Various iPod models: failure of right earbud/earphone (#2)
Last week we broached an issue with several iPod models where failure of the right earphone (both with Apple's supplied earbuds and third-party headphones) manifests after varied lengths of time.
On the surface, this issue would be easy to dismiss as routine, random component failure. However, we received a staggering number of reports from readers who have experienced repeated failure of the right earphone, specifically, with multiple, subsequent sets of headphones. In other words, some users experienced degraded or completely lost functionality of the right Apple earbud, bought a new set of third-party headphones for replacement and again experienced right earphone failure; in some cases this cycle repeated three, four, or more times.
The issue does not seem to be specific to any particular third-party set of earphones (with models from many different manufacturers exhibiting the same failure), nor does it seem specific to any particular iPod model.
Models for which we've received reports of this issue occurring include:
- Fourth generation iPod (40 GB)
- Fifth generation iPod (30 GB)
- Fifth generation iPod (60 GB)
- First generation iPod Shuffle (1 GB)
- First generation iPod nano (2 GB)
- First generation iPod nano (4 GB)
- Second generation iPod nano (2 GB)
- Second generation iPod nano (4 GB)
As originally noted, the problem also does not appear to correlate with persistent use at high volume. Several users report having used volume limitation since initial purchase of their units and still experiencing reduction of right-earphone intensity or complete loss of sound.
It appears that in at least some cases, the manifestation of this issue results in permanent damage to the attached right earphone. In other words, sound is degraded or completely lost when the ostensibly damaged headphones are connected to an audio device other than the iPod. Also, when new earphones are attached to some afflicted iPods, the right channel works well; this indicates that the problem does not indicate failure of right-channel sound output from the iPod itself.
We are still in the initial stages of positing theories regarding the cause(s) of this issue, but some hypotheses include:
- The construction of the female mini-jack receptacle on various iPods is such that the right channel section of the male audio jack is more prone to some type of damage. The tip of a male audio jack is generally used for left channel sound, while the thicker part of the jack beneath the tip is used for left-channel sound. (See this diagram on Wikipedia for a visual representation). It is possible that the right-channel section of the audio jack is receiving some sort of adverse contact from iPods, causing this issue.
- Undue pressure on one side of the earphone jack causes strain, and eventual right-channel failure.
- Sound delivery to the right channel differs from delivery to the left channel, resulting in blown or otherwise damaged right earphones.
Finally, while it certainly appears that there is a strong propensity toward right earphone failure, we'd like to ask if for any specific reports of left earphone failure to rule out any statistical bias. So, if you've had repeated failure of the left earphone when connected to an iPod, please let us know.
Below is a small sampling of the hundreds of reports we received indicating right-channel earphone failure:
Don Ryck writes:
"My iPod also killed the right ear bud on my Shure E2c's lucky Shure replace them without any hassle. Been using my new ones and they are starting to short out again. My brother told me about this and I immediately stopped using them with my ipod."
Alec writes:
"I had a pair of Sennheiser HD 437 headphones for a while before I bought a 60 GB video ipod, that worked fine. After a few months of usage with the ipod, the right earphone stopped working completely. Luckily they were still under warranty, so I got a replacement pair. I've used the replacement pair with the same ipod for about 8 months now without any problem."
Christopher Pryce writes:
"I had a very nice set of Bang-Olufsen Ear Buds that I used exclusive at my desk for three months. I took them on a plane trip and plugged them into my first generation 30gb iPod. The right ear bud now has about 50% of the volume of the left and is noticeably distorted."
Trip Mitchell writes:
"This just happened to me in early december. My 5G 60gig ipod blew out the right channel on my $180.00 Shure E3G earphones. I never use my ipod at full volume, which is especially unnecessary with these excellent sound-isolating phones. I was lucky that Shure replaced them under warranty."
