DIY Cable Questions and Comments Thread

[LikesSlowCars]

  [...] an example of the female socket you might be interested in: http://www.redco.com/Rean-Neutrik-NYS230.html . [...]
 
Third. You will most likely have to modify the cup to accept the female socket [...]
 
Fourth. [...] Both Redco and MarkerTek have a good selection of cables that suit your purpose. Many people like to "Quad" cables like Mogami 2799 or Canare StarQuad. [...]

I wrote a detailed post, but apparently head-fi has a forum backup, and I lost the whole thing 

 
2) As I have read more and more and more, I realize Amphenol, Switchcraft, and Rean Neutrik are typically the sockets of choice. I'm researching dimensions, and pinouts between the 3.
3) I will definitely have to modify the headset, however.. if the headset cable is already ripped from getting caught -one- time on my chair. It's only going to get worse! I have a heat gun, dremel, and a dewalt drill.
4) I looked at the Quad cables you mentioned, and it seems those are designed for balanced stereo transmission. ie; GND/+/- to each can. That doesn't work because I dont even have a 5 pin DAC like the Jotunheim. (I'm getting a B-Stock "The Element" for now.)
 
The cable I found inside the speaker housing is 3 wire, with a tiny 2-wire to the right speaker:
Green to Left speaker, Red to Right speaker, and it looks like copper is the common ground between both speakers.
 
Reference: (For myself)
Amphenol M Series; ACJS-MV35-3, ACJS-MV35-3S, or ACJS-MV35-5 (6 mm hole, 15.8 x 15.8 x 27.4 mm internal dimensions, 1.6 mm thickness max - assuming 2.4mm washer + bolt)
Switchcraft 3.5mm ; 35RAPC2BH3, 35RAPC4BH3, or 35RAPC3BH3 (3.6 mm hole, 14 x 6 x 11.5 mm internal dimensions, 1.5 mm thickness max - assuming 2mm washer + M6 bolt - no washer/bolt included)
Rean Neutrik; NYS230 (10 mm hole, 25 x 19.5 x 19.5 mm internal dimensions, 7 mm thickness minus undisclosed washer/bolt thickness.)
 
I found on digikey I can buy the Switchcraft (35RAPC4BH3) for $1.32 w/ bolt. Ironically the 3-conductor version costs 58 cents more. For some odd reason they do not have amphenol, or neutrik hardware. It sounds like a good idea to insulate the tabs to make sure there's no short circuits. From what I know, if you mail order Digikey, they will send the parts to you with free shipping on small orders. I only need one jack.
 
I've taken photos of how to take apart the headset, but it will be awhile before I do anything with this. Thanks XenHeadFi for the suggestions!

 

[XenHeadFi]

 
The cable I found inside the speaker housing is 3 wire, with a tiny 2-wire to the right speaker:
Green to Left speaker, Red to Right speaker, and it looks like copper is the common ground between both speakers.
 
 
I've taken photos of how to take apart the headset, but it will be awhile before I do anything with this. Thanks XenHeadFi for the suggestions!

That means that is a Single-Ended only headphone, which for the price is to be expected. You can still use Quad cables by using 2 conductors for ground and 1 each for +R and +L. I'm not sure you can beat the value of the Quad cables as they are both popular and readily available.
 
You are welcome and have some fun exploring!

 

[buke9]

That means that is a Single-Ended only headphone, which for the price is to be expected. You can still use Quad cables by using 2 conductors for ground and 1 each for +R and +L. I'm not sure you can beat the value of the Quad cables as they are both popular and readily available.

You are welcome and have some fun exploring!

Nothing is single ended only just how far you want to go. Each driver has + and- you just have to make them separate .

 

[XenHeadFi]

Nothing is single ended only just how far you want to go. Each driver has + and- you just have to make them separate .

True, he can rewire both drivers.

 

[LikesSlowCars]

Just a update, I sent Digikey my order via snail mail with a check. Hopefully sometime in the next 2 weeks I get the part I wanted without paying some crazy high fee. On my second pair of headphones, I noticed that when I rotate the 3.5 mm plug in my tablet device, it has a faint buzzing noise. It boggles my mind how cheaply made these stock cables are! xD 
 
Edit:
I sent my Digikey mail on 8/30 in the morning, today (9/2, 3 days later) I got a email saying they have received my order, and that there would be no shipping charge. Awesome! In terms of what I did, I simply ordered the item on Digikey, went to checkout, selected "other" for shipping. Then printed the shopping cart page. Says it will be shipped to me via First Class USPS. They even gave me a tracking number. Nice.

