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The headphones that come as default with many products (mainly mp3 players) these days (the small ones that sit inside your ears) hurt mine after wearing them for any length of time.

Back in 2000 or so, I bought a pair of Sennheiser (I'd link to their site(s), but I've been unable to access the sites for the past two days running) headphones. They were canned headphones, that cupped the ears, which were comfortable and of reasonable quality.

There tend to be lots of cables laying around on the floor near where I work (in my living room, in the UK - NOT in the office in PA). I can never be bothered with moving these cables prior to hoovering, so like the idiot I am, I managed to pass the hoover over the cable for those old headphones. This destroyed the cable (which was ridiculously long for my needs (about 6 feet (2+ metres))).

I tried to get a replacement cable, without having the old cable with me as I got it. From memory, I was sure the old cable was a mini-jack to mini-jack cable, so bought one of those...

Got the new cable home, tried to plug it into the old headphones.. The plug was too big. Turns out that it was a mini-mini-jack plug to mini-jack. Both ears of the headphones had a little crackle to them, since I'd mistakenly overpowered them a while ago, with a full volume blast and they were 8 years old, so I figured I'd buy a new set.

Happy (other than issues above) with Sennheiser before, I thought I'd give them another try. The new headphones I ordered came with another gigantic cable, but I was happy to see that the shorter cable I'd bought for the old headphones should fit, because it had the right connections.

WRONG. It wasn't a case of the plugs being the wrong size this time, rather that the plastic casing AROUND the plug was the problem.

I could, if the Sennheiser websites actually worked, check out if they stock shorter cables there, I guess... But for something as inexpensive as a budget cable, why should I even have go to that trouble? I'm close to shearing a few millimetres from the base of the headphone that holds the socket. Grr.

I know that many males dream of their male plugs getting tightly squeezed into a female's socket, but come on.

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The People Have Spoken

43 Comments

Mar. 19, 2008 | 10:54 PM EvilEgg says:

Oh that sucks man. Hope it gets better.

Mar. 20, 2008 | 12:30 AM WolfBlitz2 says:

I say
go read a newspaper or a book instead of listening to a an mp3 player
that or get a stereo that plays CD's

Mar. 20, 2008 | 12:56 AM ngfan14 says:

That sucks. Those look like nice headphones too. I just use a cheap pair of headphones that go around the back of my ears because the ones that go inside my ears hurt after an hour.

Mar. 20, 2008 | 1:05 AM WritersBlock says:

The earbud headphones are a scam to make money. They're way too flimsy and always break. I've got myself some earmuff headphones (Koss UR.20) and they work great (decent bass, and it's great when I'm making music), it's got a thick cable, thicker than the earbud headphones(it came with a not-so-mini-jack adaptor, for guitar amps and that sort of thing), so it's durable, but it's not exactly protable. Fortunately, I'm a hermit that rarely leaves the house, and I don't mind lugging around a thick, long cable, in order to listen to music. I'll probably end up grabbing a good earbud pair for when I do start going out more, so that I'll have that portability, and just keep the earmuffs at home for computer use.

I also find your use of the word "hoover" quite adorable, I've only ever used the word "vacuum", and although I understand that that's the term you british folk use, I've never actually heard (or in this instance, read) hoover used in regular conversation.

Mar. 20, 2008 | 1:39 PM liljim responds:

I actually meant to use "vacuum", given that it's a more universally recognised way of saying the same thing. I think we use "hoover" because it was the predominant brand of machine for a long time over here.... Not so much any more, though, I use a Dyson.

Mar. 20, 2008 | 4:30 AM Rucklo says:

This is one of the reasons one never should order too many things online without having seen/tried them (especially things that I need to judge how they sound, f.ex.).
But it do sounds weird that the plastic around was too big for the input, if it was the same jack-type... Eight years ago no matter, whatever happened to industrial standards?

Mar. 20, 2008 | 1:40 PM liljim responds:

I agree with you in so much that I would have shopped around for headphones if I was going to be doing anything other than listening to mp3s with them. However, the mp3 format tends to negate any of the additional clarity you'd get from a superior set of headphones, given that many of the additional frequencies you'd get out of a better pair are cut in the compression process. So I just went for a budget pair that would be more comfortable than what I already had.

Mar. 20, 2008 | 8:57 AM Ansel says:

That's lame. It reminds me of how Apple screwed everyone over with the iPhone. Or maybe it was the iPod Touch. Either way, the headphone jack wouldn't work for phones that had a right-angle plug. You needed one that was straight :C

Mar. 20, 2008 | 10:34 AM DaVeB0T says:

I have a great pair of philips headphones, but they are staring to wear out.
If I bought a new pair, I would first look at what Bose has to offer.

Mar. 20, 2008 | 12:34 PM jmtb02 says:

I had the same issue as Ansel for my Iphone. Apple has a tiny headphone socket that makes it hard to get any other plug but Apple plugs into them, and it makes it near impossible to plug anything else in. Monster cable actually sells converters to do it, and it's lame that I have to get a converter to use a standard mini-jack to mini-jack... it's a standard, right?

Mar. 20, 2008 | 1:41 PM liljim responds:

Indeed they are. And yeah, that would really irritate me, too.

Mar. 20, 2008 | 2:12 PM LordZeebmork says:

I just buy the kind they sell for $10 at CVS (Philips SBC HL150 or whatever) and they work fine. They actually last a lot longer than the expensive headphones, they don't break as easily (I had Sennheiser headphones that were wrecked when I tripped over the cable and the jack got screwed up), they actually don't sound that bad, and they're collapsible.

