I recently bought a used paid of meze 99 classics, intending to use them mainly as overkill cans for gaming. But the noise isolation is so good that even moving my jaw or tensing jaw muscles slightly causes an annoying low frequency bubbling/creaking that's too loud to be ignored in my left ear. I could find scarce information about this problem on google and it doesn't even seem to have a name. I think it should be called "biophonics".

The whole reason I bought closed backs was to not hear the hum of my PC while playing games, but the "biophonics" have proven to be much more annoying. And since I'm an idiot I slightly damaged the headphones aesthetically so I don't think I could justify even trying to return them for a full refund. The Mezes actually sound incredible for what I wanted them for so this is all pretty depressing.

Any advice would be appreciated a lot. I tried clearing the wax in m left ear which helped a little, but didn't fix it.

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TagalogON t1_ja8mltw wrote on February 27, 2023 at 5:35 PM

#2,063,753

That's normal, it's like crinkling, tinnitus, blood rush, etc. that people hear when using closed back headphones or IEMs and TWS earbuds, and so on. That's part of why some people can't use Etymotics (basically best noise reduction/isolation available, often on sale too) as it makes them too conscious of their breathing, heart beat, etc. and they don't think they can get used to it (the hyperawareness disappears over time).

If you describe it as creaking with the jaw, search up TMJ issues.

Earwax, hearing health, et cetera with Etymotics and other bullet style IEMs: https://www.reddit.com/r/HeadphoneAdvice/comments/10iwqmt/does_insertion_depth_affect_volume/j5ifw7r/ and https://www.reddit.com/r/HeadphoneAdvice/comments/11d8pns/buying_highend_headphones_with_tinitus/ja7u9ii/

To not hear the hum of the PC, you can try getting aftermarket case fans for your computer case and also your GPU and CPU.

I use Noctua NF-A12x25 PWM for basically everything, but that's only because I'm really sensitive to noises. Most people will be fine with the Arctic P12 PWM PST (5 Pack), just be aware of certain RPM ranges with that particular case fan.

FYI, the cooler your room is, the less revving up and down that your computer case fans and GPU/CPU cooler fans will do (especially when under sustained load from high framerate/resolution), so just be aware of the overall ambient temperature.

If you are encountering actual coil whine or buzzing from the GPU/CPU, you can change the coolers and fans for those. If you are hearing buzzing from the hard drive, there's 1TB/etc. NVMe SSDs or the older SATA SSDs for real cheap these days and it looks like they'll keep getting cheaper for the near future, so no need to hear noises from the hard drive, get one of those external hard drive docks/readers/instead if you want to access your excess media.

Open back headphones and solutions to PC noises: https://www.reddit.com/r/HeadphoneAdvice/comments/xpa9zd/pc_noise_with_open_back_headphones/iq2znjn/

Basically search up Noctua fans. Specifically the Noctua NF-A12x25 PWM fans.

These days there's the Thermaltake ToughFan 12, Phanteks T30-120, etc. that are a bit cheaper/better/etc. compared to Noctua. The Arctic P12 PWM PST (5 Pack) is still the best value, just be aware of the annoying resonance range, it's like ~1000RPM.

How to maybe soundproof your room for better noise reduction/isolation: https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/10epr17/struggling_to_enjoy_my_headphones_in_noisy/j4t4qaw/

If you get (legit, the expensive heavy ones, not the light/cheap/etc. ones) blackout curtains and tape them, it should do some changes. Though actually even using those plastic film thermal insulation kits did nicely as the vacuum seal on the window reduced the sound a lot.

Those thermal insulation kits will help a lot with not needing to run the air conditioner (or heater) all the time, you can keep it on a timer if your AC unit has that option. Just make sure to achieve that good/perfect vacuum seal with the windows when it comes to taping it. There's also those door draft stopper or like foam you put at the bottom of the door, those can actually help quite a bit too with retaining the heat/cold, believe it or not.

