Cult of Mac: a blog about the Mac, the iPod, the iPhone - and the people who love them

19 comments

Actually, I’ve had this problem for ages. I’ve got an iPod Touch 1G, and constantly get my ear shocked when one earbud falls out and I go to put it back in. It scared me a bit at first before I figured it was just static. My only worry is that if it charges enough it could damage the stupid iPod.

I live in a fairly windy area, but thought it had more to do with the whole “one earbud rubs against fabric” thing rather than the weather.

Dan, on May 19th, 2009 at 9:31 am

It is strictly CYA article. With so many idiot losers suing Apple these days cause they want to make a dishonest buck or can’t stand a winner, I don’t blame Apple is the lest.

Steve Spiegel, on May 19th, 2009 at 9:36 am

I’ve had this when I put my iPhone in my dressing gown and then take it, I’ll get shocked in my ears! It feels kinda funny

Lieven, on May 19th, 2009 at 9:37 am

All the time, especially in the winter when taking off a particular parka I have. I also sometimes get a shock when I walk through older-style theft detection RFID thingies at stores. It’s not just iPod earbuds; it’s multiple kinds of earbuds. I mean, you have a metal wire conducting right to metal plates in your ears.

If I’m wearing my Apple in-ear earbuds, I can hear the static but usually not feel it.

Marc, on May 19th, 2009 at 9:58 am

I have owned all sorts of headphones (Nixon, Apple, Sony, Skull Candy) and I have received shocks from all of them (some far worse than others). The only time this has ever happened to me is while working on a computer, shuffling around on a chair. I’ve been shocked while plugged into my iPod as well as into my computer. The first time it happened was with my Skull Candy headphones and they gave me the same explination as this article.

Tyson, on May 19th, 2009 at 10:02 am

I have had this happen often, with my iMac and a pair of SkullCandy phones. In the dryer weather last winter, many times after I’d first sit down after taking off a sweater I would hear crackling and it would hurt!

steve, on May 19th, 2009 at 10:24 am

I have experienced this with my own iPod Video 5G numerous times. And with non-Apple headphones. Nature of the beast, it seems.

smallerdemon, on May 19th, 2009 at 10:26 am

Great title for this article! Based on the content, you could not have picked a better title. Nice job, go creativity…woohoo.

Austin, on May 19th, 2009 at 10:26 am

omg yes this happened to me!! Here’s the story, i was listening to some music and had to leave my apt to run some errands so i put the music on my iphone to take with me..it was kinda chilly out so i threw on a fleece pullover jacket(which might have contributed to the static even more) over my ear buds (the wire went under my jacket to my iphone in my pocket). Anyways did all my errands then came home, walked inside set down the grocery bag then took off my fleece pullover. As i was taking off the jacket i heard a weird noise in the ear buds then bam! Zap straight to the ears, it caught me so off guard i ripped the ear buds off and threw them on the ground in fear it would hurt my iphone. I examined everything and everything looked normal. I just assumed that the jacket caused static and the metal mesh over the ear buds conducted it!

Tim, on May 19th, 2009 at 10:29 am

every morning in the halway at my school we hear a scream beacause somone forgot to take out there earbuds when they to of there coat. Its happend to my 3 times now I use over eard headphones.

temple, on May 19th, 2009 at 10:43 am

I’ve received shocks from my video iPod and iPhone using the Apple earbuds that came with both devices as well as the In-Ear headphones from both this generation and the previous, as well as a pair of Bose in-ear headphones.

I experienced it pretty frequently with the Bose set, which is a major factor in discontinuing their use. I wear my ‘buds a lot while performing household chores, and while the Apple buds might shock me once a month, the Bose were hitting me a couple of times a week.

Jon, on May 19th, 2009 at 11:43 am

It’s not the iPod, it’s the earbud design, there’s metal touching (or almost touching) skin. It will even happen if the headphones are unplugged. It hurts like hell but if you just take your earbuds out before you take off your sweater, it won’t shock you.

Mark, on May 19th, 2009 at 12:14 pm

I use a Touch 1G and am using third party earbuds (the $9 sort) and get shocks thru them often. It happens noticeably more often when I’m wearing my fleece pullover and expecially when I take the pullover off while the earbuds are in my ears.

I think Apple probably got a lot of complaints that people’s iPods where shocking them. I think it’s good they dealt with it honestly, i.e. this will happen with any music player and any ear buds.

scstsut, on May 19th, 2009 at 12:55 pm

I get shocks occasionally during winter months. But the worst offenders are the new in-ear earbuds.

Essefgy, on May 19th, 2009 at 4:16 pm

Apple’s probably tired of people trying to return their iPod because they think it’s giving them a shock. The Geniuses or service people can point them to the article for the official explanation.

I never had a problem with my G3 or photo earbuds. But when they died I replaced them with a $9 pair of Sony’s from Target (surprising sound for the price). The first time I took off my fleece pullover while wearing the earbuds under the sweater, I thought somebody had Tasered my head!. My first thought was I got a shock from cheap-crap earbuds. But when I pulled my arm out of the last sleeve and heard distinct “crack” of static I knew what really happened.

I’ve since bought a nice pair of Sennheiser MX-70s (great sound – freaky green cable). They’re not perfect, but with just basic care, walking “The Green Mile” is less menacing. My Apple earbuds were the previous generation, so I’d guess that the new ones use a different coating for the wires, or at least a thinner one. They’re probably just as good or better acoustically, but they’re able to do this using a greater share of cheap-crap parts.

Just ground yourself occasionally to “degauss” the wires. After driving your 1990’s Honda, never EVER touch the door handle with earbuds on, or your head may explode like Wile E. Coyote. Static buildup was so extreme in these cars that NYC toll collectors refused to take money from their drivers. Like Apple, Honda issued a service bulletin explaining static shock. A new formula tire lacked enough carbon to ground the car, and the tires built up huge static charges.

imajoebob, on May 19th, 2009 at 11:32 pm

I get shocked by a particular coat in combo with the new in earphones with inline remote. Kina annoying because it’s right into the inside of the ear!

Andrew, on May 20th, 2009 at 1:38 am

Heh, I’m quite surprised that I’ve never had a shock off earbuds, as I tend to get static shocks off everything else (car doors, other people, my dog…)

Andy Merrett, on May 20th, 2009 at 1:57 am

I exchanged my first iPhone because of this problem. Then I exchanged the earbuds, but it continued. It happens when I wear a jacket and the iPhone is in the inside pocket. It got to the point where I don’t wear that jacket when I’m using the earbuds. Now that summer is here, I don’t notice it as much. I think it occurs when it’s cold and dry outside and the iPhone is in your jacket pocket.

David, on May 20th, 2009 at 9:41 am

It has happened to me and a friend!

Oskar, on May 21st, 2009 at 9:38 am