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how long are memory wire sections on IEM cables supposed to last?

post #1 of 33
2/3/12 at 8:15pm
Thread Starter 
The pair I've been using lasted me roughly 2.5 months of about 1h/d avg(about 30m exercise on avg) use (3-6 times on/off per day). (and I do dry the cable along with the IEMs after use using the serene hearing aid dryer)

The results are not pretty - the wire snaps, and rusts and the memory wire is unusable and unsightly. (is this just a crappy model/design, or is this the usual longevity?)

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Before that I had the same brand cable, but used and it lasted me under a month, since it was in a fairly used shape.

The vendor suggested I get a flat wire with a moulded section but I don't like those (they resist you instead of staying in place, that's annoying and they're generally uncomfortable).

So my question is, how long are memory wire sections on your IEMs last, and does your vendor replace them under warranty, or do you need to buy a new cable. What if the warranty is out, can you get just the mem wire replaced, or do you need to get a new cable?
Edited by svyr - 2/3/12 at 8:37pm
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post #2 of 33
2/7/12 at 2:48am
Thread Starter 
bump?
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post #3 of 33
2/7/12 at 8:35am

Your problem here is that you dried using a hair dryer.  Hair dryers produce heat to dry (evaporate water quicker).  What happens when you apply heat to plastic tubing (especially the ones used for memory wires)?  They harden and lose their elasticity.  In essence, they can break easier.  Memory effects multiply, but they can't be undone either with heat applied. 

 

So as you dried your IEMs with heat, the plastic tubing became harder and harder and less flexible with time.  Each time you put on the IEM, you do put pressure on the memory cable.  If something that can't flex that far has too much pressure applied to it, it breaks instead of bending (think about a branch of a tree vs a twig...  Twig will bend with pressure, while a branch can only take so much pressure before it breaks and splits).  That's what you ended up doing to it.


Edited by tinyman392 - 2/7/12 at 8:37am
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post #4 of 33
2/7/12 at 1:03pm
Thread Starter 
please read and think carefully before posting.(lolwhat?)I can't imagine anyone using a hair dryer on their iems

hearing aid dryer is not a hair dryer. the former heats gently and to a max of 40 deg centigrade. unlike a hair dryer...

the problem is the metal wire inside the tube (there's the cable, piece of metal wire and plastic tube fyi). it snaps first, then it all goes to crap from there.

I get similar longevity without the drying anyway or using desiccant.
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post #5 of 33
2/7/12 at 7:55pm

Maybe you could try some putting some heatshrink over the the whole connector/memory wire/plastic tube part so as to make it waterproof. If it becomes too bulky this way you could also remove the plastic tube and just heatshrink over the wire and cable. That should at least keep the corrosion at bay. I don't have much experience with memory wire cables, but my original Ultimate Ears cable lasted about two moths work use (6 days a week 8-10 hours a day, tens of times on/off a day) before the cable itself broke right where the memory wire section ends. However, that cable had a bit more refined construction than yours, since the memory wire is molded within the cable housing itself and thus protected from elements.

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post #6 of 33
2/7/12 at 8:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by svyr View Post

please read and think carefully before posting.(lolwhat?)I can't imagine anyone using a hair dryer on their iems
hearing aid dryer is not a hair dryer. the former heats gently and to a max of 40 deg centigrade. unlike a hair dryer...
the problem is the metal wire inside the tube (there's the cable, piece of metal wire and plastic tube fyi). it snaps first, then it all goes to crap from there.
I get similar longevity without the drying anyway or using desiccant.


Do you know how much 40 degrees centigrade is?  That's 104 degrees Fahrenheit...  I think that's the problem causing the memory wire to snap.  No joke. Hair dryers shut off at 140 degrees Fahrenheit or around 60 degrees centigrade to avoid burning...

 

Just FYI, my RE0 cables got stiff in 80-90 degree weather...  So 104 isn't impossible, especially with the constant drying int 104 degree "weather".


