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Alexstarfire t1_iv4rn5q wrote

Only 20% are from earcups wearing out? We talking the padding? Because that fails first on every single pair I've ever owned.

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HW90 t1_iv4uoyi wrote

If it includes earbuds then earcups wearing out will be automatically disadvantaged. It's also possible to continue using headphones with worn out earcups, whilst it's not possible with a broken cable, so the latter category is more likely to be considered a fail.

Cable or port damage is a notorious source of failure amongst many products, e.g. charging port failure is one of the leading causes of getting rid of phones.

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Rhenic t1_iv56ykh wrote

It's also trivially easy to just replace the padding; Bought some $2 replacements that made my previous headphones last another 3 years.

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[deleted] t1_iv5j4oz wrote

[deleted]

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Rhenic t1_iv5lj53 wrote

Even if permanently attached; You can usually score some pullover covers that will at least feel comfortable again and prevent the flaking getting everywhere.

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FuriousWillis t1_iv510rs wrote

Likewise battery failure is at a disadvantage due to any headphones that plug in

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Amthala t1_iv5e5yi wrote

No shot, it's always cables that die first.

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muftu t1_iv6aeax wrote

I treat it as a consumable. I tried going with some knock offs but I couldn’t even fit them. So I am stuck with buying new bose earcups every 10 months or so.

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kelkokelko t1_iv66ddm wrote

Me too but that's not usually why I stop using them

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imafraidofmuricans t1_iv6mv5t wrote

But that's also easily replaced in many cases, so people probably won't bother reporting it as "failed"

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One_Ad_3499 t1_iv50ldq wrote

Headphones shoud be split into in house headphones, air pods and walking one

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cyberentomology t1_iv57dfa wrote

And travel headphones.

After just getting off an 8 hour flight, can wholeheartedly recommend Apple’s comically expensive AirPods Max. First set of ANC cans J have owned that can be worn for 8 hours straight. And the sound is amazing.

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WastingTimeAsUsuaI t1_iv6sg83 wrote

Any audiophile knows Apple's AirPods Max are comically overpriced and garbage. Sony XM5/XM4 Series have better sound quality and features at a much lower price. They work well across iOS AND Android too. There are so many competitors at that price range and Apple doesnt come close

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cyberentomology t1_iv6ssfd wrote

LOL, “audiophiles” are nothing more than peddlers and consumers of electronic woo and snake oil. They wouldn’t recognize the difference.

Audio pros laugh at these people as soon as the payment clears. I don’t put any stock into what they “know” (usually what they have convinced themselves is real)

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WastingTimeAsUsuaI t1_iv6zbn7 wrote

The difference is massive. I have BOTH the AirPods and the sony’s and anyone can tell the difference.

By your logic, why doesn't everyone just buy the AirPods 1 instead paying much more for airpods 3 or pro??? People are just consumers and can't tell the difference right???

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YourHomicidalApe t1_iv6q0zd wrote

People love to shit on Apple but I have tried other wireless earbuds and they all have problems except for AirPods.

However, I will say I disagree with “the sound is amazing” that is their weakest point in my opinion.

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madredditscientist OP t1_iv4o2ac wrote

We never hear about broken or worn out products. The goal of r/productfails is to learn how products performed over their lifetime, where they break, and how to fix them.

Data: polls on r/productfails with 150 - 300 votes. I'm well aware that this data is not representative, but this is a good start to raise awareness about product longevity and repairability - more to come.

Tools: Canva

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underlander t1_iv5mos7 wrote

tip for folks starting out in data visualization: consider the nature of the variable when deciding how to plot it. Time bins here are rank-order, so they should be plotted in a way that depicts that rank order but also reflects the fact that they’re discrete (not a continuous flow, they’re chopped up). So, a bar chart is most appropriate. Pie charts are for qualitative variables (like separate categories).

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07Vette t1_iv64d6e wrote

Totally agree, left side should be bar chart. Right side can stay pie chart.

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Drewdroid99 t1_iv55k1w wrote

Does this take into consideration people buying new sets because they want an upgrade?

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anonkitty2 t1_iv8ajgq wrote

"Time to repair or failure: never. Issue: newer model looks better."

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RuthlessChubbz t1_iv4tkru wrote

Since when were pie graphs considered beautiful?

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Dapper_Importance341 t1_iv5bs8x wrote

Better than animated bar chart in which the scale keeps changing and the videos ends immediately after the end result is finally clear.

