DIY - $25.00 Soundproof HiFi Headphones

Mowing, chainsawing, jack-hammering, running compressors, etc.  Wouldn't it be nice if you could listen to music or podcasts while you're doing these loud tasks?  Want to actually hear your iPod?

This DIY article will show you step-by-step how to construct completely soundproof, high fidelity headphones using firing-range rated ear protection and high quality headphones.  You can literally ride your lawnmower while blowing leaves and chainsawing shrubbery, and all you will hear is Hotel California in your ears.

Wrapping each ear in its own individual sound studio, and completely blocking out exterior sound is pretty shocking the first time you put them on.  These headphones sound incredible.

They are so good, in fact, that they can be dangerous.  If you build with care as instructed here, you will have built headphones that put you in a bubble, absolutely null to the outside world.  You will only be able to hear what's playing through the headphones, and only a visual cue will be able to get your attention.  Please remember that it can be dangerous to block out all outside noises.  
 
This will take about two hours from start to finish.

Step 1 Materials

#1 - Firing-range hearing protection
        [Peltor President - $15.00] - Great brand, very comfy, most sport a -26 DB rating.

#2 - Headphones
        [KOSS KSC-75 - $10.00] - Hands down, the best headphones you can buy under $50

#3 - 6 ft long Red / White stereo cable with 3.5mm mini-plug.
        [Any brand - $2.00 or less]

Side note - Don't waste your money on an expensive cable.  Things that matter are thickness, how it feels (rubbery, not plastic'y), and a tight 3.5mm connection. 


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[The quality of your headphones and hearing protection does matter however.  I built mine with the above components for $25, and they sound incredible, but you can certainly spend more if you're a real audiophile.]

Comments

[bluelite]

Love mine! Great isolation. Terrific sound.

[Teguess]

Very thorough instructions, easy to follow. This guy definitely knows his way around a set of headphones!! Thanks for the great post!!

[katiesalvatierra]

This idea is genius!

[El.Jefe]

AMAZING sound quality. You can not buy a set to sound and perform better. Thanks for the post you truly changed my life for literally 25 bux!! You Rock!

[deusexmachina]

Awesome instructable!

[stefire]

Simple Idea, usually the best. Closest thing out there commercially are racing radio headphones, stupid expensive, not stereo. I'm building a pair this weekend.
Well executed and a fantastic Instructable. A touch of humor makes everything better.Thank You

[stormyapril81]

These are so awesome, it's almost unsettling. It's an awesomely unsettling experience. The closest comparison I can think of is the old-school headsets in music stores, except the sound is exponentially more crisp and clear and the outside noise is COMPLETELY blocked.

[Wesquire]

First off, thank you Dsjackson for the great build. The instructions were perfect. I had no soldering experience and made it from your instructions.

For anyone building it, my hardest part was getting the ear muffs back in with the headphones inside. If you make sure that the headphones fit flush in there from the start, it is a lot easier. Also, put the headphones in BEFORE you put the muffs back in. When you put the muffs in, crinkle the foam around the headphones first (think wrapping an apple in a napkin that isn't big enough). Then lower one side in at a 45 degree angle, making sure to keep the entire headphones crinkled like when you began. Then put in the other side of the same headphone. Repeat for the other ear.

This helped a lot.

Thanks again for the great build, Dsjackson. Great sound. Great Instructable.

[hawkz]

In step 4, the second pic shows headphones with padded head band. Where did you get these headphones and are the compatible with the mod. What's keeping me from choosing other ear muff protectors is the ability to route the wire to the other side.

[dsjackson1]

The headphones I used in the tutorial are Sony behind-the-neck style sports headphones - just because I had them laying around. It doesn't matter what kind of headphones you use, as long as they are over-the-ear style with a big, round driver. Earbuds won't work because they can't produce enough sound. You can take ANY paid of headphones and hack them up like I did in the tutorial

You can use any kind of ear muff protectors you like, but I much prefer running the wire through the headband. I once made a pair and tried zip-tying it all in place, which works, but didn't look nearly as nice.

[dohse]

The headphones I'm using for the drivers are the same Sony headphones used in the instructions. Since it is the type with only one cord going into the ear pieces, one of the headphones has wires going out to the other earphone. The earphone without any "out" cords looks just like the one in the picture, but what about the one that both "in" and "out" that also has a green cord?

Thanks, I have everything ready to go and all I need to do is solder, but I'm afraid of botching it!

[dsjackson1]

To make it simple, there may be extra stuff in there. Each driver should have exactly two wires soldered onto it, not more and not less. If there's anything else - cut it off. You solder twice on each driver, that's it. Positive and negative.

Just cut that additional wire that goes through the headband off - it was just carrying the signal to the driver on the opposite side. If there are any additional wires, like the green one you mentioned, cut them off. If you've already identified a positive and a negative to solder, don't worry about it what the green wire was supposed to do. You don't need it.

If you're unsure, test each driver by touching the wires to the solder points I showed in the Instructable before you solder. Plug in your Ipod, and once you get sound, solder it down. Remember, SOLDER FAST. Clean the points, get your iron really hot, and make a quick dot. If you hold the heat to the driver for more than a few seconds, you will burn the voice coil up. Let me know if you have any more questions.

[dohse]

Thanks - I amateured my way through it. I had never soldered before so I decided to avoid burning out the drivers by leaving a length of the original wires on the driver and soldering that to my Y-cord. Figured out which wires on the driver I needed by doing exactly what you suggested and cut off the rest. My soldering looks like absolute crap (so I was smart by not trying to solder it to driver) but they are hidden in the ear muff and more importantly, it works. Project came out awesome and was a good excuse to get my feet wet with a soldering iron.

[bowmaster]

This is cool. I have a pretty nice (as in, $20 nice) pair of over-ear headphones that broke (plug got yanked at an angle, completely destroying it) that had good sound quality but terrible noise isolation. Can't wait to mod them into these.

[CrawJac]

I did this with some cheap earbuds and they are great! It was so simple and I can't hear a thing other than the sound from my iPad. Thanks!

[cta93]

Any anticipated problems with substituting other ear muffs, such as the Howard Leight L3 or similar? I like the design, I just want slightly higher DB protection. Thanks!

[dsjackson1]

I don't think the process would be any different with the Howard Leight headgear. They appear to be built the exact same way as the Peltor earmuffs I used.

If you're worried about DB protection, take care to not mangle the foam when you're carving the divot. Measure properly and use a sharp razor blade, and try to make one long cut instead of "chopping" at the foam with the razor.

Those foam inserts are THE sound blocking barrier. Be calculated and think "surgeon". If you tear, stretch and mangle the foam, you'll damage that sound blocking barrier.

If you run into any problems just post it and I'll try to help. Good luck-

[cineris]

Anyone know a good place to find that cheap audio cable?

[hawkz]

Yeah man. You can get some cheap & good quality silicon wired audio cables from monoprices.com

While you're there, pick up some 3.5mm to 3.5mm f/f adapters and use them with this retractable cord for a wire extension. Pull apart the retractable cord (throw away the spring components and you'll have a pretty slender extension for your new awesome headphones!

Audio Cable:
http://bit.ly/HgXvX

3.5mm to 3.5mm f/f adapter:
http://bit.ly/qZdsJp

Retractable cord:
http://bit.ly/gNRkrX

[Lisa_1202]

Great idea, Daniel!!!!

[amyj303]

The best headphones I've ever used!

[thunderlightning]

What a great idea - and the instructions are so helpful!