/diy/ - Do It Yourself

I have the same problem as OP

The wires are mixed with some kind of fibers that are a bitch to solder. Cheaper head phones often have thicker wires that are easier to deal with. So just buy some shit head phones and use them just for the cable.

stick them in a microwave for exactly 8 seconds, this will be just enough time to soften some of the soldering inside, but not enough to fry them completely

let them sit for 5 minutes afterwords to allow the softened solder to set, this could fix the bad connection without ever having to crack them open

>>286587
Wouldn't that be super bad for my microwave?

>>286589
no, it wouldn't be long enough to do anything. plus only large pieces of metal can harm a microwave. ever see those microwave soup containers that tell you to remove the metal lid, yet still have a little metal ring around the lip of the cup?...it's just like that.

>>286587
>>286589
>>286591
damn me for having a heart...don't do this...i lied. it will probably fry your earbuds.

>>286593
I sort of had that feeling. A while ago I remember seeing an instructables or something post about opening it up through the back to be able to have access to the wires. Anyone know what I'm talking about?

>>286597
ok, so enough trolling, here's my real advice.

it's not worth it unles they're expensive earbuds or you have some other reason that you MUST repair them

>>286599
I know I'm pushing it now, and going to sound like a total summer, but wouldn't holding it above a flame at an angle work in the same principle as the microwave?

>>286605

>>286607
Fair enough.

>>286609
yea, just dont do anything of the sort

we love you

Probably going to try something like this, just because I don''t feel right if I'm not doing something stupid.

>>286615
Pic very related

I've tried earbud repair before... those wires are extremely difficult to solder.

>>286901

I have to agree. I'm not normally one of those, "Fuck it, just buy new ones" guys, but in this case, you'll save yourself a ton of time and frustration by just going to the store and getting a new set. Plus, decent earbuds are cheap as shit nowadays, so you aren't out much money at all. If you do go ahead and try to repair your old ones, I wish you a ton of luck.

WHEN cables usually break, its an actual broken copper strand which is 99% of the time with headphones. Considering that most cables types for headphones have invidual laquered copper strands (typ. green and clear), they can only tolerate so much bending before they fatigue and break.
AFAIK, microwaves vibrate water molecules to produce friction, thus heat. You don't not make heat with metal, just sparks.
Its highly doubtful you snapped a solder connection, since the cable uses a torturous path.
Fix?
1.slice cable opn and try and solder it back together if you know how to check for breaks
2. replace length
3. buy new ones
and ghetto fix:
4. get double-socket adapter and use two differnt, but broken, headphones. cut off the dead channel on each.

I've had experience with this before, if the connection is in the electronics, give it a shot, if the connection problem is in the wiring, don't even try, unless you have a WHOLE lot of experience in fine soldering.

>>286577
If you have Skullcandys like in your picture you should check out the warranty on their site. I've gotten a few free replacement pairs of headphones from them this way

>>288059
Totally forgot about that.
Thanks anon!