How Long Do Headphones Last? – Everything You Need to Know

Headphones are one of the most useful gadgets nowadays because they are used in so many situations. However, the question is how long do headphones last?

The lifespan of headphones varies from type to type and depends on several factors. A good pair of headphones will last for 1 to 2 years. However, you shouldn’t expect cheaper quality headphones to last very long.

However, there’s a lot more to learn about headphones life span which makes the above question a little bit harder to answer in just a few sentences.

Luckily you’ve landed in the right place because we are going to tell you about all the important factors that play a role in determining how long your headphones will last.

We are also going to show you some tips on prolonging their life span.

Let’s see what are the main factors that impact the lifespan of the headphones.

Type of Headphones

If you’re reading this article, you probably have an idea about how many different types of headphones are available on the market. Now it’s important for us to take a closer look at each one because they all have their own lifespan.

Some types of headphones last longer than others. However, in this case, we aren’t talking about performance and sound quality like bass and treble.

High-End Headphones:

Generally, high-end headphones will last for a very long time (around 5 years). You can probably even pass them to your kids 😉 If you take good care of them, they can also last forever.

Mid-Range Headphones:

The mid-range headphones are somewhere in the middle. They usually last for around 2 years (and sometimes even less). When it comes to lifespan, most cheaper models fall into this category.

You don’t have to worry about getting very expensive headphones but make sure to take good care of them and they should work well for at least 2 years.

Earbuds:

There is one more type of headphone that we want to mention in this article. They are called earbuds (the kind that you usually see working with smartphones).

The life span of earbuds is definitely shorter than the rest. Some models last only for a few months, while others can work for up to half a year.

The life span depends on so many factors that it’s impossible for us to generalize about them all.

Earbuds are usually designed with fewer materials than other types of headphones.

Since they are very sensitive and prone to breaking, it’s recommended for people to take them off when they are not in use.

The wires can get easily tangled up and this increases the chance of damaging them; especially if you put your earbuds into your pocket or purse.

What Ruins The Quality of a Headphone?

Even if you’re really careful with your headphones, they still can stop working. Some of the main reasons why this happens are:

Wearing earphones too much can cause problems. You should only wear them for 2 hours or less per day, and they should be turned up to a medium volume most of the time.

The sound quality will also be lower after you’ve worn them for longer periods of time. If your earbuds get wet or dusty, or if you drop a piece of food on them, you should immediately turn them off and take them to a specialist.

This is the best way to prolong their lifespan.

Winding wires around your iPod or MP3 player can cause serious problems as well. You should avoid this at all costs because it’s one of the main reasons why wires get tangled up and break.

How To Increase The Lifespan?

The truth is that it’s impossible for us to answer this question in just a few sentences because there are several different factors at play here. However, we can give you some tips and recommendations to prolong the lifespan of your headphones:

Don’t wear them too much: The more you wear your headphones, the shorter their lifespan will be.

Don’t turn them up too loud: This can permanently damage your hearing and you won’t have the same quality of sound that you had before. You should always stick to a moderate volume or less.

Use a special hard case to store them when they’re not in use: This will reduce the risk of breaking them by almost half.

Don’t wind your headphone wire around the music player: This is one of the most common mistakes that people make when using headphones. If you wind your wires, they will start to get tangled up and break in no time at all (especially if you do it over and over again).

Don’t make mistakes with the type of headphones that you choose to purchase: Cheap earbuds are usually designed for convenience, but not for durability. If you’re really careful with your headphones then you will definitely want to buy more expensive ones that are worth the price tag.

We would like to emphasize our point about wearing headphones too much because we’re pretty sure that you’re not too familiar with it even though we’ve mentioned the problem in our intro to this article.

If you wear your headphones too much, they will definitely break sooner or later. You should listen to music through them for about 2 hours per day and then take some breaks.

Using them more often can cause serious problems for you, especially if you turn them up too loud. You will most likely damage your hearing and the sound quality will also drop significantly.

Do Headphones Have a Lifespan?

There’s no specific lifespan of any headphones because it really depends upon their use. Some of them will last longer but sometimes even the elite class headsets will give up on you if you use them roughly.

Regular cleaning is essential for keeping your earphones in good working order. You should wipe them down with a cloth occasionally, especially if you’ve been using them during exercise or have been going out in the rain.

You should never clean your headphones with alcohol or any other liquid because this can cause serious damage to them. It’s also a good idea to avoid getting liquid near the speakers.

A simple dry cloth should be enough for most cleaning jobs, but you can also use a special anti-static brush if dust is an issue.

When Should I Replace My Headphones?

You need to replace your headphones when you can no longer hear any sounds or if they start to make irritating noises.

This usually occurs after a few years, but some of them may start malfunctioning earlier due to low-quality materials, improper use, or water damage.

The lifespan of your headphones also depends upon the manufacturer and their reputation for creating high-quality products.

Usually, the more expensive ones tend to last longer and they usually come with a warranty as well (which is why you shouldn’t buy cheap headphones).

If you want your hi-fi headphones to last for many years, then you should take special care of them. You shouldn’t wear them too much and avoid turning up the volume too high.

You should also use a special hard case to store your headphones when you’re not using them and clean them regularly (especially if you’ve been wearing them while exercising).

Most of the modern headphones are made out of quality materials that can last for many years, but this doesn’t mean that they can never break down or malfunction. Some of them may start to malfunction after only a few months, but this situation is rare (especially if you’re using them carefully).

Last Minute Thoughts

How long do headphones last? Well, there’s no specific time frame for headphones because it depends on the quality of the headset as well as how you use them.

Normally a good quality headphone will last for years (2 – 5) but that doesn’t mean every headphone will survive that long. Sometimes people damage their headphones themselves unknowingly which is the main issue.

How? well, we’ve noticed people wrapping their headphones wire around their devices.

For your information, the cord of the headphone consists of very fragile wires and they can easily snap when you wrap them around your iPod or smartphone.

We hope you’ve enjoyed reading our article, if you have anything on your mind please feel free to let us know by commenting below.