Do Headphones Get Better Or Worse Over Time? (Solved)

We all want to get the best out of our headphones. If we could, we would make them last forever.

Whether you’re a music lover, a working professional who takes calls daily, or a podcast listener, you would surely be using your headphones every day.

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Does the Sound Quality of Headphones Change with Time?

The sound quality of headphones can degrade or improve with time. How you maintain your headphones will determine their quality a year or two down the road.

Here are a few ways your headphones can change:

Loud Volume:

If you use your headphones at a high volume daily for 8 hours it can cause stress.

Not only on your ears but on the interior mechanics of your headphones. Loud vibrations can ruin the interior wires or small moving parts.

Listening at a reasonable volume that won’t hurt the headphones and ears is the ideal way to use them.

Condition of Earpads:

Also, the earpads can affect the sound quality of your headphones. The headphones may loosen over time.

The quality of their texture – the softness and any wear and tear – can muffle the sound. The damage on the ear pads is caused by exposure to sweat and moisture.

The earpads can also get thinner over time when you’ve taken them on and off a lot.

Worn-out earpads can change the acoustics of your headphones. You can prevent this by replacing your headphones’ earpads every 6 to 12 months.

Do Headphones Typically Need to Warm Up?

Most headphones showcase better performance after a warm-up. This process is called an audio burn-in.

An audio burn-in properly exercises the headphone’s speakers and drivers, which usually takes 4-5 hours a day for 5 days.

To do an audio burn-in of your headphones:

Take off your headphones from your ears.
Connect your headphones to a computer.
Set the volume to a middle level.
Play a combination of white and pink noise.
Let it play at the specified time.

After you warm up your headphones, you’ll notice positive changes in the sound quality. The bass and vocals are enhanced and a lot clearer because the internal parts have been loosened up.

If you want the best headphones you should buy from good high-end electronics brands. Fashion brands such as Louis Vuitton aren’t known for high-quality headphones.

Do Headphones Need to be Broken In?

Your headphones need to be broken in, which is true with clothes, shoes, or anything new that we wear too.

Breaking in your headphones is important to make them more comfortable to wear.

Wear Your Headphones Frequently:

New headphones feel tight on the first few uses. Use them as often as you can.

Then, they’ll get more snug because they’ll eventually adjust to the shape of your head and ears.

This process is quicker for lighter headphones with thinner head straps. You may need to wait longer for heavier headphones with thicker head straps.

Stretch Your Headphones:

Another way to break in your headphones is to place them on something wider than your head.

Place them on a bag, a book, or anything with regular edges. It should be weighted and not hollow because you want the headphones to be in the same position for a few days.

Some headphones can be heavy. They can hurt when you put them on your neck. Stretching them out can help make them fit better on you.

Do Headphones Get Quieter Over Time?

Headphones can lose volume after using them daily. This can happen if you’re in the habit of playing music at high volumes or if the connection isn’t secure.

Here are a few things you can do to prevent this:

Turn Down the Volume:

Loud volumes can cause your headphones to vibrate.

Too many vibrations damage your headphones. You’ll notice the sound quality deteriorating pretty quickly. When this happens, the bass and some frequencies become softer and harder to hear.

The worst-case scenario is a buzzing sound, which signifies that you’ll need to replace your headphones.

When listening to music on your headphones, keep the volume at a normal level. Their speakers and other internal parts are very sensitive. Your eardrums would also thank you for it.

Check for Connectivity Issues:

For wired headphones, see if the headphone jack is broken.

Also, manufacturers may not tightly place the headphone jack into the audio socket. Make sure it is fitted in well. The audio socket should also be clean and free from dirt and debris.

Wireless headphones can have Bluetooth connection problems too.

The sound may be softer, or you won’t hear anything at all. There shouldn’t be anything between your headphones and your phone or computer.

Things that can affect the connection are thick walls, furniture, and other gadgets. Put them away.

Do Headphones Get more Comfortable Over Time?

If you’re someone who uses their headphones daily for hours, you’ll see that they get more comfortable over time.

There are some headphones with adjustable head straps. These allow you to set them properly on your head without discomfort.

But sometimes, even these head straps don’t fit well and can hurt. If you wear your headphones often enough, they can extend and be adapted to your head shape.