Why are Headphones So Quiet? 7 Ways To Fix It In 2022
With frequent use, headphone sounds begin to reduce, leaving you wondering why are headphones so quiet. It used to be loud when I bought it. It is a very frustrating situation when the same headphone that was your favorite and choice to go is now not allowing you to listen to an audio message.
To make matters worse, we don’t even know what’s behind it, so we can at least come up with a solution for this dilemma. Because of this, we prepared this guide in which we discussed the most common scenarios for this problem to the best of our ability.
Why are headphones so quiet?
Depletion of the sound level in your headphones could be caused by a number of factors and here are some of them.
1. Headphones not plugged correctly:
If you are using wired headphones then one reason could be that your headphone pin is not plugged correctly. In older devices or headphones, the device socket can become loose after being used heavily for a long time.
So slight movement can loosen the in and you might face a reduction in the audio or add static noise in the audio which can be very annoying.
The blockage between the connection pins of the headphones and the device may be another factor explaining the reduction. In the event that the protector cover of the headphones is cheap or the holes are not perfectly designed, which can make it difficult to fully insert the headphone jack.
Check if these are the case by simply connecting another headphone to your device. If the problem persists, the issue is likely to be a problem in the audio jack or the device.
2. Interference in the case of wireless headphones:
If you are facing the same issue on wireless headphones electronic interference can be the culprit. Wireless headphones use radio waves to transmit data. This transmission can be disrupted due to interference from your surroundings.
There are many electronics that use radio waves like your television and mobile phone, even electric appliances like ovens or bulbs transmit radio waves. Usually, they don’t cause problems but when the interference is too high you might feel a little disconnectivity or a sudden drop in sound quality.
You might be able to resolve your problem by moving to a less interference area and then checking your audio quality afterward if interference is the cause.
If the issue is more common when you move around then due to the low range the audio might be affected especially when there is a wall between the source or headphones.
3. Unclean headphones:
The problem of dirty earbuds or headphones is another overlooked but common reason for a degrading sound in the headphone.
Our ear produces earwax to protect our internal ear from bacteria and dirt. Over the course of time, some amount of wax is deposited on the headphone or earbuds, especially the wire mesh. This acts as the physical barrier between the speaker element and your eardrum causing the reduction of sound.
Thus, it is ideal to clean your headphones or earbuds from time to time to avoid this from happening. You can clean the headphone earbuds by taking a cotton wipe or small brush and generally remove the dirt and debris.
If the ear wax is persistent, take a toothpick and very carefully and gently remove the wax. Also damped the cotton wipes or Q tip with alcohol to soften the wax on wire mesh.
4. Noise cancelation:
Noise cancellation might be a new concept to some, but it’s definitely an innovative one. It works by matching the reverse 180 sound wave of the sound that is causing background noise and canceling it out, and you can listen to clear audio.
During blocking of noise in some headphones or devices, the sound may also be reduced, which can be perceived as a reduction in sound quality. If your headphone or device uses noise cancellation try turning it off and then observe this might solve the low sound issue.
5. Damage Wire:
Many activities or tasks around us have become easier or more convenient due to wireless technology. There is no perfect solution for everything, so wired headphones remain popular. Because they don’t need to be charged or have high latency issues and most studio-grade equipment still offers wire connectivity.
Then again nothing is perfect wired headphone or earbud too suffers from wire damage which is painfully common. I have lost count of well-wired earbuds that I have to throw out because the wire is damaged near the 3.5mm jack.
You can prevent it from happening if you prevent the wire near the connector pin from bending or getting strained; it will last longer because this point is the most vulnerable to strain.
If the wire got damaged and you still have a warranty you can claim free repair from the manufacturer. If not you can easily replace the audio pin and in some cases wire from the nearest electronic repair shop.
If one side of the headphone stops working or gives less sound. By bending the wire near or at another location, you can check whether it is due to wire damage. If the sound returns to normal momentarily, it is wire damage.
6. Blockage in the ear canal:
Sometimes our ear produces excess ear wax either naturally or due to some infection that sits down and can cause blockage in the ear canal. This might be free like your headphones have reduced their sound quality.
Even after attempting the above methods and attempting a different headphone, if the low sound continues, then you should consult your doctor.
7. System setting:
Sometimes the time system setting prevents the headphone from going to the full volume to prevent your ear from being damaged. You can also turn on the loudness equalizer which increases the audio sound of your system.
Be careful turning off the safety setting can cause more headphone and ear damage. This also affects the audio quality.
Conclusion:
Now you are aware of the reasons why are headphones so quiet after using them sometimes. Moreover, we provide the method and prevention you can use to maintain the normal sound levels of your headphones. Furthermore, don’t override safety preventative measures; they were put in place by manufacturers for a reason.
