Okay, this is just getting old.

[100indecisions]

I generally keep my earbud cord wrapped around my iPod so it doesn't get tangled in things, and apparently this practice--which makes perfect sense to me--is killing my earbuds. When I first got my 5th-gen video iPod (back in the day before they rolled out the Classic), I used the earbuds that went with it for several months before noticing that the plastic or rubber or whatever it is was starting to strip away around the plug, probably because it was being pulled at a bit of an angle from wrapping it around the iPod; I tried to fix that and it kept tearing until it was almost all the way down. I bought a pair of $10 JVC Gumy earbuds to replace the Apple ones, and they worked fine for several months before the sound went out in one ear. Couldn't figure out why--there was no stripping like with the Apple one, for instance, since it was made differently near the plug--although the actual metal plug was at a slight angel from the plastic bit around the top of it (look, I have no idea what any of the technical terms are here). I replaced them with $20 JVC Marshmallow earbuds, figuring the bump up in price should mean they'd last longer. Well, they were a lot more comfortable and gave me better sound, and after about a month the sound went out in one ear. Again. So I replaced them, yet again, with another pair of $20 Marshmallows (had a $10 Best Buy gift card, though, or I'd have been even more torqued). And now those--well, I haven't had all the sound go out in one of them; instead it sounds as if I've lost an entire layer of sound, and I've only used them since April. Everything I listen to through these earbuds sounds wrong. The only thing I've noticed is that yet again the metal plug is canted funny and I can't push it back straight, but...whatever the case, it's frustrating.

Anything I can do to fix it, preferably without stuff like soldering that I have neither the equipment nor the knowledge for? Anything I can do to prevent it happening to my next pair, hopefully without giving up on my earbuds being anything but a tangle? I'm just tired of spending money on these things all the time.

For what it's worth, this (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v62/Flying_dolphin/picture001-1.jpg) is what the plug looks like right now, and this (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v62/Flying_dolphin/picture002-1.jpg) is how my earbuds usually live.

[ThisisCraigP]

I had the same kind of cord ripping trouble with the $50 Sennheiser MX 75 Sport earphones that I bought two Christmases ago. I couldn't believe it that the wire was ripping open! I replaced them with a pair of Philips SBC HN060 Noise Canceling earphones that I got on sale for $15. The cord on them reminds me me of shoe lace so hopefully It will be more durable.

[bigbabydaddy196]

I've only gone through 3 pairs of headphones in 5 years and two of 'em are still in service--some Sennheiser behind-the-head jobs and Shure e2c canal 'phones. I never leave them plugged in............

You're gonna hafta get new ones--go ahead and leave 'em wrapped, but take the prong outta the jack before you damage the jack itself...as my 12 y/o did recently to his player.

[iPiki]

If you wrap the earphones too tight around the iPod, the wires could strip or sound quality could decrease. Try wrapping them more loosely around the 'Pod. I actually don't wrap my earphones around my 'Pod-I fold my earphone cord in half until it's a small bunch, and then I stick the earphones and the Pod into my pocket, purse, etc. Yes, it does tangle the earphone cord, but it seems that no matter what I do, it always tangles anyway. And also, you said you purchased the JVC Marshmallow earphones for $20. You overpaid. I only paid $10 for mine. I've had them since I first had my iPod because I like in-ear earphones best. They're great, though. But the cushy things get kind of dry from earwax (I'm sorry, this is disgusting), but I just wet them slightly and they're cushy again.