How to Test Ear Buds (That use either a 1/4″ or 1/8” TRS).
a) Turn the meter on, and set the meter to Ohms – the 200 or 2k (2000) setting.
b) Place the red meter lead on the “tip” of the connector, and the black meter lead on the “ring” of the connector. The meter should read anywhere from 20 ohms up to 80 ohms (depending on the set of Earbuds) – this is the total impedance of the Earbuds – the starting point for the following tests.
c) Place the red meter lead on the “tip” of the connector, and the black meter lead on the “sleeve” of the connector. Now the meter should read around “half” of the total impedance (Example: If the total impedance reading in b) is 62.2 ohms, you should now read around 32.5 ohms – around half of 62.2).
d) Now place the red meter lead on the “ring” of the connector, and the black meter lead on the “sleeve” of the connector. Now the meter should read around “half” of the total impedance, you should now read around 32.5 ohms as well. The “individual” ear piece readings will depend on the “total” reading you get with “b” (which is the total impedance of both ears).
e) If you read a “short” (000 or 000.1) or an “open” on any of the tests above then the Earbuds are defective (Short or Open could be both sides or just one side).
The measurement on “one” Ear Bud (above left) indicates a reading of 32.5 ohms. The measurement on both Ear Buds (above right) indicates a reading of 62.2 ohms (which is a little less than both Ear Buds added together but close to an “exact” reading of 65 ohms (32.5 x 2).
How to Test Earbuds – Video Clip!
If one (or both) of the Ear Buds read Open or Shorted, you can perform another test to check if the “cable” could be defective. First, attach the meter leads to the connectors “Tip and Ring,” then start wiggling/moving the cable around to see if it affects the meter reading. Also, “push and pull’’ on the cable closest to the Ear Buds to see if the meter reading changes as well. This is a standard process that helps locate any breaks in the cable.
