If you thought quitting smoking was just about saving your lungs, think again!
A headphone technician’s photo of a smoke-damaged driver has revealed that the harmful effects of smoking go beyond personal health.
According to the OP, the headphones required a complete driver replacement due to the gummed-up diaphragm. This started a broad discussion about the often-ignored impact of smoking on headphones, stressing the need for more awareness.
The Story of the Smoke-Ravaged Headphones
The technician, who repairs and modifies headphones for a living, received a damaged pair of Beyerdynamic DT 990 from a customer.
The customer complained that the headphones did not sound right. And, as soon as the technician opened the package, he noticed the strong smell of smoke.
“New driver on the left. Old on the right. From a Beyerdynamic DT990.” explains the OP.
“Just had these back from a customer because they didn’t sound right. I could smell the smoke as soon as I opened the package and wasn’t particularly surprised with what I found.”
According to him, the Beyerdynamic driver diaphragm tends to attract debris and become sticky. However, the long exposure to smoke made this problem worse by causing the diaphragm to stick to the cover.
This stickiness limited the driver’s movement, which led to a significant drop in sound quality.
“The beyer driver diaphragm is already pretty gummy and can pick up hairs and debris. The smoke makes them even more so.” he says.
“You can see the light spot in the centre of the driver where it was stuck.”
Jiimbo_CC has opened up one or two headphones per day for the past three years as part of their profession.
Based on his experience, this type of damage is not just normal wear and tear.
He explained that the smoke residue has a unique ability to soak into the fabric, foam, and paper of the headphones. This settles on the driver in a way that substances like sweat or skin oils do not.
While skin oils may turn the paper gray over many years, they do not affect the driver as drastically as smoke does.
To fix the problem, Jiimbo_CC replaced both drivers and advised the customer to avoid smoking near the headphones in the future.
A Community’s Reflection on Smoking
In response, the Reddit community shared their own experiences and insights. Stories of smoke-damaged electronics showed the daily challenges faced by those exposed to cigarette smoke.
Among the serious conversations, some users can’t help but find a way to inject humor into their concerns.
The conversation then shifted to the increasing popularity of vaping and its possible effects on headphones. While opinions varied, most agreed that vaping, though less harmful than smoking cigarettes, could still leave residues that might affect electronic devices.
Other commenters also talked extensively about ways to prevent damage, including regular cleaning and replacing headphone pads. These shared tips on hand washing pads and changing foam pads every six months, emphasizing the need to treat these parts as replaceable.
And, as the discussion went on, it also included the overall health effects of smoking. A user even shared a video comparing the lungs of smokers and non-smokers. This vividly showed the severe health damage caused by smoking.
The discussion also covered the often-overlooked issue of secondhand smoke.
One user expressed his surprise at people who smoke indoors, pointing out the extensive damage cigarette smoke can cause to both people’s health and the condition of indoor environments.
“I legit don’t get people who smoke indoors. It literally destroys the home, and everything in it, over time. To say nothing of the massive and on-going poison levels.” he says.
“Parents who smoke, for that matter – be it indoor or outdoor – are all child abusers as a matter of course. They’re spewing all that poison at their kids because it goes everywhere – their hair, clothes, skin, you name it.”