... are all headphones crap?
Seriously. I short the little buggers out so often, I generally keep a few spare pair around for replacement purposes. I even bought some nicer (read: more expensive) ones, and while they have not YET bit the big one, I did short out the extension cord I was using to connect them to the computer at work.
Just in case I am incorrectly using the term "short out," let me clarify. After some (too short) period of use, the headphones start giving me spotty behavior. Generally, sound only comes out of one ear. It will come out of the other one as well, if I (a) swivel the connector around a bit, or (b) bend the cord in a particular way and hold it there. Any time I buy myself a pair of headphones, I know that sooner or later, I'll be doing some sort of gymnastics to hold the cord JUST RIGHT to actually get stereo sound -- it always makes me feel like I'm messing around with the rabbit ears on a TV to make the horizontal hold kick in.
Now, you might think, "Geez, NZ, if this happens to EVERY pair of headphones you own, maybe the problem is the equipment you're plugging them into." Interesting thought. But this has happened with computers, every portable stereo I've ever owned, (even the ipod was threatening it the other day), and -- in New Zealand -- with those cheap headphones they give you on the plane, and those suckers were fresh out of the hygienic plastic wrapper.
Which leads me to the conclusion that either, yes, they're all crap or, yes, it's me. Really. I'll start "grounding myself" before listening to music if y'all think it'll help.
2 comments:
They are all crap. My daughter has to buy a new pair every week. It's got to be some sort of conspiracy...
It isn't you. It isn't your equipment. I use headphones at work connected to my PC. I listen to web radio and such, as well as get alerts via them so it is useful as well as helpful to tune out the usual office din. I find what really abuses them is tension on the cord at the connector. I try to remember to take them off BEFORE I more. It makes them last longer. I buy the $10 ones they don't last longer anyway. Gordy
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