iFixit Teardown Review: Best Repairable Headphones!

[@janankohler]

Love the video but at 1:09 you don't need to unscrew those screws! theres a silver lever under the headband cover you just pop open and you can slide the headband base right off to be able to remove the cover and the cable! its super easy

[@iFixitYourself]

Nice! Thanks for the heads up :)

[@平和-v1z]

If only Sony and Fairphone could collab on products... Fairphone's repair and upgradability + Sony's performance and features would result in absolute perfection...

[@chillwithsergei]

I think most companies will have to go Fairphone way some day. Gadget's aren't getting enough development to justify constant upgrading. People want durability, repairability and longevity more and more.

[@owcaandroid]

Omg that would be like living in a sci fi dream! I agree 100%! Or maybe.. Is it possible to make some customization with connecting that two solutions and make new brand? 🤔 Hmm

[@enzimusicify]

@@chillwithsergei oh boy let me tell u about a thing called capital accumulation

[@12Rosen]

My Sony XM4’s were super repairable

[@rasenmaher9629]

I feel like Fairphone got off a bit easy for not supplying spare parts here it's quite close to the Sony's in that sense. Needing a donor means having to find a broken pair and buying it which can be both unnecessarily expensive and a lot of work.

[@TomHallam08]

In Australia, companies are legally required to have spare parts available for the expected life ( customer's reasonable expectations not manufacturers) of the product. I'd expect Europe to have similar regulations. US, anything goes as long as its not the manufacturer's responsibility

[@CasualHerb]

I assumed Fairphone already supplies spare parts (like with their phones), but for fairbuds it still says - "Spare parts coming soon"

[@seshmaru]

​@@CasualHerb All pairs sold are still under warranty. There's no immediate need for the spare parts

[@ToxicMothBoi]

Thats what ebay is for. Or any other auctioning sites. Its quite easy to find stuff by just seaching it on google. And theres sites like sendico that will do the importing work for you if you want a pair from japan which can often be cheaper

[@CampGareth]

It's 3 months later and as spare parts appear to be available from fairphone. The headband bases are out of stock as I write this.

[@MatteoCampinoti94]

There is a reason the AIAIAI keep all the processing away from the drivers: they are sold separately. This way the user buys the "brains" of the device a single time and they can buy different drivers to customise the sound without paying for the same electronics every time. They also have headbands with no electronics for wired-only used.

[@nimam81]

The hinges of XM5s are known to pop out or break. A tear down of the hinges and showing how to fix them is much appreciated.

[@antraxbeta23]

So sony keeps up the tradition of easy to break hinges on headphones.. that's just sad

[@neil_surya]

This model doesn’t fold inward like the XM4s and I am SO HAPPY about that because, even though these hinges aren’t amazing, oml they’re so much stronger than the old ones and I don’t rlly care about not being able to fold them.

[@nimam81]

@@neil_surya not being able to fold them is not an issue for me either. However, there are many instances of them breaking even with gentle usage.

[@the_undead]

Apparently expecting a genuine tear down in a teardown video is too much, why it's too much is beyond me but it is

[@williamhillyard-mf3mn]

I would also say these are basically 2 separate niche markets. 1) is set for the person intending on fixing their headsets themself, the other, 2) is for someone who wants arguably one of the best headsets they'll ever use (the Sony, according to MKBHD).

[@doomville]

These Fairbud XLs are excellent, solid anc, good balanced audio and great construction. A+

[@Guuzaka]

Was not aware that Fairphone made headphones, and boy do they look good! 👍🏾

[@denisemccormick9386]

Bravo iFixit! Love these product comparisons! Too bad Fairphone wasn't the winner in audio quality as well.

[@ewerybody]

too little XP in that field sadly :/

[@markeissler]

Why aren't the Fairbuds available in the USA?? My AKG N60NC Wireless headphones just broke: a simple plastic part cracked due to fatigue. There are no replacement parts available from Harmon/AKG and a new pair would easily run around $150 or more!

[@JohnDir-xw3hf]

Try 3dprinting to fix😊

[@centermass4552]

I still rock a pair of Bose QC25s because all you got to do is pop out the AAA. They’re corded yes but I won’t have to toss them when the battery dies. Didn’t know that about the Sonys though. Good to know.

[@TheSpotify95]

Seems like you got some nice repairable headphones! The same cannot be said for the Bluedio Revolution headphones that I have had before, which (although having good sound quality and features) have a distinct lack of modularity and questionable build quality. Even replacing the battery will likely be a one way procedure, but from my experience, other parts have given way long before the batteries lose any capacity, and the batteries still test out OK on my test setup. Would probably get a Fairphone pair if they were available in the UK.

[@enzoe.6897]

I love repairable headphones but the electornics and batterry always is the last thing that breaks for me, before the batterry goes bad the coushions and hinges break for me, I had some expensive sony headphones and other people I knew had differrent models too and in less than a year their hinges broke because they used plastic inside, was repaired 2 times in warranty, then I gave up. What I care about the most is solid hinges that use metal all around. I like the designs from the marshall wireless headphones and the old sennheiser momentum 3

[@mooxjesus]

My 22yrear old Senheisser HD270 is still functioning, although it could use need ear cup foams. The AIAIAI TMA2 is super durable, with almost no parts to break, the headband is a durable silicon coated nylon that slips in to the earcups/drver units.

[@GAMIR_SFM]

I wouldn't buy fairphone's but i can appreciate their repairability

[@LeornianCyng]

Well done Fairphone on once again leading the way. Wish more bigger companies followed their approach. However, I still rock with my wired AKG K452’s, still working after 11 years. No batteries, no complications, no fuss. I just replaced the cable and ear cups. Happy days.

