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CultofCedar OP t1_jda33ql wrote

Got into higher end headphones. Speed ran my way from a pc38x, then a 6xx drop reservation, then to a 560s since it’d take too long, followed by a 660s, then lastly a used 800s. I wanted a nice new pair for the final winner, so I bought a second fresh 800s. I think I got a solid 10 minutes with these.

Edit: Resurrected! Does anyone know what gauge those exposed wires are? My calipers say I need 30 gauge wire for a complete fix since tiny silicone sleeve came off one.

Bonus: I understand warranty or return but I’d just like to make it clear it’s really not that serious. You remove the pads, unscrew two screws, pop out the magic sound maker, and tap tap with the soldering iron. Now that know what I’m looking at I could probably fix this in a minute since I cheat with an electric screwdriver. The worst part was waiting for my iron to heat up and that takes a whole 20s. There was no real chance anything bad would happen… to the headphones. I could’ve burned myself.

Overall a great confidence boost in my diy abilities like unscrewing screws… or holding a wire with tweezers. Thank you all. Imma gonna go make a microwave more powerful or something now.

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ratmfreak t1_jdb461i wrote

Why wouldn’t you exchange them for a new pair?

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CultofCedar OP t1_jdb5kvu wrote

They were “open box” but basically new and included the warranty. I could have tried but don’t think I would’ve gotten such a good deal. A smarter person would’ve probably just gone through warranty but it was a simple fix. I’m generally pretty eager to try and fix things myself.

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AntOk463 t1_jdbjp5j wrote

It is pretty simple to fix, but if it has warranty from Sennheiser then I would just get it fixed by them instead. Don't want to make the problem even bigger.

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CultofCedar OP t1_jdbl01k wrote

While I did partially pick up a new one because it has a warranty, it was more like “fresh for me to ruin on my own”. I’m a fan of modding/customizing so things break. Generally if I break it myself, then I gotta fix it. I don’t think I’ve actually ever utilized a warranty. If plastic snapped or something I would’ve returned/warranty but I’ll take every opportunity to tinker I guess.

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AntOk463 t1_jdbmkjn wrote

This is probably the easiest thing to fix on headphones, and I might even try fixing them myself if i don't want to wait and they will still look good after, but if it's anything bigger, like a damaged driver or housing, then in not even going to try.

I actually tried a ambitious project a few months ago, and it didn't go as planned. I took off galaxy buds plus and wanted to make them into a bluetooth receiver because it's good quality compared to the cheap one I was using and because I have a samsung phone it uses a higher quality bluetooth codec and everyone who has tested said they do sound noticeably better with a samsung phone. There was a a YouTube video I was following, but thatcwas for the original galaxy buds, and looked relatively easy, but for the Buds plus the driver is glued into the housing, so I couldn't take it off, and I couldn't desolder the speaker and expose the contact pads because they were on the other side. I tried for a while but couldn't do anything. Before that I converted them to run off USB instead of the battery and that was successful, I plug them in and they both show up on my phone, but then the project dies there. I already had the wire stripped and ready to solder to the sound output, so I just gave up on it.

I have a cousin who still uses the original galaxy buds, I'm going to wait until the battery on them die and he might just give them to me. Then I might try again. I even made a housing for them.

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CultofCedar OP t1_jdbnux5 wrote

Honestly after going inside of these I think I’d be tempted to swap out whatever. It breaks down nicely, I was surprised.

I try to stay away from things I don’t understand well like software or batteries so that project already sounds complicated. Especially on something so small. Everything looks easy when someone else is doing it.

Interesting on the Samsung codec. I’ve had every Fold and this is news to me… possibly because I use an iPhone/AirPods for music usually. Folds getting more love these days though since it can output Ldac… not that I can really tell a difference if I’m being honest haha.

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AntOk463 t1_jdbqn8k wrote

It might be something more than codec, lots of people who are into audio can't tell the difference with better codec, but even normal people can easily tell samung buds sound better on Samsung phones, I think it's the same for Apple as well. Some people say they make other devices purposely sound worse and then say it's just the codec, or they apply a slight eq which makes everyone perceive them as better.

Also the battery and software part was very easy. For software I paired them to my phone and turned off touch controls because I was going to unplug the touch sensor and didn't want it freaking out, turned off transparency mode because it would freak out as well if this worked. And the battery was easy, there was a positive and negative contact pad, you have to solder the positive and negative end of the USB wire to them, the only hard part was soldering them individually and connecting them together into 1 USB port. One bud didn't work so I had to remove it and solder again until it worked.

It was a huge pain to work on it, something so small and I have very little experience and lacked the propper equipment for the job, probably the most janky soldering set up anyone has ever seen.

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Matasa89 t1_jdc04th wrote

Just use the warranty and get a proper new unit. You might as well use it if you got it.

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Maneisthebeat t1_jdevwxy wrote

I've always been terrified of the thought of trying it, but I'm intrigued by the thought of being able to repair my own equipment. Where do I begin?

Soldering iron is incoming...

PS mine just arrived a couple weeks ago. First time I tested removal and they needed a firm tug unsettled me a little, also. Magic headphones however!

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CultofCedar OP t1_jdf4962 wrote

Well soldering skills came from quads. There is a lot of soldering required on some small things. Sometimes you mess up and just reset by rewiring everything from scratch. From there I kinda just tried to fix what ever broke with varying success.

This fix was like a 1/10 for complexity. It was literally two screws and we’re soldering. There’s a lot of other things you can fix/mod but varying difficulties. An example of hard would be the 0603 led. I’ve had the pleasure of soldering some of those without the wires. Breathe too hard and they disappear because they’re so small.

I’d recommend a “Pinecel” since it’s only ~$25. That was my “upgrade” after my Hakko that cost 4x broke. Super neat little thing and it can run off of a power banks usb-c. Add in some solder, flux, wick, desolder pump (desolder gun sounds cooler but they’re $$$), and a sponge/brass. I use pretty cheap basic stuff. The Pinecel is the real game changer.

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