Why Do Your Headphones Sound Muffled? (How to Fix!)

Do your headphones sound muffled? Here's the ultimate guide to the various solutions for muffled or distorted headphone audio.

Muffled or distorted sounds can easily ruin any listening experience and cause you to spend hours looking for the source of the problem.

These problems are exacerbated when you use the headphones for a business meeting and find yourself missing half of the information being discussed due to poor sound quality.

Why Do Your Headphones Sound Muffled?
Why Do Your Headphones Sound Muffled?

 

HOW TO FIX MUFFLED SOUND ON HEADPHONES?

1. Select “Open Sound Settings” from the menu that appears when you right-click the Speaker icon in your taskbar. Launch Sound Settings.

2. Click on “Device properties” Launch Device Properties.

3. Select “Enhancements,” then “Disable all sound effects.” Turn off all sound effects.

A good pair of headphones with good sound can provide you with a relaxing experience. You'd want crisp and clear sounds whether you're gaming, listening to music, or talking. However, you will notice that your headphones sound muffled a lot of the time, which can be annoying.

Consider the following scenario: you are on the phone with someone at your workplace. Because of the muffling sounds, you miss out on any information while on the phone with them. And you can't tell them to say it again and again. This has the potential to be a major issue.

Bluetooth, wireless connectivity issues, faulty wires, dirt and debris clogged in your headphone, water or moisture issues, mismatched software issues, and damaged speakers inside are some of the causes of your headphone sounding muffled.

So, if you're wondering why that happens and how to fix it, you've come to the right place. We will tell you everything you need to know about muffling problems with headphones and how to fix them. 

6 REASONS WHY DO YOUR HEADPHONES SOUND MUFFLED?

Headphones Sound Muffled
Headphones Sound Muffled

There could be a number of causes for your headset sounding muffled. It may be difficult to narrow it down to a single cause.

However, once you've done that, you'll be able to find ways to repair your headphones. If you have expensive high-quality headphones, you will almost certainly prefer to repair them rather than replace them.

So, let's look at the possible causes of your headphone's muffling sound.

1. CONNECTIVITY ISSUES

Please don't assume that your headphones are ruined because they sound muffled. Because many times it's just a matter of connectivity. That issue may now be dependent on the type of headphones you have.

When using Bluetooth headphones, it is quite common to experience a poor connection. Because it is a radioactive signal that is affected by the environment and how your devices react, a bad connection can cause the sounds to be muffled. It also occurs as a result of Bluetooth codecs. Even low battery percentages can result in muffled Bluetooth headset sounds.

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If you have wired headphones, you should check to see if the wires are properly connected. It could also be a problem with your device's port. If the problem persists, check your headphones with another device to determine the source of the problem.

2. WATER OR MOISTURE ISSUES

This is obviously a problem. You should avoid wearing your headphones near water. Without a doubt, if water gets inside the speakers, it will damage the headphones. It's a fairly common problem out there.

“I have a water-resistant headphone,” you may be thinking. If so, you are in luck, and this may not be a problem for you. However, you must check the IP rating of your headphones because different IP ratings provide varying levels of protection.

Some keep them waterproof, while others keep them water-resistant. So, you should be aware of what you have and whether it is sufficient to protect your headphones from water damage.

3. FAULTY WIRES

If this is the case, the solution should be obvious. When you have faulty wires, you will notice them tore here and there or the effect of moving the wires.

The majority of the time, wires come loose from the pin as a result of pulling too hard on the wires while removing them. If you continue to do this, the wires will become faulty. Some of them are so badly damaged that you can see them torn and hanging.

Sometimes you can't see the damage, but they're torn on the inside due to too much bending of the wires. In any case, faulty wires can cause sound to be muffled because they transmit sound from the source to the speakers.

4. DIRT AND DEBRIS

It's natural for dirt and debris to become clogged in your headphone after prolonged use. Most of the time, this is a case for earbuds.

If you've only been using your earbuds and haven't cleaned them, the speakers can become filthy. As a result, the sound coming from the speakers is murky. They must pass through a layer of dirt and debris, which muffles the sounds.

5. SOFTWARE ISSUES IN YOUR DEVICE

Aside from the headphone themselves, your device may have some sound issues. To confirm this, test the headphones on another device to see if they are still muffled. Muffled sounds are frequently caused by a software issue with your device.

It usually occurs when you attempt to use your headphones on Windows or Mac. And the solution is straightforward. You must check the audio drivers to see if they are up to date. But that's a whole other discussion, so we won't get into it here. In any case, this is a possibility you should investigate.

