Could this be what's wrong with my Ultrasone HFI-450?

[JayNetTech5]

I have posted threads about my ultrasones losing bass and volume during music playback, and how they fluctuate. I also found out whenever I hang the wire upside down a bit where the jack is plugged in, I hear the volume and bass come back.  sometimes it doesn't, or is it just my mind. Keep in mind, I have no problems at all when I put the 1/4inch adaptor on and plug it into my yamaha keyboard Anyway. I found a scratch on the metal piece of the actual 3.5mm jack. I think it came like this, because I have not done anything to scratch it neither do any other one of my headphones.
 
The image below shows where the scratches are. The left arrow shows where it starts kinda, and the right arrow shows where it ends.
]The scratch is on the actual gold plate and black ring. The right allow sorta points at the actual scratch, since it's the only part that's visible I think. You can actually feel the scratch with your nail too.
 
 
 

 

[Armaegis]

What other devices have you tried the headphones with? Are you sure it's not just your ipod/whatever plug that's faulty?
 
If it works with the adapter, I'd venture to say it isn't your plug that's at fault.
 
How exactly do you lose volume/bass? Does it cut out entirely or does it sound like it fades into the background and you only hear an echo?

 

[JayNetTech5]

What other devices have you tried the headphones with? Are you sure it's not just your ipod/whatever plug that's faulty?

If it works with the adapter, I'd venture to say it isn't your plug that's at fault.

How exactly do you lose volume/bass? Does it cut out entirely or does it sound like it fades into the background and you only hear an echo?

like the bass looses its punch and rumble and the sound isn't full, kinda like mono in both ears. The headphones work fine on my keyboard with the adaptor, it's only when I'm using it's actual 3.5mm mini plug on my portable devices which gives me problems. It's almost like not enough power is going into it, but then again, my iPod has 32ohm rating and do does the ultrasone. Someone's the sound will come back to bein full and bassy, but sometimes it'll just stay like that for hours.

 

[obobskivich]

Are you actually changing the cables on these? (I haven't owned the 450, but I know the 2400 and 2900 came with two cables - one was 1/8" terminated and one was 1/4" terminated). If so, blaming the cable isn't a bad start based on what you're describing - will your dealer (or Ultrasone) send you a replacement? (It shouldn't cost a lot). Alternately, the "good" cable - can you just use the other adapter to plug it into your iPod/whatever to test it out? (To test what armaegis suggested).

 

[Armaegis]

Which portable devices have you tried it with? Have you tried other headphones with those devices? I just want to rule out the possiblity that it's a fault with the device.
 
Does the jack fully fit into your portable devices? Sometimes due to the enclosure or a case, the jack doesn't make full contact. Especially common is if your ground doesn't make contact or if your L/R touch the same connector. The result is usually a distant sound and a significant loss of power (though usually across the entire spectrum, not just the bass).

 

[JayNetTech5]

Which portable devices have you tried it with? Have you tried other headphones with those devices? I just want to rule out the possiblity that it's a fault with the device.

Does the jack fully fit into your portable devices? Sometimes due to the enclosure or a case, the jack doesn't make full contact. Especially common is if your ground doesn't make contact or if your L/R touch the same connector. The result is usually a distant sound and a significant loss of power (though usually across the entire spectrum, not just the bass).

It snaps into the devices just fine. The scratch on the metal plug wouldn't cause anything? I mean, I'm just listening to music and all of a sudden the volume gets full sounding after a few minutes. I am using it with lg Optimus m an iPod touch 4g

 

[Armaegis]

I can't even really see the scratch that you're talking about in the picture. In any event, I doubt that a scratch would be the cause.
 
This is a puzzler 

 

[obobskivich]

This is a puzzler 

+1.

If you have a return window with the dealer or warranty time left with Ultrasone, I'd see if you can't get them swapped/repaired.

 

[JayNetTech5]

hmm.. I pulled the headphones out of my ipod yesterday and the scratch got longer in the same spot What? My philips earbuds have no issue pulling or inserting into the ipod. It's like they used cheap metal for the ultrasone's plugs. Here's a picture of the actual scratch better. I don't even need to put arrows.
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

[Armaegis]

Ok, that is much more noticeable than in your first pic. That's more than a scratch, it looks like an actual crack in the casing. No telling what kind of damage is inside. If that continues, it likely won't work with the1/4" soon. If it's still under warranty or return period, just get a new one. This isn't something you can fix. 

 

[JayNetTech5]

Quote:

Ok, that is much more noticeable than in your first pic. That's more than a scratch, it looks like an actual crack in the casing. No telling what kind of damage is inside. If that continues, it likely won't work with the1/4" soon. If it's still under warranty or return period, just get a new one. This isn't something you can fix. 

is isn't a crack, it scratched slightly next to it also. And the reflection exaggerated the scratch. 

 

[Armaegis]

You could always try reterminating it. 

 

[JayNetTech5]

Quote:

You could always try reterminating it. 

No other headphones connectors scratch only the ultrasone's. Now I don't trust ultrasone. So now I cannot use my headphones anymore or it'll break even more?

 

[MrTechAgent]

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