From Stands to Storage Cases: Storing Headphones & Portable Audio Gear
Summary:
Proper storage is essential for protecting your high-end audio gear and maximizing its performance and lifespan. Whether you’re at home or traveling, using purpose-built accessories like padded cases and headphone stands prevents physical damage and exposure to harmful elements like heat and humidity. With the right storage solutions, your headphones, DAPs, and cables will stay in top condition for years of immersive listening.
- Use headphone stands to prevent ear pad damage and cable strain.
- Padded audio cases are ideal for protecting gear during travel or storage.
- Avoid heat, humidity, and direct sunlight to preserve long-term performance.
- Store cables in labeled pouches or anti-static wraps to prevent damage.
- Try storage options like the iFi iTraveller Case or Omega Wood Headphone Stand for practical and stylish protection.
Audiophiles care about their audio gear. From the time spent researching the best options to the investment and the immersive listening experiences that only high-end equipment can deliver, there are plenty of good reasons why discerning listeners want to protect their gear.
Even the best gear won’t deliver optimal results after it’s suddenly damaged or slowly worn out. That’s why it’s so important to actively protect your gear when it’s not in use with accessories like audio equipment cases. That’s especially true for equipment that travels with you and is exposed to all the potential hazards outside of your home.
Proper storage can help your audiophile gear last longer. That means not only a better return on your investment but also more reliable headphones, cables, and other audio gear. In other words, you can count on gear that’s stored correctly to deliver high-quality audio for a long time to come.
So, where should you start when it comes to storing your audiophile gear? From audio equipment cases for traveling to headphone stands on your desk at work and home, there are solutions. Use our expert guidance to keep your portable audio gear safe, no matter where you travel!
Why Safe Storage for Audio Gear Matters
Convincing audiophiles to protect their gear isn’t a particularly hard argument to make.
You know how much you love the high-quality, immersive, detailed sound that comes from high-end gear. Keeping that equipment in the best possible shape means you can continue to enjoy that audiophile-grade audio without the need to frequently replace expensive gear or change your setup.
And, on a more practical but no less important level, you know that your gear represents a significant investment, too. The cost of your equipment, from headphones to speakers and everything in between, is likely substantial. So, it only makes sense to protect it.
Protecting your gear so you can use it for a longer period of time and continue to get the best possible performance makes an awful lot of sense.
So, we won’t dive deep into an argument for protecting your headphones, cables, digital audio players (DAPs), and more. You get it, we get it, so let’s focus on something that can help you: Recognizing all the ways in which audio gear is exposed to potential damage.
By understanding the risks that your gear faces, it’s easier to plan for protecting it and know when some extra care is needed. Let’s take a closer look at when and why audio equipment cases and similar protective accessories matter the most.
Protection from Physical Damage
No one wants their finely tuned, precisely engineered gear to suffer through a fall or other impact that can damage or dislodge sensitive components like headphone drivers and the circuitry within a DAP. So, be especially careful of impacts, drops, and knocks.
Travelling leads to plenty of opportunities for these issues, whether it’s a daily commute or a flight to a vacation destination. It’s crucial to have the right audio equipment storage, like padded cases and other protective accessories, that can stand up to accidental impacts.
If you use active-noise-cancelling (ANC) headphones while flying or commuting, for example, it’s especially important to protect the sensitive (and incredibly useful) ANC technology on the inside. Otherwise, you’re left with headphones that won’t perform nearly as well in terms of keeping outside noise at bay.
Even while you’re at home, in an environment that you control and where there are fewer outside factors in play, physical damage can be an issue, too. It’s all too easy for a pair of headphones left on the edge of a desk to be accidentally knocked to the floor by a minor bump or jostle.
Additionally, dust, pet hair, and other contaminants can make their way into gear that’s best kept secured from the outside world (or the inside world, for that matter) when not in use. Audiophile headphone stands, cases, and similar accessories are all worthwhile investments, even when your gear mostly or always sits at home.
A sound system holder is often enough for static gear that’s designed to be left exposed, like many amps, speakers, and music streamers. As Future Audiophile explains, dependable purpose-built audio racks and audio equipment stands offer stability and vibration control.
Preserving Performance Over Time
Humidity, heat, direct and prolonged exposure to sunlight – these issues can all degrade your gear significantly faster than normal wear and tear. Sun exposure can warp plastic parts or damage leather and foam padding, while consistently high humidity can corrode metal connectors and cables.
Audio equipment cases and similar accessories do a lot of heavy lifting in terms of preserving performance. However, it’s also important to consider where you keep your gear and what it can be exposed to in those locations.
You should aim to keep the location where immobile gear stays dry and at a mild temperature. Occasional sun exposure is fine, especially when you’re in the room with your gear, but keep the blinds or curtains drawn when possible.
Best Practices for Storing Headphones, DAPs, and Audio Cables
Now that you have a clearer understanding of the risks, what should you do to protect your gear? How can you help it stay safe so it can keep delivering the audiophile experiences that you love?
Here are our tips for storing some of the most frequently used audiophile gear. These tips can help you avoid having to troubleshoot common audio issues by keeping your equipment in good working order. And, if you need guidance on getting your audio gear ready for a move, Pro Movers Miami offers some in-depth advice on packing home audio equipment.
