News + Trends
Deadphones: the ten most common headphone deaths
by David Lee
Deadphones Vol. 2: A second life for headphones
6.7.2018
Translation: Eva Francis
After ranting about the short life span of headphones, now’s my time to give some praise. At least to some of them. There are models that come with spare parts and are easy to repair – many Sennheiser headphones, for example.
Last year, I gave vent to my anger about how quickly headphones break. If it’s not the cable or plug, I’ll bet you the ear cushions will start to crumble.
I'm not a paranoid conspiracy theorist and I don't scream «planned obsolescence!» every time something breaks. But it didn't surprise me that the ear cushions on my Sennheiser HD 449 began to fall apart after three years. It's not too bad at the moment, but once they start to crumble, I'll be covered in small, black bits of plastic for weeks or even months.
I’d already started looking for new headphones when I saw there are replacement ear cushions for my exact model – headphones that are no more available since a long time. I ordered them right away and received them the next day (sorry, I got the last ones in stock).
I unclipped my old ear cushions and clipped on the new ones. It took no tools and no time at all. In about 30 seconds, my headphones were as good as new. Nothing easier than that.
After this operation, I’m sure my headphones will last another two or three years. If the cable breaks, I can replace that, too.
I knew Sennheiser supplied spare parts for the legendary HD 25. But I was surprised they did the same for my model, the HD 449, which costs less than 100 francs now and is a completely unspectacular piece of equipment by today's standards. It has no remote control, can’t be used as a headset, has no wireless transmission and no noise cancelling. It can't really do anything except play sound.
Massive props to Sennheiser. That's the way it's supposed to be. I hope Sennheiser sticks with this attitude, customers appreciate it and other manufacturers follow this example.
A case for spare parts
Yes, providing spare parts can pay off. I don't know what the situation is in this particular case, but it's undeniable that the margin on spare parts can be a lot higher than on the entire device. Why? Because customers pay less attention to the price of spare parts. When I need a new cable, I buy one – whether it costs 10 francs or 18 francs.
Sennheiser isn't the only manufacturer to provide spare parts. Separate ear pads are available for both the black and white versions of the Bose QuietComfort 35; removable cables that are easy to replace have long been standard. In our shop, any spare parts, if available, are listed as accessories on the product page.
There's definitely no evil master plan that causes some components of your headphones to break after a while. Next time your headphones break down, crumble or fall apart, check if spare parts are available. Even better, look out for spare parts before you decide to buy headphones in the first place.
David Lee
Senior Editor
David.Lee@digitecgalaxus.chMy interest in IT and writing landed me in tech journalism early on (2000). I want to know how we can use technology without being used. Outside of the office, I’m a keen musician who makes up for lacking talent with excessive enthusiasm.
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