How to Replace your Earbud's Cable

Written By: Nicholas Yang
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How to Replace your Earbud's Cable

Difficulty

Difficult

Steps

8

Time Required

30 minutes - 1 hour

Introduction

This guide will only work for earbud-style headphones - refer here.

This guide will require some basic soldering knowledge - refer to this guide, though it is not necessary.

Many headphones and earphones break because of a damaged cable. Cables, especially for earbuds, are extremely easy to replace as long as you’re willing to do some elementary soldering. This guide will teach you how to do it.

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    • Plug in and turn on your soldering iron.

    • Set it to the lowest temperature possible (if applicable).

    • A soldering iron can get very hot. Set it aside at a safe spot after turning it on

    • There is a distinction between what a "wire" and a "cable" is. I will refer to the "cable" as the entire whole of the cable, and the "wire" as the two exposed bits of colored copper at the ends of the left and right sides of the cable.

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    • Hold firmly onto the earbud stem with one hand, and pinch the sound driver with the other hand. Gently but firmly apply a prying motion to separate the body from the sound driver.

    • If you are having difficulty separating the body from the sound driver, use your hair dryer to slightly warm the sound driver, and try again.

    • Take a closeup picture of the circuit boards of both sides to refer to it in the future.

    • Do not heat the sound driver for longer than five seconds. Doing so can damage the sound driver.

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    • Grab the soldering iron with your dominant hand and hold it as you would a pencil. With your other hand, hold some solder and make it touch the tip of the soldering iron. This will melt some solder onto the tip of the soldering iron.

    • If the solder does not melt when making contact with the soldering iron, place down the soldering iron onto its stand and slightly increase the temperature.

    • If the solder is melting but does not flow to the tip of the soldering iron, you have to clean your soldering iron tip. Refer to a guide to clean your soldering iron tip.

    • The soldering iron can get very hot. Make sure your fingers are not making contact with any metal bits when working with a soldering iron.

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    • Use your soldering iron to gently touch the solder on the circuit board that is attached to one of the wires. Once the solder melts, twist the cable so that the wire is released from the circuit board. Repeat with the other remaining wire still attached to the circuit board.

    • Repeat the above step with the other sound driver.

    • Place your sound driver aside and away from any strong magnets.

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    • You are left with your old cables with the earbud housing still attached.

    • Untie the knot on both sides of the cable, and remove the housings from the cable. Set aside the housings, and discard the old, damaged cable.

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    • Run the left side of your new cable through the left earbud housing. Tie a knot that is roughly 1.5 cm away from the tip of the exposed wire. Repeat with the right side of the new cable.

    • For most cables, the left side has green/copper wires, while the right side has red/copper wires.

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    • Refer to the picture taken previously to know which solder points to connect your wires to.

    • Choose a sound driver and put it in front of you on your work surface.

    • Hold onto your soldering iron with one hand and the wire with the other. Bring the soldering iron tip to touch the solder point that is marked with a Sharpie or paint.

    • Once the solder point liquefies, bring the left cable so that the copper colored wire touches the liquid solder. The copper colored wire will sink into the solder point and some solder will envelop the tip of the wire. Put down your soldering iron and let the solder point cool down to solidify.

    • Repeat the above step but with the green wire and on the other remaining solder point.

    • For the right side, repeat the above two steps. The copper colored wire goes to the side marked with sharpie/paint, and the red wire goes to the other solder point.

    • Ensure you hold the cable at least an inch away from the tip of the wires to not accidentally burn yourself.

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    • Refer to your photo taken previously to align the rotation of the driver. If your driver is rotated upside down, your music will be upside down!

    • This step is optional. Apply a thin layer of adhesive on the outer edge of the left earbud housing. Depending on the type of adhesive, you may have to work quickly.

    • Slide the housing onto the driver, then pinch the housing and sound driver together to attach them. Wipe off any excess adhesive, if using.

    • If it does not snap together, you will have to follow the above step and hold the sound driver and the earbud housing together until the adhesive dries.

    • Repeat with right side of the earbuds.

Conclusion

Plug in your headphones into a device and play some music! If any problem persists, start back from Step 2 and check the integrity of your soldered connections.

Author

Nicholas Yang

Member since: 15/07/20

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