Reterminating Headphones to Balanced

Discussion in 'DIY' started by Luckbad, Jan 16, 2016.

  1. gepardcv

    gepardcv Almost "Made"

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    I'm looking for a PM3 to 4-pin XLR in 9-10ft length. Was thinking of making my own. The diagram looks great, just the information I need.
     
  2. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    Finding the right TRRS plug is the tricky part, since they need the longer shoulder to fit into the recessed jack in the cup.
     
  3. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

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  4. JewBear

    JewBear Almost "Made"

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    They are balanced internally. However it's nearly impossible to find an after market trrs cable that fits in the enclosure without paying for one custom made. Because the plug is recessed most of the TRRS cables on the market won't fit. This one worked for me, but it's trrs -> trrs and it just barely fits. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015BOXT3E/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
     
  5. gepardcv

    gepardcv Almost "Made"

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    Following up: I made a balanced cable for the PM-3. As per @fraggler's suggestion above, I ordered a basic TRRS connector and a slightly larger Eidolic from Norne audio. Both fit the PM-3, and the choice between them came down to which fits the cable better. I found a nice cable built on Canare microphone wire, pre-terminated with 4-pin Neutrik XLR connectors. After removing one of the XLRs, I soldered the appropriate wires to the TRRS connector following the diagram in @PoochZag's post. Because the cable is a bit thick, the Eidolic fit better (though I could have made the other one work, too). Works well.
     
  6. Mshenay

    Mshenay Barred from loaner program. DON'T SEND ME GEAR.

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    Can we see pictures of the build?
     
  7. gepardcv

    gepardcv Almost "Made"

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  8. Mshenay

    Mshenay Barred from loaner program. DON'T SEND ME GEAR.

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    yea that cable is pretty thick, but it looks good! How's the flexability
     
  9. frenchbat

    frenchbat Almost "Made"

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    It makes for good gym exercises mshenay but somehow I don't think that's what you where asking.

     
  10. Mshenay

    Mshenay Barred from loaner program. DON'T SEND ME GEAR.

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    Dude THANK you, you totally nailed it. I love using my detachable headphone cables to work my calves
     
  11. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

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    Jotunheim (Black!) in the house and I need to give it a proper test with balanced out.

    Two things I wanted a little clarification on before reterminating Sennheiser HD650 cables (I used to have an XLR cable that I had made for me, but sold it when I no longer had a balanced amp... I should probably just order a spare so I don't worry about effing something up, but I don't suck at soldering anymore):

    1) Teflon in the wire: I read that there's a strand of this in the wiring. I'm assuming this will be an obvious thing that I can just clip off or burn?
    2) Lacquer/enamel on the wire: Also read that there's some sort of enamel/lacquer that you have to deal with. I'm hoping I can just deal with this with a lighter or hot air gun rather than a solder pot since I don't have one.

    I asked this years ago on Changstar and I'm grabbing info from there:

    @Mr.Sneis said:
    @Marvey
    @JK47
     
  12. johnjen

    johnjen Doesn’t want to be here but keeps posting anyways

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    #1 Yeah the teflon strand won't be as shiny. ;)
    #2 There is actual enamel 'stripper' but it's way more hassle than burning it off.
    And for me, I like to use a medium to high powered solder gun, flux paste, and small gauge solder, since it will strip off the conformal coating and tin the wires, all at the same time.

    JJ
     
  13. BenjaminBore

    BenjaminBore Friend

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    That enamel is a git. First time around I actually tried to solder with it still on there :confused:

    Two things to bare in mind. Burning off the enamel will leave black residue, I used rubbing alcohol/surgical spirit to gently wipe the wire strands down and get some of it off without breaking them. The other thing is that if you try to be too thorough with the fire you'll char the incredibly thin wires, so less is more.

    The teflon string is in the core of the wiring, it can be snipped off quite easily. But be really careful with the wiring strands afterward as they're weak as shit without it.

    It's not too much trouble. That HD800 cable on the other hand :mad:
     
    Last edited: Aug 22, 2017
  14. Mr.Sneis

    Mr.Sneis Friend

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  15. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

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    All done.

    upload_2017-8-6_23-38-35.png

    Read this thread and this page: https://robrobinette.com/BalancedCable.htm#Sennheiser_HD

    Watched this:

    NOTE: This is 3 pin. It's worth watching just to see how it's done and how to get the parts assembled confidently.

    Checked for continuity half a dozen times at different steps to make sure I wasn't being stupid.

    Really not too hard.

    For the Sennheiser cable quirks, I used a utility lighter (long ones I use for the grill) that had a nice straight flame (almost like a butane torch but way less powerful). Used it as little as I could to get the enamel off the colored wires.

    From the two ground connections I had to unwind the copper a bit and separate the teflon out to cut it. Not really a problem, but those wires are pretty flimsy.

    To separate the sleeve from the internal wiring I just carefully cut with a wire cutter rather than trying to strip it.

    I cut ~8 inches from the original 1/4" connector so I can make an XLR->1/4" adapter. I didn't do it yet because I wanted to listen to the headphones. Edit: Did it because I was feeling less lazy tonight. Works great and means I don't have to swap the full cable for brief single-ended listening.
     
    Last edited: Aug 12, 2017
  16. wormcycle

    wormcycle Friend

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    Not sure if IEM balanced cables are discussed here, but I need 2.5 TRRS ER4SR cable and I wonder if anyone tried to re terminate the ER4SR SE cable. Their IEM side connectors do not look like "normal" MMCX, otherwise I would jut buy the cable.
     
  17. crazychile

    crazychile Eastern Iowa's Spiciest Pepper

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    I just bought a balanced cable from periaptcables.com for my HD-650 and they were very nice and very cheap. I even had them make an XLR female to 1/4 adapter so I could use the same cable on any amp.

    I also have TH-X00s. I would love to reterminate these to use the removable Sennheiser cable so that I can also use my new Periapt cable. I don't know if this is a bad idea or not for fit, but does anyone know a source for the Sennheiser HD-650 connections that attach directly to the ear cups?
     
  18. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

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    I haven't looked in a while, but they were basically not accessible for DIYers. Might be easier to install some 2.5mm or 3.5mm jacks on your TH-X00s and do a connector swap on your cable.
     
  19. crazychile

    crazychile Eastern Iowa's Spiciest Pepper

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    Thanks. That's what I suspected. I didn't care for the 2.5mm connector when I had a pair of HiFimans for a brief time, but Periapt makes replacement cables with the Audeze and ZMF 4 pin DINs, as well as one for 3.5mm Focals. I wonder if there is any advantage with either of those 2 connections, mainly regarding the simplicity of installing into the Fostex.
     
  20. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    You mean the little two pin plugs?

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/Gold-Plate...650-HD600-HD565-HD580-HD414-BLK-/272299951829
     

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