How to make expensive headphones last?

[Jeff In San Diego]

Having recently purchased the fantasmic Sennheiser HD800 headphones for a scary amount of money, I find myself wondering how best to keep them in good shape for many years.

 

The obvious things are to keep them away from pets and kids. I've got those two well in hand.

 

I simply don't want to take up the room in my home-office with the coffin-like fancy box they came in, and I don't really think between-use storage will be a problem for me (I guess time will tell). Maybe some of you have some stories along this line that will change my mind and cause me to heft that over-done box back out of the back of the closet, idunno.

 

Beyond that, can those of you with some experience in this area provide some tips?

 

Tell us the unexpected things that have "trashed" a good set of cans.

 

Tell us some habits or procedures you've found helpful to keep them in good shape.

 

thanks!

 

[wgscott]

Glad I've managed to lighten the mood around this joint.

 

Resist the temptation to bring them on airplanes.

 

Especially if you have the isle seat. There is always someone trying to rip out the cord. You also run the risk of someone swiping them, or forgetting them, or having homeland security confiscate them, or having the jack get damaged when interfacing with the airplane plug-in hole.

 

[KingStyles]

If you dont have to worry about pets and kids, just use a headphone stand. Looks decent and there are nice looking wood ones all the way to inexpensive banana stands. The good thing about the hd800 is that if you do mess up the cord, it is easy to replace it since it uses connectors to attach to the headphone. The only thing you need to worry about is dropping them.

 

[wgscott]

Parrots and cockatiels really delight in snapping the wires and pulling apart the ear pads. When I was a kid I had a pair of Marantz speakers that my cockatiel ate.

 

[Bluebeard]

Re headphone stands, Sennheiser themself make a nifty device (HH10 Headphone holder)which clamps onto shelves and keeps the 'phones handy but out of the way. A friend of mine uses a glass head for his AKGs which is a somewhat more stylish approach...

 

regards,

 

Giles

 

[Jeff In San Diego]

Is there something more to this than the obvious?

 

Clearly one doesn't want to drop something that costs that much...but is there something particularly delicate with expensive headphones in general, or perhaps with this particular model that I haven't heard about?

 

thanks.

 

[jivers]

Thanks for the tip.. Will be ordering a couple of these tomorrow!

 

[jivers]

Thanks for the tip.. Will be ordering a couple of these tomorrow!

 

[Jeff In San Diego]

That's what my old Etymotics are for from here on out. I had forgotten I had them. Pulled them out the other day and ordered some simpler rubber things for them (had the custom fit nonsense in the beginning). I still hate having anything crammed in my ears, but they do sound really good.

 

They are also very portable, and block sound in both directions, which makes them almost ideal for the airplane...if only they didn't have to be crammed in the ears.

 

[wgb113]

Don't forget fish. Definitely keep your cans away from your fish.

 

No really, the HH10 is a nice cheap solution. I use two of them. I had considered the whole mannequin head thing but never could pull the trigger.

 

Someone makes really nice bent plywood holders as well but they're a little steep ($150 I think) for what they are in my opinion.

 

Bill

 

 

[The Computer Audiophile]

Wow, the hh-10 is nice and it's inexpensive. The headphone is paying off :~)

 

[Paul R]

At least, it is my nemesis when it comes to portable electronics.

Only one set of headphones had to be retired because of liquid though, and that involved a really beautiful lady airline hostess, a foul can of tomato juice, and wind shear...

 

-Paul

 

 

[Mister Wednesday]

Greetings all,

 

Here's an interesting tip from one of the posters over on the Head-Fi forum site for an inexpensive (as in approximately $10) headphone stand:

 

http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/523324/new-headphone-stand

 

Here's the link to the page on the Home Depot online store website where you can order this item:

 

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xh6/R-100387753/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

 

Regards,

 

Mister Wednesday

 

[wgscott]

I had considered the whole mannequin head thing but never could pull the trigger.

 

 

Clown trigger. Probably the meanest fish I ever owned. Could skelatonize a Senheiser HD600 in a little over 30 seconds.

 

[wgb113]

Snorkeled with some trigger fish...amazing to hear them biting away at the coral reefs under water!

 

Here are those cool wood stands I was referring to:

 

http://www.musicdirect.com/products/images.php?i=-1&p=73706&h=86477

 

 

The Omega headphone stand!

 

Bill

 

 

[KingStyles]

I think the omega headphone stand is the nicest one out there IMO.

 

[Olive Empithrie]

I keep mine in the coffin box at all times when I'm not using them. That way they gather no dust. Also, by being out of sight they are firmly out of (my daughter's) mind.

 

She (whom I love dearly it goes without saying) when a bit younger bent back the headband on my HD650s snapping them into two pieces.

 

[baxtus]

"She (whom I love dearly it goes without saying) when a bit younger bent back the headband on my HD650s snapping them into two pieces."

 

Is this how you managed to "justify" the purchase of the HD 800's?

 

If so, "She" did you a favour. Maybe the next "justification" will be for a pair of Stax Omegas!

 

 

 

[Olive Empithrie]

There's always a silver lining with these things;

 

Stax Omegas. Yes, I really want to listen to these, I'll have to find a way...

 

[wgscott]

I just realized our life-size replica dire wolf skull makes the perfect headphone stand.

 

[tom]

I recommend keeping the most expensive you have in a safe place. Somewhere where common sense will not fail. Hidden away in a special place.

 

I also have much cheaper headphones (of the same brand), that I use all the time anytime I go out, even to visit a friend.

 

 

[AudioDoctor]

when I bought my HD800's. living alone has its advantages sometimes.

 

Just be kind to them, and leave them at home, on a stand, covered. Should be no problems. Keep others away from them too.