Why is the hinge broken and how to fix it?
The hinge snapped. A classic. This is one of those things that unites VMK25 owners and Sony users – surprisingly large forces act on the hinges of over-ear headphones, especially if your head is a bit wider than average or the headphones live in a backpack without a case. Don’t worry. We have our own service and spare parts for this.
What went wrong?
The hinge of the VMK25 is plastic, as in practically all headphones in this price range. Plastic withstands years of normal use, but it has its limits. Typical hinge killers:
- In a backpack without a case. Books, water bottles and laptops press the hinge in directions it was not designed to bend.
- Big head, little adjustment range. If the headphones are constantly stretched to their limit, the hinge is under chronic stress.
- A drop. One well-placed hit to the floor is enough.
- Freezing cold. Plastic becomes brittle in the cold. In Finland this is relevant information for about seven months of the year.
The hinge can snap completely, or a small plastic retaining piece can come off, causing the cup to hang sadly. Both cases are repairable.
How to fix it
A tape hack will keep the headphones together in an emergency, but it’s not a long-term solution. There are two options:
Option 1: Order a spare part and fix it yourself
- Go to https://valco.fi and look for VMK25 spare parts
- Order the correct hinge part (check which side: left or right)
- Replacement can be done at home with basic tools – no special engineering degree required
Option 2: Send it to us for repair
- Take a photo of the damage and find your order number
- Send both to info@valco.fi
- Our service team in Kajaani will assess the situation and advise on the next steps
- Warranty repair is free if the headphones are less than 24 months old and it’s not an obvious "I drove a tractor over them" situation
Out of warranty? If the headphones are over two years old or the damage clearly results from an external impact, the repair package costs – but considerably less than new headphones. We repair, we don’t throw them away.
If that doesn’t help
If you can’t find the spare part in the store or you’re not sure which part is broken, send us an email at info@valco.fi. Include a photo and your order number. Hannes and the rest of the crew in Kajaani have seen all sorts of things – we’ll get these fixed.
If the VMK25 has already seen enough life that repairing it doesn’t feel sensible, it’s worth taking a look at the VMK25.2. The same familiar design, but the innards have been updated. And yes, every purchase funds our Death Star by about 0.000001 percent. A small contribution to galactic security.
