What if one earphone works?

It's sad when one earphone does not work. Especially if the headphones are of high quality and expensive, and there is no desire to change them. In this article, we will look at why such a malfunction occurs, what to do to fix it, and how to prevent such a breakdown in the future.

If your headphones suddenly stop working, don't despair. Surely the malfunction can be eliminated by yourself. Both full-size computer headphones and compact earplugs can break. There are many reasons why they fail. We'll look at the most common ones.

1. Clogging with sulfur. Usually occurs in people who lead an active lifestyle and play sports with their favorite player. Usually 1 earphone or both immediately begin to play quieter, distortion appears or the sound becomes muffled.
2. Battery placed incorrectly. This happens with wireless models, especially for inattentive people. But sometimes even experienced users get confused about the polarity.
3. Headset positioned incorrectly. Each person is unique, and the headphones are made standard. Therefore, they may not sit properly on your head, and the speakers will be blocked.
4. Connection problems. They come in both wired and wireless models. For wired ones, the plug may be incorrectly connected, and models with Bluetooth do not always synchronize correctly with the player and with each other.
5. Settings are not set. This is especially true for models for working with a computer. No sound is played due to driver failure or simply lack of them. This usually happens with new headphones bought from the store. Then an absolutely serviceable thing may not work with your source.
6. Other. Other reasons that are less common. For example, the headphones have been dropped or water has entered. And also sloppy handling.

Once you have identified the cause of the problem, you need to fix it. It can be done with your own hands, without contacting the service center.

To fix this problem headphones need to be cleaned... Working methods differ for different models. Full-size ear cups are usually covered with fabric or leather ear cushions. Well, if they are removable, then there will be no problems with them.

If they are not removed, headphones need to be disassembled... Typically, the halves of the case are fastened with screws or latches. In the first case, all fasteners must be unscrewed. In the second, you need to carefully separate the halves of the case with a plectrum or flat screwdriver.

After that, the filters must be wiped with alcohol or washed... Better to use a special cleaning spray. And wait until it is completely dry before assembling.

Headphones - "plugs" are serviced differently... Vacuum models have removable rubber ear pads on which all debris is collected. They are very easy to remove, just pull on them. After that, wipe them with alcohol, dry them and put them back on. Or replace it altogether if there is no desire to do this. Ear cushion sets are sold separately and are inexpensive. The speaker holes themselves need to be cleaned with a needle or match.

With "pills" not so simple. Few models have a removable fabric filter and often requires disassembling the case to clean. And its parts stick together, so disassembly must be done very carefully. The basic idea is that the glue line is less durable than the body. Therefore, for disassembly, each earphone must be squeezed in a vice or pliers. You can't make a lot of effort. So it is necessary to go around the entire circumference and several times. If you hurry, the case will crack.

Finally, after all this agony, you will receive 2 halves of the case. They need to be cleaned with cotton wool dipped in alcohol. Usually the speaker is covered by a fabric membrane, which absorbs all impurities. Take it out and remove the dirt. Remember to clean the mesh on the case.

Sometimes such disassembly needs to be done with vacuum headphones.if the dirt is deeply clogged. Take action as appropriate.

Check that the "+" and "-" pins are positioned correctly. There are markings on the body. As a last resort, turn the battery over. Make sure the battery is not dead. To do this, measure the actual voltage at its outputs with a multimeter, and compare it with the declared one. It is indicated on the case. If the difference is too large (more than 0.4 V), the battery must be replaced.

TIt also happens that after a recent replacement, the headset quickly stops working. This is most likely due to the battery. Perhaps it was originally defective or had been in the warehouse for a long time. In any case, make sure the contacts on the battery and in the earphones are clean and shiny before inserting a new battery. If not, remove oxides with a knife and cotton swab.

Put on the device in a way that is comfortable for you. Speakers must not overlap. And if you feel uncomfortable, replace the ear pads or change the size of the enclosure's coverage. If it is still uncomfortable, the headphones are not suitable for you and you need new ones.

May be, the ear pads are installed incorrectly, and they impede the passage of sound. If in doubt about the correct installation, enter the name of your model into the search and look at the pictures how they should stand.

For wired and wireless models, the problem manifests itself in different ways and is solved in different ways. Have wired models check the tightness of the connector. Sometimes it gets clogged and you need to use a cotton swab to clean it. Often the connector itself breaks, especially for inexpensive models. You can replace it or buy new headphones.

Sometimes the contacts are very springyand you cannot fully connect the connectors. In this case, it will take effort to connect. Just proceed carefully. After a few plugs, it will be easier to connect. And vice versa, some audio devices have a very deep connector... If you plug in the headset all the way, there may be a problem with the tightness of the contact. To fix the plug, you need to pull out a little. In the future, place a cardboard or plastic washer so that the plug does not sink. Or connect carefully.

It happens that the wire or its individual cores are torn. Therefore, the left or right channel stops working, and sometimes both at once. To detect a break, plug in the headphones, play the music, and probe the wire along its entire length. Usually the wire breaks at the point where it exits the connector or enters the speaker cabinet, so pay extra attention to these points. If a break is found, the wire must be soldered. For work, use a thin tip soldering iron with acid-free flux. The wires must be cleaned of paint. Sometimes a fabric thread is woven into them, which must be removed.

The situation is different with Bluetooth headphones. You can simply confuse them with another connected device. Therefore, before synchronizing, clear the list of available devices and perform a new search.

Sometimes Separate Bluetooth headphones, such as Apple AirPods, cannot sync. Then each headphone in the list of available devices is displayed separately, with the letters L and R. Or, only one speaker can play. To solve this problem, you need to remove the device (or each earphone) from the list of available connections, after which the LED should go out. After that, the AirPods must be placed in the case. If the headphones are not synced, you need to turn them off and on.... 2 LEDs should flash. If it doesn't help, then assign one of the headphones to the main one. To do this, press the power button 2 times in a row.

By mistake, you can change the balance and only one speaker will play. In this case, check the equalizer settings. This is especially true when operating stationary sound equipment.

In computer headphones, the driver sometimes crashes. If this happens, take certain actions.

1. Go to the official website of your headset manufacturer. Enter the name of your model in the search and download the required program.
2. Install it. Sometimes you need to uninstall the old version before doing this. In any case, follow the prompts of the installation wizard.
3. Reboot your computer.

If the headphones don't work, you need to look for another reason. This problem almost never occurs with the phone. But if you are "lucky" try downloading another media player.

Sometimes the reason may not be obvious. For example, the headphones fell and a wire came off the speaker. Or the contacts have oxidized under the influence of moisture.

For repair, you need to completely disassemble the headphones and carefully inspect the joints. Those that have come off need to be soldered, those that have fallen off - glue. In general, act according to the situation.

But it is still easier to prevent a malfunction than to deal with the consequences. To do this, you need to follow a number of simple rules.

1. Handle your technology carefullydo not drop it. Always fold the wires to prevent them from breaking.
2. When connected keep the plug straightrather than at an angle. Otherwise, the connector will loosen, the contact will deteriorate and other negative consequences will appear.
3. Keep your headphones clean do not throw them on the floor or in the dust. Do not allow dirt to accumulate in the headphones and their connectors.
4. Periodically clean the ear pads. This not only ensures good sound, but is also beneficial from a hygiene point of view.
5. Do not use the headset in wet or rainy weatherunless it is a waterproof model.
6. Store and carry your headphones in the carrying case. This will protect them from mechanical damage.

And finally: respect the technology, then it will answer you with smooth operation and long service life.

The reasons for the failure of one of the headphones and how to fix them can also be found in the following video.