[thebentern]

I've been wanting to try this one:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/15-...32789332861.html?spm=a2g0s.8937460.0.0.cJwp1o

Not a whole lot of feedback on it, but most of are going to be gamble anyway.

 

[LukeVivolo]

Hello. Does anyone have experience re-cabling zen v1s? I have an opportunity to buy a broken pair and I was wondering if there is anything I should know before trying to re-cable them. I have some experience soldering. Also, does anyone know where I could get some high quality materials for making cables, or where to buy pre-made cables? Thanks!

 

[Niqeres]

Hello. Does anyone have experience re-cabling zen v1s? I have an opportunity to buy a broken pair and I was wondering if there is anything I should know before trying to re-cable them. I have some experience soldering. Also, does anyone know where I could get some high quality materials for making cables, or where to buy pre-made cables? Thanks!

If the zenv1 housings are glued exactly the same way as the monk plus, Opening them up should be possible with sheer force, but extremely difficult. I would never dare heat up the front cover with a hair dryer/heat gun because the heat might warp the front cover.

 

[thebentern]

Here is a photo of the rare double left buds in white MX500 shells.

Wire - $3.99: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/HIF...32678414255.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.UBM98w
Drivers - $0.80 a pair: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/AIY...32830223301.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.UBM98w
Shells - $1.52 a pair:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/DIY.../2033192719.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.UBM98w
Total: $6.31 Not bad for fun DIY buds.

PSA: Pay attention. Don't drink and solder.

 

[Yobster69]

Here is a photo of the rare double left buds in white MX500 shells.

Wire - $3.99: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/HIF...32678414255.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.UBM98w
Drivers - $0.80 a pair: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/AIY...32830223301.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.UBM98w
Shells - $1.52 a pair:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/DIY.../2033192719.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.UBM98w
Total: $6.31 Not bad for fun DIY buds.

PSA: Pay attention. Don't drink and solder.

Nice. And what do they sound like? Have you played around with the tuning foams at all?

 

[thebentern]

Nice. And what do they sound like? Have you played around with the tuning foams at all?

Haven't messed with the tuning foams yet. The shells came with some, and the drivers had a ring already installed.
Sound impressions: Fairly bass heavy... in a way that sounds muddy to me. They have a lack of clarity compared to my Seahf AWK-F32T, probably close to the clarity level of my Monk Plus. I do want to see if I can get some more detail out of them and tone down the bass by tweaking with the tuning foams. It may be a limitation of the drivers themselves though, but hey, there are super cheap.

 

[Yobster69]

Haven't messed with the tuning foams yet. The shells came with some, and the drivers had a ring already installed.
Sound impressions: Fairly bass heavy... in a way that sounds muddy to me. They have a lack of clarity compared to my Seahf AWK-F32T, probably close to the clarity level of my Monk Plus. I do want to see if I can get some more detail out of them and tone down the bass by tweaking with the tuning foams. It may be a limitation of the drivers themselves though, but hey, there are super cheap.

It’ll be fun trying.
If you left both the driver and case foams on then that’s more than likely the issue, but taking one or the other off and then wanting to put it back to try the other way round poses it’s own issue of re glueing it. Do you know what adhesive they use?

 

[thebentern]

It’ll be fun trying.
If you left both the driver and case foams on then that’s more than likely the issue, but taking one or the other off and then wanting to put it back to try the other way round poses it’s own issue of re glueing it. Do you know what adhesive they use?

Since the drivers come in a 10 pack. I have a few to experiment with. Not sure about the adhesives used on the foam attached to the driver. The foams that came with the shells appear to be attached to a self-adhesive strip underneath.

 

[Niqeres]

Haven't messed with the tuning foams yet. The shells came with some, and the drivers had a ring already installed.
Sound impressions: Fairly bass heavy... in a way that sounds muddy to me. They have a lack of clarity compared to my Seahf AWK-F32T, probably close to the clarity level of my Monk Plus. I do want to see if I can get some more detail out of them and tone down the bass by tweaking with the tuning foams. It may be a limitation of the drivers themselves though, but hey, there are super cheap.

Adding generic black tuning foams onto the shells, or stuffing it with cotton will improve clarity

 

[Yobster69]

Since the drivers come in a 10 pack. I have a few to experiment with. Not sure about the adhesives used on the foam attached to the driver. The foams that came with the shells appear to be attached to a self-adhesive strip underneath.

I’d be tempted to remove all the foams and see what the base sound is like. I bet it’s better than you think, as although they are cheap those drivers do not look bad. Then experiment with foam combinations. I’ve been thinking, and photomount spray might just be a good solution, removable would be fine.
Different foams (thickness and density) are available on AliEx, but if you have a nice sharp scalpel then you can also modify the ones you have.... time consuming but you might just come up with a diamond in the rough, tuned to your liking.
I’ve got the combination in my basket now ready to order, I’m jealous you already have them to play with.
Good luck. And report back if you can as I’d love to hear what you find.

 

[thehypewan]

Hey yall,

I wanted to share my latest achievement:

2ft (Canare L-4E5C) cable. I designed it for this Bluetooth dac/amp in mind (FiiO BTR1) for running but it can plug into any 3.5mm jack.

Transplanted Shozy Cygnus drivers into PK2 shells I ordered from China. I also retrofitted MMCX connectors to make them removable. This way I can put them on longer cables at anytime.

Thanks for viewing!

 

[theoutsider]

PSA: Pay attention. Don't drink and solder.

What an advice

 

[thebentern]

Transplanted Shozy Cygnus drivers into PK2 shells I ordered from China. I also retrofitted MMCX connectors to make them removable. This way I can put them on longer cables at anytime.

Great work! I've been wanting to modify some MX500 buds with an MMCX connectors. Where did you source yours?

 

[DBaldock9]

Great work! I've been wanting to modify some MX500 buds with an MMCX connectors. Where did you source yours?

I've purchased some of these MMCX jacks, but haven't tried installing them in any earbud shells yet - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Uni...ure-copper-gold-plated-don-t/32797640235.html

 

[thehypewan]

Great work! I've been wanting to modify some MX500 buds with an MMCX connectors. Where did you source yours?

@DBaldock9 that is the same design, but I found mine a little cheaper: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/fre...-copper-gold-plated-built-in/32840791026.html

I paired it with these male connectors: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/6pc...der-post-Straight-Goldplated/32636015257.html

I note I took for future projects is the male connectors are bare so aesthetically there isn't anything giving it a clean, finished look; I just used heatshrink around it.