Flexible headphone / earphone cable - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: akis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 12, 2014, 04:52:02 pm
content: I am looking for a flexible headphone / earphone wire like those you buy with headphones/earphones attachedI have shifted through the whole Farnell catalogue and cannot see anything like it, but I am willing to accept that my search skills are crap.So it must be 2 cores and a shield, or two shields, and it must be very thin, like 2mm, and very soft and flexible to sustain mechanical stresses. Just like you'd expect from earphones/headphones wires. I have bought some "microphone" wire but it is like 5mm in diameter and not as soft and flexible as I would like.

author: German_EE
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 12, 2014, 05:31:17 pm
content: Please search for 'Litz Wire' and you may find what you need. Please be aware that this wire is VERY difficult to solder.

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 12, 2014, 06:31:14 pm
content: Search for tinsel wire.

author: akis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2014, 08:05:36 am
content: What I am looking for is actually "headphone wire". A selection below:This is flat and will not get tangled easily:http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00D44WPTS/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1this is also flat and will not tanglehttp://www.amazon.co.uk/Veho-Noise-Isolating-Earphones-Tangle-Orange/dp/B0063W8VLO/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_topor the more traditional, round cable:http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00K35XI88?psc=1****************************************************All the above are examples of very thin cable, with 2 conductors plus shield, which is exactly what I want. However I have not yet found an outlet that sells the wire without the earphones attached!

author: kolonelkadat
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2014, 06:38:46 pm
content: Something like this?http://www.mouser.com/Search/m_ProductDetail.aspx?Belden-Wire-Cable/8643-060100/&qs=sGAEpiMZZMs5/3jTaGtq4Eob7Xt7tpul2xwzfck%252byME=Its got conductors for stereo audio. You can always change that in the filters though.

author: akis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2014, 09:21:49 pm
content: Quote from: RobertoLG on September 13, 2014, 08:21:19 amThis site is very helpful they have all lots of wires, I hope to find there something like what I am looking for.

author: akis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2014, 05:48:46 pm
content: Quote from: kolonelkadat on September 14, 2014, 06:38:46 pmYes thanks. The problem is I need a very soft wire. I have bought three types of microphone cable, mono and stereo, and the insulation material is hard and not the soft gel type material we see on earphones. Unless this rubbery material has a special name, I cannot look it up on Farnell or Mouser because they do not say how soft it is.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2014, 12:27:53 pm
content: Quote from: akis on October 07, 2014, 05:48:46 pmSilicone?

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 09, 2014, 01:02:44 pm
content: yes, you need to be looking for silicone, might also be classified as high temperature cable toolikehttp://www.awcwire.com/part.aspx?partname=6709510-54you might also find some headphone extension cable that you can chop the plugs off if you cant find a proper supplier:http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/380989300718

author: david77
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2014, 01:11:14 pm
content: It might be neopren insulated wire you're looking for. Very soft but have no idea where to get it.

author: akis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2014, 09:54:59 pm
content: This is so hard. There are two types of cables in abundance in almost every home, but there is no ready supply at the normal outlets, eg Farnell or Mouser etc.1) earphone round and flat cables2) laptop adapter cablesThe web sitewww.lunashops.comdo sell earphone extension cables which are thin and flexible, but I have failed to explain to them that I need a few meters to cut myself to whatever length I want.

author: akis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2014, 10:04:18 pm
content: Quote from: dexters_lab on October 09, 2014, 01:02:44 pmI did exactly that, bought 4 different types of cable on ebay...

author: bigsky
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2014, 11:27:49 am
content: This type of cable is generally custom made for the headphone manufacturer and is difficult to get by itself.However, Farnell do have some thin 2 core screened cables:http://uk.farnell.com/pro-power/860160-25m/cable-2-core-7-0-1mm-25m-black/dp/1190229?Ntt=119-0229- 2 core screened - a DEF STAN 61-12 style - 3mm diahttp://uk.farnell.com/pro-power/3027442/cable-7-0-1-scrn-2core-100m/dp/1202693?Ntt=120-2693- 2 core oval screened - 2 x 2.8mmThese are both standard-ish types and may be available from RS or CPC as well,As you're in the UK, Canford Audio have a few things that may be of interest:http://www.canford.co.uk/Products/34-210_CANFORD-GPH-CABLE-2-pair- figure of eight stylehttp://www.canford.co.uk/Products/30-910_MOGAMI-2697-CABLE- miniature 2 core screened - 2.5mm diameterhttp://www.canford.co.uk/Products/30-501_CANFORD-MST-CABLE-1-pair- miniature 2 core screened - 2mm diameterHere's something else from another pro-audio supplier:http://www.vdctrading.com/shop/van-damme-cable/audio/analogue-single-cable/van-damme-reduced-od-console/van-damme-reduced-od-console-cable-black-per-metre/- miniature 2 core screened - 2.7mm diameterSome headphone manufacturers (eg Sennheiser and BeyerDynamic) sell replacement cables for their headphones.At the risk of stating the obvious, the thinner the cable, the more fragile it is. Some of the above cables have 7/0.1mm cores, which are probably only suitable for use in fixed applications inside equipment. Some headphone manufacturers actually use steel-reinforced cables to prevent the cable being stretched and the copper breaking.Hope this helps...