My A8s must have been listening. While I extolled their virtues in the Serenata thread, they decided to break on me. A wire has come loose from the plug meaning I'm only getting sound from one ear. They've served me faithfully for nearly five years. I'm going to take them into my dealer tomorrow. Can they be repaired easily?

Would it be cheaper to buy new A8's than repair them? Of course, that would depend on what needs fixing exactly, and how much skill and time the technician would need to use. Besides, how much is your time worth, which brings me back to: would it be cheaper to buy new A8's then to repair an out of warranty unit?

-Sal

Yeah I was wondering that. I do hate having to buy afresh when all that's wrong is a loose connection though. There's nothing wrong with the earphones themselves. I'll see what my dealer says

In the Serenata thread Alex mentioned this:

"You have to get new A8s with the modified plug so the fit." 

This was in reference to the plug not fitting in the recessed headphone port of the iPhone.. My current A8s have a plug that's too big to fit. 

Have the A8s been updated since 2002 when I bought my pair? If so, do they have an updated plug and, hopefully, a more flexible resilient wire.

 Anyone bought a new pair recently that can see a diffrerence?

jonnyb:

My A8s must have been listening. While I extolled their virtues in the Serenata thread, they decided to break on me. A wire has come loose from the plug meaning I'm only getting sound from one ear. They've served me faithfully for nearly five years. I'm going to take them into my dealer tomorrow. Can they be repaired easily?

It is an easy repair, although something that perhaps many dealers will not take on.  You will probably need a new lead, they are about £18 from memory but the big question is what will your dealer charge for the labour.  This will really change from store to store, some will return them to Gloucester and some will repair on site, in reality it takes less than 30 mins to do.

Well, £35 for parts and labour which is definitely better than £95  for a new pair I suppose - but 14 days without my A8s! I had thought I'd make do with the stock ipod earbuds in the meantime but I just had a listen and I'd forgotten how horrendous they were. At least i've got my Sony Eggos - a bit bulky but they sound good.

 

My dealer repair my A8(free), but the sound was not good for him(without bass) and give me other new A8 free. So I have 2 pair of A8 and one was free.

I would like to know how easy the A8's are the take apart at the earphones, as I am intending on replacing the cable with the iPhone mic cable. I have already done this with my Etymotics in preparation but that was a much easier task.

 

Nicholas