Mar. 21, 2008 | 4:11 PM ruinnewb says:

Hello thar!

Mar. 21, 2008 | 5:28 PM ganon95 says:

why use mini speakers eh? buy a big ol' freakin subwoffer and get the beats pumpin' =]

Mar. 21, 2008 | 9:55 PM RageVI says:

If you don't have a Dremel rotary tool, you should get one some time. It'll easily let you do things like, for example, shave off that plastic casing, or cut holes through your computer's metal casing to accommodate cables for a new sound card.

In related news, I won't be buying a Sony computer ever again. Good thing all those sparks flying everywhere didn't mess anything up.

Mar. 22, 2008 | 2:29 AM ReillyReilly says:

I have had a pair of these for an absurdly long amount of time, they work beautifully. http://www.sennheiserusa.com/newsite/
productdetail.asp?transid=004974

Mar. 22, 2008 | 7:35 AM WolfBlitz2 says:

get logitech
or sony
they're good brands

Mar. 22, 2008 | 8:43 AM Frogcloset says:

im sick of how all earphones these days are made of that rubber gel shit.

damn stuff blisters my ears to hell.

Mar. 22, 2008 | 11:37 PM JimmyDallas says:

is this the link?
http://www.sennheiserusa.com/newsite/
productdetail.asp?transid=500265

i checked the parts and i didn't see anything about cables.
nice looking headphones tho

Mar. 23, 2008 | 12:32 AM LORDBRASKA says:

and we care why?

Mar. 23, 2008 | 1:09 AM BadPun says:

That's the kind of thing that well leave me pissed for days. I have a pair of Bose Around-Ear headphones, and while the cable is lengthy, it's not crazy-lengthy.

Mar. 23, 2008 | 10:47 AM xmorthosethx says:

wth all those wires are driving me nuts just buy the 1s that fit in ur ear even though it hurts u'll get used to it

Mar. 24, 2008 | 1:26 PM Emancipation says:

You should eat more vegetables man !

Mar. 24, 2008 | 4:08 PM milchreis says:

Did you ever try these?
http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/sp eakers/9b1e/

If you buy them please tell me if I should do this, too! =)
Why don't you simply shorten the cable?

Mar. 24, 2008 | 6:48 PM aguilar135 says:

comment my page

Mar. 25, 2008 | 2:06 AM Jonas says:

James, you need a 1/8 to 3/32nd adapter to fix your problem. I'd say buy them at your local Radioshack/Tandy, but I doubt you have them around any more. If you can't find them though, I'll be glad to send you one though. I'm a headphone buff myself, and own roughly 8 pairs currently, and would be glad to help out!

Mar. 25, 2008 | 2:06 AM Jonas says:

Mar. 25, 2008 | 11:54 AM mranarchy says:

I think you can get adaptors 'n shit at Maplins...

Mar. 27, 2008 | 8:45 AM puddinN64 says:

I wonder what this rant blog would be like if Tim had wrote it....

Mar. 27, 2008 | 11:15 AM JenifferLopez says:

Now that you've posted a pic of yourself, I'm one step closer to killing you :)

Apr. 5, 2008 | 4:44 PM drunkkillers says:

lol dude that sucks i use a crapy par o head phones

Apr. 10, 2008 | 8:48 PM Iamjohn says:

omg you have a Dyson too? join the club :D

Apr. 18, 2008 | 1:10 AM Unholy-Kraken says:

crapshit.jpg
how original.

Apr. 23, 2008 | 10:56 AM AapoJoki says:

You sound like Pierre Bernard in his recliner of rage. By the way, 6 feet is about 1.8 metres, not over 2.

May. 6, 2008 | 6:39 PM Chad-T says:

PUT YOUR WIENER IN MY MOUTH!

May. 6, 2008 | 7:15 PM Xarnor says:

Yup, cables and cords are the shit that drive insane people insane. I have an awesome pair of Sennheiser HD 202 headphones. They aren't that expensive or anything, and they aren't the best, but they suit my needs. They have good bass, and great clarity. lol, yeah, they have a REALLY long cable that kind of gets in the way sometimes, but also is nice to have at other times. I hate those stupid little earphone things that come with mp3 players. They hurt my ears SO bad if I wear them for over just like 5 minutes.

May. 6, 2008 | 7:49 PM Murphinator says:

I happen to own a GREAT pair of those little earbuds with great sound. Plus, they don't hurt my ears at all. They're called Skull Candy. And yes, I do realize just how strangely homosexual that brand sounds, but don't knock it 'till you try it.

May. 6, 2008 | 11:02 PM HaXoR1500 says:

lol soo true...

May. 9, 2008 | 1:32 PM fohn-jarmery says:

S...so much Sexual Inuendo...
I CAN'T TAKE IT!

May. 10, 2008 | 1:48 PM camobch0 says:

wow..... only 36 people have commented after 2 months and ur a staff member... sad

May. 10, 2008 | 9:15 PM FritoMan says:

Yeah. Ive got some 50 dollar skull candy headphones, and the cord is 10 feet long. I tried to get a shorter one, but all the ones that were the right size were like 10 or 14 feet.

May. 12, 2008 | 8:21 PM Psycho-Pickle says:

I think I am in love with you.

May. 15, 2008 | 3:19 AM flashplayer5 says:

You hoovered your cable...I never expected such techno-noobery from an NG admin.

May. 16, 2008 | 8:40 AM michaelsetiyawan says:

tomorrow
in 27/may/2008 is my bithday
13 to 14 years old!