One side of my wired headphones keeps cutting out randomly. I've tried wiggling the cable near the jack and it seems to help sometimes, but I'm not sure if it's a real break inside or just a connection issue. Is there a way to test this before I buy new ones?
Don't assume it's just loose and keep tugging on the cable hard - that can actually cause internal damage if it's already compromised. The wiggle test you're already doing is honestly the best quick check: if sound cuts out when you bend the cable at specific points and comes back when you straighten it, that's almost definitely a break inside the wire rather than a loose connection. Try plugging the headphones into different devices to rule out a jack problem on your phone or computer, then gently test the cable along its entire length while music is playing to pinpoint exactly where it's damaged. If you find a consistent dead zone, the cable's toast, but if it seems random or only happens at the very end near the jack, sometimes cleaning the connection points with a bit of isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab can actually fix it.
Had this happen plenty of times and the wiggle test is your best bet - if sound comes back when you bend the cable near the plug or jack, it's almost certainly a loose connection or corrosion, not an internal break. Try plugging into a different device or cleaning the jack contacts with a dry cloth first; if that doesn't fix it, the cable's probably shot inside and replacement is your only real option.
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