Mini Plug Question

nlavon wrote on 1/13/2003, 8:44 AM
This is not a Vegas audio question per se but I hope it's germane.

I want to adapt a pair of headphones to use as a cable to connect an audio monitor/mixer and the output of my computer sound card. One such cable where I work was adapted for that use. The cable consists of one used on a pair of Koss headphones with a 3.5 mm stereo plug. The phones were cut off; the two wires that fed each speaker [inside each of those two wires were two red and white insulated wires] were then fed into the two channels of the audio mixer (a Ward Beck Systems QSP6).

I have an old pair of headphones but with a quarter-inch phono jack. I want to cut off both the jack and headphones and use the cable. I bought a stereo mini plug with three connectors. Does anyone know how I can solder the mini plug to what are essentially four wires?

Thanks for any help on this.

Comments

vanblah wrote on 1/13/2003, 10:07 AM
Why not use an adaptor?
Chienworks wrote on 1/13/2003, 10:18 AM
Sounds like a lot more trouble than it's worth, since you could buy a premade cable to do just this from RadioShack or most any audio equipment store for a few bucks.

However, since you've already got the parts ... you mentioned that each side of the cable has a red and a white wire. This sounds like unshielded cable. Most headphones have a single insulated wire wrapped with a shield (usually uninsultated copper fibers braided around the other wire), and one side will have red insulation and the other side white. If this isn't the case and you just have two insulated wires without a shield, then DO NOT use this cable for this purpose. Unshielded cable will result in lots of noise and interference.

If your cable is shielded, connect the inner insulated wire from one side to the tip of the stereo plug, the inner insulated wire from the other side to the ring, and both shields to the sleeve. If it is white on one side and red on the other, the white is left and goes to the tip, the red is right and goes to the ring. On the mixer end of the cable, the inner insulated wire goes to the tip and the shield goes to the sleeve.
Geoff_Wood wrote on 1/13/2003, 3:23 PM
Why not go to your nearest electronic supply store and get a length of twin screened wire for a few dollars, or a ready-made cabble. Then you won't have any uncertainty.

If you need to ask, then I suggest it may be better if you not undertake any soldering of cables.

geoff
MJhig wrote on 1/13/2003, 7:53 PM
As has been eluded to don't cut the plug off the headphones, go to Radio Shack and get a 1/4" stereo jack to 1/8" stereo plug adapter for around $3.00.

MJ
nlavon wrote on 1/13/2003, 9:01 PM
Actually, it sounds like a lot of trouble and I think I'll just get an adaptor. Thanks for the replies.