Edited by tinyman392 - 2/7/12 at 8:13pm
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post #7 of 33
2/7/12 at 11:05pm
Thread Starter 
@tinyman you're kidding me... 40deg C isn't unusual for Australia and in particular western suburbs of Sydney far from the ocean.(the vendor is Australian btw)

citing safety at 60 deg c and saying 40 deg is serious business isn't meaningful. 20 deg difference there.that's the difference between hot weather and sauna here biggrin.gif

you must live in a cold climate lol.

on med setting the hearing aid dryer probably doesn't even go over 35C

lolwhat 'constant drying'? the h.a.d has a 20-40m drying cycle...don't be absurd.

@maped. wrt heatshrink, not sure if I'd want it on top, I guess I could find thick enough HS (the more tube like one) and some suitable wire and make my own dodgy memory wire (lol). I'd probs screw up sealing or not making it look ugly or fall apart. and it wont be attached to the stem.

2mths as well eh... not great for non great if wty is 12 or cable is non replaceable. guess the rubber or plastic cable cradles are an option (dba02, pfe112) but those are annoying and resist you/don't quite stay in place.
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post #8 of 33
2/7/12 at 11:16pm

You just answered your own question. Rust is due to water molecules. Break is due to heat (climate in Audtralia + heating to rid of water). Unfortunately, the space between the wire and the plastic isn't enough to rid of the water inside. The plastic is also too thick in the memory wire area to let it leave. Water follows the flow of electricity and magnetic forces into the metal memory wire and rust happens. Heat speeds up the process. Welcome to chemistry my friend. 

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post #9 of 33
2/7/12 at 11:23pm

I'd recommend sealing the end of the memory wire section with a bead of silicon or something.

 
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post #10 of 33
2/8/12 at 12:51am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by tinyman392 View Post

You just answered your own question. Rust is due to water molecules. Break is due to heat (climate in Audtralia + heating to rid of water). Unfortunately, the space between the wire and the plastic isn't enough to rid of the water inside. The plastic is also too thick in the memory wire area to let it leave. Water follows the flow of electricity and magnetic forces into the metal memory wire and rust happens. Heat speeds up the process. Welcome to chemistry my friend. 

more like the water evaporates and leaves salts that aren't nearly as reactive in solid form. so drying IEMs is more of a good thing.(it's not an enclosed space where water can't evaporate from that would indeed accelerate the process)

>Water follows the flow of electricity and magnetic forces into the metal memory wire

lolwhat. I'd think it just leaks in... since water easily permeates into small spaces.

Please get the facts right...

as for the plastic tube losing elasticity from heat. Maybe. I'd image it's more the matter of it not being designed to be constantly flexed for months on end. So it's not really a suitable material for a year of use (or it seems even 3 months biggrin.gif )

>I'd recommend sealing the end of the memory wire section with a bead of silicon or something.

that's not a bad idea. I'm not sure if there's a chance of water condensing inside though(I thought if you seal things, you have to de-pressurize them first to prevent dewing (although whatever moisture content the air has is probably a lot less than sweating in biggrin.gif))
Edited by svyr - 2/8/12 at 1:15am
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post #11 of 33
2/8/12 at 1:23am


 

Quote:
Originally Posted by svyr View Post

@maped. wrt heatshrink, not sure if I'd want it on top, I guess I could find thick enough HS (the more tube like one) and some suitable wire and make my own dodgy memory wire (lol). I'd probs screw up sealing or not making it look ugly or fall apart. and it wont be attached to the stem.
2mths as well eh... not great for non great if wty is 12 or cable is non replaceable. guess the rubber or plastic cable cradles are an option (dba02, pfe112) but those are annoying and resist you/don't quite stay in place.


You can always put several layers of heatshrink on top of each other to get the thickness you want, and it's really easy to work with, just slide it on place and heat with a lighter or heat gun, just be careful not to melt it or the wire. I think it would actually be quite easy to make your own memory wire with heatshrink too.

 

I was actually very happy with the durability of the UE wires, I used to go through a pair of cheap earphones every couple of weeks before I got them. My work is pretty physical, I'm always lifting something and constantly moving so the earphones are at constant risk, especially when they aren't in my ears. I got a new wire and strengthened the failing point with heatshrink and it's still going strong. 

