What is the proper way to use headphones? Keeping them in best shape possible:

[kwitel]

I heard somewhere that your not suppossed to pull them out or plug them in while the music is playing, or while th receiver is on? (or something like that).
Im terrified of hurting my cans; just plugged them in to my computer and they made a loud, scary crackling noise.

I wonder if peole can list what to do and not to do while operating headphones. And maybe some advice on keeping them in excellent shape.

 

[Oink1]

All i do with my 650's is make sure the amp volume is turned down when i switch it on, and return them to their home (Box) when i have finished listening

 

[lmilhan]

I think a 'proper' headphone stand can go a long way in preserving a pair of headphones. Also the obvious stuff:

Don't leave them in direct sunlight.
Use them in a smoke free environment.
Don't let children or animals anywhere near them.
Don't subject them to extremely loud volumes.
Don't subject them to the elements (don't use them portably as you will get a lot of wear and tear on them that way).
Don't use them when your head/hair is wet (after a bath or shower).
Don't use them during a severe thunder/lightening storm.
Don't use them in the shower LOL



Etc...

 

[fjf]

...And hug them and give them love and store thm in a box so they don't get dusty...

 

[Oliver :)]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lmilhan Don't leave them in direct sunlight. Use them in a smoke free environment. Don't let children or animals anywhere near them. Don't subject them to extremely loud volumes. Don't subject them to the elements (don't use them portably as you will get a lot of wear and tear on them that way). Don't use them when your head/hair is wet (after a bath or shower). Don't use them during a severe thunder/lightening storm. Don't use them in the shower LOL

All that & maybe a box for storage. I wouldn't be worried about any static cracklings while plugging them in, unless you are wearing them. I try to remember to turn on my amps *before* I put my phones on.

 

[Patu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lmilhan Don't use them when your head/hair is wet (after a bath or shower).

At least if you use electrostatic headphones. It might be dangerous to your health.

 

[EvilDwarf]

Frankly, I'm more worried about hurting my ears, than hurting my headphones, when turning my amp on. THAT's why I keep the volume down.

 

[dj_mocok]

You know, the best way to listen to headphones is to not to let the cups touch your ears, that way the pads will never get worn out.

Maybe you just need to hang it on the headphone stand, turn on the music and then just get your ears close to the hanging headphones and enjoy the music.

 

[drarthurwells]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dj_mocok You know, the best way to listen to headphones is to not to let the cups touch your ears, that way the pads will never get worn out. Maybe you just need to hang it on the headphone stand, turn on the music and then just get your ears close to the hanging headphones and enjoy the music.

Yes, absolutely true.

Also, burn them in when new - bake at 160 degrees F, for four hours.

When not using, store them in the freezer to prevent molecular degradation.

When using, always face the magnetic pole to preserve the magnet orientation over time.

 

[dj_mocok]

I heard storing them in the original box while playing music is a good way to listen (and preserve) to headphones too.

Okay, enough mucking around with the poor thread starter.
Seriously, I think the safest way is to turn the amp volume all the way down before turning the amp off, and same thing as when you turn it on.

Just no sudden plugging into blasting volume I think. Not sure how healthy are static/interference sounds for your headphones too.

 

[drarthurwells]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwitel I heard somewhere that your not suppossed to pull them out or plug them in while the music is playing, or while th receiver is on? (or something like that). Im terrified of hurting my cans; just plugged them in to my computer and they made a loud, scary crackling noise. I wonder if peole can list what to do and not to do while operating headphones. And maybe some advice on keeping them in excellent shape.

Plugging and unpluging your cans while the amp is on does hurt a tube amp.

You should never have a tube amp on unless the headphone is plugged in - never turn on a tube amp until you first are sure a headphone is plugged into it and never unplug the headphone when the tube amp is on.

With interconnects, always be sure the volume is turned down all the way before plugging or unplugging ICs.


Never turn a tube amp on until it has been off at least 3 minutes.

Never move a tube amp or touch a tube that is hot, or even warm, from use or previous use.

 

[raisin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by drarthurwells Plugging and unpluging your cans while the amp is on does hurt a tube amp. You should never have a tube amp on unless the headphone is plugged in - never turn on a tube amp until you first are sure a headphone is plugged into it and never unplug the headphone when the tube amp is on. With interconnects, always be sure the volume is turned down all the way before plugging or unplugging ICs. Never turn a tube amp on until it has been off at least 3 minutes. Never move a tube amp or touch a tube that is hot, or even warm, from use or previous use.

Excellent reccomendations Art, guess you have'nt been to a meet yet?

 

[akwok]

With headphones, I -never-, ever lay them on a hard surface. I either hang them up on a headphone stand, or I lay them in the original box. Last thing I want is to scratch them! (I see a bunch of people from meet pics and etc. just leaving $1000+ headphones on a table.. that frightens me! You accidently push it around horizontally on a table and viola, scratches/scuffs!).

Plus, if my hair is dirty, I do not allow myself to listen to the cans.

If you're talking about functionality, I posted a thread regarding the Dynahi + cans a while ago. General consensus was that it was okay to unplug it while it was still playing (Kevin Gilmore said this), but I still took safety precautions and lowered the volume to min before unplugging. A really bad thing to do (as people have said) is to leave the headphone plugged in the amp halfway.. I do not know what would happen if you did, but I didn't have the balls to try.

 

[AudioNoob]

do not bnag thema roun as magnets will lose their magnetism if you do that, also dont bring them near strong magnets, and dont bang the cups together. Oh and also dont run them thorugh a reverse polarity electromagnet that pulses aligned electromagnetism

 

[PsychoZX]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lmilhan Don't use them in the shower LOL

Or in the jacuzzi. LOL

http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=121100