Keeping Headphones Safe and Secure: Over-Ear, On-Ear, and In-Ear Monitors (IEMs)
Our top tip for on-ear and over-ear headphones is to store them on a sturdy wooden headphone stand, or other type of headphone stand, when not in use. Proper use of a headphone stand can also help to avoid damage to headphone cables, which we’ll focus on later in this section.
These stands are designed to distribute the weight of the headphones across the headband, preventing the stretching and distortion that can be caused by a hook or similar tool. A sharp or narrow hook can also tear, deform, or permanently indent padding, so they’re best avoided.
As for IEMs, store them in their storage case or purchase one to protect them from dust, heat, humidity, and other hazards.
Additionally, keep your headphones out of direct sunlight and place them away from heat sources, like radiators and vents.
These are great tips for keeping headphones safe at home, but what about traveling with headphones?
When they’re not in use, the ideal storage solution for audiophile headphones is a padded audio equipment case with a snug fit and hard exterior. If there’s any risk of the cans being exposed to moisture or humidity, and there often is, put a few silica gel packets in the case to absorb excess moisture.
Finally, don’t tightly wrap hard-wired headphone cables around the headphones. Instead, use Velcro bands or cable wraps to avoid too much tension or stress on the cables.
Digital Audio Players (DAPs) & Portable DACs/Amps
Protecting DAPs and portable DAC/amp units isn’t very difficult with the right audio equipment storage options. A dedicated storage drawer with foam padding, or a storage pouch that offers some protection from drops and other impacts, are options to consider along with audio equipment cases.
One of the best things you can do to keep this gear safe in storage is to avoid stacking it without proper protection. Foam and other types of cushioned dividers help to reduce the pressure placed on gear at the bottom of the stack. So, give each piece of equipment its own space in a drawer or on a shelf, or use cushioned dividers when space is at a premium.
Here’s one more key tip to help preserve battery life and optimal function for DAPs and other gear that needs to be charged. Ensure batteries are about halfway charged – around 50%, although you don’t need to hit that exact number – before putting them into long-term storage.
Cables & Connectors
Even the highest quality cables and connectors can get damaged without proper care. Fortunately, there are simple solutions for storing cables and keeping them safe when not in use.
Labeled pouches for individual audio cables or cases with built-in cable loops are both effective options for protecting cables in storage. When they are in use, magnetic clips and cable trays can help to keep them from tangling in places without much extra space.
Make sure to avoid tight loops and extreme bends when coiling cables, especially near the connectors. Applying too much force to cables in storage can reduce their useful life and degrade the quality of audio they can provide.
What about cables that are only occasionally used, but you still want to protect? Find a dry place that isn’t exposed to direct sunlight, ideally a drawer, and use anti-static bags or wraps for each cable.
Recommended Audio Equipment Cases & Storage Solutions
At Moon Audio, we don’t only offer audiophile-grade equipment for immersive, rich, and incredible listening experiences – we also provide audio equipment cases and storage solutions that keep your gear safe and ready to go!
Here are some of our favorite storage options for high-quality audio gear.
Sieveking Sound Omega Wood Headphone Stand
A perfect way to display your audiophile headphones and protect them when not in use is the Omega Wood Headphone Stand. The design exerts even pressure across the earpads, helping them hold their shape to avoid deformation.
This design supports most headphones, including lighter and heavier models, and comes in four finishes to make it easy to match other decor. Simple and durable, the Omega Wood Headphone Stand is popular among our customers because it keeps their favorite headphones secure in the long run.
iFi iTraveller Case
Designed to carry a full set of audiophile gear on the go, the iTraveller Case features convenient compartments and secure Velcro straps that keep everything in its place. It fits a wide range of IEMs, portable DACs, power banks, smartphones, DAPs, cables, and adaptors.
Lightweight and water-resistant (with a waterproof zipper), it also features connection ports that allow you to use your gear without removing it from the case. Removable partitions allow you to fit a wider range of gear within, keeping it safe no matter where you go.
Meze Audio Manta Headphone Stand
The Manta Headphone Stand offers an elegant and aesthetically pleasing solution for headphone storage while still keeping headphones safe and secure. The folding fin offers an easy solution for cable management. The padded headphone rest, meanwhile, distributes weight from the headband across the stand, avoiding damage and deformation.
As much a display piece as a practical headphone stand, the Manta offers a stable and safe place to keep your cans when not in use.
Cayin IEM or DAP Leather Carrying Case
Enjoy high-resolution listening on the go with this IEM or DAP Leather Carrying Case. With space for both IEMs or earbuds and your DAP, you can keep your essential gear safe while traveling, commuting, and much more. The firm exterior and padded interior provide excellent protection. The leather finish helps this case stay effective for years to come.
Chord Electronics Qutest Stand
The Qutest DAC and the Huei Phono Preamplifier offer a stackable, stable, and elegant solution designed for the Chord Anni Desktop Integrated Amplifier. The Qutest Stand keeps these devices stable on your desktop and is modular. Purchase one, two, or three for a single stack that cools and offers easy access to connectors as it stabilizes and protects!
Moon Audio Helps You Protect Your Audiophile Gear
Find headphone stands, leather cases, and more audio accessories at Moon Audio!
