[jbl772]

Sorry, anyways is re-terminating the cable hard to do? 
 
I understand what to do but I'm scared of messing up and messing up my headphones
 
EDIT::
 
Okay say I do solder the cable.  Do I need to buy a new connector (the thing that plugs into the iPod sorry don't know my headphone terms)
 
Or can I use the same one?  And if I do buy a new one which one do I buy?  

 

[sari0n]

It would probably be best to get a new one.  You can order Neutriks 3.5mm plugs for pretty cheap online.  I'm sure there are other brands but I can't think of any others at the moment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9CpkyKPR_8
If you're comfortable with doing something like this then go for it.
 
Honestly though, just get the coiled cable version.  I don't think it's worth the trouble shortening the wire and all that.

 

[jbl772]

So is the process I explained in this
 
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/545535/shortening-soldering-m50-cable-need-help-soldering-please#post_7354428
 
 
1. Cut the cable (Do I need to cut it a specific way or just cut it with scissors?)

2. Remove the insulation, then half an inch of insulation of the smaller wires.  Also put heat shrinks on the smaller and main cable. (How do you do this?  I just used scissors and tried not to cut too far in but bad idea I know)

3. Put the matching cables next to each other then solder.  (Do I need to twist the matching cables?)

4. Heat up the heat shrinks as I solder the wires.

 

Is this correct?  My friend said its fairly simple, I think I'm going to have to try to pay him to do it for me...but do you think I could do this on my own?  

 

Is it possible to lose quality soldering the wire?  and is this plug ok? http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103400 I mean I read all this female male stuff I have no idea what I'm reading.  If someone could find me a plug that looks like that (not the L shaped ones the straight ones) then can u please send me a link (amazon preferred)

 

[sari0n]

Basically, the headphone cable is a tube with 3 smaller wires inside.  Those 3 smaller wires each need to be soldered onto one of the tabs on the 3.5mm plug, as shown in the video.  You don't need to cut the wire in a special way, just snip it in half.  There are dozens of ways to strip wires.  You can use scissors, wire cutters, wire strippers, your teeth, etc.  Some are less refined but they all can work if you know what you're doing.
 
I don't know what kind of wires the 3 smaller ones are.  If they are like normal wires that are just metal with insulation on the outside then it should be relatively easy.  A lot of headphones use this wire that's like metal strands braided around a thin thread and then the entire thing is dipped into some insulation.  It's sort of hard to describe, but it looks like bare metal although there is actually insulation.  That kind of wire is slightly tricker to strip, you can't just use wirecutters to pull off the insulation, you probably have to use a lighter to burn some of it off.  This is sort of hard to describe in words. 
You should not lose any audio quality, unless you do such a horrible soldering job that the sound cuts in and out.  Just be careful that the wire parts soldered to the tabs on the 3.5mm plug don't touch each other.
 
http://www.amazon.com/Neutrik-NTP3RC-B-3-5mm-Right-Angle/dp/B000BDDOP4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1300765162&sr=8-2
http://www.amazon.com/Neutrik-NTP3RC-3-5mm-Right-Nickel/dp/B000BDLJBU/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1300765173&sr=8-6

 

[jbl772]

Are you sure I have to buy a new plug?  I read that I don't need a new one and can just use the same one..

 

[sari0n]

You can leave half an inch of wire behind the stock plug and then solder to that.  I wouldn't really recommend it though.  You're not going to be able to solder onto the tabs of the stock plug, that's for sure.  Relief is also probably going to be really weak, if your wire gets caught onto anything that'll probably be the end of your solder job.
The neutriks plugs are designed for DIY soldering.  The bottom part of the plug screws off so that you can solder to these big tabs.  Once you're done you screw the bottom back on and that protects everything.  You would have to saw the stock plug in half to get at the internals, or solder to the wire behind the plug.

 

[Foress]

well from the reviews i would say it's pretty much authentic.

 

[jbl772]

can you recommend me a plug that isnt an L shape??
 
like i want one like this shape this guy used
http://chrismetcalf.net/blog/2007/08/07/how-to-repairing-faulty-headphones/
 
I've looked online and there's so many different ones and some phono to mono and male to female idk what all that stuff means haha can someone recommend me one??
 
I don't want the L shaped ones
 
And the cheaper the better! (Without it being sucky of course)

 

[shrimants]

for some reason every time ive tried to splice together headphone wire like that the sound only comes out of one ear. every freaking time.

