So the power button either got stuck or stopped responding. That's a bummer, but it's not the end of the world. We fix things here – we don't chuck them in the bin.
What went wrong?
The VMK25's MFB button (the big one in the middle on the right side) is a mechanical switch. Mechanical switches can handle tens of thousands of presses, but sometimes they break. There are a few reasons:
- Normal wear and tear. The switch has reached the end of its lifespan. It happens.
- Impact or drop. The headphones fell off a desk, out of a bag, or from a pocket and the button took a hit.
- Dirt in the mechanism. Dust, sand, or other gunk got under the button and jammed it.
This is a purely mechanical fault, so software updates or resets won't help. But let's check a couple of things before you send anything anywhere.
Try these first
If the button doesn't respond at all (headphones won't turn on), try the following:
- Plug in a USB-C charging cable. If the charging light comes on, the battery isn't the problem. If it doesn't, let the headphones charge for at least 15 minutes – a completely dead battery might not show the indicator light straight away.
- Try a 3.5mm AUX cable. Plug the cable in and unplug it. This resets the Bluetooth circuit. If the headphones come back to life with the AUX cable but the power button still doesn't work, the fault is definitely in the button.
- Feel the button. Does it feel mechanically normal? Does it press down and spring back up? If the button is physically stuck or loose, it's broken and no home remedy is going to fix it.
If the headphones work with an AUX cable but the power button is dead, you won't be using them wirelessly. They need to go in for repair.
If nothing helps
Fixing the power button is a repair job. Here's what to do:
- Take a photo of the issue – show the button in a close-up so our repair team can see the situation beforehand.
- Dig up your order number – it's in the order confirmation email. If you bought them from a brick-and-mortar store, a purchase receipt will do.
- Send both to info@valco.fi – and briefly describe what's wrong while you're at it.
If the headphones are less than 24 months old, the warranty covers the fault and we'll fix them free of charge. The warranty period is counted from the date of purchase. If the warranty has expired, we'll offer a repair package – it costs a fraction of what new headphones would.
Our repair shop is in Kajaani. Jasse and the rest of the crew will swap the switch and test the headphones before sending them back. Usually the whole thing is sorted in just over a week.
What about the boom mic?
If you've also been thinking about a wired boom microphone for the VMK25, it's unfortunately sold out and there's no new batch coming. You'll just have to survive the open office without it – or consider the VMK25.2, which has a wireless boom microphone available as an accessory.
A broken power button is annoying, but fixable. That's why we make headphones that can be repaired. The Death Star's gotta be funded somehow – and we'd rather do it with repair fees than by making you buy a whole new pair.
