When Zunes Attack

February 3, 2008 by Lukas Gilkey
Filed under: Portable Audio



"If you believe you were injured by a Microsoft Zune malfunction and entitled to compensation, please report your claim now."

A 1st Gen Zune attack is creating a stir as a class action lawsuit has been initiated and a law firm has already jumped on board in hopes of getting their cut. Going by the report of the person behind the lawsuit, he says he received an electric shock and was then blasted by a loud noise from the earbuds. Sure it wasn't a Taser MP3 Player?

He goes on to say, "Since the incident, I've suffered blood and fluid leakage from my ear canal, impaired hearing, and incessant ringing and discomfort. I've been treated with vitamins, steroids, pain killers, sleep aids, anti-depressants, and other medications. All, to no avail."

The first question that comes to my mind is what sound levels are the factory Zune earbuds capable of producing? I seriously question if the Zune and earbuds could get loud enough to make someone's ears bleed.

Of course since the 1st Gen Zune hardware was made by Toshiba for Microsoft, the lawsuit is against both companies.

Source: Microsoft Zune Injuries
Source: Engadget
Comments (4)
Dave Kay 11 months and 1 week ago

That's why earbuds and canal sealing IEMs especially can be dangerous. They are so close to the ear drum and those super delicate bones and nerves in there that I don't think they have to reach the 140dB+ necessary by an outside source to cause instant hearing damage. Unfortunately if this guy's symptoms are true, all the drugs in the world aren't going to help. Tinnitus (the medical term for constant ringing) doesn't go away, and hearing doesn't come back. Take care of your ears, people!
JS20000 11 months and 1 week ago

The only way I can see this happening is if there was a direct short on the output of the amplifier and the signal hopped straight to the voltage rails. A lot of headphone amplifiers for mass production will not have supply voltages surpassing 3.0V these days; the sensitivity of headphones/earbuds are rated on a scale that is 1/1000 the power level of ordinary loudspeakers so it only takes several milliwatts to achieve 120+dB levels (A-weighted). Any signal level above 125-130dB (especially with earbuds) can cause instant damage, no matter how fast you can yank off those earbuds.

This is a good ol' fashioned class action lawsuit; the attorneys will make a killing and everyone else gets shafted (including the original litigant).
Dave Kay 11 months and 1 week ago

Indeed if the settlement is anything like other recent class actions, the law firm will get $50 million, and the plaintiffs will get new Zune 2s, and three free songs!
JS20000 11 months and 6 days ago

I'm fairly certain the last thing that deaf guy wants is another Zune.
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