DIY Cable Questions and Comments Thread

[Hakase]

  The top connector is stereo, trs (tip ring sleeve), the bottom is mono TS (tip sleeve). I am not real familiar with those headphones but if you are planning on plugging the 3.5 mm into a device then it should be stereo like the top connector. The top connector also has an extended tip that helps if you are plugging into a smart phone or table that is in a case. That being said, I am not sure if the top connector has solder lugs inside, if not I prefer connectors like Amphenol:
 

That's exactly what I wanted to know, thanks
 
Could you link a good dealer for the Amphenol connector?
 
 

 
Be very careful with LunaShops. I've ordered from them before, and was never happy with the results. Their stuff is very cheap, and in one case, useless. The 3.5mm mono jacks I ordered had no threads to connect the plastic shell to the plug.
 
I think you want to know which plug to use on the end of the cable that doesn't plug into the headphones, right? Assuming you want a 3.5mm jack, you need a stereo one, which has the three connections (the pic on the top). There are many places to get a jack other than LunaShops. This one from Markertek is a good, basic quality jack, but might have issues if you are plugging into a phone with a case.

 
Okay, that's what I needed to know. I wasn't planning on getting anything from LunaShops it was just a quick picture I found off of google. Thank you for the link to Markertek

 

[Paladin79]

Here is a link for the extended tip from Parts Express if you want something that fits into a cell phone jack that has a case.
 
http://www.parts-express.com/amphenol-ks3pc-au-35mm-stereo-mini-plug-black---gold-for-mobile-devices--092-3570
 
This is a top quality plug and the grommet can be removed to allow for larger cable.

 

[Hakase]

  Here is a link for the extended tip from Parts Express if you want something that fits into a cell phone jack that has a case.
 
http://www.parts-express.com/amphenol-ks3pc-au-35mm-stereo-mini-plug-black---gold-for-mobile-devices--092-3570
 
This is a top quality plug and the grommet can be removed to allow for larger cable.

Thank you very much
 
Does anyone have a wiring diagram for 3pin mini xlr to 3.5mm xD
 
I know that typically a 3.5mm has left, right, and ground connections but the 3pin mini xlr connector I have is four different connections which I assume is for a balanced connection? left+ left- right+ right- ?

 

[Paladin79]

  Thank you very much
 
Does anyone have a wiring diagram for 3pin mini xlr to 3.5mm xD
 
I know that typically a 3.5mm has left, right, and ground connections but the 3pin mini xlr connector I have is four different connections which I assume is for a balanced connection? left+ left- right+ right- ?

Someone who knows your headphones might have to help with that. Basically you have a four pin mini  XLR. I use those as extensions on some MrSpeakers balanced cables but they are just wired pin to pin. If I get time I will check later and try to post it if no one else has found it for you.  The 3.5 mm TRS uses a common ground so each channels ground would go back to that.

 

[rmoody]

  Thank you very much
 
Does anyone have a wiring diagram for 3pin mini xlr to 3.5mm xD
 
I know that typically a 3.5mm has left, right, and ground connections but the 3pin mini xlr connector I have is four different connections which I assume is for a balanced connection? left+ left- right+ right- ?

http://toffer.com/2015/12/10/xlr-to-14-trs-wiring-diagram/
 
That 4th connection you are referring to is the shield most likely. You could connect that to the ground pin. But I just strip the shield off my cables especially when going to 3.5mm because there is just not enough room and for the short runs for a headphone cable, the shield is not needed.

 

[Allanmarcus]

  dumb question..  but with a 2 conductor shield+drain wire cable.. is it usually best to use 1 conductor for positive pin, 1 conductor twisted together with drain wire for shield.  or can I twist together 2 conductors for the positive pin and just use the drain wire for ground/shield?  talking about rca cables and this bulk cable http://www.partsconnexion.com/wire_interc_connex.html#

When I make an RCA interconnect with a drain, I connect hot to hot (tip to tip, or pos to pos), then common to common, then the shield on just one side to the common. I make that side "drain side" and that gets plugged into the source.

 

[Shawn71]

Be very careful with LunaShops. I've ordered from them before, and was never happy with the results. Their stuff is very cheap, and in one case, useless. The 3.5mm mono jacks I ordered had no threads to connect the plastic shell to the plug.

I think you want to know which plug to use on the end of the cable that doesn't plug into the headphones, right? Assuming you want a 3.5mm jack, you need a stereo one, which has the three connections (the pic on the top). There are many places to get a jack other than LunaShops. This one from Markertek is a good, basic quality jack, but might have issues if you are plugging into a phone with a case.

Yes,true......they are also not good at workmanship but just sending us any stuffs that dont need any custom work,like diff connector termination,cable length,cable types etc etc.

But we can make sure we get what we want by telling our requirement and that LS respond/agree to that clearly thru a confirmation email more than once (just in case so as to claim refund etc) besides a paypal note too while sending them a payment. And also its better to shop there, ONLY when something is not available elsewhere at the time of our need as aliexpress sells a-z, best place to hunt on,the alternative!

 

[Paladin79]

Yes,true......they are also not good at workmanship but just sending us any stuffs that dont need any custom work,like diff connector termination,cable length,cable types etc etc.

