Removable Cable Mod for MDR-V6? (advice/suggestions needed!)

So I recently bought the MDR-V6 (first full-sized cans) and I love them but the long coiled cable is too heavy for portable use imo. I'm looking to replace the long cable with a 3.5mm stereo jack. I couldn't find a guide on how to do this mod (for these headphones specifically) or any threads with pictures of the V6's opened, so I'm posting in hopes that I can get some insight on where to start. (It's my first soldering job and I love these cans so I'm trying my best not to ruin them) I'm not even sure if the V6's have room inside of them to fit a 3.5mm jack 

So far I'm planning on buying a straight 3.5mm and a right angle 3.5mm jack (from Neutrik?). If possible, I'd like to incorporate an inline mic somehow as well. As for cables, I'm not sure what to use. I want to sleeve the wires in Techflex or some sort of sleeving. I don't have a soldering iron either, so any recommendations about that would be greatly appreciated as well!

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoshuaaT 

I'm not sure what those headphones look like inside, so either A.) Someone can chime in and provide and picture or B.) You can open them up yourself. 

 

From my understand, you just wire the positive, negative and grounds just like normal. First of all though, buy a soldering iron. You won't regret it. I wouldn't jump straight to soldering your headphones either. Do some test runs on scrap cable laying around, and look up tutorials on proper soldering techniques. 

 

 

 

Yeah I was hoping someone would have pictures of the cans open, but I'll just try opening them soon. Any recommendations for soldering irons/solder?

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyberspyder 

Good luck. If you don't plan on recabling everything on the phones, you're probably fine, but if you do, don't bother, takes a lot of time and effort. The 3.5mm jack portion is simple, there is ample room inside the cups. Take a look in my sig for some pictures to insprie you lol.

The recable jobs you've done look great! I don't mind the time and effort it'll take, but I just wanted to get some tips about opening the V6's. I'm guessing you pull off the pads and there's screws behind them? 

Quote:

Originally Posted by fubar3 

I have V6 phones which stopped working after 15 years. I replaced the plug which worked for a while but one side is now intermittent. The problem is these relatively thick cables have delicate wires which are hard to solder correctly.  So if your cable is in good condition, perhaps you can coil the thick part and extend it with a 1/4 to 1/8 adapter cable.  Perhaps later you can get phones intended for portable use.  I got the Senn HD238 which has such a cable. However, the V6 has better sound, IMO.

The problem is more about the weight of the coiled cable. It tips my phone in my hands when it's plugged in and a straight cable would probably be more manageable. Otherwise, theyre great headphones

You're both right. The cups have room but I probably would have to dremel the existing hole since it's too close to the driver and it would probably get in the way since drivers move back and forth. (Might not even be able to close with the jack in). I've decided to just either recable these or put an inline 3.5 mm stereo female jack a few inches from the cups so I can use any extension cord. I'll just find a recabling guide on the forums. Thanks for the feedback, everyone! 

Will do. Gotta order the parts now

Had a busy week but i finally finished. I had an external Neutrik 3.5 mm stereo jack (female) but it didn't look right and it was giving me connection problems so I decided to just recable it and call it a day. I used a Switchcraft right-angle 3.5 mm plug (very easy to work with IMO) and originally had Techflex on it but it produced too much cable noise (microphonics) and it was way too stiff for portable use, so I removed it but cutting it lengthwise (without desoldering anything, too much work ).

Here's some pics:

Overall, for a first time soldering job, I'm content, although I'm fairly certain I was soldering it wrong. I just hope I didn't damage my drivers in the process.