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Advice on disassembling uhp336s for resoldering.

post #1 of 6
Thread Starter 

Ironically, after reading a post earlier today of someone commenting that he's experienced many more problems with IEMs with replaceable cables, I managed to break my uhp336s---while detaching the cable.  You can see from the photo that the wires tore (presumably at the joint with the drivers) inside the IEM itself.

 

uhp336s

 

 

They aren't doing me any good broken, so I may as well try soldering them. So I was wondering if anyone has experience in taking these apart. There is definitely a seam along most of the housing, but I can't figure out if it is cemented to the clear part where the tip attaches. I'd appreciate any advice or ideas!

 

Thanks!

 

 

post #2 of 6
Thread Starter 

So I hadn't heard anything back yet from anyone, so I just decided to go for it.  It worked out alright, and I took a few photos, so I'm going to post them here.  It turns out the cables are starting to go as well, but I can't post in the For Sale forums until I have at least 15 posts, so I'm going to split this up a little bit, and hopefully it won't bug people too much.

 

As you can see from the first photo above, the socket where you'd attach the cable actually pulled out of the monitor itself.  The most nerve-wracking thing of the process was trying to open the casing of the monitor to get at the driver and solder joints.  I think that the two opaque components were lightly glued on to the clear sound port (obviously the technical term for that part wink_face.gif).  I managed to work one end of without any problem, but unfortunately put a small crack separating the sound port/driver assembly from the second half of the casing.  It should be visible above the broken wires/socket to the right at the photo below.

 

Earbuds1.JPG

post #3 of 6
Thread Starter 

After getting the pieces separated, the first step was to thread the wires back through the casing.  I used just a touch of superglue between the socket and casing so that it would take the strain of changing the cables rather than the solder joints again.  I also rigged up the old soldering iron such that I would have both hands free to handle the little parts.  I don't have much experience soldering and don't have super steady hands, and this turned out to work much better than handling the soldering iron itself would have.  You can see the leads coming from the socket (out of focus at the bottom of the photo) and the soldering iron as I'm waiting for the latter to heat up.

 

Earbuds12.JPG

post #4 of 6
Thread Starter 

Next came soldering the leads to the driver.  There was such a tiny amount of solder on the drivers, but it was more than enough to reattach the wires, and I wouldn't have wanted to add more for fear of shorting it out.

 

Earbuds2.JPG

post #5 of 6
Thread Starter 

The first lead is attached.  But not very well, it turns out, as I accidentally pulled it apart again while trying to adjust the second lead to resolder it.  Did I mention these are small and delicate parts?

 

Earbuds3.JPG

post #6 of 6
Thread Starter 

Success!  All I had to do after this was carefully seat the driver assembly in the casing and put the other part back on.... and then gloat about my accomplishment---until realizing my cable has an internal issue as well.  C'est la vie.  I now have 6 posts under my belt, only 9 more before I can run a wanted ad in the other section of the forums!  Say, if you've come this far, maybe you have an extra UE or Altec Lansing cable lying around you'd be willing to part with?  PM me if so, please!

 

Earbuds4.JPG

 

Thanks!

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