How to make your own headphones

A cheap headset breaks very quickly, while branded headphones are quite expensive. If you have a couple of broken sets lying around in your nightstand, then this is a very lucky find. You can make a good headset from different elements. First, all spare parts need to be checked for functionality, and then you can start making your own headphones.

How to Choose Headphone Components

Before you begin self-assembly or repair of headphones, you need to identify the cause of damage to the old headset and the likelihood of replacing only the connector. It happens that in addition to this, the cable also needs to be replaced.

It is also necessary to determine the material side: purchasing the required tool sometimes costs as much as the cost of repairs in a service center, and sometimes the purchase of new similar headphones. Knowing the cause of the breakdown, you can determine where to start working.

Plug

In this case, there are two different options:

1. Simple headphones without a microphone. Four wires are connected to the plug: plus and minus from each speaker. To make assembly more convenient, the negatives are twisted into a common bundle and thus get 3 cores, which need to be fixed to certain places using a soldering iron.
2. Headphones with microphone. In this case, the plug has four contacts: one for each speaker, the second for the microphone, and a contact for ground.It must be said that the color of the wires may vary depending on the headset manufacturer and this parameter is quite arbitrary. The left speaker cable may be green. The cable from the right speaker is always marked red. Ground - copper wire.

Speakers

This is the main element of any headset; the sound quality will depend on it. The speaker can belong to any of the reproduction spectrums, low- or high-frequency, dome or regular.

But, as a rule, the headphones have the simplest speaker installed. It is not distinguished by increased sensitivity or power, but is quite reliable and unpretentious to use.

It is very difficult to purchase a speaker separately, it is even more difficult to make one without special equipment, there is no need to create unnecessary complications, you can simply cut off the required speakers from other headphones. In this case, it is necessary to cut the cable evenly so that the copper core does not split. It won't be difficult to disassemble unnecessary headphones and use the elements to make new ones.

Cable

The cable is made in the form of a flat, long black strip or a round wire. Manufacturers produce single and double wires - it will depend on whether the cables are connected to one speaker or two.

Reference! Under the insulation there are copper conductors - right/left channel, ground wire. Most often, the wires are marked in different colors.

DIY headphones: step-by-step instructions

To know how to make your own headphones, you can use the following assembly instructions:

1. Choose a plug that matches all the requirements of the connector for the sound source (smartphone or laptop). At the moment, we can note one of the most popular types - miniJack.The size of this output can be 3.5 or 6.3 mm. 6.3 is most often used in stationary home devices, 3.5 in mobile equipment.
2. Then disconnect the plug. Then lay the wire into the groove, which must have 4 cores.
3. Then locate the support on the plug that is used to secure the wire. Such a rack must have a hole. Solder 2 wires from the cable to it. Attach the remaining 2 to two small terminals. Before doing this, place thin insulating tubes on the wires.
4. Then wrap the wire with insulating tape and fix the wrapped part in the rack.
5. Install the plug cover and use a simple ohmmeter to check the plug for possible shorts.
6. Choose 2 small speakers that are the same size. The resistance of one must be no more than 8 ohms. Insert the speakers into special housings. To perform this operation, you can use small plastic barrels. Then connect one resistor in parallel with a resistance of no more than 30 Ohms.
7. Afterwards you need to take care of the headband. It can be made from an unnecessary iron ruler. Install and secure the emitters on the headband. This step can be accomplished in different ways, for example, you can use nuts and bolts. The most important thing to note is that sharp protruding parts can cause injury in the future, so it is advisable to avoid these elements.
8. Next, connect 2 wires to the emitters. Attach the first of them to the plug stand, and the other to one of the terminals.

If all workable elements have been selected, then the self-made headphones will be no worse in quality than the factory headset.