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bridgetroll2 t1_iv4xa97 wrote

Pie chart with 5 sections that are nearly the same color... real beautiful.

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torchma t1_iv51i34 wrote

And with slices not arranged in order of size.

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DocJawbone t1_iv5ck8e wrote

And also where time is the variable....so hard to read

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Wiish123 t1_iv4whtc wrote

Fucking hell use a bar chart instead amirite

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lynivvinyl t1_iv4rzzw wrote

I use splicing tape at all of the pull points on the cord so that any undue stress pulls on the tape and not the cord.

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Wiish123 t1_iv4wu13 wrote

If this had been 2 bar chars it would've been so much more informative

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mankinskin t1_iv7xx1e wrote

Pie chart makes share of total more evident, so I think that is the right choice for this kind of data.

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Jammintoad t1_iv4tfie wrote

Bought 100$ consumer grade Sennheiser headphones in 2017. Had to replace the connection cable, otherwise continue to work fantastic. My experience fits the data

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MigraineWhiskey t1_iv8fe46 wrote

I got PX-100’s from, I don’t know, 15 years ago? Replaced the plug once, and the foam ear pads probably three times by now.

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Magmagan t1_iv587yz wrote

Went out of my way to buy my DT770s with a cable mod for that reason. Expecting these to last me a lifetime.

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MrXtacle t1_iv780v6 wrote

I've got the DT770 Pro's as well. Love that you can get replacement parts for everything if something breaks. Unless they go under, I also expect them to outlast me.

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Daiki_438 t1_iv4zh0r wrote

I hate the left one that has a different amount of time

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el_sh33p t1_iv4vkhr wrote

What kind of absolute mutant freak can keep headphones running for ten years.

Actually, scrap mutation; we're clear into high techno-sorcery at that point.

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Magmagan t1_iv5800m wrote

Good headphones can last for ages. The earcups can be replaced, the cables can often be replaced (with a mod) as well.

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EnginoobDad t1_iv54aiz wrote

OP: Why did you choose a pie chart over other visuals? Genuinely curious. There is a war on pie charts in the data viz world.

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bridgetroll2 t1_iv4xefj wrote

"Got fukn rekt in an online game and threw them across the room" has to account for at least 5% of issues.

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Tom_277 t1_iv4zhsv wrote

Mine literally always stop working on one side, usually after about 6-12 months. No idea why, i’ve gone through like 5 pairs to this

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shrye t1_iv5aj3w wrote

That's usually a cable issue. I switched to wireless in 2008 and didn't have a headphone failure since then (i switched to a wh1000xm4 when it came out and gave the old one to my wife who still uses it, but probably with different settings on headband, i guess headband/hinges is the part that breaks first on those)

Disclaimer: not recommended for gaming. Delay is a thing with wireless.

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Lorry_Al t1_iv5bu9g wrote

"27.7% of headphones last 10 years or more"

That could be my special $200 headphones that I only take out of their box and use at home once a week.

My cheap headphones always fail within 3 years because I use them every day so more opportunities for them to break and also wear out more quickly.

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Jorycle t1_iv6f8zc wrote

Until I went wireless, every single headset I ever owned had a broken cable within 6 months. Shorter if it had a volume control on the wire.

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[deleted] t1_iv4unhv wrote

most common issues:

chewed on cord too much :( 98% stopped working randomly 2%

how it goes for me

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Chris-1235 t1_iv5367i wrote

Pointless without factoring for price and type. Wireless/no? Earbuds/no?

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Herksy t1_iv50fob wrote

Sound degradation? Is there a clear difference or am I just too ignorant to know?

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more_beans_mrtaggart t1_iv55lca wrote

I’ve had three pairs of over-ear Bose. None lasted a year, each was a fight to the death to get warranty repair.

Fuck Bose.

(I took the hit 3 times because I liked their noise cancelling)

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yada_yadad_sex t1_iv5eojw wrote

Ear pads are replaceable. And thus it's not the end of life.

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mankinskin t1_iv7y6yi wrote

When you have to repair the product, the lifetime of the service you paid for ends. You have to extend its lifetime to keep using it.