Old school earbuds, earphones, et cetera are having a resurgence right now, more info here alongside microphonics, background static, occlusion effect, et cetera: https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/119tndv/please_explain_inear_to_me/j9o244r/

The above thread link talks about ANC or that noise reduction/isolation.

You might also want to try lessening the clamping force of the headphones, see below.

For comfort with headphones, if you have a big head, ear piercings, glasses, et cetera, basically anything that will interfere with the seal/fit of the earpads, here's more info about headphones and glasses and workarounds it: https://www.reddit.com/r/HeadphoneAdvice/comments/zkjjcu/are_there_any_headsetsphones_that_are/j00kjt2/

G-fool OP t1_ja8z07s wrote on February 27, 2023 at 6:53 PM

#2,067,056

Replying to TagalogON (#2,063,753)

Very thorough response. Sadly I think I've already done most everything I can. I already use third party fans and run them at a low rpm. I have a dedicated ductless AC just for my gaming space which is itself whisper quiet. If anything my experience with closed back has helped me appreciate just how not bad a time I was having with the open backs I was already using. It might might be because I'm autistic, or because I have OCD, but the groaning and creaking of my left jaw muscle is actually so bad in my left ear it starts to cause mild pain. I don't think I could ever get used to it. Makes me appreciate the soft, consistent hum of the PC by contrast.

The fact the problem is only in one ear makes me think you might be onto something when it comes to TMJ. The problem with the Mezes is you can't really change the clamping force at all. They're elastic and I'm not sure I want to risk damaging them by trying to stretch them out. I'd consider looking for different pads for them, but anything less isolating would kind of defeat the point.

The one silver lining is they seem great for listening to music, since that more consistently drowns out the jaw noise.

Thanks for your help. If you think of anything else, please let me know.

Edit: I should clarify I don't think I'm hearing my heartbeat. I'm hearing rapid pulsing whenever I move my jaw, on my left side. This does not seem like vascular noise.

dimesian t1_jaa0a8f wrote on February 27, 2023 at 10:51 PM

#2,077,521

If you ignore the noise you may eventually stop noticing it all together, by eventually I mean in a day or two. I remember when in ear headphones became popular a few decades ago that noise was a common complaint, people got used to them, the noise is obviously still there but it doesn't get their attention. The brain is very good at tuning out noise that doesn't require attention, if you let it.

G-fool OP t1_jaa5njz wrote on February 27, 2023 at 11:28 PM

#2,079,071

Replying to dimesian (#2,077,521)

I’ve actually had the pair for three or four days and I seem to notice it more and more. They’re excellent for music but for gaming the volume is really inconsistent leaving many annoying quiet patches, and my jaw tends to twist around like crazy when I’m concentrating.

What I’m wondering is would it be crazy to look for some less isolating pads? Might they even exist at all?

justacubr t1_jaairh8 wrote on February 28, 2023 at 1:01 AM

#2,083,021

For me It only happens sometimes when I use IEMs, and it usually goes away after a while if I stop paying attention to it

G-fool OP t1_jaaka8h wrote on February 28, 2023 at 1:13 AM

#2,083,477

Replying to justacubr (#2,083,021)

My problem is it's so inconsistent. It completely changes depending on how I hold my jawbone so it flares on and off constantly since I can't keep still. I'm gonna' try and ignore it, but it's hard, I'm kind of a perfectionist.

_maple_panda t1_jabnlow wrote on February 28, 2023 at 7:00 AM

#2,094,600

For really detailed listening, I’ll lie in bed to stabilize my body. Give that a try maybe.

G-fool OP t1_jae3ubp wrote on February 28, 2023 at 7:50 PM

#2,120,996

Replying to _maple_panda (#2,094,600)

Listening I can do anywhere. In fact I'll probably just stick to listening on the mezes. I thought they'd be better for gaming than listening, but dang, I'm starting to think closed backs don't get the love they deserve. Everything is so crisp.