Wearing damaged earbuds while listening to something can be very annoying. However, depending on the problem, the damage may be repaired quickly, easily, and inexpensively. If the sound from the earpiece cuts off only occasionally, try twisting and tying the cord until some sound comes out. If that doesn't work, you may need to unscrew and solder the connections inside. Sometimes, you have to buy new earbuds. However, if you get into the habit of protecting your earbuds when you're not wearing them, they're likely to work in the long run!
Step
Method 1 of 3: Bandaging the Damaged Earpiece
Step 1. Locate the problem area
Put a speaker in the ear and play music. When the sound starts to drop, pay attention to where the problem is. If only one side is dead, this indicates a faulty part on that side. If there is no sound at all, the damage may be near the cable jack or the small metal rod used to plug the earbuds into the device.
If there are other earbuds available, try plugging them in to make sure the problem isn't coming from a faulty earpiece jack. For example, if both sets of earbuds don't work when plugged into iPhone, you may need to repair the jack on the iPhone instead of fixing the jack on the earpiece
Notes:
Electrical short circuits often come from the part of the cable that is near the jack or in the speaker unit itself because these are the most common sources of problems.
Step 2. Twist the cable until the earpiece starts working again
Bend, straighten, and adjust the position of the cable around the damaged area. While doing so, you may hear music again as the damaged ends of the cables touch each other. Once you know the correct position of the cable to make the earpiece work, hold it steady.
- Twist the cable gently so you can stop immediately when you find the right position.
- In rarer cases, the damaged cable is near the center of the cable. Make sure you test the entire cable to find out where the problem area is.
Step 3. Apply the adhesive to hold the cable in place
Press the cord with one hand, then use your other hand to apply electrical tape or duct tape to the problem area. The tape will press the contents of the cable so that the fibers touch each other. As long as the tape is not removed, you can continue to use the earpiece.
If you can, bend the cable over the damaged area and apply adhesive to wrap it around. This will prevent the cable from changing position
Step 4. Consider buying a new ear speaker
Gluing tape on the earbuds can make them work again, but this is only a temporary solution. If you continue to experience technical problems, you may need to purchase a new device or perform manual repairs. Luckily, earbuds are sold for quite a bit at the moment.
- You can buy new earbuds for around IDR 100,000 to IDR 200,000 at electronics stores or online stores.
- If the earbuds are still under warranty, you can also send them back to the service center for a replacement or refund. Read the user manual or warranty card to find out if the product is still under warranty.
Method 2 of 3: Soldering the Broken Joint
Step 1. Find the source of the problem
Use an earbud and listen carefully to the sound to find out where the problem is. If one side of the earpiece is off, it indicates a short circuit or cable damage in that area. If there is no sound at all, the damage may be around the jack.
Step 2. Pry the plastic housing on the side of the speaker that has the problem
To do this, you'll need a small flat tool, such as a flat-blade screwdriver or pocket knife. Point the tip of the tool into the joint gap of the frame, then push and twist to separate it.
If the earpiece case isn't designed to open and close, you'll need to use super glue to put it back together once you've finished repairing it
Step 3. Check the earpiece for cable damage
On the inside of the earpiece, you'll find two copper wires that connect to other terminals around the edges of the circular circuit board. You should look for broken or loose cables.
If both cables appear fine, the damaged connection may be at the bottom near the cable jack
Step 4. Remove the barrel on the jack if that part is the source of the problem
Sometimes, the loose cable isn't in the earpiece case, but in the jack that plugs into a cell phone, laptop, or audio device in a car. In this case, you will need to remove the plastic shield and peel off the rubber coating to expose the cable underneath. Once the barrel is removed, you can solder the wires however you like.
Some earbuds have a removable barrel, while others can be removed by pulling hard
Notes:
If there's no way to remove the barrel from the speaker jack, you have no other choice but to clip it and purchase a replacement jack to solder to the exposed wires. Ear speaker jack repair kits sell for IDR 80,000 to IDR 100,000.
Step 5. Clean the old solder marks inside the earpiece before re-soldering it
Place the tip of the soldering tape (desoldering braid) over the lump of solder that was previously connected to the wires and terminals. Heat the tape with a soldering iron at the location where the two are joined. The stuck copper will peel off the old solder and make room for the new solder.
- Soldering tape (sometimes known as “soldering strip wick”) can be found at your local hardware or home supply store.
- After removing the old solder marks, cut off the ends of the soldering tape and repeat this process on each of the remaining lumps of solder that previously served to hold the wires together, then make a new solder.
Step 6. Glue the damaged wires to the terminals inside the earpiece with solder
Once the damaged solder has been cleaned, reconnect the loose wire to the terminal and apply 0.32 inch diameter electrical solder to the joint. Connect each of the damaged wires with solder.
- If both wires are damaged, you can reconnect them to both terminals on the circuit board.
- We recommend using table clamps or tweezers to secure the cable and the earpiece unit while you work.
Step 7. Reconnect each colored wire to its terminal to fix the jack
When you connect loose wires in the earpiece jack, it is very important to make sure each wire is connected to the correct terminal. In most earbuds, the copper wire should be connected to the large central terminal, the red wire to the small terminal on the right, and the green wire to the left.
- Connecting the cable to the wrong terminal can thwart this attempt.
- If you must cut the jack to expose the damaged wire, purchase a replacement jack and connect the wires to the color-coded terminals using solder. Make sure the color on the terminal matches the included instructions.
- On some replacement jack models, you can simply thread the damaged wire into the small hole in the terminal a few times without soldering it.
Step 8. Test the earpiece to make sure it's still working
Plug in the earbuds and play the music to make sure there's sound coming from both sides. After repairing the damage to the internal cable, the earpiece will function like new. Happy listening to music!
- If there is no sound coming out, it could be caused by solder not sticking or an error in the colored wiring. You will have to try again to fix the error.
- It is very difficult to repair the damage in the center of the cable. If you believe the area is problematic, you may just need to purchase a new ear speaker.
Method 3 of 3: Extending the Life of the Ear Speaker
Step 1. Unplug the earpiece by pulling at the base instead of pulling the cord
When plugging in or unplugging the earbuds from the device, hold the thick plastic base around the jack. That way, you won't damage the cable when you unplug it. Unplug the earbud slowly instead of jerking it quickly.
Tip:
Wrap electrical tape around the base of the earpiece to provide extra protection so the cable doesn't bend.
Step 2. Store the earbuds in the carrying case when not in use
Unplug the cable from the device and wrap it around your fingers a little loosely. Once the cable is tied, place the ear speaker on a flat surface to prevent tangling. If you want additional protection, place the earpiece in a soft or hard case for easy portability.
- Never leave the earbuds in a pouch or leave them attached to the device as doing so may damage the cable or cause it to tangle.
- You can buy earplugs at an online or electronics store.
Step 3. Clean the earbuds regularly
If the earpiece has a rubber hood, remove it and wipe it with soapy water to remove any wax or dust. Use a dry toothbrush to remove dust from small speakers that can block out the sound. Allow the rubber shield to dry before attaching it back to the earpiece.
Never wet the earbuds as this can cause permanent damage
Tip:
If any water gets on the earpiece, immediately put it in a bag of rice to dry it. Immerse the earbuds in the rice for 2 to 3 days to prevent damage.
Tips
- Soldering is a simple job. If your earbuds are purchased for more than IDR 300,000 to IDR 500,000, this can save quite a lot of money.
- Taking your earbuds to the nearest electronics store for repair may be a better alternative than buying a new set if you don't have a soldering iron.
- Clean the ports on your phone or music player to make sure that dust build-up isn't a problem with your earbuds.
