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DIY Earphones

Headphones offer a private listening experience. They come in a variety ranging from cheap plastic ear-buds which nestle in a listener's ears to large high fidelity headphones worn by musicians. While headphones are available in all shapes, sizes and price ranges, the DIY listener can build his own high quality set of headphones with some effort. A pair of quality speakers combined with some common household items and a little ingenuity can create a quality set of headphones.

Things You'll Need

  • Two 1'' speakers
  • Stereo wire
  • 25-watt soldering iron
  • Rosin-core solder
  • Pliers
  • Wire cutters
  • Wire strippers
  • Two small paper cups
  • Duct tape
  • Wire coat hanger
  • 1/8'-inch audio pin
  • 6x1-inch length of soft foam
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Instructions

    • 1

      Shape the wire hanger into a thin oval 1-inch wide and 1-foot long using the pliers and cut off any excess wire with the wire cutters. Lay the shape flat and duct tape the open end to create a closed shape.

    • 2

      Place one 1-inch speaker at each end of the wire shape -- ensure both are pointing in the same direction -- and use the pliers to pinch the wire around each speaker, enclosing the speakers in the wire.

    • 3

      Cut two 18-inch lengths of stereo wire and strip a quarter inch of bare wire at each end with wire strippers.

    • 4

      Solder one length of stereo wire to the positive connection of the left 1-inch stereo speaker with a 25-watt soldering iron. Solder the stripped end of the stereo wire against the tab marked positive (+) on the stereo speaker with the rosin-core solder. Allow the solder to cool for two minutes.

    • 5

      Coil the stereo wire soldered to the positive (+) tab of the left speaker around the wire hanger until the free end meets the positive (+) tab of the right speaker. Solder the stripped wire end to the positive (+) tab of the right stereo speaker as done above.

    • 6

      Solder the stripped tip of the remaining 18-inch stereo wire to the negative (-) tab of the left stereo speaker and allow to cool for two minutes.

    • 7

      Coil the stereo wire soldered to the negative (-) tab of the left speaker around the wire hanger until the free end meets the negative (-) tab of the right speaker. Solder the stripped wire end to the negative (-) tab of the right stereo speaker and allow to cool for two minutes.

    • 8

      Place the 6-inch length of soft foam in the direct center between the two wired stereo speakers and coil duct tape around the structure. Start taping just above the speakers and enclose the wires and soft foam in duct tape between the two speakers.

    • 9

      Cut two 3-foot lengths of stereo wire with the wire cutters. Solder one to the positive (+) tab of the left stereo speaker and one to the negative (-) tab of the left stereo speaker. Allow to cool for two minutes.

    • 10

      Solder the cable connected to the positive (+) tab of the left stereo speaker to the positive (+) tab of the audio pin. Solder the cable connected to the negative (-) tab of the left stereo speaker to the negative (-) tab of the audio pin.

    • 11

      Place the small paper cups on the outside (the side with the soldered tabs) of each 1-inch speaker. Duct tape the cups into place as they will help contain and reverberate the sound coming from each speaker. Bend the entire wire structure over your head so that the paper cups face the outside.

Digital Music

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