But we can make sure we get what we want by telling our requirement and that LS respond/agree to that clearly thru a confirmation email more than once (just in case so as to claim refund etc) besides a paypal note too while sending them a payment. And also its better to shop there, ONLY when something is not available elsewhere at the time of our need as aliexpress sells a-z, best place to hunt on,the alternative!

Communication with off shore companies takes some getting used to.
 
It is best to use short emails and to keep them simple.
 
I was also taught that in some cultures, folks say "yes" when they really mean no.

 

[Paladin79]

 
When I make an RCA interconnect with a drain, I connect hot to hot (tip to tip, or pos to pos), then common to common, then the shield on just one side to the common. I make that side "drain side" and that gets plugged into the source.

That drain side gets the arrow I spoke about earlier pointing away from the source. That way down the road you will know which side is which. Someone was just asking about making arrows on heat shrink tubing. I usually mark the cable itself if I use a light enough color. Most of my interconnect jackets are light blue, yellow, or red depending on their purpose.

 

[liquidzoo]

Thank you very much

Does anyone have a wiring diagram for 3pin mini xlr to 3.5mm xD

I know that typically a 3.5mm has left, right, and ground connections but the 3pin mini xlr connector I have is four different connections which I assume is for a balanced connection? left+ left- right+ right- ?

A 3 pin mini-xlr should only be 3 pins...

Also, despite what is almost always written on the internet about wiring a 3 pin XLR, AKG likes to reverse things.

http://www.head-fi.org/t/648464/recabling-my-headphones#post_9114995

I found that information when I was making a cable for some AKG-K240s that I had a few years ago. Normally it's:

Pin 1 - Ground
Pin 2 - Tip (Left)
Pin 3 - Ring (Right)

AKGs flip pins 2 and 3 (or they used to, not sure if they still do, though).

If they've kept the same wiring over the years, it would be:

Pin 1 on XLR > Sleeve on 3.5mm
Pin 2 on XLR > Ring on 3.5mm
Pin 3 on XLR > Tip on 3.5mm

A multimeter with continuity setting would be able to confirm this.

 

[Hakase]

A 3 pin mini-xlr should only be 3 pins...

Also, despite what is almost always written on the internet about wiring a 3 pin XLR, AKG likes to reverse things.

http://www.head-fi.org/t/648464/recabling-my-headphones#post_9114995

I found that information when I was making a cable for some AKG-K240s that I had a few years ago. Normally it's:

Pin 1 - Ground
Pin 2 - Tip (Left)
Pin 3 - Ring (Right)

AKGs flip pins 2 and 3 (or they used to, not sure if they still do, though).

If they've kept the same wiring over the years, it would be:

Pin 1 on XLR > Sleeve on 3.5mm
Pin 2 on XLR > Ring on 3.5mm
Pin 3 on XLR > Tip on 3.5mm

A multimeter with continuity setting would be able to confirm this.

 
I may have misconstrued that it has 4 pins since when I unscrewed the connector it shows what looks like four spots for wires to be soldered.
 
http://www.redco.com/Redco-TA3FB.html - The connector I have
 
Thank you very much for the AKG wiring scheme

 

[rmoody]

   
I may have misconstrued that it has 4 pins since when I unscrewed the connector it shows what looks like four spots for wires to be soldered.
 
http://www.redco.com/Redco-TA3FB.html - The connector I have
 
Thank you very much for the AKG wiring scheme

Yeah, that fourth spot, the little silver damnit that always pops off when you are trying to get the thing together, is for the shield. I gave up on that thing and went with the same connectors that Dan uses on MrSpeakers headphones. They are shorter and easier to assemble also has 4 pins for balanced use. One could just not even use the damnit for headphone cables, shielding isn't needed for headphone cables.

 

[Allanmarcus]

 

   
I may have misconstrued that it has 4 pins since when I unscrewed the connector it shows what looks like four spots for wires to be soldered.
 
http://www.redco.com/Redco-TA3FB.html - The connector I have
 
Thank you very much for the AKG wiring scheme

Yeah, that fourth spot, the little silver damnit that always pops off when you are trying to get the thing together, is for the shield. I gave up on that thing and went with the same connectors that Dan uses on MrSpeakers headphones. They are shorter and easier to assemble also has 4 pins for balanced use. One could just not even use the damnit for headphone cables, shielding isn't needed for headphone cables.

I always wondered what the technical name of that part was.

 

[Paladin79]

 
Yeah, that fourth spot, the little silver damnit that always pops off when you are trying to get the thing together, is for the shield. I gave up on that thing and went with the same connectors that Dan uses on MrSpeakers headphones. They are shorter and easier to assemble also has 4 pins for balanced use. One could just not even use the damnit for headphone cables, shielding isn't needed for headphone cables.

The 4 pin Hirose type connectors are indeed easier to use. I have tried four brands of the mini 4 pin xlrs and hate them all equally. It's been a little while since I have been in Knoxville, I recall Suttree's High Gravity Tavern and hope it is still there.

 

[Hakase]

Another question, if I wanted to use this cable:
 
http://www.redco.com/Canare-L-4E5C.html
 
for a 3 pin mini xlr would I only use three of the wires out of this particular cable? I want to keep my first few cables with cheapish materials until I'm a little more comfortable with making them so I don't want any fancy silver cables etc. Any other recommendations or tips are welcome