iPod Earbud Problem

simxsimx
Posted:
in iPod + iTunes + AppleTV edited January 2014
I've had a perpetual issue with my iPod earbuds, and I'd like to see if anyone else has had this problem.



I've had 3 pairs of iPod headphones (the original version that came with the original 5 GB iPod, and 2 pairs of the new version that came in the $30 box with the remote). All three pairs have now gone down the same path -- where the 2 wires that go to the separate earbuds converge into one wire, the plastic comes out of the little plastic dealy that holds the two wires together. The result is that the actual wires that go to the earbuds get exposed, and after a while get frayed, and then the earbuds stop working and I have to get a new set.



I really like the iPod earbuds, and I can't possibly carry around regular headphones. I talked to a genius at the Palo Alto Apple Store a few days ago, and he said that the headphones are "accidental damage" and so are not covered under warrantee. It seems to me that they haven't really made the earbuds that well if they keep fraying for me. Today I talked to a second tier Apple specialist through Apple's technical support line (1-800-275-2273), and they basically said the same thing.



So does anybody else have this problem, or am I really treating my iPod earbuds much to roughly? If you do have this problem, please post it here so that I know that I'm not alone with this problem.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 7
    murbotmurbot Posts: 5,262member
    Hmm, maybe you are a bit rough on them? Honestly, it's the first I've heard of this. I'm no iPod expert, but I don't recall reading anything on it on any message boards, and people I know with original 5 giggers are still going strong with theirs...



    BTW, sliding this into Digital Hub, where we discuss iPods.



  • Reply 2 of 7
    telomartelomar Posts: 1,804member
    Actually it's quite a common problem from what I've heard. Certainly around here there have apparently been quite a few complaints and when it first happened to me it looked very much like poor manufacturing. Anyway my suggestion would be not to go with the traditional Apple earphones. Sony makes some excellent earbuds otherwise there are plenty of other alternatives.
  • Reply 3 of 7
    johnhenryjohnhenry Posts: 152member
    Mine became exposed at the connect to the ipod about a week and a half after i got them...

    I've used many many headphones and earbuds over the years and these were the only ones to do this...
  • Reply 4 of 7
    ghost_user_nameghost_user_name Posts: 22,667member
    I have a pair of these that are still in the wrapper. I'll sell them to you
  • Reply 5 of 7
    paulpaul Posts: 5,278member
    damn jack you still have those earbuds?!
  • Reply 6 of 7
    ast3r3xast3r3x Posts: 5,012member
    After a week? You guys must do stuff to yours, mine are two weeks and still going!



    Sony earphones hurt my ears...least the cheap pair I bought before did. Apple's are the only ones that aren't uncomfortable without the pads that get all ugly. I used to have a pair of Aiwa's that had rubber which were really nice, but whatever. I hope mine stay fine.
  • Reply 7 of 7
    big macbig mac Posts: 480member
    I don't know, my earbuds are about a year old and only now they're starting to show their age. Every so often moving the wire right above the plug causes the sound to go haywire, so they will definitely short out sometime in the future. But nowhere on my earbuds is there any exposed portion of wiring.
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