What Causes Muffled or Distorted Sounds in Headphones?
Sound distortions in headphones are more common than you might think and can appear in many different forms. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why does my bluetooth headphones sound muffled or distorted.
Damaged wires
The wires inside the rubber housing are considered to be one of the weakest parts of your headphones. They are also one of the most crucial parts since they’re responsible for carrying the electrical signal from the source to your headphones’ speakers.
Over time, these wires can easily become damaged from cable pulling, unnecessary tension, and improper management. Damaged wires can either be seen (through frayed wires) or not (through internal damage). However, both types of damage can cause changes to the performance of your headphones.
Overpowered and blown speakers
The speakers inside your headphones house a voice coil. However, this voice coil in your headphones can only handle a certain level of power. Listening to your headphones at maximum volume for extended periods of time can gradually weaken them, causing the speakers to blow out.
If you’re worried that your speakers have blown, you can test them using a multimeter. Do this by turning off the speakers and connecting the multimeter to the headphone speaker terminal. Speakers in good condition will read an impedance of one, while blown speakers will read an infinite impedance.
Wired or wireless connection issues
For wired headphones, muffled audio can be caused by a loose connection to the audio source. If the plug of your headphones isn’t properly plugged into the audio port, sound quality will be inconsistent.
Bluetooth headphones, it can be caused by mismatched codecs.
Codecs are responsible for compressing and decompressing the audio into a format that can be transmitted through your headphones.
There are different kinds of Bluetooth codecs, and each has its own pros and cons. But for some audio devices, codec selection is limited.
If the audio device doesn’t have the same codec used by the headphones, it can result in switching to a lower-level codec, which can impact audio quality. Performance may be unpredictable due to the difference in codecs being used.
For example, Mac devices prefer to use the AAC codec. If a wireless device doesn’t support this codec, it’ll automatically switch to SBC — the oldest and most unreliable codec.
Outside of codec use, it could also just be the result of low battery levels. When your headphones have low battery levels, they won’t have enough power to perform consistently at a tip-top level. This affects how reliable the wireless connection is and even the sound quality.
Moisture damage
As with most electronics, headphones and water do not work well together. Moisture, when it comes into contact with the electrical components of your headphones, can cause irreversible damage.
Moisture can be in the form of a liquid or any excessive moisture in the air.
Headphones can actually be water-resistant, and this feature is becoming increasingly popular in consumer electronics. However, those that are come with an IP rating. This rating determines how susceptible the device is to foreign bodies like dust, dirt, and moisture.
Although the headphones may be marketed as water-resistant, it’s a good idea to check how much water the headphones can actually resist through the IP rating. Going beyond that limit can destroy your headphones.
When shopping for a pair of headphones, always check the IP rating to know exactly how much protection is offered.
Accumulated debris
Foreign bodies, like dust, earwax, and lint, can actually cause a build-up within the headphones. Because of this, it’s recommended to clean your headphones every so often to ensure there is no physical build-up of solid materials.
Dirt is built up inside the connection point, and the headphones’ speakers can easily be cleared away using compressed air or a gentle rub around the compartment with a dry cotton swab.
Your headphones’ ability to keep physical obstructions out is also based on their IP rating. Headphones with a high IP rating will have a more secure and air-tight construction compared to those with a low IP rating.
Audio source issues
If the above issues aren’t what’s causing the distortion, it’s possible that the issue sits with the audio source instead of the headphones.
To be sure, test your headphones with other audio sources like a laptop or smartphone to see if the results are consistent.
What to Do When Your Headphones Sound Muffled: Headphone Issues
Now that you’ve found the cause of the problem, you’re ready to start implementing a solution.
The below solutions are relevant to the problem, so not all solutions are guaranteed to fix all problems.
For dirty headphones and audio port
Keeping your headphone jack clean is important in ensuring the connection between your headphones and audio device is clear. All you need is a paper clip and some sticky tape.
- Unfold the paper clip so that it’s straight.
- Wrap the sticky tape around the end of the straightened paper clip. Make sure that the tape is secure so that it doesn’t come off.
- Gently insert the paperclip into the jack and remove any debris.
For poor wired connection
If the connection is still unstable after the headphone jack has been cleaned, it could be caused by corrosion. To clean away corrosion inside the jack, you will need an interdental toothbrush and some 70% isopropyl alcohol.
Dip the brush in the 70% isopropyl alcohol until it’s moist but not soaking wet.
With your device off, insert the brush into the headphone jack. Move the brush up, down, and in circles to ensure you reach everywhere.
Leave the device to sit for at least an hour to fully dry.
