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questions about soldering jacks

post #1 of 10
Thread Starter 

Yea, I have a few questions about how to solder headphone jacks. I'm trying to give my headphones a detachable cable and a detachable mic. So I got a 4-conductor stereo jack for the cable and a 3-conductor stereo jack for the mic. No I'm not sure how to solder them. For the 4-conductor jack:

 

Tip = Left channel

Ring 1 = Right channel

Ring 2 = Ground

Sleeve = Mic

 

Did I get that one right?

 

And the 3-conductor jack:

 

Tip = Mic

Ring 1 = Free

Sleeve = Ground

 

Is that right? Would the copper cable (ground) of the mic alsogo to ring 2 of the 4-conductor jack? Do I need a 2-conductor jack for the mic? Sorry, but I am kind of confused lol


Edited by Maaasih - 3/31/11 at 7:45pm
post #2 of 10
post #3 of 10
Thread Starter 

Thanks for the link, I just looked into it but I couldn't find anything on female 4-conductor jacks... I am trying to do something like the Dark Knight Mod to my RX900s.... I read around a little more and think I got the 4-conductor wiring right:

 

tip = left channel

ring1 = right channel

ring2 = ground

sleeve = mic

 

Now I just wanted to see if somebody could confirm that and tell me if I got the right female jack for the mic (female3-conductor jack).

post #4 of 10

It's been some time for me... but here is the diagram I quickly drew for my 4 pole connectors...

 

hpqscan0001.jpg

 Now, if you want to find out how that corresponds to your female jack, just do a continuity test from your male 4 pole jack to your female 4 pole jack.  That'll tell what is what.  As for the Microphone, definitely use a stereo (3 pole) adapter if you wish to use this with a computer.  Then on either end (for the male 3.5mm connectors), bridge the left and right channel (only 1 end needs to be done), so that you have dual "mono" signal (and you want get spoken audio recorded on just 1 side).

post #5 of 10


GREAT piece of info there.  I bookmarked it. :-)

post #6 of 10
Thread Starter 

thank you very much waytoocrazy :D One more question though... I already have a 4-pole male to male cable (bought it off of KVconnections), is there a way I can find out how that cable is wired without cutting it open? And what exactly do you mean by "bridge the left and right channel"? So solder the mic cable to the left channel and the solder another cable from the left to the right channel?

post #7 of 10
Quote:
Originally Posted by Maaasih View Post

thank you very much waytoocrazy :D One more question though... I already have a 4-pole male to male cable (bought it off of KVconnections), is there a way I can find out how that cable is wired without cutting it open? And what exactly do you mean by "bridge the left and right channel"? So solder the mic cable to the left channel and the solder another cable from the left to the right channel?


 

If it were me, I'd probably do this.  I first plug your 4 pole cable into your PC and then plug the other end into a female adapter.  I'd then use WinAmp or similar audio program that allows you to fade from left to right.  Then I'd fade all the way to the left while playing music.  Then with a meter.  Touch the tip (usually the shortest plug on the female adapter or the innermost solder connector), and then touch the ground.  If you get a reading... you've found both the left channel and ground.  Then fade to the right, leaving 1 connector on the ground see if you can locate the right channel.  Once you've found those, the only 1 left is the Mic.  That's one way.

 

My typical way is.....   Open the headphone on the side where the wire enters the headphone (as you'll be pulling that side apart anyway).  Look at the color of the wiring.  This will tell you which wires go over to the other side (probably right cup), they will also show you where on your left driver (if that is the side where the cable enters) is the shared ground (between the left and right driver).  This is also where you can attach your mic ground (but be careful!  too much heat and you will ruin the driver).  Once you've sorted out your coloring for the stock cable.  You can cut the 1/8" end off of the cable.  Expose the wiring.  Then with your 4 pole connector plugged into the computer and the other end plugged into the female adapter, you can usually visually look at the female adapter and tell which one is the ground (I believe it was the largest or outermost conductor on the female 4 pole).  You can now turn on the music on your pc.  Fade it to the left, and test out your wiring on the headphone.  Write everything down (draw pictures if you need to).  When you have your wiring sorted.  Start modifying.  

 

Now, as far as the microphone.  If you do it like I did, you will have a 3 pole female jack for the Microphone.  attach the ground to the common ground on the female 4 pole jack.  Then attach the mic from the 4 pole female to 1 of the channels on the 3 pole female (it doesn't matter which side).  When that's done, make a "jumper" wire to attach the left and right channel together on the microphone as well.  This will "bridge" both sides to give it that dual mono sound.  Unfortunately, I didn't take any close up pics of the wiring... sorry about that.  If you need further info... let me know, I can probably draw something up for you that can help.

 

 

post #8 of 10
Thread Starter 

Damn you're the best man :D One more little question... You said I can solder the mic ground (from the 3 pole female jack) to the common ground of the driver. Later I have to solder the mic ground to the ground of the 4-pole connector... Are these just two different ways to do the same thing? So either solder to the common ground of the driver or solder to the ground of the 4-pole female jack?

post #9 of 10
Quote:
Originally Posted by Maaasih View Post

Damn you're the best man :D One more little question... You said I can solder the mic ground (from the 3 pole female jack) to the common ground of the driver. Later I have to solder the mic ground to the ground of the 4-pole connector... Are these just two different ways to do the same thing? So either solder to the common ground of the driver or solder to the ground of the 4-pole female jack?



Yes.  you can do either one.  I'd probably solder to the female 4 pole (to keep heat off of the driver).  Good luck with your project, take pics!

post #10 of 10

You ever finished your headphones?

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