Category: Geeks r Us
I plugged my headphones, which are just a regular, no-bells-and-whistles pair that probably cost $5, into the jack in my laptop, but instead of getting sound in the headphones, the sound in my laptop speaker is now amplified. I'm not getting any sound in the headphones at all. What on earth could cause that to happen?
Thanks,
Becky
It was sorted once I restarted the computer. Still wondering what the hell happened.
Hmm...that sounds like a sound-card issue. Hopefully it doesn't repeat though.
So let me get this straight: when you plugged the headphones in, the laptop speaker not only stayed on and kept outputting sound, but got louder? And when you unplugged the headphones, what happened then? You said you fixed it by restarting, and this makes me think you reproduced the error at least a time or two by unplugging the headphones and plugging them in again. if that's the case, it definitely sounds like a sound-card issue, like I said before. Don't worry about it unless it becomes a normal occurrence.
Another possibility is that the wire in the headphones is starting to go. Is the connection at the jack straight or is it a ninety-degree angle? And whatever it may be, is it getting chewed, frayed or pinched-looking? This can sometimes cause issues, and may necessitate fixing the wire or getting another pair of headphones.
I'd agree. It is the wiring in the headphones. 5 dollar headphones aren't made all that well.
The reason restarting corrected the problem, is windows reset the settings because you didn't save them.
You simply fcaused the sound card to activate the loudness mode.
Yeah, I unplugged and reconnected them several times in an attempt to make them work properly. When I unplugged them, the speaker volume went back to normal. When I restarted the computer and plugged them back in for the first time, I had no sound at all. Then, I unplugged and reconnected them again, and everything went back to normal.
The connection is at a 90-degree angle. It's entirely possible that the headphones are starting to go. They aren't frayed, but they're old. I hope that's all it is, at least. I really, really don't need a faulty sound card at the moment.
Becky
There's deffinitly a short at the jack on the headphones themselves. I had that same problem when I use to have those k-mart brand as a kid, the kind you buy for eight bucks. They break down more than something eighty bucks or more.
Pay a bit more for your headphones, or buy quality brands.
If you cause a problem with your sound card, and you don't have a second to over ride the first, or a sighted helper on hand, it will take you a long time to get it repaired.
I don't know your situation, but the repair, even though it won't technically be, will cost you at least $50.
Better headphones not only work better, they sound better.
The old saying really does apply, you get what you pay for. You get more breakages with a five dollar special from a department store whereas a pare of klipsch headphones that run a hundred or more dollars will have higher fidelity, and better wiring.
You could also try have them resottered, but with something that cheap I wouldn't bother.
That being said, it's a matter of diminishing returns past a certain point. You can buy forty or fifty-dollar headphones that sound pretty good and have an excellent wire that will last for a good few years if you don't abuse them. It really depends on how badly you want good audio quality. But you don't need to pay over a hundred bucks for good wiring in a set of cans.
I've tried countless sets under fifty over the years from the 80's until today, and there's no comparison after getting the klipsch reference 1 set. But if I had to go back to that again it would ither be koss product or sennheiser. If you can find these koss ones online the portapro is a nice inexpencive set that's been one of their good sellers, and you can also get a version of them fitted with iphone control capability.
Koss also has a lifetime warranty on any of their product. So if you have a set that works, and if something goes wrong with them say five years or even a one year later you can get it replaced.
If a person just wants headphones that are built decent 30 dollars will do it.
Klipsch can be had for that price if a person shops. Other quality brands too.
No, they're not going to be top quality, but if a person doesn't have a top quality sound card either, it will work nicely.
The main thing is keeping the computer from shorting, or changing settings in this case I'd say.
Skullcandy are another good brand if you'd like something inexpencive. They do have an entry model that sounds good even for entry level, it's their recruter model, very basic but has passable sound.
Another skullcandy model that's at a good price is their lowrider model. I'm sure those two models still exist, or at least they may have something like them now.
But if it's something with lifetime warranty koss product are just the thing, but they do have a tun of sets, so be prepared to sift through.
You can go to www.headphone.com and brouz their stock there, and koss products are in deed available there, plus the site is very accessible.