4 Typical Problems With Wireless Headphones & Earbuds

Are you having problems when going wireless?

Whether you run an in-ear wireless monitor for a gig or use Bluetooth headphones for watching your favorite movies, here are some of the common problems you may have with wireless headphones:

1. I lost the Receiver/Transmitter of my Wireless Headphones

You may sometimes lose or forget the transmitter/receiver of your wireless headphones or in-ears, which can be a problem.

Especially for those who use a USB dongle for this, you need that piece of hardware for your headphones to work. Having this transmitter will allow you to be able to use your headphones.

That does not mean they become useless. For the most part, you can still pair these headphones with other dongles or transmitters. For example, if you lose the USB dongles of your Logitech wireless headphones, you can use the Unifying Receiver as a replacement.

Suppose you’re using wireless in-ear monitors through hi-fi or pro-audio systems, such as mixers.

In that case, you can easily replace the transmitter or receiver with another unit, provided they use the same band or frequency. Note also, that strong magnets are bad for headphones.

2. My Device Could Not Pair/Connect with my Wireless Headphones

Pairing is an issue that happens with headphones that use Bluetooth and transmitter/receiver systems.

For Bluetooth headphones, the first thing to do is make sure the headphones are turned on and set to pairing. All Bluetooth headphones have a button to press for pairing.

You can consult with the user manual to find the pairing button.

Next to check is the distance between the Bluetooth Headphones and the device is connected. Bluetooth headphones are best paired when close to the device being connected.

Some headphones have a recommended pairing process too, which is why you need to check the instruction manual of your headphones to pair your devices quickly.

If pairing is still a problem, try restarting both devices, then try connecting your headphones and device again.

Also, Check the Bandwidth:

Another reason why headphones have a hard time connecting to your devices via Bluetooth is due to the presence of other devices that ride on the same bandwidth as Bluetooth.

To help you ensure a strong connection, consider disabling other Bluetooth devices connected to your device that are not in use.

You might have devices, such as wireless speakers that might still be paired. This causes conflict with the headphones you’re pairing.

Try staying away from the Wi-Fi router when pairing, as wireless Internet connections share the same bandwidth with Bluetooth.

You need to ensure that your transmitter and receiver operate on the same radio frequency for a wireless monitoring system.

Unlike Bluetooth connections, where versions don’t matter much, these wireless monitoring systems need to be on the same frequency channel. You can think of them as the language that the transmitter and receiver understand.

Once you’re sure they work on the same frequency, you also need to be near the transmitter to ensure the connection.

3. Wireless Headphones keep Disconnecting

Frequent disconnection on your wireless headphones can be a headache, whether you’re listening for pleasure or performing.

For those using wireless headphones that rely on a radio transmitter, the local Digital TV frequencies are often the culprit. Your wireless microphones and in-ears shouldn’t be close to these frequencies.

As a guide, Digital TV frequencies use up to 6 MHz. Your in-ears should be set a few MHz apart from Digital TV. The antennas of your receiver should also be far from each other and must maintain a good line of sight from the transmitter.

The next thing to look at is the cables that connect between your headphones or in-ears to the receiver if using a receiver pack. Try swapping out cables and see if there’s any improvement in the performance.

These kinds of problems can also make it hard to use smartphones with headphones as hearing aids.

Lastly, check if the battery levels are still okay. A low battery means having unstable connections.

– USB Connections:

If you’ve been using Logitech’s wireless headphones that use a USB dongle for connection, you’ve probably encountered disconnecting issues as well, but these can be fixed.

Disconnection happens when Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices interfere with the wireless USB connection of your Logitech headphones. Another cause would be the inability of the current USB port to provide enough power for the wireless dongle to work.

Lastly, driver issues may also cause an unstable connection.

To solve this, you can try any of the following:

– Try Another Port:

Plug the USB dongle into another port, such as those using USB 2.0.

If you are using a PC, try plugging directly into the computer instead of a hub. Make sure that your headphones are also fully charged.

– Update Headphone Drivers:

On a Windows-based computer, go to the Device Manager and open the Sound, Video, and Game Controllers.

Look for the Logitech headphones, right-click, then select uninstall.

From here, you can opt to download new drivers from the Logitech website or use apps like Driver Booster to scan drivers for you.

