What you describe sounds like a grounding issue. Possibly the mic and gnd pins swapped around.
And another models, like the WH-701 from nokia if you plug them, the phone will no recognise them and the music will come through the speakers, but if you plug only the first part of the plug and leave it for a second, a headphone icon should appear on the status bar of the phone then you can plug them for complete and the will work