Looking for 2.5mm panel mount headphone socket

[Ge0 Audio]

Hello all. I'd like to convert a pair of Grado SR60's to have detachable wires. At first I was going to use panel mount 3.5mm headphone sockets like these:
https://www.amazon.com/Longdex-Ster...=3.5mm+panel+mount+jack&qid=1621811019&sr=8-4

However, I found this headphone cable for a very reasonable price:
https://www.monoprice.com/product?p...D - Segment - Core - New_Desktop - Ad Group 2

Problem being it uses 2.5mm headphone jacks vs. 3.5mm. Many other off the shelf headphones also use 2.5mm. My problem being I'm having a hard time finding aftermarket 2.5mm headphone sockets.

Does anyone have a lead?

I'm aware I could modify the cable above to use 3.5mm headphone plugs. But, I'd like to stick with the standard solution so I can keep cost down if I need to replace the cable in the future.

 

[Mightygrey]

I use this cable with my modded Grados: https://mezeaudio.com/collections/accessories/products/99-series-2-5-balanced-cable

 

[megabigeye]

Like this?

Why do you have to use that monoprice cable? Why not just make your own?

 

[Ge0 Audio]

I use this cable with my modded Grados: https://mezeaudio.com/collections/accessories/products/99-series-2-5-balanced-cable

Nice option. But, I still need receptacles to mount in my headphone cups.

 

[Ge0 Audio]

Like this?

Why do you have to use that monoprice cable? Why not just make your own?

I went to Digikey and Mouser as soon as I realized Monoprice or Amazon did not have any options. I prefer the style that hides the mounting hardware on the non-visible side. It makes the connection look cleaner.

I'm starting to think constructing my own cable and using all 3.5mm jacks is going to be my end game. I've been an electronics technician for 30 years. It's definitely within my capability. I'm just very conscious about aesthetics. I want anodized machined aluminum connectors that look cool. No cheap radio shack looking stuff.

 

[Mightygrey]

I use panel-mounted 3.5mm jacks when modding the plastic Prestige Series Grados, as it's easy to simply open up the cups by applying heat with a hairdryer. I then bore out the hole for the cable slightly.

For the wooden Grados, I'd rather not open up the cups as it's a little more destructive. This being the case, I've decided to use MMCX connectors instead, as the diameter of the screw is far smaller, and you can simply push them in from the outside - I'm about to mod some Hemps and use these, which look pretty flush: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000144363063.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.5bf24c4dCzj9IQ

 

[buke9]

I went to Digikey and Mouser as soon as I realized Monoprice or Amazon did not have any options. I prefer the style that hides the mounting hardware on the non-visible side. It makes the connection look cleaner.

I'm starting to think constructing my own cable and using all 3.5mm jacks is going to be my end game. I've been an electronics technician for 30 years. It's definitely within my capability. I'm just very conscious about aesthetics. I want anodized machined aluminum connectors that look cool. No cheap radio shack looking stuff.

Yep that’s the rub. You can find lots of good looking connectors for your cables but on the cup side not so much.

 

[Ge0 Audio]

Yep that’s the rub. You can find lots of good looking connectors for your cables but on the cup side not so much.

After 5 nights of searching everything from high end $$$ suppliers to Aliexpress I'm going to agree with you.

 

[buke9]

After 5 nights of searching everything from high end $$$ suppliers to Aliexpress I'm going to agree with you.

Yep sorry to say.

 

[Mightygrey]

Yep that’s the rub. You can find lots of good looking connectors for your cables but on the cup side not so much.

I've always thought that the Meze 99's have the neatest 3.5mm female socket implementation - I'd love to see if a pair of these could be housed at an angle into Grado cups, which would also have the added benefit of having the cables angled forward over one's shoulders.

 

[buke9]

I've always thought that the Meze 99's have the neatest 3.5mm female socket implementation - I'd love to see if a pair of these could be housed at an angle into Grado cups, which would also have the added benefit of having the cables angled forward over one's shoulders.

Yes but they are internally mounted so would be hard to do.

 

[Ge0 Audio]

Yes but they are internally mounted so would be hard to do.

I did see a solution to angle mount Grado headphone sockets using a clamp on 3D printed piece. But, I didn't like it. There is no need to have a cable as large as a garden hose to transmit signal to a pair of headphones. So, given a more realistic condition I don't see having a smaller cord draped on my shoulder to be an issue.

I'm not going to use Grado 1960's vacuum cleaner cord.

 

[Ge0 Audio]

Thanks to @Mightygrey I found this prefabbed solution.
https://mezeaudio.com/collections/a...series-standard-cables?variant=19420023586873

That's all I need.