Why do my mini-plug ear buds not work on the gym sound equipment?

In My Humble Opinion
1

I have a standard pair of ear buds, they work fine with an iPod or my smart phone. But on the sound equipment (on the cardio machines) at my gym, the plug seems to be configured wrong. When it is all the way in, I hear the sound distantly and muffled, with a lot of static. If I pull the plug out part-way, I can hear the sound the way it’s supposed to be, but it won’t stay there, and I can’t hold it there while I work out. I don’t mind having a pair of ear buds just for the gym, if I could find ones that work.

I know you’re thinking that I should ask the staff. However, this is one of those gyms where the only people around are the entry-level youngsters who I would not expect to have this answer.

So I’m thinking that there is some fact well-known to others that I have just missed in my life, and one of you can fill me in. Could the gym equipment be monaural, and if so where am I going to find mono ear buds?

Anyone else have this experience, and/or have a clue about what’s going on?

2

Please excuse the stupid question, but are you pushing the plug in all the way? Is there something about the jack, the plug, or the material around either that is preventing full insertion?

3

WAG: There’s some lint or dust or spilled soda or something in the jack that’s preventing the plug from making a solid connection.

4

the jack on the equipment is probably broken. those 1/8" mini jacks are hilariously non-robust, especially with repeated connect/disconnect cycles.

5

OP seems to say that it is multiple machines. A mechanical fault in all of them is possible, but not likely. Try different headphones, or ask others how theirs work.

6

Do your headphones have a microphone or remote control buttons on the cord? Those ones have an extra section on the plug. In theory they work fine in a 3-section stereo socket, and vice versa, but sometimes they don’t quite line up properly.

7

Do your headphones have a remote control or a microphone on it? If it has 3 white/black stripes instead of 2, is it possible the gym’s machines are designed wrong and doesn’t accept it?

http://images.appleinsider.com/ipodiphoneav-review-5.jpg

8

This is the answer.

9

this is a good point. There are two different implementations of TRRS plugs/jacks, could be a mismatch.

10

Thank you, yes, my earbud jack has 3 black stripes, and there is a remote sound level control on it, which I never use so I forgot about it.

So now I know what kind of jack to look for. This is why I love the Dope.