Headphones... Left side sounds weak

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TridenT

TridenT

Lifer
Sep 4, 2006
16,800
45
91
So... When I listen to songs I notice that the right is significantly louder, sometimes, than the left. It seems to have the bass and the left doesn't... If I push the right against my head, it'll get louder, but if I push the left against my head it stays the same... I don't feel the force of the sound get more intense... I actually don't feel it or hear it at all from the left side. So for things that don't have a lot of those certain sounds(I guess bass? I don't know) to them it doesn't really matter too much, but I notice a lot of oldies songs for which it matters. It really messes with my head.

Sometimes though this never happens... Do I have faulty headphones? Faulty computer? Faulty ears?

Argh.. I really don't want to go out and spend lots of money on new headphones or speakers. :(
 
B

BushLin

Member
Oct 28, 2008
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I think the best starting point is either plugging the headphones into another (playback) device or plugging in another set of headphones or speakers into your current device.

See where the problem follows, if it's stays with the headphones it could be the cable, if it follows the device maybe there's a balance control that's set to bias the right output.
 
YOyoYOhowsDAjello

YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Moderator<br>A/V & Home Theater<br>Elite member
Aug 6, 2001
31,204
45
91
Is the only set of headphones or speakers you have?

Can you switch the left and right side of your headphones (wear them backwards) and see what happens (rule out that you're crazy / it's your ears)
- Does the problem stay with your ear or with the side of the headphone?

Do you have another device that can play the same song for you?
- Does the problem occur if it's only hooked up to the computer, or does it repeat when playing the same material through an mp3 player or something

Try disconnecting and reconnecting them making sure they're securely plugged in.

Is the balance control centered on your PC?

EDIT: BushLin beat me to a lot of the same suggestions :)
 
TridenT

TridenT

Lifer
Sep 4, 2006
16,800
45
91
Originally posted by: BushLin
I think the best starting point is either plugging the headphones into another (playback) device or plugging in another set of headphones or speakers into your current device.

See where the problem follows, if it's stays with the headphones it could be the cable, if it follows the device maybe there's a balance control that's set to bias the right output.
Click to expand...

Plugged the headphones into another computer and same problem.

It's this lower sound. It's probably bass, but I don't really know. (I'm an audio noob) It's like... this really low sound that is only present in the right. It's like, you don't get that extra low kick when you take off the right... :(

EFEREFEFERERGHJAfhijnbsdjkghdsfjgiojdnbsad

$200 for speakers, here we go... >_<

Like, I don't hear the bass (I think) guitar at all in the left. Only in the right.. I don't hear the dun-dun-dun-dun..

It ain't my hears. I tested. :)

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Is the only set of headphones or speakers you have? Yep.

Can you switch the left and right side of your headphones (wear them backwards) and see what happens (rule out that you're crazy / it's your ears) Did it. Not crazy.
- Does the problem stay with your ear or with the side of the headphone? Side of the headphone. I rotated the headphones and I then heard the stuff I should on the right channel, but on the left ear.

Do you have another device that can play the same song for you? Yep. I played it on another computer.
- Does the problem occur if it's only hooked up to the computer, or does it repeat when playing the same material through an mp3 player or something Tried a different computer and same thing.

Try disconnecting and reconnecting them making sure they're securely plugged in. Did that.

Is the balance control centered on your PC? Yep

EDIT: BushLin beat me to a lot of the same suggestions :)
Click to expand...

 
YOyoYOhowsDAjello

YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Moderator<br>A/V & Home Theater<br>Elite member
Aug 6, 2001
31,204
45
91
What song are you listening to?

Is it possible that this is just how the song goes? Sometimes songs will have that bass guitar always to one side for example. Is this a "never any bass on one side" issue, or a "don't get bass on one side for particular songs" issue?

Do you have any other headphones or speakers at all?
 
YOyoYOhowsDAjello

YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Moderator<br>A/V & Home Theater<br>Elite member
Aug 6, 2001
31,204
45
91
TridenT

TridenT

Lifer
Sep 4, 2006
16,800
45
91
Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
What song are you listening to?

Is it possible that this is just how the song goes? Sometimes songs will have that bass guitar always to one side for example. Is this a "never any bass on one side" issue, or a "don't get bass on one side for particular songs" issue?

Do you have any other headphones or speakers at all?
Click to expand...

I listened to multiple songs.

It might, but I have listened to quite a few different songs. Unless all the songs just put bass in the right... :/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJOzdLwvTHA The first 10 seconds it has that stringed instrument of some kind... It is a very low sound... I don't hear parts of it in the left. Like, I hear some of it but not all of it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58CJih1iYC0 I don't even hear the bass guitar in the left on that. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...QJuKDY&feature=related 35 seconds in I barely hear the drums on the left. I don't hear the deeper sounds with the drums.

Pretty sure it is not just a particular song. I listened to multiple ones.

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Well just to be sure, here's something you can do.

You can get one of these sweeps and play it back on your headphones. You can adjust the balance on your computer to have it play on just the right or just the left and you'll be able to tell if one side of your headphones isn't playing below a certain frequency.

http://realmofexcursion.com/downloads.htm

Maybe try this one
http://realmofexcursion.com/au...0hz_to_250hz_sweep.mp3
(20 Hz to 250Hz sweep)Doing this one below.
Click to expand...

Right: 8 seconds in, I hear something on the right(very quiet, very low)... It gets louder and more noticeable by a lot around 15 seconds. 25 seconds in, very noticeable. 35 seconds, even more so. 50 seconds, pretty loud compared to beginning.

Left: I hear nothing until about 30 seconds in. 45 seconds in it's a bit noticeable, but really quiet. 1:05 I hear a humming... It's getting a lot more noticeable at 1:15, but still quiet. It gets louder and more noticeable. It's just really quiet compared to the right.