For more advanced steps, take a look at our article on how to fix a loose headphone jack.
For poor wireless connection
Unfortunately, if your sound issues are caused by codec incompatibility, there is no way to bypass them. However, you can try resetting your headphones first to see if that helps with fixing the issue.
To reset your headphones, you generally just need to hold down the power button until the light indicator on your headphones starts to flash.
For instructions on resetting your headphones based on the brand, check out our article on resetting Bluetooth headphones.
For damaged wires
You can repair damaged/fraying wires using Sugru Mouldable Glue. It’s an adhesive putty made from silicone rubber that can be used for electrical repairs and much more. Because it’s moldable, flexible, durable, and waterproof, it serves as a simple but effective fix for repairing headphone cables.
To repair frayed headphone wires, follow the steps below:
- Start by cleaning the wire with isopropyl alcohol to remove any dust, dirt, oil, and debris. Lightly dampen a clean cloth, and wipe the area clean. Leave it to dry.
- Sugru Mouldable Glue has a putty-like texture. Roll the material in your fingers to soften, then mold it around the wire using your fingers. Once in place, it will set in 30 minutes or less. At this time, you have the option to adjust if needed.
- Once in place, leave it at room temperature for at least 24 hours for it to set permanently.
For other ways to fix your headphone wires, check out our article on how to fix headphone wires.
For blown speakers
If your headphone’s speakers are blown, the only option to fix them is to replace them with new ones.
Speaker replacement can be more difficult based on the type of headphones you have. If unsure, consult with an expert before attempting to implement a fix.
- Firstly, if applicable, remove any wires or batteries from your headphones. Then, remove the ear pad on one side of the headphones.
- Remove the screws that hold the speaker in place. And remove the broken speakers.
- Using a soldering iron, disconnect the wires from the broken speaker.
- Install the new speaker and reconnect the appropriate wires using the soldering iron.
- Once everything is back in place, repeat the above steps for the other speaker. Then, test the headphones to make sure everything works as expected.
For moisture damage
Moisture damage can easily cause a wide range of problems to the electronics inside your headphones. Luckily, there is something you can try and save them. To do this, you will need 91% isopropyl alcohol and some silica gel.
Lightly dampen a cloth with the 91% isopropyl alcohol and apply it to the areas that came into contact with water to remove any foreign objects.
Place the headphones in an air-tight container with silica gel for 12 hours or more to allow them to dry.
When the headphones are dry, remove them and perform an audio test.
How to Fix Muffled Headphones Sound When Connected to Windows PC
The solutions below are for when headphones sound muffled on PC that are running Windows.
Review the computer’s audio enhancement settings
Windows, by default, allows you to adjust the sound of your computer using audio enhancements. This is often a valuable feature, but these audio enhancements can alter various traits of your computer’s audio. It can sometimes do more harm than good.
Audio enhancements, like surround sound and equalizers, can cause distortions because they alter how loud the audio is and the intensity of the frequencies. Because of this, they may not work the same with all platforms and headphone speakers.
Follow these steps to disable any unwanted audio enhancements:
- Right-click the Speaker icon in your taskbar and select “Open Sound Settings.”
- Click on “Device properties.”
- Click on the “Enhancements” tab, then “Disable all sound effects.”
Check if there’s any issue with the audio driver.
If the audio drivers on your computer are out-of-date, you may be missing out on important compatibility patches and bug fixes. Use Windows Update to check for any updates needed.
- Right-click on the Start button and click “Settings.”
- Click on “Update & Security.”
- Click on “Check for updates.” Windows will check for any pending updates that need to be downloaded and installed on your computer.
Set the audio to 24-bit format
In some instances, changing the Default Format in which Windows processes audio can resolve bluetooth headphones sound bad on pc issues.
Switching to the 24-bit format allows for more processing room when delivering audio and is better suited for handling modern audio formats.
- Right-click the Speaker icon in your taskbar, and select “Open Sound settings.”
- Click on “Device properties.”
- Click on “Additional device properties.”
- In the new window, go to the “Advanced” tab, and make sure 24-bit is selected in the drop-down.
Run the troubleshooter
If the above-mentioned steps don’t work, you can leave the problem detection to Windows itself.
Here’s how to access that:
- Right-click on the Start button and click “Settings.”
- Click on “Update & Security.”
- In the left panel, click on “Troubleshoot.”
- Click “Playing Audio,” then “Run the troubleshooter,” and follow the prompts.
