Audio Technica Headphones Troubleshooting

Since the 1960s, Japanese manufacturer Audio-Technica has been specializing in producing high-quality headphones. These well-crafted headphones are some of the best, but they still suffer from some common headphone problems.

Some common issues you may experience with Audio-Technica headphones include a lack of sound, weak sound, or sound that cuts in and out intermittently. Besides that, battery issues can prevent the headphones from charging, and Bluetooth connectivity issues can prevent the headphones from connecting to the audio source. Common fixes include fully recharging the headphones to full capacity while keeping wireless headphones well within range of the source device.

In the following sections, you’ll learn how to troubleshoot common Audio-Technica headphone issues and how to resolve them.

Sound Issues

No Sound Or Weak Sound

What happened: Suppose your Audio-Technica headphones are turned on, but there’s little or no sound coming from either side. If that’s the case, then there are several possibilities to consider:

• Source Volume Levels: The volume setting on the source device (e.g. computer, TV, smartphone) is very low, or all the way down to zero. Remember: there are two volume settings to consider, one on the headphones and one at the source. Both will have to be at a comfortable level for you to enjoy clear audio.
• Bluetooth Not Connected (on wireless models): Wireless Audio-Technica headphones are connected to the source via Bluetooth technology. If there’s no sound, it’s possible that the wireless headphones are not connected at all.
• Damaged Wiring (on wired models): On wired models, two wiring sections could be causing the problem. Firstly, the wiring in the audio cable might be damaged from twists and kinks. Secondly, the internal wiring might also be damaged, preventing any sound from being generated.
• Problem At The Source: It’s also possible that your headphones’ connection is excellent, but that the problem is actually at the source. For example, a computer with a damaged sound card will not provide sound to your headphones, even though you’re playing audio on the device.

How to fix it: The solution to this issue will be different depending on the root cause. So, that’s why you will want to troubleshoot it step by step.

Firstly, raise the volume at the source to see if you can hear anything at the headphones. Then, refresh the Bluetooth connection (if any) by disabling it for a minute and enabling it all over again.

On wired models, it’s crucial to inspect the entire length of the audio cable to see if there are any kinks, twists, or tears that might have caused the wiring inside to break.

Lastly, test the headphones with another source device. You might find that the first source was the problem and that the headphones work perfectly well with another audio source.

Sound Cuts In And Out

What happened: Wireless Audio-Technica headphones rely on a Bluetooth connection to the source device. Typically, this technology provides a very reliable connection. Sadly though, sometimes you might find that the sound cuts in and out instead of staying on continually.

If this happens to your Audio-Technica wireless headphones, then the problem is most likely related to their connectivity.

There are several conditions that can interrupt that Bluetooth connection and cause the sound to become intermittent, such as:

• Distance: The sound on your headphones will cut in and out if they are too far from the source. You must always stay within range, which is typically about 30 feet on a pair of Audio-Technica headphones using Bluetooth technology.
• Interference: Other wireless devices could also cause interference in the connection between the source and your headphones. That will lead to the sound getting affected. For instance, there might be other wireless headphones being used in the same room, as well as wireless routers and wireless remotes causing the same issue.
• Obstacles: Audio-Technica wireless headphones can work around obstacles between them and the source. However, some obstacles, like thick walls, doors, or other heavy objects, could make it difficult for the signal to travel to your headphones. As a result, the sound will become choppy.

How to fix it: The solution to this problem is to optimize your headphones’ connection to their source. Firstly, always stay within range of the headphones. Typically, that means staying within 30 feet of the source device.

Next, make sure that there are few or no large obstacles between your headphones and the source. For the best results, always make sure there’s a clear line of sight to the source, with nothing in between that might interfere with the signal.

Lastly, try your best to relocate any other wireless devices that might be in the same room. Items like wireless routers, for example, can be moved further away from your audio source.

Battery Issues

Battery Not Charging

What happened: Audio-Technica wireless headphones need to be recharged from time to time. However, you might find that the LED light doesn’t flash to indicate that it is indeed charging.

Firstly, the headphone batteries may be charging. However, the battery might be drained and the LED light will not start to flash until later.

Secondly, if you’ve waited for a long time and the headphones are still not charging, then there are a few other possible reasons.

Those reasons include:

• Damaged Charger: The charger or its cable might be damaged, preventing any power from flowing to your headphones’ battery.
• Computer Isn’t Charging: It’s common to charge your headphones by plugging them into your computer USB port. However, if the computer goes into Sleep, Hibernate, Standby, or a similar mode, it will not continue charging the headphones through the USB port.
• Faulty Battery: It’s also possible that the headphones’ battery is faulty. This issue is more likely on a pair of Audio-Technica headphones that you’ve been using for a long time. That’s because the battery would have experienced plenty of wear and tear at that point. So when that happens, the battery will lose its ability to recharge even though you’ve plugged in the charger.

How to fix it: Firstly, inspect your charger and its cable to ensure that they are in good working order. Damaged chargers and cables cannot be repaired, so you must replace them with brand new ones. Always remember that it’s best to use the original charger and cables from Audio-Technica, as they are explicitly designed to charge their headphones.

Next, when charging your Audio-Technica headphones through your computer USB port, always make sure that the computer won’t go into Standby or similar modes. These modes are designed to reduce power wastage by your computer, so they involve cutting off power to the USB port you use for charging.

Lastly, if you suspect that the battery is faulty, you should send the headphones for professional servicing. Audio-Technica advises against replacing the battery yourself and instead advises contacting your local Audio-Technica dealer for assistance.

Connectivity Issues

Unable To Pair With A Source Device

What happened: Audio-Technica wireless headphones connect with the source via Bluetooth technology. However, before you can connect the two together, they must first be paired. Essentially, that means registering the headphones to the source device and allowing for a trusted connection at any time.

However, you might find yourself having trouble pairing the headphones to the source device. On top of that, the source device, like your computer, might not be able to detect the headphones at all.

If that’s the case, there are several possibilities which include:

• Pairing Mode: If the source can’t detect the headphones or pair with them, the headphones are likely not in pairing mode.
• Distance: As mentioned earlier, Bluetooth headphones must be within range of the source for a clear connection. The same is also true when pairing the two together for the first time. When trying to pair your headphones, be sure to bring them within 3 feet of the source for the best results.
• Power: Drained headphone batteries can also affect the unit’s ability to pair with the audio source.
• Firmware: The functions of wireless headphones are controlled by built-in software, known as ‘firmware’. Like any other software, the firmware must be kept up-to-date to work out any bugs that might be affecting your Audio-Technica headphones’ connectivity.

How to fix it: To resolve this issue, first enter your headphones into pairing mode. You can do this by following these steps:

• Firstly, turn the headphones off.
• Next, turn the headphones back on again. 
• Press and hold the volume buttons (both + and -) simultaneously for 8 seconds, or until you hear a beep and see the white LED light blinking rapidly. That means the headphones are in pairing mode.
• Go to your source device (e.g. computer, TV, smartphone) and select your headphones from the device list. The headphones’ name on that list will be its model number.

At the same time, be sure to troubleshoot the other possibilities as well. That means charging the headphone battery to full, keeping it close to the audio source while pairing, and updating the firmware to the latest version available.