Tips and tricks for soldering audio jacks

It can be surprisingly hard to get a good solder joint on a lot of modern headphone cables. Here are some top tips to help you get it right first time
customcans.co....

[@lollycopter]

Thanks for this video. I've only done a few basic PCB kits before so this collection of audio-specific tips is very useful and relevant to me.

[@CustomCans]

Glad it was helpful!

[@khanyadlamini4778]

I JP​@@CustomCans

[@garfythecat]

Great guide! Those jacks that don't have any tabs to solder to are such a nightmare. I opted to buy a cheap pre-made cable instead of dealing with those lol

[@CustomCans]

Yeh, I wish all jacks had nice taps to solder on to.

[@samadel.a765]

I know the pain but two tricks to do it with minimal problems is first dip the heck out of that tabless jack in a lot of flux then try to melt the old solder before doing anything to basically re-tin it (tried it on a couple of trs jacks and the work just fine 🤷)

[@pud]

Thank you for this video. I’ve just started making headphones and your info is great

[@CustomCans]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Vraixen]

I had to solder the exact cable you shown in the video (the one with kevlar in the small cables) on the mini xlr but i couldn’t make it because the soldering iron won’t stick to the copper.

[@CustomCans]

Yeh - it makes soldering much harder

[@Vraixen]

@@CustomCans i’ve been able to apply the detachable mod on the dt990 but i’ve been unable to convert the cable, maybe some flux will help me? Im unexperienced with soldering, some tips would be helpful.

[@georgebogdangrigore3882]

Very good guide!Thank you!

[@CustomCans]

Thanks

[@danieljohnson6370]

Very helpful - Thank You! 🤙

[@CustomCans]

No problem! I should have probably got the camera a bit closer but there as still some useful tips in there ;)

[@samadel.a765]

For some reason I'd laid this video on the back burner for a while and did some research on how to remove enamel insulation from a wire cuz I usually used a lighter but that left a residue and affected the integrity of the copper strands (tried to find solution to it using any chemical that can react with it and only found acetone and the pure for of it is mainly for industrial use only and quite expensive sooo I gave up) and it took me a while to find out that solder can melt it in a high enough temperature Now I'm watching the video after that rabbit hole 🤣

[@CustomCans]

Glad it was helpful in the end ;)

[@Soulcommander]

Nice work! Thank you!

[@samadel.a765]

The string enforcement is really annoying to get rid of whin in between the strands of wire

[@CustomCans]

You are right.... super annoying as it you miss a few it can ruin the solder joint

[@samadel.a765]

@@CustomCans true😢

[@wildsprig]

So helpful! What if I want to re-terminate and convert a balanced 4-pin male XLR jack to an unbalanced 3.5 mm TRS jack? Would it be wire 1 (L+) to tip, wire 3 (R+) to ring, and ground wires 2 (L-) and 4 (R-) to sleeve?

[@CustomCans]

Yes that is correct

[@MartinFellerMusic]

Hey thanks so much for sharing these tips! Where can you buy that "parachute cord" or cotton string? I am using Techflex now but I hate the scratchyness of it

[@CustomCans]

Just go on ebay and search for paracord, they do it in different sizes

[@pajda102]

How much will it cost me if I will send you my pair of HE400SE to sound like yours. I don't care about colors of ear cups those can stay stock.

[@CustomCans]

Without the cable it would be around £100 for the full mod + postage

[@woldemortxyz7996]

Could you try and mod the AKG k371 or k361? They have a 3-pin mini-xlr connector, which would seem like it could be changed to a 4-pin and made balanced? And could you make a mass loading ring for hd58x or how could the existing ones be used?

[@CustomCans]

Hi We have modded the K702 and K712 to take a balanced connection - the 3 pin socket is moulded in place so not easy to change. I don't think we will be doing the K3?? series. The HD600 /6XX kit will not fit the HD58X. We may do a kit for that in the future but we are still working on the HD660 and I don't think we will be able to look at the 58X until after christmas

[@n11n12]

This is probably more of a medical issue, but any suggestions for dealing with shaky hands and fingers while soldering? (I've destroyed my fair share of headphones and other soldering projects thanks to my hypertension.)

[@CustomCans]

If you hold the soldering iron like a pen, you can press your little finger against something stable like the desk or something solid to help stabilize your hand or maybe use something like a Mahl Stick used for sign painting to help stabilise your hand

[@benpit5012]

are your hands less shakey when your doing something in lets say the kitchen? just wonderinng if a standing station type setup might be beneficial...its alot easier to stabalize things in the way you need without the confines of the chair locking u.. not necessarily under the table but into an orientation...i also wonder how much you slouch. could be impinging on nerves which standing might help......or im overthinking stuff again lol but last one is are your tremors better in summer or winter? room/body temperature easy thing to alter..... to add onto the suggestions from the channel owner. a wrist brace and if you wanted to get really fancy purchase or diy something like the lights they have in the dentists office on the poles they put it hwere they need it and it just stays....yeah now im starting to over t hink things...more gravity arms!!! we need counter weigghts!!! i want my ballerina to balance but bounce....i dont know how we got here that was two paragraphs ago and im losing sight of where i started....take care

[@alexferguson8893]

I have some tinsel wire, would there be any reason I shouldn't use that to solder between the 2.5mm jack in the bottom of each side and to the drivers?

[@CustomCans]

I have not played with it much but I know it is used in headphones sometimes so should be fine

[@alexferguson8893]

@@CustomCans Ok, thank you

[@guarire]

should i get dt 900 pro x or dt 880

[@CustomCans]

That is difficult - if you have a decent amp then probably the 880 600ohms - if not then the 900 pro as they sound good without an amp

[@exodusvelo]

Do you have a link regarding how to check continuity of a 5m cable? I want to make a cable extension, but don't know how to do it. I have a multimeter, but works on small cables, in long ones made out of copper, don't know how to check it. Thanks a lot!

[@benpit5012]

im assuming you were using the continuity beeper with the multimeter..... my first thought was: car battery>one of jumper cables>headlight>wire to be tested .....realized im reflexivly getting my dad his test light because technology is the devil lol. but did you try checking on the ohms setting for 0.0...or any change on ohms setting is a good sign but not a guarantee lol ...a brand spankin new energizer max battery in multimeter could have helped.... solder very fine sewing needles to your test leads ....a reason is you can penetrate casing of wires in as big or small sections as you need or are able to test and a little bit of flame.... and rubbing seals up pinholes....if you need to worry about htat sort of thing. and if your feeling savage and up for a challege use you soldering iron to smooth the pin holes..works best....anyway....this is your friendly backyard mad scientist soldering off

[@jondoe7875]

Im gonna fit full size xlrs to some beyer 990pros lol

[@jondoe7875]

You gotta admit it would be sick

[@CustomCans]

There is probably enough room ;)

[@monsterbee]

What happend to Jim?

[@CustomCans]

He is back doing real work ;) i will let him out of the workshop again soon though

[@monsterbee]

#FreeJames #KZbinPhenomenon

[@Sergio-uo6xv]

pr໐๓໐Ş๓ 😅