Save my Grados from Ostracization!

November 14, 2006 12:43 PM

Is there any way to comparatively test the performance of my headphones' channels?

I recently bought myself a pair of Grado S60s, but haven't yet been able to fully enjoy them. Almost immediately after receiving them, I plugged them (via 1/8-1/4 adapter) into my equally-new Smokey pocket amp's output port. I didn't realize that the port was mono and that my guitar's volume was turned all the way up; the left channel started to blare distorted/crackly guitar noise into my ear, and I quickly took them off.

Unfortunately, this may have ruined my left channel. Almost certainly not, but I'm very susceptible to the placebo effect. Great.

Whenever I now listen to music, I feel slightly uncomfortable. Although I can never pinpoint the problem, and although casual left-right volume tests seem to yield identical results, it appears to me as if the right channel is -- louder? clearer? better in some way than the left channel. Reason (as well as the amp's manufacturer) says that the amp couldn't've possibly damaged the 32-ohm 'phones, but I can't help my convictions.

Is there any way to comparatively test the performance of my Grados' channels?
Also, can headphones be permanently damaged by excessive volume, and if so -- in what way, and how long would it take?

posted by archagon to Technology (3 answers total)

Best answer: Any speaker can be damaged if you push it hard enough. I would test it by listening to music with software that lets you adjust the balance between the channels and see if you can notice any difference. Even better would be to pan a mono sound source left and right, so then you'd be listening to the same thing on either channel.

Sometimes my SR60s get a hair or something stuck in them and this causes a slight but annoying rumble/distortion on one side until I dislodge it.

Also, maybe you've got a blockage or something in your left ear?
posted by ludwig_van at 1:12 PM on November 14, 2006

"Reason (as well as the amp's manufacturer) says that the amp couldn't've possibly damaged the 32-ohm 'phones, but I can't help my convictions."

Could've fucked up your ear pretty easily though. Sudden, off-center blasts like that are a good way to damage your hearing, and damaging one ear more than the other is pretty common. Might want to go get your hearing checked.
posted by klangklangston at 3:00 PM on November 14, 2006

Best answer: Did you try flipping them around? Do you feel the left (now right driver) is still weaker? Then it's you. If you are really affected by placebo you could do a blind test with a friend who will put them on your head in either orientation a few times to see if you can tell.

I'm assuming the fit on the Grados won't give away that you are wearing them backwards.

I also agree with klang. You are more likely to bork your ears before your bork the hardware.
posted by chairface at 3:16 PM on November 14, 2006