NWS7xx Earphones Rubber Surrounding

[firbird]

Those of you that have the NWS7xx series... you'll know what I'm talking about! The thin rubbery coating surrounding the large circular part of the earphone which goes in your ear is beginning to come off on my earphones. For some reason it started tearing and now it keeps coming off. its pretty rubbish cuz that's part of what forms the 'self' around ur ear to keep noise out

any idea where i can get a replacement rubber bit or if i contact sony, whether they can provide replacements?

thanks!

[aob9]

You can find them on Ebay although I can't comment on the quality.

[Yoni45]

If it's the rubber removable earpieces you're talking about, you can probably walk into a sony store and they'll give 'em to you (I did it more than once with my old headphones that used similar earpieces...)

[jonny mac]

I've read quite a few reports of this (mostly on this board probably). I think while they're under warranty they should be provided free by Sony. After that I imagine they can be had for a pretty low price from any Sony spares dealer.

[kerfuffle]

Low price? Not in Australia. " They want AUD$10 a bud, plus postage and handling.

Ended up getting my spare buds from a Sony Style store in America, when my cousin went in December. Cost about AUD$11 (or USD$8), and you get six buds, two per size - small, medium and large.

[markey]

Yeah, I know what your talking about. It's not the rubber part that goes in to your ears, it's the small rubber ring on the largest part of the bud. Should be able to get them under warranty although I don't think they do much for noise insulation. My ones are starting to split to, and they never stay on. You have to push them back on everytime you use them.

[firbird]

Yeah, I know what your talking about. It's not the rubber part that goes in to your ears, it's the small rubber ring on the largest part of the bud. Should be able to get them under warranty although I don't think they do much for noise insulation. My ones are starting to split to, and they never stay on. You have to push them back on everytime you use them.

THANK you!!! I didn't think my description was very clear and I'm without a camera at the moment so I couldn't take a picture. I sort of see what you mean about noise insulation but I find if I don't push them back on before use, the earbuds feel a little looser in my ear... maybe it's just my imagination.

Any way, I'll drop Sony an email with pictures to show what I mean and let you guys know how it goes!

In the meanwhile if anyone else has any comments.......

Thanks!

[Bueller]

If you are UK based then pop into your local Sony Centre and buy the pack of 6 (2 small, 2 medium, 2 large) for a few quid!

Otherwise as said above, see if Sony will replace on warrenty?

Bueller

[firbird]

If you are UK based then pop into your local Sony Centre and buy the pack of 6 (2 small, 2 medium, 2 large) for a few quid!

Sorry, its not the buds I want.... They're available on eBay for £4.50 although I am in the UK

This may sort of help explaining what the problem is.... The red highlighted bit is the rubbery bit which is falling apart and keeps coming off (although the pic isn't of the headphones that came with the NWS706)

Edited March 15, 2007 by firbird

[Shinji Ikeda]

This may sort of help explaining what the problem is.... The red highlighted bit is the rubbery bit which is falling apart and keeps coming off.

I have the same problem. The most likely reason for this is that the rubber has become stretched. It is annoying, but there is a possibility that there is no replacement for it. If you had purchased an extended warranty from Sony, or authorized dealer they would replace the headphones for free. Sony is very good at replacing goods, if you have a problem on the extended warranty plan.

[Guest Stuge]

For some reason it started tearing and now it keeps coming off. its pretty rubbish cuz that's part of what forms the 'self' around ur ear to keep noise out

One of the Rubber Surrounding of my NC022 is also tearing .So I'm not the only one.I have used the quick fix glue so that it stays there permanently(.sp?)

[Bueller]

How do you manager to stretch this piece, its a bit big to place anywhere tightly in your ear - as it sits against your ear to give bass. if its wear and tear then they may not replace, I will try and look into this, are you UK based?

[firbird]

Yes I'm in the UK (around Leeds so near a Sony Center, will pop in if I get the chance soon)

Reading this thread, I'm obviously not the only one, which in a way is a shame, the headphones form such an important part of the player that I can't even just say 'oh well', and get a new pair. The rubber bit hasn't been stretched as Shinji Ikeda described, because that's pretty much impossible unless it is removed, which I certainly haven't. After only a few weeks use, it's sort of disintegrated so some tears have formed around the edges, and like I said, only a few weeks use so its hardly wear & tear.... Not so happy with Sony anymore

[carmelo]

(I pulled the rubber down to show the point)

Ah well...... its the only thing that's gone wrong with it. So far.

