You’ve dropped some serious cash on a new pair of speakers and headphones and suddenly things don’t sound like they’re supposed to. While it’s easy to blame your new device, it might actually be something you are doing wrong. I know, it’s not easy to hear, but if you’re headphones are always breaking or your speakers aren’t sounding as crisp as they should, they all have something in common: You!

Luckily, there’s a number of ways to extend the life of your bluetooth speakers and headphones.

Keep reading to find out ways to fix your common headphone and speaker mistakes:

1. Damaging the wires

Something I think we’re all a little guilty of is wadding up our headphones and stuffing them in our pockets when we’re done using them. Storing your headphones this way will create kinks and breakage points over time, even if the cords look undamaged there could be severed ligaments. To avoid this common mistake you need to learn to store the headphones properly by following the natural coils in the cable. Wind the cable in tidy, equally sized loops that follow the natural coil of the wiring. Another way to avoid destroying the wires is to instead purchase a pair of wireless headphones, such as the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones. These sleek and expensive-looking headphones are the best Bose headphones to date and offer top notch and adaptable noise cancelling abilities.

2. Poorly placed speakers

The most common speaker mistake that one can make is placing the speakers in the wrong location. Blocking the speakers with a plant, coffee table, or even placing the speakers on bookshelves will reduce the sound focus and clarity. To achieve the best sound results in a home theatre setting, the speakers should be symmetrical with the listener. Depending on your home theatre system and other factors, such as multiple seats and speakers, it is best to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. The Ultimate Ears (UE) Boom 2 offers immersive 360-degree sound that can fill every corner of the average room. This second generation speaker is louder than the original and is a great bargain for the price.

3. Not removing old bluetooth connections

If your phone is having trouble pairing with speakers or headphones, it’s most likely because it’s trying to connect with an older device. Some older bluetooth devices are very simple–they just try to connect with the last device that they were paired with. While that’s nice and easy, it can present problems when you have a new device to connect. If the speakers or headphones were once connected to another phone, turn off the other gadget and unpair it from other bluetooth devices to prevent further issues. You could even reset bluetooth on devices that connect to more than one device. The Bose SoundLink Revolve Portable Bluetooth Speaker offers swift pairing and automatically connects quickly with any smartphone. Though small in size, this bluetooth speaker delivers big and bold sound to keep you entertained for hours.

4.  Not spending enough

It’s a simple truth we’re all aware of as consumers: cheaper speakers and headphones cost less money to make and are often made with lower-grade materials. Electronics aren’t meant to last forever, but when they’re made of quality materials and components there’s a great chance that your devices will last longer. Don’t we all take extra care of something when we paid a lot of money for it? The same is true for headphones and speakers. Ultimately, go with what you can afford, but understand that you get what you pay for. The HiFiMan Ananda headphones will put you back around $1000, but they are known to have incredible sound detailing. These headphones aren’t just for gamers either, audiophiles will appreciate the accurate full tones and speed, lending itself to critical listening without the music becoming sterile or cold.

5. Blasting the volume

When your favorite song or the best scene in a movie comes on, it’s hard not to turn the volume up a little (or a lot!), but it’s going to damage the drivers. If the sound is suddenly distorted, regardless of the bass and volume levels, it’s likely that the speakers or headphones were blasted at a high volume. The only way to avoid this from happening is to keep the volume at a moderate level. Not only will this save your headphones and speakers, but it’ll save your hearing too. The Audeze Mobius headphones were designed for gaming, but that doesn’t mean that music-lovers won’t enjoy their quality. Their best feature is called “3D Audio”, which simulates a roomful of speakers, creating an immersive sound experience.