In-ear earphones shocking my ears!

[Ozboblogolgoro]

I just upgraded to the Klipsch S4i set and anytime I move even slightly I get a shock in my ear and hear a popping sound. I'm using them on my PC. I don't get this issue with my Skullcandy set but I did have the shock issue with another pair I use to use. The S4i that I have has an issue where I have to finagle the input to get them to connect. Could that be causing the issue? Is there a way I can "ground" the earphones coming out of my PC somehow so there is no static? I'm not sure what to do here. Thanks guys!

edit: I wanted to add that I'm not wearing wool or scarf or anything and I am on a hardwood floor.

 

[Ozboblogolgoro]

Update: I just plugged the S4i set into my Zune and both problems were not present. No shocks. And I didn't have any connection issue where the input didn't make contact and I had to finagle it.

When I plug them into the front jack on my PC I get the shocks and the connection problems. When I use a 3.5mm headphone extension cable I have the same connection issue when plugging into that. Thing is, using my Skullcandy set I have no issues like this. When I use my Audio Technica AD700s I have no issue. I did have this same issue with an old generic set I use to use. So, why this problem with some sets but not others? I love the S4i sound and want to keep them but this sucks. D:

 

[f4phantom2500]

it's because of static electricity. this happens sometimes with earbuds and IEMs.

http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/477218/is-it-bad-if-my-buds-literally-shock-me

scroll down to the 5th post. i live in texas, and this happens to me occasionally in the winter months (with my ipod, not just at a computer). during the warm months i'm good though.

i assume your computer is more prone to cause this problem than your zune because it's a computer and thus has a lot more electricity flowing through it than a zune...but this can happen with your zune, it's just that you probably haven't been moving about enough while wearing it to notice the problem. if you go around your house in socks rubbing your feet all over the carpet then touch a doorknob you'll probably get shocked by the headphones; when i was at work about a month ago i went to pick up a bucket with a wire handle, and in addition to the shock i felt in my ear, i saw a visible spark going from my finger to the wire.

afaik there's not really anything you can do about it, other than get different headphones...and i personally wouldn't recommend going back to the skullcandies, especially after those klipsch.

 

[Ozboblogolgoro]

it's because of static electricity. this happens sometimes with earbuds and IEMs.

http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/477218/is-it-bad-if-my-buds-literally-shock-me

scroll down to the 5th post. i live in texas, and this happens to me occasionally in the winter months (with my ipod, not just at a computer). during the warm months i'm good though.

i assume your computer is more prone to cause this problem than your zune because it's a computer and thus has a lot more electricity flowing through it than a zune...but this can happen with your zune, it's just that you probably haven't been moving about enough while wearing it to notice the problem. if you go around your house in socks rubbing your feet all over the carpet then touch a doorknob you'll probably get shocked by the headphones; when i was at work about a month ago i went to pick up a bucket with a wire handle, and in addition to the shock i felt in my ear, i saw a visible spark going from my finger to the wire.

afaik there's not really anything you can do about it, other than get different headphones...and i personally wouldn't recommend going back to the skullcandies, especially after those klipsch.

I already plugged the s4is into my zune and scraped my socked feet across the carpet like crazy and got no problems. With them plugged into my PC I will barely move (on hardwood floor) and I get shocked like crazy. Even barefoot!

 

[Ozboblogolgoro]

Could it be the front audio port? If it wasn't hooked up correctly, why would so many other sets work perfectly? I hurt my back recently but I'll try to investigate that issue when I can.

When I plug the S4i into the PC the sound is extremely low and muffled and then I have to pull it out slightly at just the right point to get the sound to correct. However, when I plug them into my Zune they connect flawlessly with absolutely no issue with the shocks or connection

 

[f4phantom2500]

Could it be the front audio port? If it wasn't hooked up correctly, why would so many other sets work perfectly? I hurt my back recently but I'll try to investigate that issue when I can.

When I plug the S4i into the PC the sound is extremely low and muffled and then I have to pull it out slightly at just the right point to get the sound to correct. However, when I plug them into my Zune they connect flawlessly with absolutely no issue with the shocks or connection

it could be that the port allows just enough static buildup for those headphones to shock you, but the other headphones you use aren't quite as prone to it. the zune is probably just less apt to do it than the computer. it's no guarantee that it will or will not happen, it's just circumstantial, depending on the source, the headphones, and the environment. your computer, along with the s4i, are apparently just the right mixture to shock you.

curious, do the klipsch require a lower volume setting to get the same loudness as the other headphones? this would indicate that they're more sensitive and this may make them more likely to shock you.

 

[jiggahertz]

I would get this from the port on the gym treadmills with various pairs of cheap earbuds but not with any other devices. I assumed the electronics on the treadmill weren't grounded properly.

 

[fosiacat]

it has nothing to do with static.

if you are sitting down, try sitting up really quick with them in, they will shock you. i believe it has to do with 1.) the amount of power draw from the headphone jack (this in my macbook pro. does not happen with ipod, iphone, etc.) i believe possibly blood pressure increase? no idea. but i know it has nothing to do with static. i am currently tethered to an anti-static mat, happens with or without, happens during all climates.

also S4i are what im using... but it happens with other headphones i've owned as well, including my Shures, and the cheap apple POS.

 

[uwnav]

holy smokes. this is EXACTLY what's happening to me. I have a standing desk, and sometimes I'll jump around. I'm also using Klipsch S4i's into a Macbook Pro, and it friggin feels like a spart in my ear. I'm relatively sure it's static

UPDATE: I was wearing shoes on one of those plastic matts (for rolling chairs), and I've been feeling shocks. I took off my shoes and switched to the gel pad standing mats, and did some jumping around, no shocks as of yet!

 

[Muse]

I would get this from the port on the gym treadmills with various pairs of cheap earbuds but not with any other devices. I assumed the electronics on the treadmill weren't grounded properly.

I've been using exclusively Etymotics earbuds without issue for over ten years. They are pricey but IMO worth every penny. I used to have to get out my solder gun and fix discontinuity issues with my headphones on a virtual regular basis with all my portable device headphones but never once since I went to Etymotics. I have 2x ER4S and one ER4P. Excellent sound, never a shock. Only issue is the filters get clogged with earwax after a time and you have to swap them for clean ones. Recently I cleaned my dirty ones by soaking them in hydrogen peroxide, so I guess I won't run out of replacment filters.

Oh, I did have one discontinuity issue, but it was in warranty and got a free replacement.

These are so comfortable I never use my studio headphones anymore and to me the sound is comparable.