Can you rely on over-ear headphones for all your daily activities? While many headphones manufacturers show their over-ear headphones in advertisements in a variety of activities, one might wonder if they can withstand everything you may subject them to.
Let’s take a look at what you can expect from over-ear headphone durability.
How durable are over-ear headphones?
How Long Do Over-ear Headphones Normally Last?
The durability of over-ear headphones depends on the build and brand. Some headphones use thinner plastics that easily become brittle. There are also high-quality over-ear headphones that can easily last over five years without any signs of aging.
Do They Last as Long as Other Headphones?
Over-ear headphones have advantages over headsets (such as those made by Logitech) and gaming headphones, due to fewer moving parts, and also have more mass than on-ear or in-ear headphones, which gives them a slight edge in durability.
What Typically Breaks First on Over-ear Headphones?
Perhaps the weakest part of over-ear headphones is the cable, although this is also an issue with other kinds of headphones.
Other components that are prone to break in over-ear headphones are the headband, and other moving plastic parts, such as the hinges that fold or swivel the earcups.
These plastic components get brittle when not stored properly. It gets worse if the material is of poor quality.
Note also, that if you wear your headphones over a hoodie, they may loosen too much over time.
How Long is the Warranty Normally on Over-ear Headphones?
The warranty of over-ear headphones depends on the manufacturer, as each manufacturer has its own warranty coverage policy.
- Audio Technica, for instance, provides a two-year warranty for its headphones.
- Sony, on the other hand, provides for a 90-day coverage for labor and a 365-day coverage for parts.
It would be best to check the manufacturer’s website to get a clear scope of the warranty coverage.
- In some cases, your headphones may come with the option for extended warranty coverage. This is usually purchased at the retailer, although not all stores have this option.
- Some manufacturers, like Apple, also offer extended warranties. Through the Apple Care program, you can get an additional year of protection.
What exactly does the warranty cover?
Warranty coverage usually covers parts replacements.
In some cases, some brands provide warranty coverage that includes labor, or the service cost of the repairman who will handle your headphones.
Again, the exact coverage of the warranty depends on the manufacturer. Some include a replacement for the whole unit, while others only include the cost of labor.
Are Over-ear Headphones Worth Buying?
Over-ear headphones are worth buying if you are looking for a pair of headphones that provide good sound isolation and noise cancellation.
If you’re looking for something unobtrusive, over-ear headphones might not be for you, unless you can get one that’s lightweight and comfortable to the ears.
Do Over-ear Headphones Need Maintenance from the Owner?
Over-ear headphones need maintenance, as they contain more moving parts than in-ear headphones.
And in some cases, over-ear headphones may have more sensitive parts that are prone to wear down faster. A good example of this would be the vinyl leather earpads on over-ear headphones, which tend to wear faster compared to the silicon tips of earbuds.
Plus, proper maintenance for your over-ear headphones also improves lifespan and helps maintain the resale value of your headphones.
Look into our article which reads about 4 Typical Problems With Over-Ear Headphones
How Do You Care for Your Headphones?
Over-ear headphones tend to cost more, so you definitely want to get the longest lifespan out of them. And if you’re looking to resell them in the future, it would help to know how to care for your headphones.
Here are some tips to consider.
Regularly clean your headphones
Cleaning your headphones is the easiest way to maintain your over-ear headphones.
You’ll probably have the needed materials at home, which should make things convenient.
Over-ear headphones can be dirt magnets. They can collect dust and grime, and because they’re worn on your body, they get dirty and sweaty when you do!
Here’s how you clean your headphones:
- Wipe your headphones after use, ideally with a soft cloth that’s dampened with alcohol or hand sanitizer.
- For those using earbuds or in-ears, avoid letting others them, as both of you may transmit dirt to each other.
- Brush off any dirt on the drivers
- Clean the jack by spraying with compressed air, or use a thin paper clip with double-sided tape to collect any particles.
Protect your cables
Another easy maintenance tip is cable protection.
For those using wired over-ear headphones, it is imperative to protect the cables of your headphones, since that’s where the signal passes to your ears. Ideally, you should go for headphones with detachable cables, as they are more convenient to store, and you can swap them out when they go bad.
But, if your over-ear headphones don’t have a detachable cable, here’s how you can care for them:
- Avoid dangling the wires, as these also put pressure on the internal wires, especially when bent at an angle.
- Make sure your cables are not tangled, as untangling them may also cause pressure to the wires inside.
- Pull out the plug, and not the cable.
- Don’t leave your headphones plugged in all day, as they can damage the spring inside the jack.
- Coil your cables properly when storing them.
Here’s how to coil your cables:
- Get your cable and