How to Fix Muffled Bluetooth Headphones Sound When Connected to Mac
Similar to Windows, you may find that your headphones work fine on all devices aside from Mac computers. In this case, check out these tips:
Make sure you’re connected properly
If you’re using Bluetooth headphones, make sure they’re connected properly to your Mac.
Put your headphones into Bluetooth pairing mode. Some headphones have a dedicated Bluetooth pairing button, but for those that don’t, try holding down the power button until the light indicator on your headphones starts to flash.
- On your Mac, go to the Apple menu and select “System Preferences.”
- Click on Bluetooth, then if it’s disabled, click to enable it.
When enabled in Bluetooth, you will see your headphones appear in the “Device” section. Click on Pair. Your devices will then pair with each other.
Check and stop any apps that may be using your microphone
Mac, by default, tries to use the AAC audio codec with connected audio devices. In some instances, Bluetooth devices will revert to using the SCO or SBC codecs, which are both lesser in quality compared to that AAC. This generally happens when the Mac assumes the built-in mic of your headphones is being used.
To prevent your Mac from doing this, you can stop apps that are making use of the microphone. To do this, follow the below steps:
- Go to the Apple menu, and select “System Preferences.“
- Click on “Security & Privacy.”
Review the apps that have microphone access, and close them.
Read also:
- Why Does One Side Of My Headphones Not Work
- Why Are My Bluetooth Headphones Crackling
Try using Tooth Fairy.
Tooth Fairy is an app that helps you switch between Apple devices with your headphones. It also has a feature that forces your Mac to use the preferred codec, AAC, over either of the two codecs it might fall back to.
Open Tooth Fairy and select your audio device.
Click on “Advanced…”
Ensure that “Improve sound quality by disabling audio input from device” is enabled.
Why Are Headphones So Hard to Fix (and So Breakable?!)
Headphones are made to expire. They’re the victim of a practice called “planned obsolescence,” “built-in obsolescence,” or “premature obsolescence.”
Planned obsolescence is a policy of designing a product with a limited life of usefulness or intentional frailty that causes it to expire after a predetermined amount of time. Planned obsolescence is a way to generate long-term sales volume by “shortening the replacement cycle.”
Since headphones are one of the many products intended to expire after a time and be replaced, they’re not made with repairability in mind, even a little bit. Design choices on headphones are rarely made to aid repairability until you go over the $100 price point.
Planned obsolescence doesn’t just include causing intentional “breakage.” It also consists of a planned design intended to go out of style to prompt users to buy new gear to stay with the “in” crowd. This is one of the many less-than-kosher tactics industrial designers use to keep you spending money on their companies. There is no money for repairs; the money is in replacements.
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FAQs
Why Are My Bluetooth Headphones Sounding Fuzzy?
Having Bluetooth technology will make your wireless headphones a seven-in-one device, eliminating the need to reset them. You can reset the settings, however, if this is why the stutter is occurring. Clear the cache on an Android phone if you do so.
How Do I Make My Bluetooth Headphones Sound Better On My iPhone?
Then select Audio/Visual > Headphone Accommodations from the Settings menu. Your mobile accommodations will be set when you turn on Headphone Accommodations. You can choose to apply your custom audio settings in the following ways: Turn on Phone so that these settings can be applied to phone calls, FaceTime calls, and a variety of third-party video calls.
How Can I Improve Bluetooth Sound Quality?
Then scroll down until you reach the Bluetooth audio codec for Settings under Developer options. Select one of two codecs. The selected option used by your headphones will improve the sound quality if the codec is chosen.
Why Is The Sound Quality On My Bluetooth Headphones Bad?
In light of this, Sennheiser states that there isn’t enough bandwidth being provided by Bluetooth devices. The headphones are simply used as audio input devices. They must be using Bluetooth a2dp technology and have an optimized AptX driver.
How Do I Fix Bluetooth Distorted Sound?
Using a bass boost or equalizer function will force the connected device to be turned off if the volume of the connected device is not adjusted. Avoid using Bluetooth speakers with microwave ovens, TVs, LANs, or other wireless devices that may interfere with their performance.
How Do I Make My Bluetooth Headphones Clearer?
Music streaming apps often offer an EQ option if you prefer to only adjust the sound of the music you’re listening to. Most wireless headphones these days contain an app that allows the speaker to be hidden. There are various equalizers available that can give you an ideal sound.
Conclusion
The reason your Bluetooth headphones sound muffled is most likely due to the fact that they are not properly paired with your device. Make sure you follow the instructions in the manual that came with your headphones, and if you still can’t get them to work, try restarting your phone or tablet. Once you’ve done that, you should be able to enjoy clear, high-quality sound from your Bluetooth headphones.