I have a friend who asked me a headphone question that I couldn't answer.

He has a pair of Ety ER4P and recently got shocked in the ear while wearing them (he was walking and was wearing a fleece if that is relevant). I haven't ever experienced this myself. Is this not abnormal or should he contact Etymotic about it? Sounds painful.

If no loose wires, I think it could be just a nasty static electricity shock?? The fleece note made me thing of that....

I'm not sure if the current needed to drive dynamic let alone IEM type headphones is sufficient to cause an electric shock in an ear. Hmm... Maybe he experienced some kind of a static electricity discharge?

hmmm never heard of it shelly... I have been using my er4s for about 5 years now... I seem to be okay ..

It probably was static electricity, I've had some of those shocks using the PS-1 and other cans, but never with IEM.

I seem to be okay ..

That is debatable. :evil:

That (static electricity) is what I thought. With a quick search, I did find something at HF on it but didn't know whether to trust the OP.

http://www.head-fi.org/t/310723/fyi-basic-guide-to-in-ear-canalphones-rev-4

"10. Static Electricity Discharge through IEM

It is possible to experience a static electricity discharge though IEMs.

In a cold climate with low humidity, a static charge may build up on

one's body. The cable that carries the audio signal from the headphone

jack to the IEM has metallic wire inside. This wire is also a path to

ground through which the static charge can travel. Though one's ears

are touching the plastic parts of the IEM, there is metallic wire

inside. A static charge often has a high enough voltage to leap from

one's ear to the metal inside of the IEM, discharging the static

electricity via the cable and into the device playing the audio

signal, e.g., CD player or MP3 player. The amount of electrical

current in such a static discharge is not harmful, though the

discharge itself can be startling.

It is important to note that such static discharges are "acts of

nature" and do not indicate that one's IEMs are defective, nor will

the static discharge cause harm to the IEM. Note: If you are regularly

shocked by your headphone, it could indicate a leakage in the wiring.

You should contact the manufacturer for repair in such a case."

In Alaska, during winter it wasn't uncommon for my earbud cables to rub against my polar fleece jacket lining, and give a static shock. Just one of those things you get used to in a dry climate.

As someone more in the wet, I've worn my Etys in driving solid horizontal rain and never had a shock from them.

rain would make it less likely to occur.

Static shock yes. Shorting something out, maybe not?

I also wore the SR-001 in heavy rain and they didn't suffer.

Edited December 17, 201114 yr by Duggeh

Sure he's not just being a drama queen?

In Alaska, during winter it wasn't uncommon for my earbud cables to rub against my polar fleece jacket lining, and give a static shock. Just one of those things you get used to in a dry climate.

I've had that too. This week, in fact, while pretending to jog in -18 C. Teach me to exercise in anything but the finest weather. No noticeable effect on the Shures I was wearing.

k

Edited December 17, 201114 yr by kirkwall

I've had that too. This week, in fact, while pretending to job in -18 C. Teach me to exercise in anything but the finest weather. No noticeable effect on the Shures I was wearing.

k

Yup. Me three. Its dry up here in Montana, happens all the time. Not with IEMs that I can recall, but woulnt be surprised.

rain would make it less likely to occur.

which explains why I've never experienced this in Seattle.

I'm going with static discharge. That I've never heard of such a thing in south Florida only makes it more plausible.

I've experienced some nerve misfire sorts of sensations that have felt like shocks, but they were in big muscles (Well, not that I have big muscles. It's relative.) This doesn't sound like that.