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Topic: effects of magnets on headphones (Read 22640 times) previous topic - next topic
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effects of magnets on headphones

So we all know putting a magnet up to a computer, electronic device or monitor is harmful in some way, even if miniscule, you can SEE the effects with a monitor.

Well, my brand new Sennheiser Px100's came in the mail today, and about 3 hours after I had been using them, I was listneing to music when a "friend" of mine, came up and slapped a metal object on my right speaker and then put it down. When I saw what it was, it was a magnet.

Im just wondering if magnets have any effects (negative of course) on headphones, or to be more specific, neodymium headphones.

Thanks for any insight.

effects of magnets on headphones

Reply #1 –
I wouldn't worry about it.  Of course, the headphone driver has a magnet in it already.  Did you hear any change in the sound?     

I suppose a very-strong magnet in direct-contact with the headphone's driver-magnet might cause some effect, but the magnetic field that the voice coil sits-in is very dense (it's a small gap) and it would take a very strong magnetic field to alter or disturb that existing field. 

In order to permanently damage the headphone, you would have to de-magnetize (or over-magnetize?) the headphone's internal permanent-magnet.  That's not an easy thing to do unless you are really trying.

A CRT monitor is a special case.  The electrons inside the vacuum tube are easily deflected by the magnet... In fact, that's how the CRT works.  A permanent magnet has no effect on most solid-state electronics.  (An AC electromagnet is another matter...  These will produce electromagnetic radiation at a frequency that can cause "interference" or noise.)

effects of magnets on headphones

Reply #2 –
Cool thanks a bunch, I guess I wanted reassurance that I didnt waste $40, and also to learn a little bit more about this kind of stuff, I appreciate it.

And no, I didnt notice any drastic changes in sound, at least nothing I could pin down to the magnet incident, and nothing worth even calling a change, most likely just a different sound as I continued to burn in the headphones.

And also, the magnet used was a magnet the size of a nickel in width, and maybe 3 quarters in thickness, strong enough to hold a metal clip onto a refrigerator.

effects of magnets on headphones

Reply #3 –
The kind of magnet you are describing is designed to attach to a metal surface through a few sheets of paper or some thin cardboard. Beyond that its field diminishes very rapidly. I doubt that it penetrated your headphone far enough to have any effect.

effects of magnets on headphones

Reply #4 –
What about leaving my headphones over night next to a 5.1 surround Teac speaker.  The speaker is about 10 inches tall and 5 inches wide and 5 inches deep? If my bose triport headphones were an inch away from the back of the speaker should I worry about demagnetizing or sound alteration in my headphones?

effects of magnets on headphones

Reply #5 –
Quote from: RD on
What about leaving my headphones over night next to a 5.1 surround Teac speaker.  The speaker is about 10 inches tall and 5 inches wide and 5 inches deep? If my bose triport headphones were an inch away from the back of the speaker should I worry about demagnetizing or sound alteration in my headphones?
No. Most surround systems have shielded speakers anyway, which means there is very little magnetic field. Anyway, at that range it's unlikely that there will be an effect.

effects of magnets on headphones

Reply #6 –
Quote from: cabbagerat on
Quote from: RD on

What about leaving my headphones over night next to a 5.1 surround Teac speaker.  The speaker is about 10 inches tall and 5 inches wide and 5 inches deep? If my bose triport headphones were an inch away from the back of the speaker should I worry about demagnetizing or sound alteration in my headphones?
No. Most surround systems have shielded speakers anyway, which means there is very little magnetic field. Anyway, at that range it's unlikely that there will be an effect.



Thanks man!
 

effects of magnets on headphones

Reply #7 –
Quote from: sackynut on
Cool thanks a bunch, I guess I wanted reassurance that I didnt waste $40, and also to learn a little bit more about this kind of stuff, I appreciate it.

That's awful, PX100s are almost 100$ here