Advice/resources needed - looking to turn dt770s into portable headset (recable and modding the headband).

[adamlr]

So its been 6 months since I started an office job and my hands itch for some tinkering (used to be a technician). I had the idea of modifying my pair of dt770s to make them travel friendly. I need advice on two subjects:

1. I would like to recable them, preferably with a cable that has a mic (maybe even buttons?), but most importantly - low impedance. They are currently 250 ohms. Am I correct in assuming most of that comes from the cable? I have no intention of lugging around a portable amp. Can this be done or will replacing the cable with a low(er) impedance one mess everything up?
Assuming that yes, If I replace the cable with a low impedance one then the drivers will be easier to power (like say out of a phone) - do you guys know of any websites that sell diy friendly cables? Id like something rugged and again, prefer a cable with a mic. I imagine I'd be able to find a replacement cable for a different headphone (like this for example) perhaps and then just chop off the end that's meant for the headphone and solder that into the beyers. The thing is, I know from experience that most manufacturers purposefully make parts that make it harder to tinker with, like wires that disintegrate when you try to solder them and stuff like that.
Furthermore, there is also the cable that connects the two cups, I assume that'll need replacing as well, and I would need a cable as close in specs to the original one as possible.
Also, as an afterthought - do you guys know what kind of a difference this will make to the sound signature? This modification is meant for utility, but I guess I'll pass if it destroys the quality completely... (Would also prefer a relatively thick cable so as not to mess too much with the overall esthetic).

2. I would like to make the cups swivel, so they can rest on my chest when around my neck - like this. does anyone know where I could find small swiveling parts? For all my connections in the local industry - all the parts I have found are massive and for this I would need something really (really) small, I've barely got 1-1.5 cm to play with on either side (I guess my head is small?). I figured I would chop off the bit that connects to the cups right at the connection point (with an angle grinder) and then maybe cut into that same area a little bit if I needed more room for the part. Would still need enough room for screws though. I can't seem to find anything remotely suitable on amazon, I feel like I lack the technical language (English is not my mother tongue), what would you call such a part? I can find plenty of ball bearings and such, but I want to avoid welding, was hoping for something with like a metal lip I could screw in place.

My request here is mostly for resources. Other than the impedance issue I asked about in the first question, I'm looking for websites that sell trusted, quality (not fancy though) parts and materials.

Any help would be very welcome,
Thank you =]

 

[Deleeh]

Hello,
You're completely barking up the wrong tree, if I may say so.

The impedance does not come from the cable but from the driver.
The cable has nothing to do with it and is there to conduct current, nothing else.
Cables disintegrate when they are very badly made or when they are old.
The manufacturer usually does nothing about it.
In the car industry they use as few strands as possible and the plastic that is pulled over them is so badly made that the cable breaks after 5-10 years.
But when it comes to audio, as long as you haven't just bought them in China, you're good.

If you want to use your 250 ohm Beyerdynamic stationary as well as mobile then you need a suitable source that can do that.
A smartphone alone is not enough because it is very weak.
A dac dongel would be better.
It would have been better to buy the DT770 with 32 ohm.

The issue with the microphone could also be resolved quickly with the purchase of the Customgame from Beyerdynamic.
Then you could leave the Dt770 as it is.
But it would be feasible.
However, you need something like a modmic that you solder to the main cable after cutting and stripping it.
Because the microphone also needs power to operate.
You have to check how the cable is constructed so that the circuit closes, otherwise only the loudspeaker works but the microphone does not.

The thing that the cups rotate would also be theoretically feasible but you would have to have at least something how you want to fix it.
Maybe work with angles, or something from the 3D printer.
Spontaneously, however, I can't think of anything without having seen it directly with photos beforehand.

Good luck with your project.

 

[adamlr]

Hello,
You're completely barking up the wrong tree, if I may say so.

...

Good luck with your project.

Darn, well, looks like I can't do this thing then eh? I would like to point out that I purchased the dt770s about a decade ago and at the time I was looking for a desktop set, using an amp, so I had no problem with the impedance. They served me well. I was only going to try and make them portable now for the sake of having a project, but alas - it was not to be. I don't know what made me think the impedance came from the cable and not the driver, looking back I guess that really doesn't make much sense...

Thank you for your reply

 

[Deleeh]

Darn, well, looks like I can't do this thing then eh? I would like to point out that I purchased the dt770s about a decade ago and at the time I was looking for a desktop set, using an amp, so I had no problem with the impedance. They served me well. I was only going to try and make them portable now for the sake of having a project, but alas - it was not to be. I don't know what made me think the impedance came from the cable and not the driver, looking back I guess that really doesn't make much sense...

Thank you for your reply

Hello,
Take a look here:
https://antlionaudio.com/collections/bundles/products/dt770-pro-bundle

I think that makes it easier for you.
It's the same as yours, only this one has 80ohm.
Which surprises me because 32 Ohm would actually be better for mobility and for gaming as well.
But from that point of view, in both cases a dac dongle or something like the Ify Hip Dac or Khadas Tea would be useful to get the most out of it.

If a new Dt770 would be too expensive for you then
You can buy one of these:
https://antlionaudio.com/products/modmic-uni-usb-sound-card

You need a soundcard like the one on your PC, green for audio and pink for the microphone.
Only that you can use this mobile.
This means that the cable from the headphones goes into the green socket and the mic into the other socket.
You only need one of these if you have an Android phone.
https://www.amazon.de/Adapter-Thunderbolt-Kompatibel-MacBook-Samsung/dp/B07CVX3516?th=1

There are of course many other adapters.
The connection of this sound card in the link is the same for headphones and microphone, and the other end has a 3.5 mm for the jack on the phone.

For Apple you need the camera adapter, which costs around 35€, if you have an Apple product that doesn't have a jack.
If you don't have a 3.5 mm socket on your Android device, you will unfortunately need the adapter.

Even if your fingers are itching, this is not a bad thing that I have suggested and you can use it if you want.
Maybe you are looking for something else, like model making, or polishing your car for the coming summer, which is also fun, if your fingers itch too much.

But I understand you completely, I am also someone who likes to tinker and when you sit in the office all day you want to do something that is fun.
Especially when it comes to the office, I couldn't sit in there with people who don't have much of a clue, some have been working in the office for 20 years and still don't have a clue about their actual job after 20 years.