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perec1111 t1_iv561ge wrote

Sennheiser momentum. The old one with a cord. That thing took me long to save up for and lasted for around ten years. During this time I had to change the pads twice: the originals lasted for around 6 years, the first and second replacement each for around a year. The thing came with two sets of cords that were easy to change if broken, and I threw it only after the second pair of after market pads broke, the second cable started having issues and it generally looked a bit dirty. The sound quality changed over time, it lost a bit of its brightness in sound.

All in all, it costed me less than buying cheap or low mid-range headsets every year. God that was some good quality.

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MAYBE_Maybe_maybe_ t1_iv5axfu wrote

My earphones broke because they were slammed at mach 3 against the ground due to me tripping over the cable... i guess that counts as [other]?

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mankinskin t1_iv7x532 wrote

That is why I have headphones where I can replace cable and ear cups. Replaced cable about 4 times now and Cups about 2 times in maybe 8 years. Still great, Sennheiser Momentum.

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TheXemist t1_ive4o7u wrote

Nice - so I'll go wireless from now on!

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TheFeshy t1_iv5cowd wrote

I switched all my family's headphones to bone conducting ones. They're bluetooth only, so no wires. No earcups. No hinges. And... uh... sound quality is already what it is, so rarely degrades. Cuts out 90% of the problems on this chart lol.

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Peterj504 t1_iv5d1lt wrote

I bought a pair of Bose qc15 when they first came out (2010, it think). I've replaced the ear cup padding 3 times and have a spare laying around. The cable is starting to split but it's replaceable and I have a spare also. Other than that, they're still fantastic headphones. I still use them almost everyday while I'm on my computer.

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SignificantSmotherer t1_iv855mj wrote

I just replaced the ear cups on my QC25s. Used the $6 knockoff kit, good for another three years.

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likelyilllike t1_iv5lr2x wrote

Yeah, we don't need futuristic mickey mouse trend...

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CPUzer0 t1_iv5tsht wrote

In the 7 years I've had my K7XX, I've had to replace the cable thrice (AKG cable sleeving plastic is horrible and gets stiff and brittle over time) and pads once. Also had to replace one wire that came loose in the right cup. Headband also needs replacing, the tension bands are stretched out and the whatever structurally nonessential clear plastic strips are broken on both sides. They are still in use though.

LCD-2C, haven't used the stock cable much, but the Customcans braided paracord XLR cable lasted me almost two years before needing servicing (fortunately they honor their 2 year warranty). Original pads were also replaced with Dekoni sheepskins at the 2 year mark. The "suspension" strap has seen better days, might look into a DIY replacement at some point, otherwise at 4 years young the headphone is still doing (and sounding) great. Gonna keep them in service until the drivers fail.

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mage_irl t1_iv627kj wrote

Get a decent pair of headphones and you can replace the earcups for 15-20 bucks every few years.

The Beyerdynamic DT 770 for example not only have replaceable earcups, but also a detachable leather headband, making it possible to repair the most common issues.

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DaHotFuzz t1_iv66ijp wrote

The padding on top of my Sennheiser 599 started peeling after a few years, medium use.

Sad :(

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VerbotenVerber69 t1_iv6mvge wrote

Sony 7506. Have a single pair that I used for countless symphony recordings, mixes, and just using around the house when I want to hear something special. Replaced the ear cups many times, and perhaps they aren't as bright as they were 20 years ago, but higher frequencies start dropping off a man's hearing around age 30. Great for using when reference/clarity matters, but will cause some fatigue after a couple of hours for me. Cheapo $20 earbuds with a rechargeable case have changed the game for me, I wear them everywhere.

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eileen404 t1_iv7omxg wrote

So where's the list of ones in the 10y category? Personally, a graph of cost per year of use would be awesome... Especial with names included. Yes I'm being lazy.....

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SexWomble t1_iv5gfkg wrote

I suspect as we get into the era of tiny wireless earbuds, “I lost them” will become the dominant cause of replacement. I’ve somehow lost three pairs in the last four years.

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[deleted] t1_iv5jbmo wrote

[deleted]

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SexWomble t1_iv5jjwi wrote

Dunno, I tend to keep mine in the pocket of my jeans. My wallet, keys and phone have been safe there for 35 years. But for some reason I’ve lost several sets of ear buds now. They’ve just gone.

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[deleted] t1_iv5kobg wrote

[deleted]

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SexWomble t1_iv5l5oy wrote

So do I, I keep the charger case in my jeans. I’m currently using Ear Fun Pro 2. I quite like them, the noise cancelling works well. Just hope I don’t lose them lol.

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