Yuin Pk3 recable - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio

micl · 01-16-2008, 05:41 AM

hey guys/gals,
1st post

,
i was trying to find info on opening up the pk3 earbuds as they seem to be harder to get off then most earbuds. i wanted to switch the cables with stock ksc75 cables because the stock pk3 j-wire is too short and just not working for me. i even tried using a little eyeglass screwdriver to pop them out but to no avail, has anyone opened them successfully without ruining the case?
tia,
-mike

tstarn06 · 01-16-2008, 12:03 PM

Just get a cable extender, that's what I use, with no discernable difference in SQ.

kamal007 · 01-16-2008, 01:27 PM

interesting, if you're able to pop up the pk3 let me know cos im getting tired of the j cord.

micl · 01-18-2008, 12:53 AM

update: i managed to do it, i used a little eyeglass flathead to pry it loose, as it was glued in, the rest was pretty easy, but you will need glue to put them back together. i'm no expert so i can't comment on sq. it's a lot better as i don't need the foamies to keep them in my ear now and i also won't have to carry my iphone in my breast pocket because the cord is so much longer now.
pics:

kamal007 · 01-18-2008, 01:17 AM

why wont you be needing the foamies anymore? did you do some kind of mod other than recabling.

good job btw. im tempting to do the same but my soldering skill is not that good

micl · 01-18-2008, 01:45 AM

i don't need the foamies because the buds can stay in my ear since the cord is longer and not constantly being pulled on like with the j-cord, the j-cord would have been ok if it weren't so short that i couldn't have my source in my pant pocket. i am only 5'9 the cord should not be that short imo. luckily it is winter and i have my coat for the breast pocket, but for the summer, i am glad that i did this mod. the soldering part is not that hard just practice a bit i am sure you can probably get it on the first try.

Trippytiger · 01-18-2008, 02:11 AM

You don't find that they sound better with the foamies? Every earbud I've tried improved with foamies on, including the PK3.

I'm also really surprised that the cord was too short for you. I'm 5' 11", and I never had any problems with the length. Actually, it was perfect... just the right length to make it down to my pocket without having a bunch of extra cable.

micl · 01-18-2008, 03:39 AM

Originally Posted by Trippytiger

You don't find that they sound better with the foamies? Every earbud I've tried improved with foamies on, including the PK3.

I'm also really surprised that the cord was too short for you. I'm 5' 11", and I never had any problems with the length. Actually, it was perfect... just the right length to make it down to my pocket without having a bunch of extra cable.

i'm sure they sound better with the foamies, but they just bother me for some reason, the only reason i was using the foamies were to jam the buds in my ear so they wouldn't fall out. i am really happy with them now, i can finally enjoy them the way i wanted to

4ki · 02-17-2008, 07:14 AM

Thanks a lot for this thread; I am considering a recable, myself, as the plug has recently frayed, and the bit that splits the cable is bending enough to do the same. I go to the gym at times, but I'm positive that the main culprit are the times that I've rolled up and pocketed the phones where I was prohibited to wear them. Stiff cords never last even with gentle care, but I really wasn't that hard on the pair.

I'll probably use some crappy sony headphone's cord that I have with an L-jack....the wire's more flexible, which imo is a must with earbud-type phones (I mean hey, it's being tucked in shirts and shoved in pockets, right?).

When I get around to it, I'll post pics, as well :-)

UPDATE: I half-failed the project due to a soldering accident; while I was moving to put some of material on the contacts, my hand slipped, and some of it got into a tine hole that seems to house some *very* fragile wiring that simply burned out instantaneously from the heat. Not a lot got in, but a little was enough to mangle them (just think of it this way; the left channel's internal wiring is parallel, the right one now being a big jumbled mess). needless to say I'm kind of pissed for the stupidity. I originally thought that I burned out the contact/speaker, but that wasn't the case after the inspection. Oh well; I'll be looking for broken PK3's in the trade section, and continue w/the project when I get the missing part in

Meanwhile, the left side works perfectly, and I can still use it as a hidden speaker @ work :-)

Ahh well...at least I learned something new.