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The effects of dust to headphones

Headphones are a necessary accessory especially to people who are fond of playing video games, music, and movies. Headphones are also widely used in a variety of businesses and services all over the world.

With this type of accessory, you can enjoy the sounds of what you are watching or playing without bothering the person beside you or the person who you are with. However, the fact that you use it almost every day doesn’t save you from damaging them.

There are a lot of factors that could affect the health of your headphones and one is dust. Because dust is everywhere around you, you must know what are the effects of this dirt to your headphones.

How does dust affect your headphones?

Dust affects headphones in many ways. Dust is usually a tiny molecule that can insert even in the smallest corners of your headphones. In general, it impairs your headphone because it closes the tiny holes or the tiny slits inside your accessory.

And since dust usually stays in your headphones when you don’t clean it, dust increase as you expose your accessory outside. This is one of the major reasons why it is important for you to clean your headphones every day if you want it to work properly for a long period of time.

Does dust affect the quality of sound of your headphones?

Definitely. The quality of your sound becomes poor when your headphones are filled with dust. So to answer this ultimate question for headphones users, dust affects not only the important parts of your headphones but as well as the quality of its sounds.

In the next part of this article, the effects of dust in your accessory will be discussed so to help you gain a deep understanding of how dust can have a great impact on your everyday life.

The effects of dust on the quality of sound of your headphones

First and foremost, dust makes the quality of the sounds poor because it hinders the holes where the sounds come out. It’s easy to imagine this scenario.

When the headphones are new, you can note that the quality of sound is at the maximum quality but when the dust gets to the diaphragm and around it, the sounds are trapped inside. Dust works like a filter in this instance. The thicker the dust in the diaphragm, the poorer the quality of the sound is.

Well, we can also take into consideration the quality of your headphones. Everyone knows that the more expensive the brand is, the more it can create a high quality of sounds. What more if the quality of the headphone itself is low and the dust gets into it? It is a total mess.

Remember as well that dust doesn’t just get trapped in the diaphragm area. It also inserts in the deeper part of your headphones–to the wires, to the magnets, etc. If not taken seriously, the dust will totally damage your accessory and there is no other way to fix it but to spend money on a new one.

The effects of dust on the functions of the components of headphones

As stated above, the first thing that dust impairs is the diaphragm of your headphones. The diaphragm creates the sounds of your accessory that when it is large, the quality of sound is better. When dust gets into this component, the quality of sounds becomes poor until you can’t hear anything from it anymore.

 Next, there are magnets inside your headphones and these are known to attract dust. Once the dust gets into your headphone, specifically to the magnet, it becomes harder to clean it.


After this, the magnet in your headphones will continue to attract dust from time to time until it is fully loaded with dirt. In return, it affects all other components that are attached to the magnet such as the coils, the wires, and the cone.

Then there is the front case of your headphones with holes. Once dust gets into those holes, there is no way the front cover can let the sound come out to your ear. There are also other small and fragile components behind the front cover of your headphones.

The dust will impede these tiny things to do their work just like how it covers the diaphragm.

Some tips on how to avoid these effects

The effects stated above can be avoided in many different ways. If you don’t want dust to get into your headphones, do not use it outside your home. Put it in a proper covered place after using it. In this way, you know that you are not just leaving it in an open space.

Also, buy a small brush for the front cover of your headphones. If you can brush out the dust and ear wax every day, do it without hesitation. Regular cleaning should be a part of how you take care of your headphones. Last but not least, try to learn how to properly open your headphones.

This is for cleaning your headphones from the inside. Brushing out the dust in the cover of your headphones doesn’t guarantee that it is safe from dust, that’s why it is vital to check each component. If you can’t open your headphones or you are afraid to do so, hire a professional cleaner to do the cleaning for you.

How important it is to clean your headphones

This is a crucial part. Clean your headphones as regular as you can to prevent more dust from getting insider your headphones. Damaging the front cover is enough, don’t let these dirt particles get into the diaphragm and magnets if you don’t want to buy a new accessory.

 Cleaning your headphones is part of your hygiene as well. It’s not only the dust that inserts into the components of your headphones but as well as the dirt that comes out from your ear. Cleaning your headphones will make a better quality of sound for you.

If you want to buy a pair of safe and comfortable headphones, then below is our list of recommendations based on quality, price and users’ feedback

For more information about noise cancelling headphones and headphones in general you might want to have a look at our list of e-books below

  1. Your health and headphones
  2. The In and out of anti-noise headphones
  3. Evolution of headphones technology

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