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Up until the other day, I had only needed to replace my AirPods twice so far. But then the microphone died on the right one and now I will need to replace them

Up until the other day, I had only needed to replace my AirPods twice so far. But then the microphone died on the right one and now I will need to replace them yet again. I love my AirPods but this is so incredibly frustrating. Pro tip: Use the Voice Memo app to determine which microphone is failing, and then go into the Bluetooth settings. You can make the microphone default to the side that isn't broken.

Rebelgecko 6y ago
Sheesh, this is a big reason why I dislike Airpods. They've turned headphones/earbuds into a piece of disposable tech. Apple wants to be normalize the purchase of a new pair of earbuds every year. It sounds like you're about to be on your 4th pair since 2017. Even just having to replace them twice seems excessive. I'm on my second pair of corded over the ear headphones since 2008. My current ones still work, but one of the ear cushions is starting to fall apart. Instead of throwing all the electronics away, I can just get a new ear piece on eBay for $3
- 0x38B 6y ago
  I love buying gear that I can take care of and otherwise maintain. This includes a fountain pen - a Lamy 2000 that writes wonderfully and holds plenty of ink - and a pair of wired Shures. Previously I had a great pair of earbuds from MeeElectronics (now MEE Audio) that lasted a couple years. The sweet spot for me is to buy quality gear that satisfies my needs; not too cheap and not too expensive. I fully expect to lose my Shures or my Lamy before they break, and I like it that way. Edit: maybe I'm just really careful with my gear, but I always coil my cables nicely - over/under or a similar method, and I let them fold the same way each time. My cables last forever, including earbud cables.
- samatman 6y ago
  I hear this a lot, but headphones and earbuds are distinct products, and earbuds have always been semi-disposable for me. I've only ever had one pair of headphones, which are on their third (fourth?) cable and needed muff replacement on one side. Earbuds? The corded ones last me 2 to 6 months before the thin copper in the cabling work-hardens and breaks. Airpods are semi-disposable as well, and much more expensive, but convenient and nice, while lasting quite a bit longer than corded earbuds. My first pair lasted 18 months, and the battery was fine, I just blew out the speakers. I value not being tethered to my phone. Your mileage may vary, I'm kinda hard on my stuff.
  - Rebelgecko 6y ago
    That's fair, in general I wouldn't expect small earbuds to be as repairable or durable as full on headphones. OTOH, I've been able to keep a pair of wired earbuds going for another year with heat shrink tubing. Even though that isn't great, just that new lease on life I've been able to give them sounds like it's comparable to the Airpods MTBF.
    - sudosysgen 6y ago
      I can't recommend getting some good quality earbuds from China, with metal faceplates (or entirely metal) and replaceable wires, enough. Cables cost 4$, you can buy a second one off the get-go, and if the connector breaks at least for mine you can simply unscrew the connector, replace it (it's a standard), and resolder the two wires. The key is to spend a bit more and do your research, mine cost 40$ and will probably last a decade. To name them, the model is KZ ZSX - the sound quality is absolutely excellent too, and there are impulse response files to make them sound almost completely perfect. There are also other more reputable brands such as Shure, but AFAIK none that will make headphones with metal faceplates for under 150$.
  - sudosysgen 6y ago
    You can buy earbuds with a metal faceplate and replaceable cables as well as excellent audio quality for around 40$. They aren't disposable at all, it's just the cheap ones we get pushed. And when you open them, the wires are color-coated, and the connector is held in place using screws (!)
- derefr 6y ago
  I mean, professional in-ear monitors have always been disposable tech, because they’re used by performers who treat them very harshly (which is most of the point of the product category in the first place.) Insofar as AirPods Pro are “Pro” in that sense, I would imagine their target audience is used to it.
  - coayer 6y ago
    Is it possible to even use them on stage? Seems like you wouldn't want active noise cancelling or Bluetooth for that

Rebelgecko 6y ago

Sheesh, this is a big reason why I dislike Airpods. They've turned headphones/earbuds into a piece of disposable tech. Apple wants to be normalize the purchase of a new pair of earbuds every year. It sounds like you're about to be on your 4th pair since 2017. Even just having to replace them twice seems excessive. I'm on my second pair of corded over the ear headphones since 2008. My current ones still work, but one of the ear cushions is starting to fall apart. Instead of throwing all the electronics away, I can just get a new ear piece on eBay for $3

0x38B 6y ago
I love buying gear that I can take care of and otherwise maintain. This includes a fountain pen - a Lamy 2000 that writes wonderfully and holds plenty of ink - and a pair of wired Shures. Previously I had a great pair of earbuds from MeeElectronics (now MEE Audio) that lasted a couple years. The sweet spot for me is to buy quality gear that satisfies my needs; not too cheap and not too expensive. I fully expect to lose my Shures or my Lamy before they break, and I like it that way. Edit: maybe I'm just really careful with my gear, but I always coil my cables nicely - over/under or a similar method, and I let them fold the same way each time. My cables last forever, including earbud cables.
samatman 6y ago
I hear this a lot, but headphones and earbuds are distinct products, and earbuds have always been semi-disposable for me. I've only ever had one pair of headphones, which are on their third (fourth?) cable and needed muff replacement on one side. Earbuds? The corded ones last me 2 to 6 months before the thin copper in the cabling work-hardens and breaks. Airpods are semi-disposable as well, and much more expensive, but convenient and nice, while lasting quite a bit longer than corded earbuds. My first pair lasted 18 months, and the battery was fine, I just blew out the speakers. I value not being tethered to my phone. Your mileage may vary, I'm kinda hard on my stuff.
- Rebelgecko 6y ago
  That's fair, in general I wouldn't expect small earbuds to be as repairable or durable as full on headphones. OTOH, I've been able to keep a pair of wired earbuds going for another year with heat shrink tubing. Even though that isn't great, just that new lease on life I've been able to give them sounds like it's comparable to the Airpods MTBF.
  - sudosysgen 6y ago
    I can't recommend getting some good quality earbuds from China, with metal faceplates (or entirely metal) and replaceable wires, enough. Cables cost 4$, you can buy a second one off the get-go, and if the connector breaks at least for mine you can simply unscrew the connector, replace it (it's a standard), and resolder the two wires. The key is to spend a bit more and do your research, mine cost 40$ and will probably last a decade. To name them, the model is KZ ZSX - the sound quality is absolutely excellent too, and there are impulse response files to make them sound almost completely perfect. There are also other more reputable brands such as Shure, but AFAIK none that will make headphones with metal faceplates for under 150$.
- sudosysgen 6y ago
  You can buy earbuds with a metal faceplate and replaceable cables as well as excellent audio quality for around 40$. They aren't disposable at all, it's just the cheap ones we get pushed. And when you open them, the wires are color-coated, and the connector is held in place using screws (!)
derefr 6y ago
I mean, professional in-ear monitors have always been disposable tech, because they’re used by performers who treat them very harshly (which is most of the point of the product category in the first place.) Insofar as AirPods Pro are “Pro” in that sense, I would imagine their target audience is used to it.
- coayer 6y ago
  Is it possible to even use them on stage? Seems like you wouldn't want active noise cancelling or Bluetooth for that