Shuffle Headphones

Attach an iPod Shuffle (or other tiny MP3 player) directly to your over-the-head headphones. I built these so that I could listen to music while machining, without the loose cables that would like to acquaint my head with the business end of the milling machine. As it turns out, this set seems much more comfortable than earbuds for extended listening, and it has taken their place for everyday usage.

Step 1: The ingredients

1. A set of over-the-ears headphones. I used a junky set that's been sitting in a box for ten years.

2. iPod shuffle, or other light-weight music player. The shuffle claims to weigh 0.78 ounce (I didn't weigh mine). Substitute a heavier player at your own risk-- of headache.

3. An inch or so of Velcro (not shown, yet).

4. Implicitly, you will also need a soldering iron, shrink wrap, wire cutters, and so forth. If you aren't comfortable with these, maybe it's time to go shopping for a nice new set of wireless headphones!

Comments

[TTAMREKRAP]

Its funny seeing this now, thinking back to when the first shuffle was tiny. :)

[general-Insano]

I did the same thing for my touch by just using a rubberband instead of velcro.

[dpocius]

I put my shuffle in a fabric slip case (made for the shuffle, with control markings on the outside) and used a Velcro strap to attach vertically in-line on the side of the headband. Works great. Also, if you can find a pair of phones with a detachable cord, like Sennheisers, you can make a tidy short replacement cord.

[baneat]

The alessandro MS-1s are a good example of the changeable cord.

[baneat]

Equation audio RP21 sorry.

[baneat]

Main problem with these for me is that A: the weight is uneven B: the one beside the shuffle sounds totally different because having electricals right beside a speaker changes the sound.

[oskay]

A: With the newer shufle, there's really no weight to speak of-- it weighs less than the old cord did. B: I *really doubt* you could hear any difference-- I certainly can't. In any case, the quality of these headphones is so much better than that of regular earbuds that it's a clear win.

[baneat]

Sony MDR-V6? Yes, they're very good. With an open set it will screw with the sound because it blocks the hole. Just an interesting fact, Hi-fi systems will sound better in the day because less people are using their mobiles.

[Siebe]

Wow! Are you the Evil mad scientist? I once made your bristlebot i believe it was called :)

[oskay]

Yup, I guess that's me. :) Bristlebots are good....

[kn100]

i got an old pair of mdr-p10s sitting around, but i still use them, they just sound soo good awesome base response

[mexicoxican]

it makes me sad to think that a nice set of headphones like the MDR-v6 sat in a box unused for 10 years. i have a set and i love them to death.

[theRIAA]

im wearing mine right now :D

[UtopianBookmobile]

I agree. They are probably the best headphones available for their price range, and to think they've been sitting there neglected for a decade, it's quite saddening.

[yoyoyo]

(removed by author or community request)

[iCanshowyouhow]

NO THEY DON'T. I have a second gen shuffle, and they are literally, and I mean LITERALLY indestructable! I snowboard with mine. I messed up on a jump and slammed down on my shuffle, sliding it across PURE ICE!! I jumped up and looked at it. There was no scratches, the music kept playing and there was no snow clogged in it

[sam]

cool. I was thinking about something along these lines. I'm glad someone posted this. i was thinking about putting the shuffle on the headband for a more "inline" thing.. but w/e this works too!..

[radiorental]

think about the ergonomics. Having them inline will cause a little bit of cognitive adjustment 90 degrees as you mentally map to the controls In the image of the lady shown, raising your arm will have a direct correlation to the controls and therefore be more intuitive- if you see what I'm saying.

[blog.darkforestdesign.com]

Awesome idea! If you already made some jackhammer headphones - http://www.instructables.com/ex/i/CFE3912A6BAC1028A786001143E7E506/ - then maybe you could fit the entire shuffle inside, and then there would be no external wires to get caught in the business end of... well, anything. Great project!

[oskay]

You certainly could fit the whole shuffle in the jackhammer headphones. These are smaller headphones, and there isn't really any extra space "inside" them.

[radiorental]

dont forget you need to hit pause when the boss is shouting at you and whats the point in owning an ipod if no one can see the whiteness? Cool project, functional.

[radiorental]

or maybe you want to increase the volume when the boss is shouting.. either way it needs to be on the outside.

[oskay]

From the standpoint of machining safety, you don't want your music up so loud that you can't hear the awful noises that tools make just before they break.