How many times have you left your headphones on the dashboard of your car, or in the sun somewhere, and forgot about them?
Then, only when you want to use them again, you realize (in horror I might add), they’re still lying there, and you discover them boiling hot! Naturally, you’re stressing and the thought comes up… Can my headphones actually overheat?
Electronics will deteriorate at temperatures above 120°F (48.8 °C), left in the sun on a hot day your car interior can easily reach 133°F (56.1 °C) within an hour. While the ambient heat isn’t enough to damage your headphones, leaving them in direct exposure of the sun can warm the plastic and damage the circuits.
That, unfortunately, isn’t the only way your headphones can be damaged by heat. And, while the damage caused by leaving your headphones in the sun for too long won’t necessarily be immediately visible, you will eventually notice the brittle plastic and reduced sound quality. So, let’s look at all the ways your headphone could possibly overheat.
Can Heat Damage Bluetooth Headphones?
Bluetooth headphones might even be more susceptible to damage, as they usually have lithium batteries that power the speakers. Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, or using a broken cable for charging may cause damage to the lithium-ion battery and cause a leak.
In addition, your Bluetooth headphones are plugged into a direct source of power when charging, and overcharging can cause the battery to overheat.
Have you ever left your phone on charge for too long, and then when you picked it up again, it was really hot (don’t you say no to me – I know you have).
That’s basically what you want to avoid. Unplug your devices as soon as they’re fully charged.
Bluetooth headphones are just like your phone, the battery can overheat, and you should plug it out when it has finished charging.
When your headphones are still new, you might not get this overheating effect, but trust me, you’re damaging your batteries.
Lower quality headphones will also heat up much quicker compared to a higher quality set. While the heat is what you can feel, it isn’t the only problem.
When your headphones heat up, they pull moisture out of the air, the difference in the inside temperature and the outside temperature then causes condensation. Headphone electronics do NOT love any moisture.
That moisture can do a lot of damage to the delicate electronic components in your headphones.
A Damaged Charging Circuit Can Cause Your Headphones to Overheat
This is a rare issue, but it happens. If your headphones are overheating for no apparent reason, it could be a damaged circuit board.
This can be due to a factory fault (especially if your headphones are brand new) or because of any rust on the electronics.
Factory faults can lead to overheating in any of the parts, but you’ll notice it most commonly while charging. This can be due to an overheating controller component. You can avoid this issue (and protect your warranty) by always using original charging cables.
In addition, if your headphones have been with you to the beach, the exposure to salty water and the excess humidity can wreak havoc on the electronics. This, in turn, can short circuit your headphones, causing them to overheat.
There is a neat hack for keeping your headphones dry and safe while heading to the beach. Save up any silica bags you get with your supplements and put them in the back of your headphone earpads. They will soak up a lot of the moisture and keep it out of your headphones.
How to Avoid Heat Damage to Your Headphones
The key here is to never let your battery get too hot or too cold. Ideally, make sure you use and store your headphones at a temperature between 15°C and 25°C (59°F and 77°F).
You can say the battery is a bit sensitive, so make sure you always store it properly and don’t overcharge or charge with the wrong charger (no matter how desperate you are).
If the battery got too hot or too cold, it might not work for a while. Even though it’s fully charged. It will recover, but in general, it should be avoided.
Here are the top tips to always keep in mind when it comes to prolonging the lifespan of your headphones.
■ Don’t Leave Your Headphones in Your Car on a Hot Day
Ok, we’ve all done this. You’ve just come back from your park run; you yank off your headphones, chuck them in the glove compartment, and rush to get to the shower.
But, as it always happens, one day, you forget to take them out, and they end up baking in the car the whole day.
The opposite of this scenario is equally bad, forgetting it in the car when it’s snowing out. Extreme highs or lows will kill your battery and reduce its capacity.
■ Don’t Leave Your Headphones in Direct Sunlight
Even worse than leaving it in the glove compartment is putting it on the dashboard in the hot sun.
The direct heat can cause numerous damages as well as t melt the protective plastic casing, damage your leather ear pads, or ruin the electrical components.
Needless to say, don’t make this a repeat offense.
Avoid Charging Your Headset in High Temperatures
While I understand this isn’t always possible, I mean some of us just live in parts of the US with blistering heatwaves, and I want to listen to my music. But, consider this, even Jabra (a lead headphone manufacturer) recommends not doing this.
What’s the alternative? Try being creative (no, that doesn’t mean charge them in the fridge with a battery pack – bad idea), but you could charge at night, or charge when you have the airconditioning on.
Just don’t charge when it’s too hot, too cold or if you’re outdoors or in a humid area.
Use the Right Charger for Your Headphones
While using a different brand won’t necessarily damage your headphones, using a knockoff charger on your $1000 headphones just isn’t a good idea.
Always use the charger you got with your headphones, and if you don’t have them, wait. You won’t die, go on a chat group and get moral support. We’re here for you brother.
Headphones Can Make Your Ears Hot and Sweaty
Over-ear headphones can be extremely comfortable, but they tend to make your ears hot and sweaty.
Depending on how long you use your headphones for and the weather conditions, especially during summer months, you might want to use open-back headphones or earbuds.
So, it could be that it’s not even your headphones overheating, might just be you. Go figure.
As a Final Thought
Your headphones can overheat due to damage if you:
- Expose them to direct sunlight or extreme temperatures
- Use a broken cable for charging or the wrong charger
- Expose them to salty water (yes, even if they’re water-resistant)
- Charge in extreme heat or extreme cold
At the end of the day, just keep in mind that any overheating is a sign of current damage or future damage.
There is no happy ending to a tanning session for your headphones. Keep them safe by using your headphone stand habitually, so you know they’re safe.a
