My dad, right, he’s got these Sennheiser Radio Frequency wireless headphones what have started “crackling” instead of working. He reckons he’s had them a “few years” which could mean as long ago as they were invented (he recently expressed dignified outrage that his electric shower conked out after a mere fifty-one years of operation – and that the firm could no longer supply replacement parts for that model – so much for modern customer service). So he’s had the same (rechargeable) batteries in there since he bought them. Before he orders up a new pair of cans from Amazon, my question to you is: could the batteries have effectively “died” after such a long period in use, and could that produce the “crackling” he hears? There is no audible signal from the transmitter/recharger device on which he “docks” the phones when not in use.

I have suggested he try a new pair of batteries but he’s convinced he knows all about wireless technology having designed carburettor parts for Lagonda between the wars and is disinclined to take my advice on anything. If you, dear reader, can say there is a possibility that dead batteries could conceivably produce the unwanted effect » Continue Reading.