced earphones go dodgy in the same
peculiar way: one side attenuates in volume.

What might cause such a condition? If it's an
intermittent solder joint, the sound would break,
there would be a crackling noise. Instead, it simply
goes soft.

The type that insert into the ear, not the pods.

Is that side plugged with earwax?

 

On Wednesday, 11 September 2019 06:48:25 UTC+1, Michael Terrell wrote:

On Tuesday, September 10, 2019 at 9:29:34 PM UTC-4, RichD wrote:
Twice, I've experienced earphones go dodgy in the same
peculiar way: one side attenuates in volume.

What might cause such a condition? If it's an
intermittent solder joint, the sound would break,
there would be a crackling noise. Instead, it simply
goes soft.

The type that insert into the ear, not the pods.


Is that side plugged with earwax?

dirt or wax can reduce diaphragm movement. Wire deterioration is less likely but also possible. Less likely is diaphragm deterioration.


NT

 

[Chris Jones]

On 11/09/2019 11:29, RichD wrote:

Twice, I've experienced earphones go dodgy in the same
peculiar way: one side attenuates in volume.

What might cause such a condition? If it's an
intermittent solder joint, the sound would break,
there would be a crackling noise. Instead, it simply
goes soft.

The type that insert into the ear, not the pods.


--
Rich

Often the wires are made of something like litz wire. Sometimes it has a
kevlar string with enamelled copper wires twisted around it. There are
lots of very fine enamelled copper strands in parallel for each terminal
of each little earphone. Usually the enamel of the wires for each
terminal has a different colour, red green or clear or blue. When most
of the strands have snapped or fatigued, the sound for that earphone
gets quieter because the resistance is quite high with just a few
strands left. When they all snap, no more sound. You can usually open up
the connector with a knife and fix it (perhaps making the cable a bit
shorter). Figuring out where the break is (so where to cut the cable)
can be the hard part.

 

On Friday, 13 September 2019 14:06:45 UTC+1, Chris Jones wrote:

Often the wires are made of something like litz wire. Sometimes it has a
kevlar string with enamelled copper wires twisted around it. There are
lots of very fine enamelled copper strands in parallel for each terminal
of each little earphone. Usually the enamel of the wires for each
terminal has a different colour, red green or clear or blue. When most
of the strands have snapped or fatigued, the sound for that earphone
gets quieter because the resistance is quite high with just a few
strands left. When they all snap, no more sound. You can usually open up
the connector with a knife and fix it (perhaps making the cable a bit
shorter). Figuring out where the break is (so where to cut the cable)
can be the hard part.

A capacitance tester can usually pin down a break very quickly


NT

 

[RichD]

On September 13, Chris Jones wrote:

Twice, I've experienced earphones go dodgy in the same
peculiar way: one side attenuates in volume.
What might cause such a condition? If it's an
intermittent solder joint, the sound would break,
there would be a crackling noise. Instead, it simply
goes soft.
The type that insert into the ear, not the pods.

Often the wires are made of something like litz wire. Sometimes it has a
kevlar string with enamelled copper wires twisted around it. There are
lots of very fine enamelled copper strands in parallel for each terminal
of each little earphone. Usually the enamel of the wires for each
terminal has a different colour.
When most of the strands have snapped or fatigued, the sound for that
earphone gets quieter because the resistance is quite high with just a few
strands left.

That's the most plausible explanation I've heard.

Litz wire is fragile. Is there any rationale for its use
in a consumer item, liable to take abuse? Is it simply a
case of stupid design?

Both JLab Audio, which shall not again get my dinero -


--
Rich

 

[Chris Jones]

On 19/09/2019 09:49, RichD wrote:

On September 13, Chris Jones wrote:
Twice, I've experienced earphones go dodgy in the same
peculiar way: one side attenuates in volume.
What might cause such a condition? If it's an
intermittent solder joint, the sound would break,
there would be a crackling noise. Instead, it simply
goes soft.
The type that insert into the ear, not the pods.

Often the wires are made of something like litz wire. Sometimes it has a
kevlar string with enamelled copper wires twisted around it. There are
lots of very fine enamelled copper strands in parallel for each terminal
of each little earphone. Usually the enamel of the wires for each
terminal has a different colour.
When most of the strands have snapped or fatigued, the sound for that
earphone gets quieter because the resistance is quite high with just a few
strands left.

That's the most plausible explanation I've heard.

Litz wire is fragile. Is there any rationale for its use
in a consumer item, liable to take abuse? Is it simply a
case of stupid design?

I can't think of a much better design for the cable that would allow it
to be as thin and flexible. All of the in-ear ones that I have opened
use something similar, but it seems to be the thing that limits the
useful life. Maybe they could have used much finer copper-plated
tungsten strands (very strong) instead of copper, wrapped around the
kevlar, but that would be expensive.

 

[Michael Terrell]

On Wednesday, September 18, 2019 at 7:49:58 PM UTC-4, RichD wrote:

On September 13, Chris Jones wrote:
Twice, I've experienced earphones go dodgy in the same
peculiar way: one side attenuates in volume.
What might cause such a condition? If it's an
intermittent solder joint, the sound would break,
there would be a crackling noise. Instead, it simply
goes soft.
The type that insert into the ear, not the pods.

Often the wires are made of something like litz wire. Sometimes it has a
kevlar string with enamelled copper wires twisted around it. There are
lots of very fine enamelled copper strands in parallel for each terminal
of each little earphone. Usually the enamel of the wires for each
terminal has a different colour.
When most of the strands have snapped or fatigued, the sound for that
earphone gets quieter because the resistance is quite high with just a few
strands left.

That's the most plausible explanation I've heard.

Litz wire is fragile. Is there any rationale for its use
in a consumer item, liable to take abuse? Is it simply a
case of stupid design?

Both JLab Audio, which shall not again get my dinero -

I've heard it referred to as 'Tinsel wire' and it is used to keep idiots from strangling themselves when the go to sleep with the headphones on. It is fine copper strands wrapped around a heavy cotton or man made thread, then molded into a very thin jacket. It also reduces the weight of the headphones, and discomfort from the cord's weight tugging at your ears. Early headsets were heavy, and fatiguing.