How to Make Your Old Headphones Feel Brand New Again: Tips to Reignite Your Audio Love Affair

If you’re eyeing that shiny new pair of headphones but your current ones still work perfectly, hold up. Before you pull the trigger on an upgrade, there’s a good chance you can fall back in love with your existing pair—no buyer’s remorse required.

ZDNET’s Key Takeaways:

• Try these easy fixes before upgrading your headphones.
• Firmware updates can dramatically improve performance.
• Custom EQ settings can make your audio experience feel brand new.
• Spending intentional time with your current pair can rekindle your love for them.

New headphones hit the market constantly, and while the excitement of unboxing a fresh pair is real, the novelty fades fast—especially compared to other tech gadgets. Headphones tend to have a surprisingly long lifespan, so if you’re only considering an upgrade out of curiosity, it’s worth experimenting with your current pair first.

If your headphones are still comfortable, hold a solid charge, and deliver decent sound, but you’re just feeling a little bored, here’s how to reignite the spark.

Problem: Buggy, Low-Performing, or Connectivity Issues

Solution: Update Your Firmware

Headphone firmware updates don’t roll out often, but when they do, they can completely transform your experience in minutes. Firmware often includes updates to digital signal processing (DSP), which can improve frequency response, noise cancellation, Bluetooth stability, and battery efficiency.

After a firmware update, you might notice richer sound, smoother noise cancellation, clearer call quality, or a more natural transparency mode. The kicker? Your headphones won’t update themselves—you’ve probably missed the notification buried in the companion app.

So before blaming your aging gear, check for updates. You might find your “old” headphones suddenly feel like a premium upgrade.

Problem: They Sound Boring

Solution: Tinker with EQ

Listening to everything—music, podcasts, movies—with the same EQ settings can make your audio feel flat. But a well-tuned equalizer can unearth hidden layers in your favorite tracks or make dialogue in podcasts crystal clear.

Don’t let the numbers and sliders intimidate you. Even basic five- or six-band EQs can make a massive difference. Trust your ears—adjusted EQ settings can sometimes outperform a hardware upgrade, especially if you’re on a budget under $450.

Problem: You Can’t Stop Thinking About That New Pair

Solution: Spend One-on-One Time with Your Current Pair

When you first get new headphones, you pay close attention to how they sound and feel. But soon, they fade into the background as you multitask through your day.

After updating firmware and tweaking EQ, sit down and really listen—intentionally. Adjust the headband for optimal fit and position. Sometimes, all you need is a fresh listening session to remember why you loved them in the first place.

The Bottom Line

Headphone upgrades are often incremental, especially within the same brand. Apple’s AirPods Max (2020), Sony’s WH-1000XM4 (2020), and Bose’s QuietComfort 45 (2021) are perfect examples—they still serve their audiences exceptionally well, and updates only make them better. Ask anyone who owns them; they’ve had them for years and aren’t in a rush to upgrade.

Even the 2024 re-release of the AirPods Max kept the same hardware, only adding USB-C. Bose hasn’t changed its premium drivers since 2019, yet continues to release new models with the same core tech.

If your headphones are less than five years old, don’t rush to replace them. You might not need new hardware—just new experiences with your current pair. And when the time does come to upgrade, ZDNET has tested dozens of models and curated the best options available.

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