Introduction: 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)
Step 2: Open Up the ER-6i Headphones
Step 3: Disassemble the ER-6i Headphones
Use a pen to pry off black (or white) housing from clear portion. Do one side, then the other, and wiggle it off. Pull on the clear part lightly to unstick the wire glued to the inside of the black housing, and then pull the cable up and through the housing to give it more slack. You can untie the cable now too, if you want.
7 Comments
8 years ago on Introduction
YOU, sir, are a genius! I despaired when my old, beloved ER•6is started cutting out (loose connection near the plug), but I am ridiculously pleased to report that they are now successfully grafted onto an Apple cable - a far better cable than the Etymotics originally came with.
It's aliiiiiiiiiiiiive!
One question: it appears in the final photos that you reused the small plastic cable stress reliefs (removed in the first photo of step #2). I think I can still find mine in the trash. If you're so inclined, perhaps a quick edit to the text to save them in step 2 and re-install them at the end?
9 years ago on Introduction
Brilliant! Thanks a lot for posting. I just completed this and it worked perfectly. My ER6is had a loose connection at the plug end so the sound cut in and out. Now they work like new. Words cannot describe my joy! Thanks again.
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
great! mine are still working now, almost exactly 3 years (and two accidental washing machine trips) later.
11 years ago on Introduction
Nice work! I'm about to perform the same surgery - this was a helpful reference.
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
great! i'm glad it was useful for someone.
12 years ago on Step 10
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!
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
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 :)