[SimonGrafftey]

I have had exactly this problem and the rubber ring on one earbud has completely ripped and come off. I think it is because it rubs against the outer ear when inserted and simply wears away. The rubber is pretty thin and won't stand up to much. I don't think it has any effect on the quality of the sound or the noise cancelling though. It more for design, keeping dirt out and perhaps for comfort.

[Guest Stuge]

I don't think it has any effect on the quality of the sound or the noise cancelling though. It more for design, keeping dirt out and perhaps for comfort.

Simon :After I removed the rubber I found that NC was not working properly .It may be because of the shape of my ear that needs extra rubber attached in the earphone for insulation.

[firbird]

completely agree Stuge... first of all I'd only had the walkman for little more than 2 weeks when i first noticed it becoming looser and breaking away... so hardly wear and tear

and i've found the that the large earbuds are a little too larger and the medium ones a little too small but with the medium buds and the rubber surrounding together, the earphones fit quite nicely. without, the medium buds are loose in my ear

still not had a chance to go to leeds sony centre, if anyone does, please update us as to what they offer. i will as soon as i get the chance

[walkman_junky]

yeah i know what u meant. I had exactly the same problem. I think mine is even worse, cuz both side were completely torn. and i no longer have that rubber thing around the housing.

It deosn't really affect the noice blocking. but it does hurt ur ears a bit without them. What a stupid design from Sony, i can't believe it!oh but mine is 6 months old already.

i don't think sony wil replace this, as it doesn't really affect the functionality of the phones at all

[Andrew Soebali]

OMG! I just red this thread and i am shocked! I just have the same experience. The left ear piece is the first who torn out. It creates imbalance look between the two. In the end I decided to torn apart the rubber part on the right ear too. I could not detect any sound quality difference with or without the rubber band.

[Old skool D]

Reading this thread was one reason I choose the NW-A806 over the s700 series!

[markey]

The rubber surround on one side went today. I just tore the other one off and you would hardly notice the difference. No difference in sound quality or comfort. Personally I wouldn't worry too much regarding this.

[Guest Stuge]

The rubber surround on one side went today. I just tore the other one off and you would hardly notice the difference. No difference in sound quality or comfort. Personally I wouldn't worry too much regarding this.

You can use the rubber of E931 .If you want

[markey]

You can use the rubber of E931 .If you want

I wouldn't have thought they would fit to be honest?

[Guest Stuge]

I wouldn't have thought they would fit to be honest?

Yes ,Rubber of E931 fits nicely .

Diameter of NC022 and E931 is almost same .

[jonny mac]

I intend to keep the NC22s for when the NC is really needed. I'm not impressed with their SQ anyway so will reserve their use for the plane or metro.

[markey]

I intend to keep the NC22s for when the NC is really needed. I'm not impressed with their SQ anyway so will reserve their use for the plane or metro.

Congratulations on the S705, I remember you pm'd me some time back regarding this. What earphones do you intend using with this player? I thought the NC022's sounded ok.

[firbird]

never really got round to gogin to the sony centre to bring this up but, last week, all sound from the left earbud went

it would work without the extension wire so i'm assuming a fault in the extension wire was the cause but the wire is *tiny* so i went to the sony centre and they just said we're a private company and so can;t do anything and ring the retailer. rang the retailer who said ring sony. rang sony who said ring the retailer. after a half hour argument with play.com, i managed to score an exchange

though i have to say, all the hassle is worth it for the noise cancelling and sound quality!!

[Shinigami]

This was the only disappointment I had with these buds.

I actually have two NW-S706F's (set up with different music in each) and when I used to use the included buds, the ring on one of the buds went after about a week. I looked for a replacement at a Yodobashi in Shinjuku, but none were available.

The ring helps with a trivial amount of noise blocking, and also helped keep the buds in the correct position in the ear.

Now I exclusively use Shure SE530 IEM's which have superior noise isolation, and much better SQ than any buds. But as a package and for the price (areound $220 USD at the time I bought them) the 706 with the included phones is hard to beat.

The Shures alone are nearly $500.00 USD.