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Proline 750 Gives Electrical Shocks To My Ear...?!

post #1 of 19
4/18/08 at 1:38pm
Thread Starter 
Yeah, so this first happened like 2 weeks ago. It felt as if my left ear would get small electrical shocks from the cup while wearing them outside. It happened 2 times. It did not hurt at all but very unpleasant as it get's you out of the music-listening sphere and you're just paying attention to when the next one might come.

Then, for about 2 weeks noting and I use them daily outdoors but today, again.
Same place on my ear. Checked the cup when the earcouchon was removed and could not see a thing. No hairs, no nothing.

What on earth can cause that? Anyone else ever ran into this problem?
Could it be my jacket that I wear as it's real static and my bag is rubbing over it as I walk while it contains my ipod and amp?
Could it be that the cable connecting my amp to my ipod is too loose and causing some sort of small shortcuts...I'm not sure....the cable has been glued though.
When listening at home I never had such problems...
Help...anyone
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post #2 of 19
4/18/08 at 3:21pm
Damn,

that's a weird and worrying development as I own Ultrasone cans too.
I haven't experienced this though I have felt a sense that felt like a small electric shock once. When I investigated this it appeared that I listened for a long time and the coushions (earpads) got pressed down and so slinked in size which caused my outer ear to contact/touch the Metal shield in the inside of the phone. Now I haven't experienced this anymore since then, so I'm not sure wether the metal shield was static or it was just the cold feeling of the metal that made me think it was a shock.

If this only happened in your left ear I think the cause of this might be the source and all ''pre-headphone'' components like the LOD, Amp or iPod. This becase it's typical that it happens only left since thats where the cable comes into the headphone.

BTW; your amp is a larocco right? It's made out of metal. Metal in a bag made out of a static fabric could be the cause. Do you put the larocco ''naked'' in your bag or still put it in that leather case you head back when we met? If you have it in your bag without any case that *could* be the problem. Though I suspect a decent amp like Larocco would be protected against these kind of things.

If I were you I'd email Ultrasone Costumer service about this. Maybe they have an answer for you.

You'd better be carefull! The last thing you'd want as a Head-fier is to damage your ears!

greetz!
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post #3 of 19
4/18/08 at 3:41pm
Hiya

The only suggestion I have is to use the "process of elimination" to isolate the cause. Since you say it only happens outside it must be something not common to your other listening times.

I just got my PL750's yesterday and I certainly hope this shock thing is not something that Ultrasone's are prone to do!
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post #4 of 19
4/18/08 at 3:54pm
my hunch is that it's just static electricity for which your headphones aren't the cause. maybe it's built up from your coat and discharges when your ear touches the metal board inside the earcups. this is just a guess.
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post #5 of 19
4/18/08 at 4:19pm
sounds like static...hehe get it
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post #6 of 19
4/18/08 at 4:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by NiceCans View Post
Hiya

The only suggestion I have is to use the "process of elimination" to isolate the cause. Since you say it only happens outside it must be something not common to your other listening times.

I just got my PL750's yesterday and I certainly hope this shock thing is not something that Ultrasone's are prone to do!
x2. Process of elimination is the way to go. I'm looking to buy one still!
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post #7 of 19
4/18/08 at 4:32pm
Why do I find it too courageous to troubleshoot an electrical shock to the ear phenomenon by process of elimination?

I'd have personally already sent the headphones to Ultrasone for checking. I'd hate to think the trade-off for warding off all those nasty EMFs is unwanted, random electric shocks.
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post #8 of 19
4/18/08 at 4:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jaska View Post
Why do I find it too courageous to troubleshoot an electrical shock to the ear phenomenon by process of elimination?

I'd have personally already sent the headphones to Ultrasone for checking. I'd hate to think the trade-off for warding off all those nasty EMFs is unwanted, random electric shocks.
Well I've never had to bring my car into the dealer after getting shocked by the door because I rubbed against the fabric on my chairs...I'm pretty sure I used process of elimination (however elementary) to determine that it was because I was rubbing too much against the fabric when I climbed out. It's not like we're telling her to shock herself constantly to find out. Just to think about the possibilities and rule out the ones that are not possible. IMO that's not too courageous is it ?
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post #9 of 19
4/18/08 at 5:53pm
I get this effect with my ATH-W5000s . If I'm wearing certain clothes/shoes and slide up in my chair too fast I generate static electricity which then finds the quickest route to ground is through my ears where they contact the metal screen inside the W5000s. Gave me quite a jolt a few times. Now when shift around in my chair like that I instinctively grab hold of the metal leg of my desk to ground myself. Problem (sort of) solved.
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post #10 of 19
4/18/08 at 6:23pm
Thread Starter 
Haha thanx for your comments everyone!
I was thinking about the proces of elimination myself..I just hate having to wait for me being shocked in order to solve my shocking problem haha!
I'll start with that though before mailing the rep from Ultrasone. I mean, if it's something as silly as getting static and therefor receiving those shocks, well, I doubt they can do anything about it.

As for the people wanting to buy or about to receive the Prolines, don't worry. It's not a common problem and they are just pure love, read pure shocking love

@ Rico: I still keep my Larocco in the leather bag while carrying around. Only the best for my babies
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post #11 of 19
4/18/08 at 6:26pm
I'd go for the eliminition too.

This is the best way to get to the source of the problem.
But as I said, it wouldn't hurt to mail Ultrasone costumer service about this and see what they have to say about this.

On the other hand, you'd get used to it. I get electric shocks at work all the time. I work in a HIFI store and there's carpet on the floor and I ware shoes with rubber. Now every time I touch an amplifier, receiver, CD-player or whatever mad out of metal and plugged into the 220 Volts I get a shock. Every single time!

Contrastique; maybe it's just part of the Ultrasound when they're properly burned-in. The sound just gets shocking! :P

Greetz
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post #12 of 19
4/18/08 at 6:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ricthaman View Post
there's carpet on the floor and I ware shoes with rubber.
Ah, you must switch to wooden shoes
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post #13 of 19
4/18/08 at 6:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Contrastique View Post
..I just hate having to wait for me being shocked in order to solve my shocking problem haha!
Yea, that's why process of elimination works great from here, it is you not me getting shocked. Although I would be very intertested in the solution

and ya know cats work real well for testing static electricity

can't believe I said that, I am a cat lover after all!
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post #14 of 19
4/18/08 at 6:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jaska View Post
Ah, you must switch to wooden shoes
or just go bare foot.

Ohh well, as I mentioned you get used to it. Most of the times it's fun to see how the costumers look numbed when they hear the sound of the shock as I turn on the device.

greetz
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post #15 of 19
4/18/08 at 6:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by NiceCans View Post
and ya know cats work real well for testing static electricity
Cats are too smart for that, as evidenced here.
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