My Sony Headphones Snapped After a Year
A Neurodivergent Artist’s POV
Hey everyone! 😁
It’s been a while, huh? I needed to take a bit of a break from writing everywhere, just wanted to focus on drawing for a while. But, guess what? That didn’t really happen. Because, well… life.
Let me take you on a little journey. A bumpy one. One that started with a crack, literally.
So, I’ve had these Sony Ult Wear headphones (WH-ULT900N) since June last year. They came out earlier that year and I loved them right away. The comfort? Amazing. The sound? Even better. And I only used them at my desk, indoors, treating them with care like a precious little tech pet.
Then, end of May this year...
SNAP. 😭
Right where the cups rotate. I took them off one evening and crack, they just broke. I stood there like, “Did that really just happen?” These weren’t old. Not mistreated. Not dragged around. Just... broken.
Now, I rely on headphones. Like, seriously rely on them. My neighbors are loud, and I need that sweet noise cancellation to keep me sane. So I did what anyone would do, I contacted the store I got them from. Took a while to reach an actual human being, though. Everything’s automated these days. But eventually, I got someone to talk to.
They asked for pictures. (To speed up the process they said) Fine, I sent them pictures. And later on sent them in. Then nothing. Crickets for a whole week. So I reached out again. “Hey? What’s going on?” And then came the policy talk. Ugh.😫
Now here’s where it goes downhill.
I did some reading and found out a bunch of people had the same issue. Sony even extended the warranty on these headphones to 2027! So I said, “Nope. I’m not doing a repair. I want a new pair.” A fix won’t help if the design’s flawed, right? (XM 5 have similar problem, wonder if XM6 will have the same?)
The store pushed back hard. “Sony decides, not us,” they said. Which isn’t exactly true. And shoutout to ChatGPT at this point, helped me dig into the actual laws and stuff. (Side note: I once wanted to be a lawyer. But the path to get there was too… boring.) These kind of email back and forth does drain you when the support wont listen.
Anyway, from the very beginning, I told them: I want a new pair or my money back. They ignored that. Later, they flat-out refused a replacement, too costly for them. Fine. But then they tried to deny a refund too, even though I had the legal right to it. And kind of glad they refused new pair, because Sony has still not fixed the “problem” on newer pairs..
Eventually, they gave in.
And yes, I’m getting my money back. After 2 weeks chatting with them. Still debating whether to name the store publicly… but it’s a major tech retailer in Sweden. If you want to know, just ask.
In the meantime, I started hunting for new headphones again. I’ve always been super picky with them. The sound has to be just right. One weird frequency and my brain does this thing where it goes fuzzy, and sometimes I just start crying. (Yay, sensory stuff.) I also need strong ANC to block out my neighbors. So yeah, I’m usually looking at models that go above 2000 SEK. And no, the most expensive headphones is not always the best.
I tried JBL next. I already had an on-ear pair from them that I liked, so I went to a store and tested the JBL Live 770NC. Loved the sound, great ANC, it even blocked out the noisy store! But testing in-store isn’t the same as using them at home. It’s stressful. Everything’s loud. I needed a real test.
So I ordered them online. They were on sale, too. Score! But… no.
They sounded good, the headband felt great, but my ears overheated fast. And every time I moved my head or ate something, I’d hear these weird creaky noises. And listen, I eat while watching stuff. That’s just how it is. So, sadly, they’re going back.
It sucks when you think you’ve found the ones, only to be let down.
But credit where it’s due, the sound and ANC on the JBL Live 770NC were solid. If you're not as sensitive as I am, they might be a great option for you! 😁
For now, I’m back to using my old Sony XM2s. Had them since 2018, after replacing my Beats Studios. Holding the line while I keep looking.
Finding the right headphones is no joke. Especially with ADHD and ASD, it’s not just about sound, it’s about survival. Took me years to realize how important they are for focus, calm, and just feeling okay.
So the headphone hunt continues…
Stay tuned. 🤪
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