Headphone durability and pirate radio--Ask the Editors

Is it just me, or do tech gadgets break down way too quickly and easily? I swear every cell phone I've ever owned starts petering out about the 372 day mark with sharply declining call quality. Then, there's the screen and processor problems with MP3 players after about two years. One reader said that even some expensive headphones are calling it quits way too early. I may as well start driving a Fiat (again) and get it over with. Also: I may not be the FCC's biggest fan, but I'm not one to encourage illegal activity either. Should you choose to partake in pirate radio activity, do so at your own risk.

Sleek Audio SA6 earphones

Q: Here is my quandary - I love the comfort and performance of my Shure earphones, but not their resilience. My first pair got chewed up by my mother-in-law's cat, but since then, I haven't been able to get a pair to last more than 6 months. To their credit, they have sent me two replacement sets within the two-year warranty period, even upgrading me to the 2 series. Service like that makes me want to keep doing business with them. However, I am finally out of the warranty period and my latest pair is having other problems.

I would appreciate your advice on where to invest my money on a pair of earphones that not only sound and feel great, but are also built for the long haul. I have been researching the new Klipsch, and the rubber/aluminum construction sounds great, but the fact that they don't have really crisp highs puts me off. I have also just learned about the Sleek Audio SA-6 model, but haven't seen much about their durability. Any thoughts you have would be greatly appreciated.--Craig, via e-mail.

A: Shure is certainly known for their excellent customer service and warranty policy. Also, I can honestly say that I've never received such a complaint about the company's earphones consistently crapping out. Unfortunately, one thing we haven't been able to do a lot of hands-on testing for here is durability. This is mostly a logistical problem, in that we have two headphone reviewers, and we are unable to put in the same hours of wear that a long-term user would into every set of headphones. While I can give a general assessment based on cable construction and user feedback research, I can't say for certain what the most durable earphone is.

Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3

That being said--and taking into account that the cable is the generally least-durable part of a set of headphones--I do have a recommendation for you: Ultimate Ears. The Super.fi 3, Super.fi 5 Pro, and Super.fi 5 EB all have earpieces that can be detached from the wire for cable-replacement. Like Shure, UE includes a two year warranty with its earphones. The Sleek Audio SA6 earphones also offer this feature, though Senior Editor Donald Bell expressed concern about the durability of the earpieces themselves, calling them "fragile."

Q: I read your article on finding open FM frequencies. What is missing? I like your thoughts, but I do not understand the process to actually grabbing an unused FM frequency. It is not clear on the entire process of broadcasting on public airwaves without a permit to occupy those public airwaves. I need some education since I was taught that there are heavy penalties for violating the rules, but I guess there is technology out there that sidesteps the legal issues on FM usage and ownership. I think it is great and grand for even local neighborhood programming. I am only aware of the squashing by Congress to permit such FM broadcasting after pressured by the big media corporations.--Tom, via e-mail

(Credit: Pirate Cat Radio)

A: You're initial reaction was correct: just grabbing an empty FM frequency for your own transmission is considered pirating, and there are laws against it. Although the airwaves theoretically belong to everyone, there is a strict application process required by the FCC. Personally, I agree that the current system at least appears to favor big media. Those who already own a license to broadcast certainly have an advantage. Still, people definitely get away with pirate broadcasting. In fact, we have a couple of stations here in San Francisco that have been on the air for quite some time relatively undisturbed.

Actually, though, the article that you pointed out isn't meant to encourage pirating. It's simply a tip on how to find the best frequency for transmitting your MP3 player's music to your car stereo via an FM transmitter.

(Credit: CNET Networks/Corinne Schulze)

MP3 Mailbox Monday is a recurring feature where I answer a selection of questions about MP3 players and accessories, such as headphones, speakers, and music services and software. Check back often to see if the advice presented here might be of some use to you, or send your questions directly to me. (Note: We never include last names, but if you prefer to remain completely anonymous, please state as much in your e-mail.)

[thatasianguy]

How exactly do headphone warranties work?? My recent headphone purchase have broken down on me only after a few weeks (Radius Atomic Bass), but they're covered by a "lifetime warranty". The little info sheet in the says to check their website for more on their procedures, but it tells me nothing and emails to them haven't been replied to yet.

[johnmh43]

I have carried a pair of Etymotic ER4 headphones for over 8 years with fairly heavy use. The cables were built to withstand lots of rolling and unrolling. Although they are not typical retail store items, you can get them fairly easily from the company. http://www.etymotic.com

[make_or_break]

I was really keen on Shure's E500--particularly when it came to its sound quality--but like so many others have discovered the E500 wasn't the most robust design on the market. Shure's warranty policy is great and their implementation of that policy is even better, but let's face it, when some drops big $$$ on a set of cans--especially ones that are targeted for on-the-go, portable use--the original design and manufacture should've been up to the task and usage requirements from the very start. The replacement SE530 set that Shure sent as replacement (basically a rebadged E500) no longer gets stuffed in any old pocket that's available when not in use, or gets tossed around like I typically treat any other sets of IEMs I own (and have yet to have FAIL, btw). When my original E500 set broke, a lot of the luster of these cans went with it, since at that point I realized that to get them to last I'd have to treat the replacements with kid gloves, something that is an anachronism to the very concept of portable earphones.

.

I agree with your comments concerning Ultimate Ear products. They seem to be engineered with a real understanding of the environments that these things are going to be used it. I really like how well-built my Super.fi 5 Pros are; they put up with my usual level of "abuse" (I use the term loosely, since I don't rightly consider it any more severe than what any portable headphone should be expected to see), and sound pretty good while doing it. But if they could only sound as good as my old E500s did; my 'mind's ear' thinks my E500s sounded noticeably better than my SE530 replacements do, even though according to Shure they're supposed to be virtually identical--yet another aspect to 'dulling that luster'. Live and learn, I suppose.

[chessking21]

I actually have owned the Ultimate Ear Super.Fi 5 earphones since 2006. They are the best set of headphones I've ever owned in terms of sound quality, albeit, this is my first pair of expensive headphones/earphones. The only problem I've had with mine is that the cord itself is not as durable as cheap headphone cords (i.e. > $50). I say this because I'm on my third pair of Super.fi 5 earphones, of which the last two had to be sent in to be replaced because the ear-fitting portion of the cord ended up tearing somewhat easily.

One thing I do like about Ultimate Ears is that they have were able to send me a new pair under their two year warranty (twice).. and their customer service was exceptional.. and because of that, I will purchase from them again.

[miroKarosu]

Well, I just bought the Koss PortaPro headphone a couple of hours ago, and IT SOUNDS AMAZING. It also contains a lifetime warranty, so even if they break, send it to Koss and they'll fix it for you.

As I mentionned, it sounds amazing, and they're extremely comfy too!

[classer]

I have also had a set of Etymotic ER4 headphones for several years. There is nothing fragile about them. I use them frequently while traveling, and so they subjected to lots of wear but they have yet to tear. Besides the resiliance, they sound absolutely amazing. They are expensive, but in this case you get what you pay for.