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6. DAMAGED SPEAKERS

If you use your headphones excessively, perhaps even all day, you may have damaged speakers. Constant use of headphones can cause the speakers inside to blow out at some point. This is primarily due to overpowering use that your speakers were unable to handle.

This type of overpowering effect can result from listening to music at maximum volume for an extended period of time. However, it does occur naturally on occasion.

With regular use, your speakers will deteriorate, becoming weaker as time passes. As a result, they will eventually blow up. And you can tell how long you've been using them by how long you've been using them.

Apart from this, there aren't many other reasons for muffled sounds. Fortunately, most of these issues can be resolved with little knowledge and instruction. And it is for this reason that we will walk you through the solutions to this problem.

HOW TO FIX MUFFLED SOUND ON HEADPHONES?

Your Headphones Sound Muffled?
Your Headphones Sound Muffled?

Before we get started, some of the issues we discussed cannot be resolved. And there is no getting around it. In those cases, you must purchase a new pair of headphones. After that, let's look at the solutions:

1. FIXING CONNECTIVITY ISSUES

The solution to the connectivity problems is simple and obvious. If you're using wired headphones, simply check the port and the connection. If you have a problem with your device's port, you can clean it with isopropyl alcohol.

Before you begin, make sure to turn off your device, and after cleaning, keep it turned off for at least an hour. If you're having Bluetooth connectivity problems, try charging your Bluetooth headset first.

If that doesn't work, try changing the location or surroundings. However, if there are issues with the codec, this problem will be unsolvable. You'll need to replace them with new headphones.

2. FIXING WATER DAMAGE

If your headphones have been damaged by water, there are some fixes you can try. The first method is to soak a cloth in isopropyl alcohol. Then keep your headphones on and place them in a box.

Then, place your headphones inside rice for 12 hours to allow them to dry and absorb all of the water from inside. This is a useful trick for repairing water damage caused by various electronic devices.

3. REPAIRING FAULTY WIRES

Only visible faulty wires can be repaired. If the damage is internal, the headphone is better off without repairs. Assuming you can see the tear in the wires, you'll need to use moldable glue.

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They have a sticky and rubbery texture, similar to gum. Simply use moldable glue to repair the ripped area of your headphone wire. Allow that to dry for a day, and your problem will be solved.

4. FIXING DIRT AND DEBRIS ISSUES

You only need to clean your headphones here. Isopropyl alcohol can be used to thoroughly clean your headphones, particularly the earbuds. This should resolve the muffling noises from your headphones.

We won't go into specifics about this solution. However, the general solution to this problem is to properly install all audio drivers on your device. Also, if you have pending updates on your Windows, you must complete them. In most cases, this should solve the problem.

How To Fix Headphones Sound Muffled?
How To Fix Headphones Sound Muffled?

5. REPAIRING DAMAGED SPEAKERS

This may not be worth it because you will be replacing your current speakers. And that immediately depreciates the value of your headphones. However, if you want to go ahead, make sure to get some high-quality speakers.

All you have to do to replace the speakers is remove the headphone covers. Then expose the speaker and disconnect it from all wires. Then, using a soldering iron, connect the new speakers to your headphones and enjoy the same clear sound as before.

CONCLUSION: Headphones Sound Muffled

So there you have it. You now understand why your headphones sound muffled and how to fix them. As you can see, the fixes are not difficult to implement.

However, the issues we discussed can be easily avoided by exercising caution and performing proper maintenance. Simply being cautious with how you use your headphones can save you a lot of trouble.

FAQs About Headphones Sound Muffled

Why do my headphones sound muffled?

When Bluetooth headphones are exposed to moisture, have too much debris in the speakers, have faulty wireless connections, or are receiving from a poor audio source, they can produce muffled audio.

Why do my headphones sound like they're underwater?

Faulty cables and sound cards, damaged or corrupted drivers, unoptimized equalizer settings, moisture damage, dirt accumulation (ear wax, lint), overuse, and other factors can cause headphones to sound like they're underwater.

How do you fix muffled headphones?

How to Repair Muffled Headphones When Connected to a Windows PC
Open Sound Settings by right-clicking the speaker icon in your taskbar and selecting “Open Sound Settings.”
Open Device Properties by clicking on “Device Properties.”
Select “Enhancements,” then “Disable all sound effects.” Turn off all sound effects.

Trina Oralde

I'm a tech writer and contributor who covers the latest in gadgets and technology. I keep my finger on the pulse of the tech world, so you don't have to. Stay up-to-date on the latest with me!

 

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