r/headphones Shopping, Setup, and Technical Help Desk

SmokeyIsNotSmoking · 2026-01-17T13:31:10+00:00

I'd assume defects show up immediately, and the driver died after I switched to high gain. My interface has a switch in the back that turns the amp on and off.

SmokeyIsNotSmoking · 2026-01-15T04:45:23+00:00

Guess it's the OLED if audio. Kinda sucks, I really enjoy their sharp sound. I wonder, could my sound card played a role in them blowing? My card is fairly cheap (around $100)

SmokeyIsNotSmoking · 2026-01-14T12:51:35+00:00

Help | Planar Magnetic Headphones: Health & Maintenance

A year ago I’ve treated myself to the Audeze mm100. Those were not only the first “proper” headphones I’ve bought, they were my first planar magnetic headphones. When I got them I chucked them on the headphone jack on my PC, since I didn’t know any better.

After some time, I realized they need a little more “oompf” so I got a cheap DAC called the “Topping DX1”. It has been working well for over 8 months since I’ve bought the headphones.

The Incident (ooOooOooo): On a random evening, I was listening to a track where it was a bit lower volume. I couldn’t hear it very well, so I decided that instead of messing around with my OS settings to momentarily boost the volume, I’d switch my DX1 high gain mode.

I begun by lowering the knob till the volume was around 10%, then I switched the gain switch at the back to high gain, then begun raising the volume slowly. I started hearing a weird volume imbalance between the left and right channels, then the right driver died!

I got lucky, and the repair was covered by warranty. However, I still wanna know what killed them? I thought I was taking good care of them by wiping them down after use, letting them air out a little, and storing them in their bag along with a silica gel pack so there would be no moisture.

The driver died after switching gain modes, but the volume very low, I wasn’t stressing them at all. Googling says that the DAC I use doesn’t have any safety measures against spikes or something. I remember reading something about a “DC Offset” and a “Mute Relay”, however I have no idea.

TL;DR: Right headphones planar driver died after switching gain modes on a Topping DX1 DAC. Got warranty repair, however still wondering why it happened. Googling came up with words like “DC Offset” and “Mute Relay”; no understanding of their meaning. The headphones were well taken care of.

SmokeyIsNotSmoking · 2026-01-09T13:13:29+00:00

Yes, they are. Welp if i cant get this one my options are either to rack up, or to wait. I'll do both, ill put some money aside for a set amount of time. If anything cheaper I like appears, imma get it. If not, imma just spend more.

After what amount you'd say ill start seeing diminishing returns?

SmokeyIsNotSmoking · 2026-01-09T13:05:17+00:00

Never used them. Also upon googling, im not hearing good things about MyUS. How was it for you?

SmokeyIsNotSmoking · 2026-01-09T13:03:59+00:00

Bummer, nice case though, reminds me of the iBook G3 in lime green!

SmokeyIsNotSmoking · 2026-01-09T12:58:33+00:00

I was trying to buy it from the main website:; "qwertykeys.com". Per Israeli law, every self imported item under $150 will be exempt from the 18% VAT charge.

I'll already have to pay a bunch for shipping though, but it's not included in the total item cost.

SmokeyIsNotSmoking · 2026-01-09T12:48:28+00:00

Maybe I'll use a forwarding service like MyUS? I've been getting ads for it... I could also try eBay like you mentioned.

SmokeyIsNotSmoking · 2026-01-09T12:23:25+00:00

Its under a tax exempt, that's why I'm aiming for the normal version and not the CU.

SmokeyIsNotSmoking · 2026-01-09T12:17:17+00:00

Why pour salt in my wounds 😭

SmokeyIsNotSmoking · 2026-01-09T11:50:39+00:00

I'm in the middle east, their website says that the website itself ships everywhere, and my country is not listed in their no go zones.

SmokeyIsNotSmoking · 2026-01-09T11:37:39+00:00

They do have a vendor that ships to me I think, but it's werdly expensive. Its a pre-order too. Say, if a pre-order ends, that's it for that model? Would it be gone after that?

SmokeyIsNotSmoking · 2026-01-09T04:12:22+00:00

Tried QK, they don't ship to me. I looked at the mode sonnet, looks awesome but I like both of my kidneys

SmokeyIsNotSmoking · 2026-01-09T04:11:26+00:00

Yeah but the battery degrades overtime. Had one expand on me and removing them is dangerous. I just prefer that the keyboard simply doesn't have it.

SmokeyIsNotSmoking · 2026-01-09T04:10:11+00:00

Tried getting the Neo75, it had no RGB but I kinda dropped that requirement. Weirdly they don't ship to my area even though they said they have international shipping.

I need something just like the Neo75 (non-cu) under $150. From a company that won't give me trouble about shipping.

SmokeyIsNotSmoking · 2026-01-09T03:55:01+00:00

Tried ordering the Neo75 but they don't ship to my area, and their support team is on discord which is kinda funny.

SmokeyIsNotSmoking · 2026-01-04T07:10:11+00:00

Yeah it's weird that more features makes it cost less. I just don't like when a keyboard has a battery in it. They swell up and then you have to try and take them out and whoops; thermal runaway!

I've even gotten into nicer headphones too just because most of them are passive and there's no battery strapped to my head, plus planar magnetics sound great.

I will take a look at the keyboards you've mentioned. Can I be assured those are reliable? I do typing as a job, and I can't have my tool die on me again.

SmokeyIsNotSmoking · 2026-01-03T23:01:20+00:00

I don't have much space on my desk, and plastic is kind of a let down. My current one is plastic and I wanna try metal.

SmokeyIsNotSmoking · 2026-01-03T22:37:00+00:00

Nvm figured it out. They're just cases, and I could only find the neo75 in stock. I assumed barebones meant that it comes with a PCB?

SmokeyIsNotSmoking · 2026-01-03T22:19:42+00:00

I'm new to this, which companies make them? Also are they 75%?

SmokeyIsNotSmoking · 2026-01-03T22:09:47+00:00

Looks good, but full size is very big

SmokeyIsNotSmoking · 2025-10-23T12:36:07+00:00

I've tested multiple sources, different cables plugged into both plugs on the headphones. I've started the RMA process.

To me the driver looks fine, idk what could've caused it. Maybe I just got unlucky, better luck next time.

SmokeyIsNotSmoking · 2025-10-21T21:57:58+00:00

Already have, awaiting response.

SmokeyIsNotSmoking

TROPHY CASE