In-Earphones Shocking Me?

WuMyster · 27 Dec 2014 at 17:32

I swear I'm not going crazy. I got RHA MA750i's about a month ago and all is well. Apart from the fact that recently, I thought they were giving off a static noise; until I actually stopped in place and tried to listen to it.
I realised I'm genuinely getting shocked. Like a static shock.
Is this possible and is there any fix? Or should I look at returning them.

Thanks

Marsman · 27 Dec 2014 at 17:45

They could be faulty. Certainly not normal for that to happen. Could also possibly be electrostatic discharge through the earphones. How common that is though I don't know. I did read about someone describing this using earphones with their iPhone.

I'd return them. Either get replacements or a different brand/make. If they do the same, then something else is going on.

WuMyster · 27 Dec 2014 at 17:54

Marsman said:
They could be faulty. Certainly not normal for that to happen. Could also possibly be electrostatic discharge through the earphones. How common that is though I don't know. I did read about someone describing this using earphones with their iPhone.

I'd return them. Either get replacements or a different brand/make. If they do the same, then something else is going on.

Yeah, I'm currently using them with my iPhone 6. I'll pop an email to their RMA.

SexyGreyFox · 27 Dec 2014 at 18:06

I've had this happen to me with a cheap pair of headphones, it was like someone stabbing me with a pin before I realised what was going on.

WuMyster · 27 Dec 2014 at 18:08

The pain is no where near as bad as that i guess. Just small shocks where I won't notice theyre actually shocks unless i stand there and try and take hold of whats going on.
Always thought they were just letting off static noises.

Ninja Pirate · 27 Dec 2014 at 18:19

Hmm, that's an interesting problem.

I doubt the issue is with a defective driver/connection making contact with the metal shell since the amount of voltage present in the signal path is minuscule.

It is more likely to be an electrostatic discharge as Marsman said.

Apple released an article on the topic: http://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT203298

There is also a passage here: http://www.inearmatters.net/2008/11/basic-guide-to-in-ear-canalphones.html

Static Electricity Discharge through IEM

It is possible to experience a static electricity discharge though IEM.

In a cold climate with low humidity, it is easy to build up a static charge on one's body. The cable that carries the audio signal from the headphone jack to the IEM has metallic wire inside. This wire is also a path to ground through which the static charge can travel. Though one's ears are touching the plastic parts of the IEM, there is metallic wire inside. A static charge often has a high enough voltage to leap from one's ear to the metal inside of the IEM, discharging the static electricity via the cable and into the device playing the audio signal, e.g., CD player or MP3 player. The amount of electrical current in such a static discharge is not harmful, though the discharge itself can startle.

It is important to note that such static discharges are "acts of nature" and do not indicate that one's IEM are defective. Nor will the static discharge cause harm to the IEM.

I myself have never had any issues with static discharge when using the 750's (I only owned them for a couple months before selling though). It could be worth doing an RMA just in case.