8 Typical Problems With Sennheiser Headphones & Earbuds

Are you having issues with your Sennheiser headphones?

We have already covered how durable Sennheiser headphones are – now let’s look at some of the most common problems people have.

Listed below are the common problems people run into with Sennheiser headphones:

1. Sennheiser Headphones Won’t Pair via Bluetooth

Unable to pair your Sennheiser headphones isn’t new and is also a common problem with other brands. 

If you’re having pairing issues with Sennheiser:

  • Make sure your device (e.g., smartphone, laptop) isn’t paired to another Bluetooth audio device. If there is, unpair them.
  • Your Sennheiser headphones aren’t paired to another device. Unpair any active connection with your headphones.
  • Make sure that your headphones have enough battery.

Once all three are checked, try pairing your headphones with the device. If issues persist, you will need to reset your headphones.

2. The Sound From the Headphones is too Soft

This issue is common for wired headphones. 

When you plug your headphones into a smartphone or computer and notice that the volume is low, you get a mismatched impedance. Some headphones have a higher impedance and need the power to drive the headphones. 

Although the newer headphone models have fixed this, classic headphones retain this mismatch. 

You can fix this by either getting a pair of headphones that match the impedance of your smartphone or computer or buying a headphone amp that can drive your headphones. The nice thing about headphone amps is that they come in portable and desktop forms. 

Should you decide on the headphone amp, look for one that has around 1/8th of the impedance of your headphones. 

3. Headphones Sound Muffled or Distorted

You might have noticed that the sound coming from your headphones is muffled or distorted. But for you to fix this, you need to know where the problem is. 

To be clear, muffling is different from having unusual low volumes from your headphones. Muffling would have an indecipherable sound, while the common volume problem explained earlier has decipherable sounds at extremely low volumes. 

Damaged Headphone Wires:

A damaged headphone cable can cause muffling or distortion. With cables being one of the weak points of any headphones, damage on your headphone wires should be the first thing to check. 

If there are strands that break inside, then the signal is compromised.

Look for any exposed wires that may cause muffling. They might also make contact with other cables when they shouldn’t be. Try sealing them with Sugru, a moldable glue that works best with silicone rubber if you find any exposed wires. 

Sugru sets in 30 minutes and cures within 24 hours, known for its durability. 

When sealing, make sure that the wires don’t touch other wires; otherwise, you will only shorten your cable, repairing harder when the Sugru cures. 

If you see too many broken connections in a cable, it’s better to replace it. 

Overpowered and Blown Speakers:

Headphones have a voice coil that can have a threshold for volume before the sound starts breaking up. And if you like cranking up more bass, then the voice coil of your headphones also breaks up. 

Some people like cranking up their headphones to remove outside noise. This habit also causes your headphones to muffle or distort over time. And when the voice coil is damaged, it’s time to replace them. 

To prevent overpowered headphones, you can avoid a noisy environment or use active noise canceling.

It would be best to look into the plug and jack, as there could be dirt in the ports that don’t provide a good connection. Consider cleaning the headphone plug and jack with a contact cleaner for this issue.

You may also use an interdental toothbrush with 70 percent alcohol to clean the insides. Then, let the jack dry for an hour before reconnecting. 

4. Sennheiser Headphones Don’t Sound Good Outside

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. 

Now, if you’re not using open-back headphones, the best way to resolve this is to avoid noise. But it’s not all the time you can’t avoid noisy environments, especially if you need to travel. At this point, you need to block as much noise from entering your headphones. 

Sennheiser 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. 

5. Bluetooth Sound Quality is Lower

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. 

To get the best results, you need to research what codec your phone or headphones use. You can use this to choose what phone or headphones to get.

In the case of Sennheiser 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 that sound quality.

6. Sennheiser Headphones Lacking Specific Frequencies

If this happened to you or the Sennheiser headphones you bought is lacking specific frequencies, the solution here is to adjust the equalizer on your music player.

This can help compensate for any missing frequencies you are expecting to hear.

7. Tight Headphone Bands

Consider giving the headband an extra stretch to get the right fit if you encounter this problem with your Sennheiser headphones. 

You may want to check now and then if the fit is already ideal for you. But don’t overdo the stretching. You wouldn’t want an overstretched headband, as this will cause your headphones to fall off your head.

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

Headphones are Hurting Ears:

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

It’s not always you get a perfect ear cup fit, whether from Sennheiser or any other headphone brand.

Ideally, you should fit headphones to see if they’re an excellent fit to your head and ears before even buying them. 

But it’s not always people have 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.

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

Headphone Cables Keep on Breaking:

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

Here are 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 wires, especially when bent at an angle. 
  • Ensure the cable doesn’t get tangled, as untangling may also pressure the wires. 
  • When unplugging, pull on the plug and not the cable. 
  • Do not leave headphones plugged when not in use. 

8. Headphone Ear Cups are Flaking

Flaking happens when bits of the faux leather used on the ear cups of your headphones flake off over time. 

It’s an issue that’s bound to happen with any headphone that uses faux leather, and the least you can do is delay the inevitable. For one, it happens to any headphones that are used regularly.

One factor contributing to the flaking is the humidity, mixed with the sweat and oils from the body. 

General Pros and Cons of Sennheiser Headphone:

For the most part, Sennheiser consistently produces consistent quality for headphones.

It makes them an industry standard and keeps them a formidable brand.

Another strong point for Sennheiser is its product range. For the most part, Sennheiser covers the needs of different consumers.

Need a good pair for your daily jog? Check their wireless in-ears.

Are you doing sound design or music production? Sennheiser has one for pro-audio users.

Are you on a budget? Sennheiser also offers budget-friendly solutions.

Cons:

  • Their best-sounding headphones can be too expensive for some.
  • Designs are limited and don’t stand out that much.

Sources:

How to Stop Headphones From Hurting Your Ears

Why do my headphones sound bad?

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