 

[Paladin79]

  Just a update, I sent Digikey my order via snail mail with a check. Hopefully sometime in the next 2 weeks I get the part I wanted without paying some crazy high fee. On my second pair of headphones, I noticed that when I rotate the 3.5 mm plug in my tablet device, it has a faint buzzing noise. It boggles my mind how cheaply made these stock cables are! xD 

I use Digikey a couple times a week and they generally do a very good job.
 
I have stock cables with at least four headphones I own and I always saw an improvement with cables I built but then I have not paid $1500 new for any headphones yet and I imagine they offer much better cables with higher end products. Hopefully the problem is the cable and not the jack on your tablet device.

 

[2damoon]

Hello All,
 
Not much of a DYI'er, but reading through the posts in this thread, I got to learn a lot of interesting things that intrigued me to build my own as well as scared me into starting something that I know I would suck at.
 
So here is my question. I would like to have a cable for IE80 with a TRRS 2.5 Anstel and Kern connector for a Fiio X7 with AM3 AMP.
 
Is there anyone here that could help me with something like this? I am willing to purchase it, not do it myself. 
 
Thank you,

 

[LikesSlowCars]

[...] I would like to have a cable for IE80 with a TRRS 2.5 Anstel and Kern connector for a Fiio X7 with AM3 AMP.
 
Is there anyone here that could help me with something like this? I am willing to purchase it, not do it myself. [...]

 
Sorry man, I dont think this is a place you can hire people to modify your earphones. This is why I'm in the same boat. I bought some ultra cheap headphones on amazon for $18, and I'm testing this modding thing on that. Either I can figure it out, or I just suck.. haha

 

[2damoon]

I don't really need them modified, I need an entirely new cable. Hopefully someone is still in the business of making good cables.

 

[Paladin79]

  I don't really need them modified, I need an entirely new cable. Hopefully someone is still in the business of making good cables.

I am sure you fill find someone who can help. There are a lot of experienced cable builders here.

 

[PLUSSOUND]

  I don't really need them modified, I need an entirely new cable. Hopefully someone is still in the business of making good cables.

We are happy to assist you. Please email us or send us a PM with your requests/requirements.

 

[jchandler3]

Hey guys, possibly a stupid question, but heregoes...
 
I'm currently making a balanced cable for my HD650s, and I have a question about shielding. I'm using Mogami W2534 quad cable, which has a spiral shield. Should I just cut it off at the Y-split and inside the XLR-4 housing?
 
Thanks!

 

[rmoody]

  Hey guys, possibly a stupid question, but heregoes...
 
I'm currently making a balanced cable for my HD650s, and I have a question about shielding. I'm using Mogami W2534 quad cable, which has a spiral shield. Should I just cut it off at the Y-split and inside the XLR-4 housing?
 
Thanks!

The general consensus is that for the length of run we are working with here (10' being about max) that shielding is not required. It only comes into play for long runs, how long? Er, I dunno, depends on environmental variables.
 
I started off trying to preserve the shielding myself. After reading advice from others, I stripped the outer insulation and the shielding and sleeved with paracord. I've not noticed any negatives. The positives are more flexibility in how the wire flexes and what you can do with it. Most connectors do not have the room to handle the entire quad wire assembly much less the annoyance in dealing with securing the shield.
 
I hope that helps.

 

[Paladin79]

Hey guys, possibly a stupid question, but heregoes...

I'm currently making a balanced cable for my HD650s, and I have a question about shielding. I'm using Mogami W2534 quad cable, which has a spiral shield. Should I just cut it off at the Y-split and inside the XLR-4 housing?

Thanks!

The spiral twists in quad are twisted pair in effect and a form of shielding. Naturally you twist the individual pairs and remove any filler and shielding material when you break out the two pairs going to connectors. More shielding is provided by the braid but it is usually not crucial as previously explained.

 

[jchandler3]

Okay, thanks guys!