– Bluetooth Headphones:

For Bluetooth headphones, the first thing to ensure is that your headphones and device are within range.

Not all devices can operate at exact distances. Some need to be within a short distance, and some are okay with you being in another room, and when you stay farther from the audio source, the signal will start disconnecting.

You also check the battery of your Bluetooth headphones. Weaker batteries also mean having subpar performance.

To ensure a stable connection, make sure that your Bluetooth headphones have power. Try not to use them while charging them as a safety precaution.

The next thing to try is to unpair and re-pair the Bluetooth headphones.

You can also try restarting both devices for a clean slate, should any connection issues persist. If you have another device, try pairing them to check where the problem is.

Please also read our article with solutions to headphones not working on Windows 11. 

4. Latency Issue with Wireless Headphones

Latency happens with wireless headphones and has varying levels of delay.

For analog wireless systems, the delay is quite negligible. For digital and Bluetooth systems, these can be noticeable.

Latency with digital wireless systems can be a problem, especially for musicians who incorporate wireless in-ear monitoring. One delay can ruin the performance of an artist.

In a nutshell, digital latency is often caused by introducing too many layers of signal processing, which then degrades the actual signal and causes delay.

For the most part, anywhere below five ms of latency can be tolerable for musicians. If the latency exceeds that threshold, it will cause out-of-sync issues for artists.

To fix this, you will need to look into the signal processing path until it reaches the wireless in-ear headphones. Ideally, the mixer that sends the signals to the transmitter should have minimal latency to prevent any inconsistencies in the mix.

For Bluetooth headphones, there are different ways to approach latency. Latency in Bluetooth headphones can go anywhere from 34 to 300ms. That’s why you sometimes hear a song start a bit past the intro or after a bar in a piece.

Latency in Bluetooth headphones is caused by codecs, Bluetooth versions, interference, and even the distance between your devices. Latency might be typical, but you can reduce it to negligible levels.

One good way to resolve latency is to pick a pair of Bluetooth headphones that matches the codec used by your device. Some devices, such as smartphones by Sony and Samsung, have a preferred codec for best results.

That’s why it would be good to look at what your device prefers so that you get the best results on your headphones.

Like codecs, matching Bluetooth versions also reduces latency. If your device uses Bluetooth 5.0, it’s highly recommended to get a pair of headphones that use Bluetooth 5.0, also.

But take note that the lower Bluetooth version prevails.

If your headphones use Bluetooth 5.0 and your phone runs Bluetooth 4.0, you will only get the latter’s benefits.

The Pros of Wireless Headphones:

– They’re Convenient to Use

Because any long cables do not burden you, you can quickly move around.

You can take what you hear with you, whether you’re a leisure listener or want consistent sound quality.

– No Need to Worry About Damaged Cables

Whether using a wireless in-ear for performance or your regular sound trips, having no wires makes sudden movements easier.

Cables don’t get tangled, and there’s no risk of tripping over any wires.

Remember, broken cables make your headphones useless until replaced.

Even with in-ears that plug into a wireless receiver, these cables are often shorter than usual, so they are easy to manage than those used on regular headphones.

– Wireless Headphones are Easy to Store

Unless your headphones have detachable cables, you won’t have to worry about storing and transporting wireless headphones.

You can separate them into individual pouches and not worry about any cables getting damaged.

Even those in-ear monitors have that benefit, too, as you can separate the receiver pack from the in-ears.

– Wireless Headphones Give you more Control

This statement holds for Bluetooth headphones.

Bluetooth headphones give you the option for controlling your phone or computer through the buttons found on the headphone.

You can use it to activate Siri or Google Assistant, and you can answer calls with it.

The Disadvantage of Wireless Headphones:

• They rely on battery life.
• Some units don’t have an option for wired connectivity.
• They often cost more than wired headphones.

Final Thoughts

Considering that technology has improved a lot, you won’t mind the issues with wireless headphones.

They provide a great deal of freedom when using them, and they even come with long battery life.

And these are great investments for people who don’t want the inconvenience of cables.

Sources:

4 Typical Problems With Logitech Headphones (With Examples)

5 Typical Problems With Bluetooth Headphones (With Examples)

Shure Whiteboard – Digital Wireless Latency Explained

In-ear Monitors Cutting Out: Troubleshooting, Fixing & Prevention Guide