Etymotics - ER4P / ER4S

[Muse]

I've used ER4S (2 pairs) for around 10 years and now have an ER4P set (all great portable earbuds type headphones, never had a discontinuity!!), and apart from occasionally needing to replace one of the white buds (my preference), the issue has been that once in a while one of the channels goes almost silent due to getting dirty, presumably with ear wax. They supply extra filters and a tool to replace them, but I've been saving my dirty filters thinking that I can maybe clean them rather than order new ones. Has anybody tried cleaning these with a solvent?

 

[Chapbass]

Id be a little curious about this too, as I've had the same issue on occasion. They're awfully small, youd need some tiny tools and some patience i would imagine...

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Chapbass
Id be a little curious about this too, as I've had the same issue on occasion. They're awfully small, youd need some tiny tools and some patience i would imagine...

I haven't tried it yet but I did an experiment or two putting a bit of paraffin into a tiny bottle of naphtha to see if it would dissolve. I don't remember exactly, I think I should try it again. I think it softened the wax a lot. The crux would be a solvent that would dissolve whatever is clogging the filter without damaging it. I don't know what the filter cores are made of, the exterior is metallic and presumably impervious to most any solvent. I had the idea to use a flexible tube to force solvent through the filter after it soaks for a few days. This would be the sheathing of electrical wire, easily pulled off a short length of wire. The right sheathing, say 2 inches long, could have the filter shoved tightly in one end, and you could blow on the other end to force the solvent through and out of the filter. Then let the filter dry for several days, letting the solvent evaporate. Then test to see of the filter is still blocked or usable. The principal question I have is what solvent to use, where to get it, assuming I don't have it already. I have a lot of solvents!

 

[chorb]

I suggest cleaning your low pass filter, all the mids and highs get stuck in there.

/bad audio joke

 

[darkswordsman17]

Just dip a q-tip in some hydrogen peroxide and swab the filters while holding them with some tweezers. Make sure you get a fair amount and let it sit, it'll dissolve the waxy buildup and shouldn't damage the filters. If you have a dropper, then you could put a couple of drops on it instead. You should consider cleaning out your ears as well, although dilute the peroxide if you do that. Tilt your head to the side, drop in enough so your ear fills (shouldn't take much, so don't just pour a ton in unless you want it all over the place). Let it sit for a few minutes. You'll get a nice tingling and probably hear fizzing, then take a paper towel or tissue and ball it up a bit and then tilt your head to empty the liquid.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: darkswordsman17
Just dip a q-tip in some hydrogen peroxide and swab the filters while holding them with some tweezers. Make sure you get a fair amount and let it sit, it'll dissolve the waxy buildup and shouldn't damage the filters. If you have a dropper, then you could put a couple of drops on it instead. You should consider cleaning out your ears as well, although dilute the peroxide if you do that. Tilt your head to the side, drop in enough so your ear fills (shouldn't take much, so don't just pour a ton in unless you want it all over the place). Let it sit for a few minutes. You'll get a nice tingling and probably hear fizzing, then take a paper towel or tissue and ball it up a bit and then tilt your head to empty the liquid.

Thanks. I might be exacerbating the problem by using silicone earplugs every night. I started doing it regularly a couple of months ago or so. Too much noise around here for me to sleep solidly through the night:

dogs barking
cars, trucks, motorcycles
people yelling, laughing, etc.
planes
helicopters
sirens
trains
A neighbor whose apartment is right across from my bedroom who seems to have their TV on 24/7

Those plugs when shoved in good block out just about everything, but they seem kind of waxy, although I don't know if they have any wax as such in them. I try not to shove them in too far. I wash my ears in the shower but I'm sure it doesn't get all of it out.

 

[Tiamat]

hmm, i always thought the filters were destroyed by the metal tool that pokes through them in order to remove them from the IEM? This was how it was done in my Altec Lansing IM716's. Otherwise, you can order more filters from the manufacturer, i doubt they cost much, probably shipping costs more than the kits.

 

[uhohs]

$15 for 6 filters. not sure how much shipping is.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Tiamat
hmm, i always thought the filters were destroyed by the metal tool that pokes through them in order to remove them from the IEM? This was how it was done in my Altec Lansing IM716's. Otherwise, you can order more filters from the manufacturer, i doubt they cost much, probably shipping costs more than the kits.

If you're careful enough you can remove them without destroying them is my thinking. You barely screw the tool in, just_enough to grab and pull the filter out of the driver. I've tried to be _that_ careful.

Yes, the filters aren't very expensive but right now I'm on a very tight budget. I have extra filters around, but I'm thinking ahead. Plus I'm very DIY... One of my mottos: "If I cain't fix it, it ain't broke."