Have questions about your headset problems? Seek expert advice.
Have questions about your headset problems? Seek expert advice.
Issue: My headsets keep failing after just a few months. Every single one of them. First the microphone, then the right headphone piece. I’m looking for ideas on what could be causing this problem. The tower is heavy, and I really dislike taking it to the shop so often this month—almost everything except the tower itself has been replaced since August (new GPU, new motherboard, RAM, processor, SSD, etc.). Yet my headsets are still dying. The shop previously told me that my motherboard was damaging components (it’s an 8+ year old PC, it’s time to upgrade). One friend suggested something like "low voltage bleed or shorting." The problems have happened before and after the build, so I’m not blaming the shop. The main thing seems to be the PC itself, but I’m not sure what else might be involved. I’d appreciate your advice.
Well I'll note down what I remember, leaving out the budget Logitech models from Walmart (they kept breaking, so I was using cheaper options).
:: From Latest to Oldest ::
Razer Blackshark V2 X
Logitech G432 (twice; two different pairs)
Corsair – something – it’s been a while ($200 or more set)
I plug them in through the headphone/mic jacks at the back. A friend says those jacks might be causing issues and that the next pair arrives (Razer needs replacement), so they suggest trying USB instead.
Except I make sure my headsets are well taken care of (though you wouldn't be able to tell). I keep them on a stand and keep their cords up to prevent cats from tugging them around while they play. The wires stay in good shape, except for some of the cheaper ones I buy at Walmart—those are just disposable. Still, the $200 Corsairs or $60 Logitech/Razer models shouldn't suddenly fail after a few months.
I wish I understood how long the motherboard problems lasted (they seemed to be gradually damaging parts) and whether that was connected to the USB issues too. An old Logitech set I used had been through USB ports but kept working fine, so it might not have been the cause. On the other hand, my mouse and keyboard with USB slots in front of my PC haven't had any issues, which could mean the problem wasn't there either. Overall, it's just really confusing.
I haven't done it, and I don't react with shock when I plug them in. The case remains stable, and all parts should be properly grounded; though until recently everything was assembled by me manually using PCPartPicker since 2013. As before, the motherboard was damaged, consuming components, and has now been replaced by a different electronics shop (though I'm not sure if that's accurate—just wanted to clarify for more details). Also, I've upgraded the GPU, processor, memory, and SSD (main drive), but not the second HDD which held my backup data. Mostly everything except the air cooler and the second HDD was replaced.
I still think the first part is incorrect and it feels a bit accusatory here >_>. To be honest, I really take good care of my headsets—physically, they're not torn, pulled, bent, or mishandled. That's why I'm puzzled about their durability for me.