7 Typical Problems With Pioneer Headphones & Earbuds

Have you ever wondered if Pioneer Headphones are worth it?

Here, we list the common problems you may encounter with Pioneer Headphones:

1. The Sound from the Headphones is too Soft

This issue is common for wired headphones. 

Pioneer headphones are specialty headphones for pro-audio use; the sound quality when plugging into a DJ controller will be different from what you get if you hit a smartphone or tablet. 

You’ll often notice that the volume is too low than what you heard when plugged into an amplifier. That usually happens because of a mismatched impedance. Some headphones have a high impedance and need more power to drive the sound.

While modern headphones may have fixed this, some classic pieces still do not match this standard. 

There are two ways of fixing this. You can either get a pair of headphones that match the impedance of your device or get an external headphone amp to help drive power to your headphones.

You can pick up portable headphone amps like the Fiio A1 or any other third-party headphone amp. Make sure that the output impedance is less than 1/8th of your headphones. 

2. Pioneer Headphones are not Producing the Right Sound Quality

This issue is common among in-ears. 

If you read good reviews about a pair of in-ears, only to find that the sound didn’t meet the expectations you had, don’t worry yet.

Often, this problem stems from the fit of your in-ears. As each person has different ear shapes, you can expect different results. 

The solution here is quite simple: you need to fix the fit of your in-ears. In-ears come with different silicone tips meant for different ear canal sizes. You need to find one that fits perfectly with your ears.

If none work well, you can look into memory foam tips instead. These will help produce better sound isolation. 

3. Pioneer Headphones Aren’t Good When Used Outside the Home or Office

If you were impressed with the pair of headphones you picked up at the store yet disappointed with how they performed while on the bus or train, then read further. 

You’ve probably noticed the sound from your headphones get drowned in the background noise of the environment. Often, the music notes are similar to the background noise, so they cancel out. 

What happens here is that your ears cancel similar sounds in frequency. This occurrence is called auditory masking.

When the noise has a frequency identical to the music, it will eliminate the latter because of the loudness of the noise. 

If you’re using over-ear headphones, better check the specifications, as they might be open-back headphones. Open-back headphones tend to pick up sound from outside and are not ideal for outdoor use.

Not Ideal For Traveling

Now, if you’re not using open-back headphones, the best way to resolve this is to avoid noise, but you can’t always avoid noisy environments, especially if you need to travel. 

At this point, you need to block as much noise from entering your headphones. Consider getting tighter ear tips if you’re using in-ears or ear cups for closed-back headphones.

If you’re considering buying another pair of headphones because of the noise, look for a set with active noise-canceling.

Pioneer offers wireless headphones that feature active noise cancellation. 

You can also increase the volume, but your ears can only handle a certain volume level before causing irreversible damage. Do this when all means have been exhausted. 

4. The Sound Quality on Bluetooth is Lower

Before you throw those Bluetooth headphones, let’s look at why they don’t sound as spectacular as what the reviews say. 

Bluetooth headphones and smartphones have a particular codec, which ensures smooth operability. Codecs are like languages, and each brand uses specific codecs. If your headphones and device don’t have the same codec, you don’t get the ideal results, as it would shift to an outdated codec. 

It would be best to research what codec your phone or headphones use to get the best results. You can use this to choose what phone or headphones to get.

You can often find the codecs used by phones and headphones on the specification page of your device. 

In the case of Pioneer headphones, they support AAC and SBC, so it’s good to pair these headphones with AAC-compatible devices. 

Once you know what codecs work best, ensure that you use the ideal one. You won’t have many options for some devices, such as iOS devices, but for Android, there are more options. 

Remember, the power of your headphones also determines the sound quality. Always keep them at the optimum level to perform at their best. 

Another thing to consider is keeping your phone’s firmware and even headphones updated. Firmware updates ensure that your devices are running smoothly, including audio performances.

You might also find this across other Pioneer products. Here’s how long Pioneer TVs last.

5. Pioneer Headphones Lacking Specific Frequencies

If by chance, you picked up a pair of headphones that lack specific frequencies, chances are you bought a pair that was designed for recording and mixing audio.

These headphones are designed to be flat, which is why they may lack bass.

They’re neutral sounding, so you can accurately see what’s wrong in a mix.