 

[jbl772]

Quote:

for some reason every time ive tried to splice together headphone wire like that the sound only comes out of one ear. every freaking time.

lol well has anyone else had this problem?? I mean I have no problem using the L one but they look kinda ugly
 
No offense, I'd just rather have the straight ones (if they work ok)
 
Could someone recommend me one? Sorry I am new to headphones idk what to look for, like I said there's mono to mono, stereo to mono, and all this other stuff confusing -__-

 

[sari0n]

oh, lol, I misread your statement, I thought you wanted an angled plug
http://www.amazon.com/Rean-NYS231-3-5mm-Stereo-Nickel/dp/B0008JFHHO/ref=sr_1_6?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1300848543&sr=1-6
http://www.amazon.com/NYS231L-3-5mm-Stereo-Nickel-Entry/dp/B0008IV5HG/ref=sr_1_7?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1300848543&sr=1-7
http://www.amazon.com/NYS231BG-3-5mm-Stereo-Plug-Black/dp/B0008JFHII/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1300848563&sr=1-3
 
The stereo to mono, mono to stereo, etc stuff are all adapters, not end plugs.
If you have sound coming out of only one ear then your soldering joints probably were not good.  Also, make absolutely sure that the ends of the wires soldered to the tabs do not touch each other.  If you have any contact at all then your sound will cut in and out.  I would suggest wrapping the tabs individually with some electric tape before putting the end cap on.
 

 

[jbl772]

How do I tell if it's the right plug?  Or they're all the same??
 
Cuz none of these are sold/fulfilled by Amazon, so they have expensive shipping haha.  I have Amazon Prime so anything sold by or fulfilled by amazon is free 2 day shipping.
 
Or find me a cheap one sold by/fulfilled by amazon?? But I don't wanna hassle you to keep finding new ones if I don't like them, so do I just search on Amazon "stereo plug" or what haha
 
http://www.amazon.com/PDIF-Adapter-3-5mm-MONO-Plug/dp/B001TKEGRI/ref=sr_1_27?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1300849950&sr=1-27 Is that an okay one?
 
 
 
EDIT::
 
Or if someone has AIM (instant messenger) and is willing to help me I have a few questions (don't wanna bother anyone! only if you're bored and not busy!)
 
If not, answering here is fine x)

 

[sari0n]

Anything with "adapter" or "mono" in the title is no good.  The one you linked to is an adapter, not an end plug, and it is also mono which means that the front part of the plug only has 2 sections instead of 3 so it only has one sound channel.  I checked amazon but I don't see any 3.5mm end plugs fulfilled by them, in fact, there aren't very many end plugs available at all.  
 
You really aren't going to get an end plug shipped cheaper than 5$, that's a very reasonable price for this kind of thing.
If you want to pm me I can try to answer your questions, I don't really use aim though.

 

[Foress]

Quote:

How do I tell if it's the right plug?  Or they're all the same??
 
Cuz none of these are sold/fulfilled by Amazon, so they have expensive shipping haha.  I have Amazon Prime so anything sold by or fulfilled by amazon is free 2 day shipping.
 
Or find me a cheap one sold by/fulfilled by amazon?? But I don't wanna hassle you to keep finding new ones if I don't like them, so do I just search on Amazon "stereo plug" or what haha
 
http://www.amazon.com/PDIF-Adapter-3-5mm-MONO-Plug/dp/B001TKEGRI/ref=sr_1_27?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1300849950&sr=1-27 Is that an okay one?
 
 
 
EDIT::
 
Or if someone has AIM (instant messenger) and is willing to help me I have a few questions (don't wanna bother anyone! only if you're bored and not busy!)
 
If not, answering here is fine x)

sometimes the plug's messed up. like in the case of the Monster Turbine. half of the people received straight jacks and the other half received L shaped ones.

 

[shrimants]

Quote:

How do I tell if it's the right plug?  Or they're all the same??
 
Cuz none of these are sold/fulfilled by Amazon, so they have expensive shipping haha.  I have Amazon Prime so anything sold by or fulfilled by amazon is free 2 day shipping.
 
Or find me a cheap one sold by/fulfilled by amazon?? But I don't wanna hassle you to keep finding new ones if I don't like them, so do I just search on Amazon "stereo plug" or what haha
 
http://www.amazon.com/PDIF-Adapter-3-5mm-MONO-Plug/dp/B001TKEGRI/ref=sr_1_27?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1300849950&sr=1-27 Is that an okay one?
 
 
 
EDIT::
 
Or if someone has AIM (instant messenger) and is willing to help me I have a few questions (don't wanna bother anyone! only if you're bored and not busy!)
 
If not, answering here is fine x)

the stereo plug has 3 "sections" and 2 rings. A mono plug has 2 sections, 1 ring. A 4th type of plug is available called TRRS, which has 4 sections. You want the one with only 3 sections. If you get a mono plug, you will have sound in only 1 ear.