An anonymous reader writes:
"Although I rarely use the earbuds that came with my 60GB video iPod, I was surprised recently that the right ear piece was producing distorted sound. The earbuds functioned properly when I first acquired the iPod, about a year ago, and several times since then. About three weeks ago, and less than a dozen occasions of using the iPod earbuds, I first noticed the sound in my right ear was distorted. To confirm it was the earbud, and not an internal iPod problem, I tried the iPod earbuds on an audio cassette unit, the right ear piece was still distorted. I also tried a second pair of non-OEM earbuds on the iPod, there was no distortion in either ear piece. It was baffling, as the earbuds had never been dropped or abused in any way."
Jim writes:
"I have an ipod shuffle and the right earbud died, and the same thing happened to a really nice pair of headphones I bought at Radioshack."
John Dickison writes:
"I've experienced not complete failure, but increasing sound degradation (as though the speaker was being overdriven) in the right earphone with two sets of standard Apple earbuds. Thought it was strange that only one ear was going."
An anonymous reader writes:
"The earbud problem confused me. I bought a set of Shure E2C earbuds because they sound great, and the cord is much thicker than all the other brands I tried. I have had 2 pairs fail on me, both losing sound on one side: the right side, with the same symptoms. I thought I was going deaf. I have both pairs stripped down to the TINY wires to somehow make them work again"
Mikael Schuster writes:
"I have 3 ipods (2 nano, 1 "normal ipod 40 GB) with failures in the right earphone."
Anyse Joslin writes:
"In my third generation 40G iPod, my original earplugs died in a few months (right earplug). After that, I bought the upgraded, fit in your ear, headphones and the right one died a few months later. So, I bought a third one and it is still working today and it is the regular style headphone that normally comes with the older iPod."
Dave O'Connor writes:
"It happened to me too, I use custom in ear headphones so it isn't the volume. I am currently on my second set and the right ear is going on these now. Thought I was losing my mind."'
J.D. Gibbbard writes:
"My original 3G iPod earbuds failed on the right side but I assumed it was the slight fraying of wires. Since then with with three other 3rd party earbuds I have frequently noticed diminished sound on the right side. Coincidentally it always seems to be the right side that also gets damaged by being stepped on or chewed up (after I have noticed sound problems)."
Kevin Barre writes:
"I absolutely have had the problem show up with my 8-year-old son's 1st generation Shuffle other than a dead right headphone. Until I read this story I had assumed that he had just blown the speaker, which is really silly, since I have always limited the volume on his Shuffle since the first day I gave it to him."
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Another possibility is that there might be some incorrect voltage being applied by the iPod, to the right channel, something you wouldn't hear--maybe some high DC voltage?
I should add: to test if the wire for the right channel is breaking, some people should take their broken right earbud apart, and use an ohmmeter to measure continuity from the plug's tip and ground, to the contacts on the right earbud's speaker that the signal and ground wires are connected to.
I have a 30Gig 5G iPod with a similar problem. I would add that my problem with the right earbud appears to be intermittent. At first, I attributed the problem to my heavy sweating since I use my iPod during workout. The problem would persist for a few days and disappear. For a few weeks now, the problem hasn't manifested itself.
It's insidious though, and interesting to read how many different ways people have explained the problem to themselves: excessive volume, cord damage, sweat, hearing loss(!), software problem, etc. After my second set of buds went exactly the same way as the first, I knew it was the Shuffle's fault. And online reports confirmed to me that something was up.
Thanks for the kind words. A prior poster had suggested the idea based on the common use of an extra contact to complete the power-supply ground circuit. (This is a very common circuit on battery-powered guitars, basses, and many effects pedals.)
It just took a little visualization to consider how it could happen.
My diagram is <a href="http://www.cfcl.com/rick/pix/jack.jpg">here</a>.
Is the solution not to use them with the iPod? It's what I bought them for!
Karen Sharp
Something that I neglected to mention - with the Apple earbuds, I sometimes felt like I was getting a shock in my right ear. This was before the earplug went out. I don't know if it is related.
