AnimeSuki Forums

Guernsey · 2011-02-15, 22:20

It may or may not be inevitable but I might need new headphoes but jus tin case I don't, how do I fix the ones that only work on one side? I guess I put too much pressure on the wire and thats it can onyl work one side now. How can fix this?

Dist · 2011-02-17, 11:44

You can't. It's a problem with the wire and it probably isn't your fault, it can happen overtime.

Neat Hedgehog · 2011-02-17, 11:57

If you really want to fix them, you'd have to find the break in the wire (usually the spot where you can bend / twist the cord to make them work, or at least make a "pop" or static), open / cut / strip the cord, and either solder them back together, or just twist them together and pop a wire nut over the join to hold it.

That's assuming it's not broken off in the headset itself, of course, in which case you'd have to open your headphones. If they're not costly, it's usually not worth the hassle.

synaesthetic · 2011-02-17, 14:04

Repairing a broken wire on a pair of headphones is usually a lot of trouble. The wires are thin and coated in a type of lacquer that makes them repel solder like crazy, and burning the lacquer off without setting the wire itself on fire is difficult. The lacquer makes them non-conductive (it serves the purpose of insulation while retaining maximum flexibility) so you can't just twist them together.

I wouldn't bother repairing headphones unless they're expensive ($200+) and are designed in such a way that facilitates relatively easy recabling. I had a pair of Etymotic Research hf5 in-ear phones, and the cable went dead on one side because of the way I constantly wrapped them around my MP3 player instead of putting them in their case as I should have. They weren't designed with user-replaceable cables, and my attempt to cut the wire above the damage and put a new plug on them failed due to the thin, lacquered wires. $150 down the drain.

So yeah, unless they're full-size, expensive headphones where you can easily access the solder points on the drivers themselves, I wouldn't bother. If they have replaceable cables, just buy a new cable (a lot of high-end universals and most custom IEMs have replaceable cables).

Guernsey · 2011-02-17, 22:17

I guess I'll just have to find a new one as suppose.

2011-02-15, 22:20	Link #1
Guernsey The GAP Man Join Date: Jun 2008 Age: 36	Headphones: only work on one side It may or may not be inevitable but I might need new headphoes but jus tin case I don't, how do I fix the ones that only work on one side? I guess I put too much pressure on the wire and thats it can onyl work one side now. How can fix this? __________________

2011-02-17, 11:44	Link #2
Dist Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Finland Age: 33	You can't. It's a problem with the wire and it probably isn't your fault, it can happen overtime. __________________

2011-02-17, 14:04	Link #4
synaesthetic blinded by blood Author Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Oakland, CA Age: 40	Repairing a broken wire on a pair of headphones is usually a lot of trouble. The wires are thin and coated in a type of lacquer that makes them repel solder like crazy, and burning the lacquer off without setting the wire itself on fire is difficult. The lacquer makes them non-conductive (it serves the purpose of insulation while retaining maximum flexibility) so you can't just twist them together. I wouldn't bother repairing headphones unless they're expensive ($200+) and are designed in such a way that facilitates relatively easy recabling. I had a pair of Etymotic Research hf5 in-ear phones, and the cable went dead on one side because of the way I constantly wrapped them around my MP3 player instead of putting them in their case as I should have. They weren't designed with user-replaceable cables, and my attempt to cut the wire above the damage and put a new plug on them failed due to the thin, lacquered wires. $150 down the drain. So yeah, unless they're full-size, expensive headphones where you can easily access the solder points on the drivers themselves, I wouldn't bother. If they have replaceable cables, just buy a new cable (a lot of high-end universals and most custom IEMs have replaceable cables). __________________ Indie science fiction author and all-around weirdo: Check out my original fiction here! Read an excerpt from my sci-fi novel Binary System!

2011-02-17, 22:17	Link #5
Guernsey The GAP Man Join Date: Jun 2008 Age: 36	I guess I'll just have to find a new one as suppose. __________________

2011-02-17, 11:57	Link #3
Neat Hedgehog Hack of all trades Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Michigan Age: 36	If you really want to fix them, you'd have to find the break in the wire (usually the spot where you can bend / twist the cord to make them work, or at least make a "pop" or static), open / cut / strip the cord, and either solder them back together, or just twist them together and pop a wire nut over the join to hold it. That's assuming it's not broken off in the headset itself, of course, in which case you'd have to open your headphones. If they're not costly, it's usually not worth the hassle.