The headphones sound like a neighbor’s radio through a wall—you can hear that something is happening, but you can’t quite make it out. Your phone’s volume is maxed out and it still feels like you’re listening to music from under a pillow. A familiar problem, and usually easy to fix.
Why is the sound so quiet?
By far the most common cause is earwax. The buds sit deep in the ear canal, and the mesh over the sound port collects wax and dirt with use. Even a thin layer is enough to noticeably muffle the sound, even with the phone at full volume.
The other cause is in your phone's settings. You can't adjust the volume from the NL21 buds themselves, the level always comes from the phone. So check the media volume and make sure there's no volume limiter active. The factory protective sticker on the contact surfaces, meanwhile, only affects charging, not sound.
A third possibility: the ear tip is blocking the sound port. If the tip is the wrong size or not seated properly, it can press over the sound tube and effectively dampen the sound.
How to fix it
- Clean the sound port. Remove the silicone tip and look at the small mesh filter at the end of the bud. If you see earwax or dirt, brush it away gently with a dry, soft brush. Don't poke anything sharp into the mesh.
- Turn up your phone's volume. You can't adjust the volume from the NL21 buds, so the level comes entirely from the phone. Turn the media volume up to maximum and make sure your playback app's own volume control is up too.
- Try a different size tip. Remove the silicone tip, wash it with warm water and mild soap, let it dry fully, and press it back into place. Also try a different size, the package comes with more than one.
- Reset the earbuds. Put the buds in the case, connect the charging cable, and hold the touch panel on both buds for 5 seconds. The blue light will flash once. After this, pair the earbuds with the phone again.
- Check the phone’s settings. On iPhone, go to Settings > Music > Volume Limit and make sure there’s no limiter enabled. Also check Settings > Sounds to ensure Headphone Safety isn’t turned on.
If one bud is clearly quieter
If only one bud plays more quietly, there may be a blockage in the sound tube. Earwax is an ingenious enemy—it finds its way where it shouldn’t. Gently clean the mesh of the sound tube with a dry, soft brush. Don’t push anything sharp in there.
If the difference is large and cleaning doesn’t help, the driver may be the problem. Then it’s time for service.
If nothing helps
Sometimes electronics just decide to act up. If you tried all of the above and the sound still feels like you’re listening to a concert from the parking lot, send us a message at info@valco.fi. Give us your order number and describe the issue. A fault covered by the warranty is handled as a warranty replacement: you get a working unit in its place. Broken buds get recycled for spare parts, we don't toss headphones in the trash.
And remember—every contact brings us 0.000001% closer to the Death Star.