Something that I neglected to mention - with the Apple earbuds, I sometimes felt like I was getting a shock in my right ear. This was before the earplug went out. I don't know if it is related.
You'll feel a shock in the ear if your ear is damp or if you are carrying a static charge. Word to the wise: Don't wear headphones while wiping down a TV screen that is on or has just been turned off. Now that is what I call a tingling sensation!
If this is the case, then this problem is occurring because the iPod listeners are mistreating their headphones by ,excessively plugging / re-plugging in their headphones while the unit is on, or removing the headphones as a means to quickly mute the iPod.
Please remember that I'm speculating here just like everyone else but with my iPod, if I pull the jack out while the iPod is playing, there is in fact interference or static that is heard through the ear buds, which specific channel I do not know. If listeners are constantly unplugging their headphones, it would only be a matter of time before the speaker exposed to DC voltage is blown.
I should clarify that, if there is indeed a risk of DC voltage appearing on the right earbud as I outlined in my drawing, then that DC voltage could be applied either when plugging or unplugging.
I'm not entirely sure if the DC voltage can be applied across the right channel when plugging in the headphones if the player is in a mute state.
It's true that it is quite common to hear a buzzy hum or pop when inserting or pulling out most TRS (tip-ring-sleeve) type jacks, but I have never heard of this causing damage to headphones in a general way, one poster's daughter excluded. People use studio headphones every day for years and years without any problems. I myself, as a film editor, have used the same pair of headphones for eight years without trouble. Of course, 1/4" jacks are physically quite different, and the distance between the ring (right channel) and the sleeve (ground) is greater, which could explain why right channel damage on this type of equipment is not reported.
Portable CD players, and before them tape players, have been around since the early Eighties, and three-connector stereo mini- or 1/8" jacks were used with all of these. I don't recall any issues with right-channel headphone/earbud failure there either (again, excluding the gentleman's daughter).
Therefore, I assume something specific to the iPod is causing the problem. It would seem most likely ground- or short-related, I agree. One possible culprit, and one that makes the iPods unique, is this nifty feature which pauses the device if your earbuds are inadvertently removed from the socket. This to me points to something unusual on the ground connector at the sleeve. Usually, most TRS jack sockets will feature two normally closed (NC) contacts which close the connection on the left and right channel when no plug is in the socket. This allows signal switching, typically so that external speakers cease receiving signal when a headphone is plugged in, as occurs on your Mac when you plug something into the headphone jack socket.
Here's an excerpt from the Wikipedia article on jack plugs:
"Panel-mounting jacks are often provided with switch contacts. Most commonly, a mono jack is provided with a single normally closed (NC) contact, which is connected to the tip (live) connection when no plug is in the socket, and disconnected when a plug is inserted. Stereo sockets commonly provide two such NC contacts, one for the tip (left channel live) and one for the ring or collar (right channel live). Some designs of jack also have such a connection on the sleeve, as this contact is usually ground it is not much use for signal switching but could be used to indicate to electronic circuitry that the socket was in use." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_plug)
Ah-ha! Could it be that such an NC sleeve contact exists in the iPod jack socket, and is used to trigger circuitry that pauses the unit when earbuds are disconnected? And could this be linked to DC current somehow damaging right earbud drivers? I don't know, though: I think it would be possible to use the regular NC stereo contacts for this as well. I'm not an engineer, so I'm not sure. I'm also unsure as to why the ground circuit in the socket would be hot in the first place...
BTW, I also experienced damage to the right channel on my Apple earbuds but it is so far intermittent, and sounds like a partial short. I assumed I had damaged the leads on the plug, but it isn't typical in that jiggling the wire above the plug doesn't affect it once it starts. I have purchased expensive V-MODA Vibe Earphones as a replacement, but reading these posts has made me nervous about using them.