Equal levels in the system preferences.

I changed the system volume to 10%, because that's about normal for me. I listened to the right and then I listened to just the left and turned the system volume up and up and up.... I put it over 50% and the left was still quieter than the right in this test. When I was getting it louder it still didn't even sound right. It felt very off... Like it was missing parts of the sounds.
 
B

BushLin

Member
Oct 28, 2008
94
0
66
I'm afraid your headphones are knackered, the first track certainly has bass on the left channel. If you need to replace a pair of headphones I don't think you need to spend anywhere near $200 to get a good sound. In ear Sony headphones are fantastic value and Sennheiser make audiophile cans which don't cost the world.
 
TridenT

TridenT

Lifer
Sep 4, 2006
16,800
45
91
Originally posted by: BushLin
I'm afraid your headphones are knackered, the first track certainly has bass on the left channel. If you need to replace a pair of headphones I don't think you need to spend anywhere near $200 to get a good sound. In ear Sony headphones are fantastic value and Sennheiser make audiophile cans which don't cost the world.
Click to expand...

Yeah, but I don't like in ears.

I'm thinking of getting speakers, but they are so dang expensive to get decent sound. :(
 
YOyoYOhowsDAjello

YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Moderator<br>A/V & Home Theater<br>Elite member
Aug 6, 2001
31,204
45
91
Originally posted by: TridenT
Originally posted by: BushLin
I'm afraid your headphones are knackered, the first track certainly has bass on the left channel. If you need to replace a pair of headphones I don't think you need to spend anywhere near $200 to get a good sound. In ear Sony headphones are fantastic value and Sennheiser make audiophile cans which don't cost the world.
Click to expand...

Yeah, but I don't like in ears.

I'm thinking of getting speakers, but they are so dang expensive to get decent sound. :(
Click to expand...

Why not just get new headphones?
 
TridenT

TridenT

Lifer
Sep 4, 2006
16,800
45
91
Argh... Wish there was a good sale for some decent speakers going. :(

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Originally posted by: TridenT
Originally posted by: BushLin
I'm afraid your headphones are knackered, the first track certainly has bass on the left channel. If you need to replace a pair of headphones I don't think you need to spend anywhere near $200 to get a good sound. In ear Sony headphones are fantastic value and Sennheiser make audiophile cans which don't cost the world.
Click to expand...

Yeah, but I don't like in ears.

I'm thinking of getting speakers, but they are so dang expensive to get decent sound. :(
Click to expand...

Why not just get new headphones?
Click to expand...

I have been wanting speakers because I hate headphone hair.
 
YOyoYOhowsDAjello

YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Moderator<br>A/V & Home Theater<br>Elite member
Aug 6, 2001
31,204
45
91
Originally posted by: TridenT
Argh... Wish there was a good sale for some decent speakers going. :(

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Originally posted by: TridenT
Originally posted by: BushLin
I'm afraid your headphones are knackered, the first track certainly has bass on the left channel. If you need to replace a pair of headphones I don't think you need to spend anywhere near $200 to get a good sound. In ear Sony headphones are fantastic value and Sennheiser make audiophile cans which don't cost the world.
Click to expand...

Yeah, but I don't like in ears.

I'm thinking of getting speakers, but they are so dang expensive to get decent sound. :(
Click to expand...

Why not just get new headphones?
Click to expand...

I have been wanting speakers because I hate headphone hair.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I guess that could really mess up your career as a Stephen Chow impersonator.

 
TridenT

TridenT

Lifer
Sep 4, 2006
16,800
45
91
Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Originally posted by: TridenT
Argh... Wish there was a good sale for some decent speakers going. :(

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Originally posted by: TridenT
Originally posted by: BushLin
I'm afraid your headphones are knackered, the first track certainly has bass on the left channel. If you need to replace a pair of headphones I don't think you need to spend anywhere near $200 to get a good sound. In ear Sony headphones are fantastic value and Sennheiser make audiophile cans which don't cost the world.
Click to expand...

Yeah, but I don't like in ears.

I'm thinking of getting speakers, but they are so dang expensive to get decent sound. :(
Click to expand...

Why not just get new headphones?
Click to expand...

I have been wanting speakers because I hate headphone hair.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I guess that could really mess up your career as a Stephen Chow impersonator.
Click to expand...

Indeed it can.
 
B

BushLin

Member
Oct 28, 2008
94
0
66
You don't have to pay that much for a good pair of active stereo speakers, although I'm afraid I don't have a pair to recommend as the set I swear by are years old and not made any-more. If you're going to buy anything audio from a store, bring a CD and ask if you can test.
 
TridenT

TridenT

Lifer
Sep 4, 2006
16,800
45
91
What would cause the headphones to do this btw? I'm taking them apart right now and I noticed there is little crinkles in the plastic covering of the sound thinga majigger. :/ I didn't think that crimpling that plastic would be so easy and would ruin it since the plastic seems to be pretty flexible... :(

I am being careful too... :)
 
TridenT

TridenT

Lifer
Sep 4, 2006
16,800
45
91
LULZ... I fixed them! :D

Just by cleaning them... Epic, amirite?! :D I hear the bass in the left now.

SHWEEEEET!!! :D :D :D :D

Anyway.. I crimpled that plastic piece quite a bit on accident. I'm a dumb fucker. :( But hey, it sounds decent. I think the right sounds better, but you know... I got the bass now... and it actually doesn't sound that much better. ;)

Oh and I think the sound driver was loose, that's why I had no bass. :/ (When I opened the left, the thing was kinda dangling there already.. Out of the thing... No way I pulled it out with that tiny cord... That thing would have ripped off)
 
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