How to hack an Etymotic ER-6iPhone Headset

{an instructables debut.}

You love your Etymotic ER-6i headphones. Mine decided that the plug should start being sketchy, leading to me having to gaffer tape them in a specific orientation to keep sound going in the left ear.

At the same time, my iPhone headset earbuds started to get a little "meh" (ie. rubber coming off the earbuds), and I missed the sound isolation of the ER-6i in the BART transbay tube, since I was using the iPhone headset for the convenience of the remote. (I used to have an old iPhone, but the new one doesn't have the same headphone jack problem so that's a moot point.)

Thanks to this flickr set by jeffb, my main resource. I also referenced this video.

Step 1 Supplies!

You will need:
Etymotic ER-6i headphones
Apple iPhone Headset
3/8" diameter, 2:1 or 3:1 heat-shrink tubing (found at a hardware / electronics store)
(alternatively, you could probably just use electrical tape or something, but I didn't try it)

Tools:
a soldering iron (with thin / fine tip)
a heat gun (or alternatively, a stove, or high power hairdryer and the corner of a box?)
scissors / knife / xacto / diagonal cutters (various sharp implements)
maybe some small needle-nose pliers... (or nimble fingers).
a pen, with a thin tip.
1/16" drill bit (depending on your patience)
maybe some sticky tack to hold stuff (see step 8)

Comments

[phidauex]

Nice work! I'm about to perform the same surgery - this was a helpful reference.

[zerol8on]

great! i'm glad it was useful for someone.

[fishboymichael]

The nice people at Etimotic will be happy to send you a set of replacement clear covers for your earbuds if you call and ask!

[rosestoney]

the last picture how you had to have it at a certain angle to work.. its an easy fix :)
go buy some $1 headphones at the dollar store, cut of there jack with a bit extra wire to strip and solder to and trade this working $1 jack for the non working one :)