Earbuds are tiny miracle boxes packed with more tech than Apollo 11. Sometimes they get confused. Usually the problem is that the left and right buds have lost each other like a couple in Ikea – both think they're right and refuse to talk to the other one.
Good news: this is almost always fixed with a reset. Bad news: you'll have to pair the earbuds again. You'll survive.
What went wrong?
On the NL25, the right bud is the so-called primary earbud – it handles the Bluetooth connection to your phone or computer. The left bud connects to the right one. If this internal pairing chain breaks – say, because the buds didn't go into the case at the same time, the battery died mid-session, or the Bluetooth gods were in a bad mood – the result is chaos.
Typical symptoms:
- Only one bud connects, the other does nothing
- The case yells "pairing" in English like a tour guide in Rome
- Both buds work, but not together
- Audio crackles or cuts out in one bud
Sometimes the problem is also that the earbuds are trying to connect to some other device – your work laptop, tablet, or your neighbour's phone. Bluetooth is loyal to whoever it connected to last.
How to fix it
1. Factory reset (fixes 90% of problems)
- Put both buds in the case
- Open the case lid (the opening groove is on one side – don't rip it open from the hinge)
- Hold the case button down for 5 seconds
- The buds will reset to factory settings
2. Pair again
- Remove "Valco NL25" from your phone's Bluetooth settings entirely – don't just disconnect, remove the device from the list
- Open the case lid with the buds inside
- The earbuds will enter pairing mode automatically
- Find "Valco NL25" in your phone's Bluetooth menu and connect
3. If you use multiple devices (phone + computer)
The NL25 remembers multiple devices, but switching isn't always smooth. If the connection acts up after switching:
- Turn off Bluetooth on the device you're not currently using
- Connect to the device you want
- This isn't a bug, it's a fundamental Bluetooth feature that's annoying on every brand's earbuds
4. Check the contacts
If the buds aren't charging in the case, check the charging pins inside the case and on the bottom of the buds. Pocket lint and earwax are the enemies of electronics. Clean them with a dry cotton swab.
Bonus tip: if the earbuds are brand new, check that there isn't still a protective film on the contacts. That needs to come off before use.
If nothing helps
If after the reset one bud is still silent as a fish or crackles like an old radio, it might actually be a hardware fault. Get in touch with us at info@valco.fi – include your order number and a photo of the earbuds. Our service team in Kajaani will sort it out. We don't throw earbuds in the bin here.
Warranty covers 24 months. If you're still within the warranty period, the repair won't cost you a thing.
And remember – every support request takes us one step further from the Death Star, so give that reset a go first.