[@PainterVierax]

yeah wired headphones are often way more repairable. Though plastic can broke after time and spare parts are not as easy to find than wires and cable. That's the issue I have with my AKG K242.

[@DavidBerger-g2h]

Sadly mine died but they are good

[@mooxjesus]

There’s something to be said about durability. Personally I would never touch Sony for that reason.

[@Thomas-pm8gw]

Would be very nice if there would also be a disassembly guide for the Sony WH-1000XM5 on your website. Other than that great video!

[@mathisdesbaumes1389]

This is the best Chanel I have found all year. Please keep up your amazing work 🙏♻️🌎

[@Poorgeniu5]

Didnt knew these kind of headphones exists now in the market!

[@CalleoPelias]

The xm5's are my favorite cans rn. So comfortable, I use them a lot.

[@cooper1095]

I'd love to set a whole video on the FairBuds xl now

[@marcosalano7769]

I had a great time watching this short video. Mostly because I want to buy these Sony headphones.

[@headerahelix]

I wish there were repairable IEMs. They're my preferred form factor.

[@MultiTelan]

That's what I'm waiting for. I use IEMs at work exclusively.

[@yosyp5905]

what are IEMs?

[@headerahelix]

@@yosyp5905 In ear monitors, the small silicone/foam buds that go inside the ear. Most true wireless earphones are IEMs.

[@notisac3149]

Funny you say that lol

[@blikje_in_de_water]

I always prefer the sony WF series earbuds for the replaceble batteries:)

[@a1white]

Even the Sony has a replaceable battery that you can get to. Apple could do this if they wanted.

[@DavidBerger-g2h]

Its make no additional money they just gonna buy the Newest Again

[@thomassiberchicot1781]

It seems that Repeat Audio is doing a good job about rapairability. Does anyone ever try them?

[@elgalloazul]

Beautiful. Thanks.

[@mooxjesus]

I don’t care for Bluetooth headphones, because I would have to rely on sourcing the battery (I’ve owned headphones for +20 years) This time bought the AIAIAI TMA2 DJ headphones, for me replaceable parts are super important. My other choice would’ve been Sennheisser HD25, they have replaceable parts, but tracking them down can’t be hard for discontinued models. The best thing about AiAiAi TMA2 is that it’s much more durable than any headphones that I’ve owned. Just about every Sony products that I’ve owned in the past failed sooner than other brands, they would typically last maybe 3 years? Then gets outperformed by an older slightly beat up headphones. So I assume that Sony does it be design. The Fairphone is a company with great philosophy, however thin parts are more likely to break.

[@HoneyMike]

Are those headphones called TMA-2 because of TMA-1 from 2001: A Space Odyssey?

[@ggandalff]

I have a pair of Sony Wh-1000xm4, and the internal ANC microphone is faulty. I haven't been able to find a replacement part (I've been searching for more than a year). Also, their warranty was really bad, only 6 months (I live in Argentina, some other countries may have it better). I will probably not buy another pair of Sony headphones, not until they improve the quality of their headphones and the availability of spare parts (specially one that are known to fail)

[@GAZMAN2002]

Could you do this in the different models of the Sony wireless Earbuds I have the 1000xm4 and 800SP

[@CyberEduNexus]

We need a video of this ASTRO A50 headset repair.

[@daveyo3654]

this is so clutch i cant find a xm5 takedown anywhere

[@kasey42]

Where are some of the best places to find replacement ear pads? I have some outstanding wired headphones that need new pads but don't want the faux leather if I can help it.

[@neil_surya]

LTT recently reviewed some replacement pads for some random gaming headset, I’m forgetting which, but I checked their site and they offer them for a bunch of brands. Maybe go check those.

[@JeskidoYT]

Glad Sony to continuing their streak!

[@brianstamper8491]

Would like to hear about repairability on some much cheaper models. Teenage kid keeps breaking them, I keep fixing them, but eventually there's just too much vice and I have to replace them.

[@DavidBerger-g2h]

Depends if its Headphones its not worth to buy expensive ones they gonna destroy it anyway if they are not accountable for the Damages. Instead let their Parents pay the Damages devices are gonna live way longer

[@mooxjesus]

I would find durable models: AiAiAi TMA2 wired headphones, or Sennheiser HD25.

[@tomclanys]

1:47 but that looks like just plain hot glue..

The Fairphone headband cushions can actually be removed without having to deal with any screws. Just oprn ut up like a banana a d peel it off.

[@GregMadman]

I think the Meze 99 is the best repairable headset

[@KaoruSugimura]

Alternative wired headphone: Meze 109 pro

[@chase5777]

Can you guy teardown urbanista los angeles please?

[@ShowXTech]

Would love to see the XM4 in this because I'm not a fan of the new ones

[@ggandalff]

They are easy to tear down but hard to find spare parts, specially the inner ANC microphone, which is one of the easiest thing to break (there are many posts in reddit about it)

[@liamblu]

I just received a TMA-2 from AIAIAI. Bad quality. The product was incorrectly produced which made one cable to be stuck in the driver and the other to not be lockable. The left side didn't even put out the same volume as the right side. Complete failure. Leave your hands off of that cheap China quality.

[@MrMcMuffinJr1999]

Sony? Heavyweight? April fools came and went btw…

[@SpeedfrkOne]

I don’t buy headphones for hundreds of dollars to fix them myself at my own expense and time - this is what a warranty is for and never had to repair a single electronics device in my life but I buy quality not cheap Chinese plastic.

[@DavidBerger-g2h]

What Headphones did you buy what what Life Expectancy have you from one Electric Device?

[@ethankeon8152]

What a negative and frankly ignorant mindset when it comes to the environmentally friendly and cost effective benefits that repairability plays in consumer electronics.