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post #12 of 33
2/8/12 at 5:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by svyr View Post

more like the water evaporates and leaves salts that aren't nearly as reactive in solid form. so drying IEMs is more of a good thing.(it's not an enclosed space where water can't evaporate from that would indeed accelerate the process)
>Water follows the flow of electricity and magnetic forces into the metal memory wire
lolwhat. I'd think it just leaks in... since water easily permeates into small spaces.
Please get the facts right...
as for the plastic tube losing elasticity from heat. Maybe. I'd image it's more the matter of it not being designed to be constantly flexed for months on end. So it's not really a suitable material for a year of use (or it seems even 3 months biggrin.gif )
>I'd recommend sealing the end of the memory wire section with a bead of silicon or something.
that's not a bad idea. I'm not sure if there's a chance of water condensing inside though(I thought if you seal things, you have to de-pressurize them first to prevent dewing (although whatever moisture content the air has is probably a lot less than sweating in biggrin.gif))

You know what, I'm sick of your condense ding attitude. So I'm no longer helping you if all you say is that I'm wrong with no proof whatsoever.

You should get YOUR facts right. Electricity implies magnetic field. Your little wire is close enough to the magnetic field to become nagnetic itself. Water is polarized. Deal with it. I'm done helping you if your just going to keep calling me a moron. Good day, I hope you buy 50 cables this year and run into this problem.

Oh yeah, one more thug that you obviously aren't paying attention to, how the heck can water escape if the rubber coating on the memory wire isn't porous enough to let water out? There is no space between it and the wire to allow flow. Your heat just speeds up the rusting process. Like I said, I'm done with you.
Edited by tinyman392 - 2/8/12 at 5:31am
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post #13 of 33
2/8/12 at 12:20pm
Thread Starter 

you seem to be confused again. escape what rubber coating? again. cable itself not rusty. piece of metal wire on top of the cable that provides the memory effect - rusty. plastic tube on top of both with a large diameter hole - broken.
water is polarized but a weak field (over a dielectric/insulator or for this purpose just enoug distance) from small currents flowing isn't enough to direct it. you need a fairly large charge to attract it. you could also be repelling depending on the direction.
if you want to cite random chem or physics facts without application or understanding the context and then pretend to be mortally offended when asked to clarify or offered and alternative explanation or pointed out that you don't seem to understand the problem itself, this is not the place.
if you propose a hypothesis be prepared for people to scrutinize it or to ask to clarify it. if you can't deal with that...or look at alternative hypothesis, then it's not my problem.
I stand by my hypothesis in the previous post and again I'm not sure you even understand what the memory wire section on a cable is from your comment above. (that's not being condescending, it just sure looks like it)


Edited by svyr - 2/8/12 at 12:46pm
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post #14 of 33
2/8/12 at 12:54pm

Salty sweat is very hard on a lot of materials, especially metals. I have never had issues with my IEM but I don't wear them that often and I certainly don't bend the wire much at all, I keep them curved to my ear.

 

Water is diamagnetic, it is repelled by magnetic fields, it's an incredibly weak force and would take an incredible magnetic field to actually overcome any capillary action.

 

The fact that they are that worn out, rusted, and with a broken wire lead me to believe the quality of the materials wasn't given much thought and you could do better. That's also part of the reason I only buy IEM's with removable cables (I prefer my headphones the same but it's not always possible). You can try adding some stainless steel wire and using plastic tubing over it with some shrink wrap, you'll have to remove the cable end even then a wye split will give you trouble.

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post #15 of 33
2/8/12 at 6:20pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by 65535 View Post

The fact that they are that worn out, rusted, and with a broken wire lead me to believe the quality of the materials wasn't given much thought and you could do better.

That's was what I was getting at. I'm also annoyed that the vendor isn't admitting that and trying to slightly bs me with this. (buy a new more expensive cable with a no-metal wire fixed coiling section...ummm yea no, not the solution I'm looking for)

>That's also part of the reason I only buy IEM's with removable cables (I prefer my headphones the same but it's not always possible).

yep it is removable, but still..

>You can try adding some stainless steel wire and using plastic tubing over it with some shrink wrap, you'll have to remove the cable end even then a wye split will give you trouble.

I could, but I'd need to somehow remove the current wire from connector (I think the plastic tube and/or the metal wire go into it with the cable.) and possibly reseal it at that end again (sounds a bit complicated). I really wish they used stainless steel wire to begin with.

Curious to hear if anyone else's memory wires last for over 2-3 months biggrin.gif ?
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