Introduction: DIY 70's Style Headphone Bluetooth Modification
I had picked up these Sound Design headphones at a flea market a number of years back for a few dollars. When I tried them one of the speakers would cut out, sort of a disappointment, but nothing that couldn't be fixed. I figured they would be used for some project eventually. I liked the design of them so I wasn't going to throw them away.
Now, more recently I had purchased a pair of bluetooth headphones for my smart phone, and although I loved the wireless concept I wanted them to be practical as real headphones for my non-bluetooth devices. Otherwise I'd be taking two pairs of headphones to work, a wired pair for my laptop (which doesn't have bluetooth capabilities) and a wireless pair for my smart phone.
What a dilemma, eh?
While browsing around I had found another instructable where a user had velcro strapped a bluetooth adapter to his headphones and I wanted to do something similar, but a little more in depth with the wiring. Now I had an idea to make headphones that doubled as wired and wireless and I had a pair of headphones I wasn't worried about scrapping in the process.
(I'm aware now that they actually sell headphones that do both jobs, but what's the fun in that?)
Step 1: Ordering the Bluetooth Adapter
I found this HDE Bluetooth Receiver on Amazon fairly cheaply. Paid less than $15 after shipping and it's interface was simple with just an on/off switch and a 35mm jack output and a mini usb for charging. Plus the size of it seemed perfect to gut and insert inside the giant headphones
HDE Link on Amazon (If the adapter moves or is taken off of amazon, google it).
The pager-like case opened pretty easily by wedging a screw driver in the crack to separate the top and bottom.
The original idea I had was to wire the speakers and external jack straight to the board, but the circuit there was pretty small so I gutted a male headphone jack off a pair of earbuds and wired that up accordingly.
Step 2: Gutting the Headphones; Wiring the Speakers to the Adapters
These headphones originally had two volume knobs on each side and a switch which converted them from stereo to mono, which was handy then, but I wouldn't need those for this project, so I gutted those parts out. I converted the stereo/mono switch to a power switch for the bluetooth, which I'll explain in the next step.
Here's the diagram of my wiring for the speakers. Excuse my 5th grade drawing...
The bluetooth headphone jack out was wired into the speakers, left, right, and ground, accordingly. Additionally the external jack was wired to these points so both sources go to the speakers.
The female 35mm jack was hot glued to the bottom of the headphones where the original cable was.
Step 3: Making the On/off Switch
On the bottom of the bluetooth adapter were the nodes for the on/off switch. I just wired these to the stereo/mono switch that was already in place in the headphones. This will allow me to turn the adapter on and off so the outside of the headphones retain their original look.
Step 4: Final Look
After everything was wired and tested I hot glued the items to act as insulation so nothing shorts out when I jam it all together.
The final product is practically identical to what I started off with, aside from the female jack where the original cable used to be. The only issue I have at the moment is that I cannot recharge the battery on the adapter without having to remove the speaker. I will need to find a spare female usb mini port and wire it in accordingly. I have a space where the volume knob used to be where I can mount the port.
Whole project was done in an afternoon. Now I have some cool looking 70's style headphones that work with any wired or wireless device I have.
Runner Up in the
Hack It! Contest
Participated in the
DIY Audio
34 Comments
5 years ago
hi there! i try to make this project, but the bluetooth sound on my headset is too low! anybody have the same issue?
9 years ago on Introduction
awww...i've been looking to mod some hearing protection earphones into bluetooth headphones. so far, im digging this tutorial most...but i was REAAAAAALLY hoping for an insight on battery charger from you.
but, you did mention finding a spare mini-usb thing to wire in, so i'll look into that.
good job! thanks for the idea.
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
haha, I still never got an extension for the charger. I'm terribly lame in that sense.
9 years ago on Introduction
Well, here's mine. Similar wiring, but my Li-ion battery is not on the same side as the circuit.
9 years ago on Step 4
I'm starting to take apart my Pioneer SE-450's, and I'm wondering what side you put the motherboard on, and have you figured out a solution for the charging?
Reply 9 years ago on Step 4
I put my board on the left ear side, which was the side that had the main cable originally. Since all the wires consolidated there, it worked best. For the charging, I still open them up at the moment. Since they hold a charge for a long time, it's not that inconvenient. I found some mini usb parts that I'm going to wire a tiny extension with to mount to the outside. I still need to do that update, huh? hehehehehe
10 years ago on Introduction
I have a cool idea to adapt kchapman8's idea.
I'd like to wire up the same PS Controller buttons/bluetooth set-up for use with my iPhone, but wire the set-up to an earphone and mic headset for use in a motorbike helmet (flat earphone pads and small mic that are secured to the inside of the helmet with velcro). The idea would be to have the PS buttons protruding from the left side of the helmet from the wearers perspective.
However, I haven't a clue about the wiring diagram for such a set-up. Could anyone offer a hand please?
10 years ago on Introduction
Alright, here's my hack job. Doesn't look it from the pic, but lots of using the solder gun to shape plastic. Yeah, I got antsy. But, 95 % operational. The "Triangle" button kinda sticks. Otherwise, enjoy my version
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
That's awesome! I like that the bluetooth lights show through the buttons too. So they function as the volume and track buttons, right?
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
Yeah, the light was an added bonus I wasn't sure would happen. Controls all work, although triangle button sticks a little.
10 years ago on Introduction
A few more. Don't mind my messy house :-P
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
I don't mind :)
10 years ago on Introduction
Hey congratulations on being a finalist in the hack it contest! Good luck to you!
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
Thanks! :D
10 years ago on Introduction
Also waiting for Google to fix their bluetooth issues on 4.2, otherwise bluetooth is useless
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
Awesome. They should fix that right away. Otherwise it'll keep other people from using it. I'm still on 2.something-something.
10 years ago on Introduction
Ordered my "donor" bluetooth headphones.
Gonna turn my Sony mdr-v6 into bluetooth.
Using buttons from a ps3 controller as play/pause,vol up/down,track fwd/rev, PS pairing button as play/pause
Just waiting for my headphone shipment, pics to follow
10 years ago on Introduction
Did the bluetooth change the sound quality at all?
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
Between the bluetooth adapter and the regular phono plug there is some difference in sound quality. When the cable is in, it does sound better. The bluetooth tends to have a 'tinny' sound, but that's also probably due to the cheap adapter I bought.
So, not really, in comparison to how it was before. Also before I did this mod, one of the speakers would cut out often, so I ended up re-wiring them entirely. So technically they're better now :)
10 years ago on Step 4
you can scrap a mini usb plug from an old phone, ols hard disk usb case or some note book motherboard have one too