It's true that it is quite common to hear a buzzy hum or pop when inserting or pulling out most TRS (tip-ring-sleeve) type jacks, but I have never heard of this causing damage to headphones in a general way, one poster's daughter excluded. People use studio headphones every day for years and years without any problems. I myself, as a film editor, have used the same pair of headphones for eight years without trouble. Of course, 1/4" jacks are physically quite different, and the distance between the ring (right channel) and the sleeve (ground) is greater, which could explain why right channel damage on this type of equipment is not reported.
Portable CD players, and before them tape players, have been around since the early Eighties, and three-connector stereo mini- or 1/8" jacks were used with all of these. I don't recall any issues with right-channel headphone/earbud failure there either (again, excluding the gentleman's daughter).
Therefore, I assume something specific to the iPod is causing the problem. It would seem most likely ground- or short-related, I agree. One possible culprit, and one that makes the iPods unique, is this nifty feature which pauses the device if your earbuds are inadvertently removed from the socket. This to me points to something unusual on the ground connector at the sleeve. Usually, most TRS jack sockets will feature two normally closed (NC) contacts which close the connection on the left and right channel when no plug is in the socket. This allows signal switching, typically so that external speakers cease receiving signal when a headphone is plugged in, as occurs on your Mac when you plug something into the headphone jack socket.
Here's an excerpt from the Wikipedia article on jack plugs:
"Panel-mounting jacks are often provided with switch contacts. Most commonly, a mono jack is provided with a single normally closed (NC) contact, which is connected to the tip (live) connection when no plug is in the socket, and disconnected when a plug is inserted. Stereo sockets commonly provide two such NC contacts, one for the tip (left channel live) and one for the ring or collar (right channel live). Some designs of jack also have such a connection on the sleeve, as this contact is usually ground it is not much use for signal switching but could be used to indicate to electronic circuitry that the socket was in use." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_plug)
Ah-ha! Could it be that such an NC sleeve contact exists in the iPod jack socket, and is used to trigger circuitry that pauses the unit when earbuds are disconnected? And could this be linked to DC current somehow damaging right earbud drivers? I don't know, though: I think it would be possible to use the regular NC stereo contacts for this as well. I'm not an engineer, so I'm not sure. I'm also unsure as to why the ground circuit in the socket would be hot in the first place...
BTW, I also experienced damage to the right channel on my Apple earbuds but it is so far intermittent, and sounds like a partial short. I assumed I had damaged the leads on the plug, but it isn't typical in that jiggling the wire above the plug doesn't affect it once it starts. I have purchased expensive V-MODA Vibe Earphones as a replacement, but reading these posts has made me nervous about using them.
I used to be really good about keeping the foam covers on, and had lost one so pulled them both off. Coincidentally, the failure happened (or became noticable) afterwards.
I have a replacement set of headphones, the same model which are working OK after 2 weeks.
- by rhj999 June 5, 2010 3:55 PM PDT
- I had this same problem, right-side failure, on iphone earbuds several times. When I finally carefully examined the male part of the connector with a magnifier, I could barely see a faint, black line on the ceramic between ring #1 and ring #2 (defining the 4 contacts as: tip, ring#1, ring#2, base). When I removed this smudge, the earbuds were fixed, equal volume both sides and, I think, the same volume as when new. The proposed explanation is that a leaf spring contact in the female socket is dragging on the ceramic and sometime depositing metal on it. This metal partially shorts one ring to another on the male part. Thus, it is something the iphone(ipod) does to the earbud that ruins them and it is gradual over time. This fits what is being reported. The only thing that doesn't fit so well is the fact that the connector can be inserted at any rotation and one would not expect metal to build up at a particular place around the circumference of the plug. It would be interesting to know if any who have the problem can find this faint mark. You will need good light and a magnifier. It will not be a sharp, crisp, black mark. It will be a subtle, hard to see line. You might detect the problem by measuring resistance from one right to another. I should have done that before I removed the smudge.
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- by rhj999 June 5, 2010 3:57 PM PDT
- I should have mentioned I removed the smudge with fine sandpaper.
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