If this happened to you or the Pioneer headphones you bought lack specific frequencies, the solution here is to adjust the equalizer on your music player. That can help compensate for any missing frequencies you are expecting to hear.

6. Uncomfortable Fit on the Head

One of the considerations in choosing a pair of headphones is the fit.

Especially for Pioneer, known for its DJ and studio headphones, you want something comfortable to use during late-night mixing or long DJ gigs. Even if you’re using consumer-grade headphones, you want some comfort for extended trips or when listening to music during work or leisure times. 

Now, many headphones get their heft because of the drivers they have. They can be bulky and heavy for some people, which is why you need to have a comfortable headband to help you carry the bulk.

Different factors contribute to the amount of comfort you get. 

Tight Headphone Bands:

Since people have different head shapes, one pair of headphones may be comfortable, but not for you.

It would feel like a vise was clamping your head, in some cases. When the headphones are too tight, you can get compression headaches. 

Don’t overdo the stretching! You may want to check now and then if the fit is already ideal for you.

You wouldn’t want an overstretched headband, as this will cause your headphones to fall off your head. 

Headphones Are Hurting Ears:

Another problem with many headphones, including Pioneer, is how the ear cups sit on your ears. 

It’s not always you get a perfect ear cup fit, whether from Pioneer or any other headphone brand. Remember that people have different head and ear shapes, which is why your mileage may vary with every headphone. 

If you read some reviews, take note that these opinions are formed based on the experience of the headphone reviewer. It’s not one-size-fits-all when it comes to headphones. 

Ideally, you should fit headphones to see if they’re an excellent fit to your head and ears before even buying them. There’s the luxury of having the chance to try headphones, for whatever reason personally. 

Now, if you end up with headphones that don’t fit your ears well, a good solution would be to try adjusting the ear cups and headphone position.

Sometimes, your headphones have a sweet spot to get the right fit in all aspects. 

If you couldn’t get any comfortable position, consider looking for third-party ear cups that are softer. 

Headphones Can Cause Discomfort or Pain on the Top of the Head:

Another way of feeling discomfort with your headphones is when there’s not the right amount of force when it clings on your head. 

If there’s little pressure, your headphones can slip off easily, while excess pressure can cause headaches. 

To resolve this, you can add padding to your headphones so that they can cling to your head easily. 

Many third-party headphone headband padding is compatible with most brands, including Pioneer. 

Ears Feel too Warm with Over-Ear Headphones:

Some headphones make your ears feel a bit too warm. This issue is caused by the lack of ventilation on the ear cups. 

There are two possible solutions here: either look for replacement ear pads made of velour, known for breathability and durability or give yourself a break from headphones now and then. 

7. Headphone Cables Keep Breaking

Headphone cables are the weakest link, and that’s why headphone manufacturers developed wireless technology. 

Some headphones perform better with cables due to the lower latency. That holds for applications, such as sound design and DJing, which Pioneer is also known for.

It isn’t great when your cables break resulting from mishandling during transit. While mishandling happens by accident, proper cable storage could prevent them from breaking easily. 

That’s why you should look at how you coil your cables during storage.

Here are other things to consider in cable maintenance for your headphones: 

• Have a dedicated case for your headphones to absorb any pressure on the cable. 
• Don’t dangle the cables, as these put pressure on the cables, especially when bent at an angle. 
• Ensure the cable doesn’t get tangled, as untangling may also pressure the cables. 
• When unplugging, pull on the plug and not the cable. 
• Do not leave headphones plugged when not in use. 

General Pros and Cons of Pioneer Headphones:

Pioneer is an excellent brand to check out if you’re looking for a brand with a wide selection of headphones.

Whether you’re a casual listener or want a professional-grade, you will likely find headphones that match your needs.

For those wanting a pair of headphones that can last long, make no mistake with Pioneer.

They’re designed to withstand the abuse, giving you peace of mind.

Of course, durability can be subjective, which is why you also need due diligence on your end. As long as you use it within the specified applications set by Pioneer, then you won’t have a problem.

Disadvantages of Pioneer Headphones:

• A lot of models are prone to sound leakages
• They can be expensive.

Sources:

How to Stop Headphones From Hurting Your Ears

Why do my headphones sound bad?