Longest Lifespan of an IEM You Own? - Page 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by NotSoSerious 

 

Oh yeah, I'm serious.

Slightly dissapointed in MeElectronics. They replace all of them without question, though, which is good. Makes me wonder how their not out of bussiness. 

Because of customers like you who are willing to buy these overpriced iem's or in another words they are able to have these iem's made much cheaper than they are sold. They could be more profitable if the iem's have better quality with less pairs being returned.

No offense and just saying generally the iem's are all overpriced from that perspective.

I broke the casing of some Backbeat Titaniums after about...A year and a half of constant, heavy abuse? Shoved in pockets, stepped on, run over once, etc. I'm surprised it didn't just disintegrate after all that. The fact the straight plug held up amazes me more. Though funny enough, they did retail for $100 at one point.

I just got my current IEMs not too long ago, so I'll see how long they last (TF10).

Longest for me is my V-Moda vibes (3 years). ATM just gone through 2 pairs of Xeports that both broke a day after the 2 week mark. Heading over to customer support at amazon now for another pair now.

It's been the cord both times though, not the driver/Headphones them selves.

IEM durability varies alot, even amongst the same model. I have a pair of MDR-EX81s that's going 4-5 years strong yet alot of reviews have said theirs went out in months.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lostid 

Because of customers like you who are willing to buy these overpriced iem's or in another words they are able to have these iem's made much cheaper than they are sold. They could be more profitable if the iem's have better quality with less pairs being returned.

 

No offense and just saying generally the iem's are all overpriced from that perspective.

 

 

 

Well, yeah, no way I can defend that with my dissapointing experience with Me Electronics. 

They seemed extremely well built with their all-metal housing and the thick teflon-coated cable. All of Mee's products put out excellent sound for the price ( ESPECIALLY the M9 ) and was liked by many reviewers here on head-fi. 20 dollars didn't seem to much, so I made the jump. 

Mee's products put out excellent sound, but with suspicious driver quality. As each time, the destruction of the IEM's were caused by driver malfunctions. Overall build quality seems fine. It's the inside that is very suspicious....

I have a pair of atrio M8 iems I bought in feb of 08 that are as good now 4 years later as the day I bought them.  Its hard to say how much use they get because I use them irregularly.  Sometimes I travel a lot and they get used a lot.  I use them more in the summer time while mowing the yard etc...  They've probably averaged out to moderate use.  Its amazing because those cables are so thin and light.   I just can't imagine them dealing with the abuse I've given them.  I can't tell you how many times they got yanked out of my ear because they got caught on something.

In general, how long do IEM's last?

I do not use IEM's, but earbuds, and the oldest working pair that I've bought new and still use is just around 3 years (Yuin PK3).

I've recently become enamoured with vintage Sony and Aiwa earbuds, and I've bought a pair of around 25 year old Sony MDR-E282 and pairs of around 20 year old Sony MDR-E484 and Aiwa HP-D9. They all look and work as new. This was before the technology of IEM's had been developed to the level where it is today and all the companies were competing to make the best earbuds.

In 25 years, will there be working IEM's that was manufactured around 2011-2012? Or is it just that the experiences in this thread is a result from heavy wear and tear?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChristmaSFnatic 

 Whats your secret? You have a quarantine room made just for it?

Nothing special really, I typically use plastic Zipper bag to store them loosely after each use. This was specially important during the deployed environment due to dust or other environmental hazard. I still use original cable it came with but it got little stiffer over the years. Luckily mine just keeps on working without any issues.
 

I've had my Brainwavz M2 for around 2 year or so?

I have some earphones from walkman phone, after 2 or 3 years still going strong :)

I don't understand why you guys have so many problems with durability, of all the IEMs i've owned : UE100, CKL200, a-JAYS Three , CX280 , PL50, CX 200 II , iBeats , GR07, MEElectronics M6...the only one which i had problems with were the a-JAYS Three, which died in one side after 3-6 months of use,and then sent for replacement, and the UE100 , which had driver flex issues,and the CKL200,which now has a stiff wire. other than that they've all lasted very long. And I treat my IEMs like sh**. I throw them around , stuff them in my pocket, leave them lying on the floor, drop them on the ground, and even fall asleep and roll over them. :D

Sony EX70s, 10 years and still working.

IE8s' 2+ years

TF10s, 1+ year

My TF10's were purchased in November 2010 and are still going strong.  The ES8 cable I have for them is splitting, which is frustrating, but it was only $20.  I don't mind replacing a $20 cable every couple years.

Anyone who has seen my recent thread will be aware the left cable on my UM2 are starting to go after 6 years and a few months of service. In fact for the past year I stopped using the case. Part laziness / part daring them to break in a subconscious desire to upgrade :p