Splice Headphone Wires

[murrays 0]

So, I was looking at the new iPod Shuffle just released today. All of its controls are on the right headphone cord.

The problem with that is the Apple earbuds don't fit a lot of people and there are much better sounding headphones available.

How difficult would it be to cut the Apple earbuds off and splice on earbuds from your preferred headphones?

--
Murray

"No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

[Nutz 0]

Are you a technician? I can tell you those wires are very small but they are certainly splicable. Or is it spliceable? I dunno, you will then run into problems with impedance mismatch ie, the apple ear buds will be a different resistance than your headphones. It will still work just probably not as well as a headphone that is made to work with the unit.

That is my $0.02.

"Don't! Get! Eliminated!"

[JohnMitchell 16]

I'm not much of an electronics guy, but I use some aftermarket headphones with my MP-3 player to get much better sound. I figured that if the plug fit, it would be okay. Are there industry standards for certain size plugs to have similar specifications on voltage, impedance, etc.?

[pontiacgtp00 0]

I've had some luck with splicing headphone wires, but not much. Sometimes it works, usually it doesn't. The small wires inside are insulated with an extremely thin, clear rubber coating. You can't strip it off, I've tried burning it off but that usually destroys the thin copper wires inside.

[LaRusic 0]

ive done it a few times, although i have a nice pace soldering station here at work along with proper shrink wrap for it. they always seem to work fine. It can be done

The Altitude above you, the runway behind you, and the fuel not in the plane are totally worthless
Dudeist Skydiver # 10

[murrays 0]

Sounds to me like I'd need to find somebody that has the skill and equipment to do a proper job.

Thanks everyone!

--
Murray

"No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

[LaRusic 0]

in all honesty you could use buttconnectors and tape, or even just wrap the 2 pieces of wire together...it would would, just is more likely to pull appart.

The Altitude above you, the runway behind you, and the fuel not in the plane are totally worthless
Dudeist Skydiver # 10

[billvon 3,111]

>in all honesty you could use buttconnectors and tape, or even just wrap
>the 2 pieces of wire together..

I think perhaps you may be overestimating the size of the wires he's talking about. I've worked with wire this small, and you have to be pretty careful to get a connection at all. Cellphone headsets are particularly nasty.

[murrays 0]

I just came across an article that says Apple is going to make an adapter available for other headphones and also the Apple earbuds will do the same thing as they also have the same controller.

Thanks guys,

--
Murray

"No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

[LaRusic 0]

i know the size of wire it is just saying it can be done

yeah cellphones are fun, especially putting that little connecter back together that plugs into the phone...the one thats about a half inch wide and really really thin. USB connectors and wires are particulary nasty too

The Altitude above you, the runway behind you, and the fuel not in the plane are totally worthless
Dudeist Skydiver # 10

[skydiver30960 0]

CHRIST that damn thing is small. But hell, they were putting them in Oakleys years ago.

I'm surprised they haven't developed an over-the-ear design that stashes half the bulk of the overall player behind each ear, and just a cord between the two. Kinda like two hearing aids or whatnot, then no more cord dangling down to your waist. Put the memory on one side and the battery on the other, or whatever.

Elvisio "somebody get cracking on that and give me half the royalties" Rodriguez