Comments on: Headphone durability and pirate radio--Ask the Editors

Get the answers to all of your questions about MP3 players, headphones, and more in this weekly feature.

[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.

[Jasmineflower]

Usually, the warranty applies for parts and labor on defective products, meaning if it breaks during "normal wear and tear" within the specified time period, you're entitled to have the product repaired or replaced. It sounds like Radius' customer service isn't up to snuff yet, but they're a new company, so that's not entirely surprising. Continue to contact them via any given method in an attempt to get results.

[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.

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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.