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Cable failure rates

post #1 of 10
11/24/09 at 10:14pm
Thread Starter 
I've had to replace my Shure 3 times in 2 years all due to cable failures. My 4th pair just died a week ago, and therefore I ordered the RE0. I know that Shure has cable problems more than others. But I'd like to get an idea of how often cable failure rates in earphones are. Do cables just fail that often?

I have a pair of RE0 on my way. It only comes with a 1 year warranty. For $100 I would like my earphones to last longer than 2 years.

How long has your IEM last? Tell me your earphone model and how long you've had it for.

The funniest thing just happened as I'm typing. My Shure is all good again. The right channel came back to life. I'm kind of pissed about my order now. Do you think they'll last long, or they'll die soon since they died once already?
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post #2 of 10
11/24/09 at 11:04pm
Here are a few of my oldest earphones:

Panasonic RP-HV600, 1999~2000(?). rubber ring holding the transducer cracked in pieces, repaired/replaced by rubber ring from another Panasonic earbud.

B&O A8 bought on 2001, still functional with a slight crack on the strain relief, fixed with a tiny bit of superglue.

Shure E3c, 2004, my first pair of IEM and no problem what-so-ever.
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post #3 of 10
11/24/09 at 11:05pm
Thread Starter 
Well, do you use them outdoors?

If the cable stays indoors all the time, I wouldn't be surprised if they last years. I have a pair of headsets from 2002 that still works.
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post #4 of 10
11/24/09 at 11:48pm
My Ety6's lasted nearly eight years till they died. The rubber coating was off and everything. Tough buggers.

The only cable problem I've ever had was with an early version of the q-jays. They cable cracked near the earphone. The cause was my pulling them out by the cables.

IMO, cable problems are almost always caused by misuse, e.g. wrapping too tight or stuffin' them in your pockets with a bunch of other stuff.
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post #5 of 10
11/25/09 at 12:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by chengbin View Post
Well, do you use them outdoors?

If the cable stays indoors all the time, I wouldn't be surprised if they last years. I have a pair of headsets from 2002 that still works.
I bring my earphones to many places. RP-HV600 were my main earbud for almost two years in my early college days, following me all around the campus and in the city. Bought the A8 when I was in the U.S. and became my main earbud for 3 years during my undergrad year till E3c took over. They were the active earphone I used back then, and both of them traveled oversea back and forth from U.S. to my home country quite a few times.
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post #6 of 10
11/25/09 at 4:51pm
I believe it's a combination of type of cables and how you use them. I have only had problems with koss porta pro (3 pairs! duh..).
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post #7 of 10
11/25/09 at 5:30pm
Have to say that the only earphone cables I've ever had a problem with have been Shure's (and I've had nothing but problems). In fact it's put me off buying Shure's ever again.
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post #8 of 10
11/26/09 at 7:28pm
This has everything to do with how you treat the IEM's when you are not using them. If you roll them up in a ball and stuff them in your pocket 10X a day any cable will eventually give out.

When you start spending a lot of money on IEM's try to take better measures to preserve and protect them unlike the $5 stock earbuds.
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post #9 of 10
11/26/09 at 8:02pm
Yup, the cable on my old Shure e2cs started splitting after 2 years of light use (rarely left the house). Luckily I got it replaced under warranty. Ive noticed that when cables fail, it's usually around the strain relief area. I wonder if anyone has tried rubber cement on splitting cables?
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post #10 of 10
11/26/09 at 8:30pm
the 1st Shure e2c, developed a crack top of my ear after just 6 month of everyday travel to work on trains and at the office. So i send it in after 12 month, at first the shop denied it saying its my fault... but i pointed them to some pictures other people having the same problem... they send me another pair... and yeah the 2nd pair had the same problem :P after 6 month even thou this time i cleaned it after my normal travel routine.

I got an Etymotic Er6i later... no issues with that cable. Nor any other problems so far with my TripleFi 10 and Monster Turbine cables either.
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