Modified Sennheiser CX300 - Y-style cable

[dfkt]

I really had it with the damn J-style cables of my CX300's... the kind of cable where the left one is longer than the right one, so you're supposed to wear it round your neck.

First, it's always tugging on the left ear more than on the right one - and I hate that imbalanced feeling. The left earplug is always bound to fall out cause all the strain is on it, and none on the right earplug. Second, this J-style cable prevents me to wear the cables up and around my ears, the way I like to wear my Ultimate Ears and V-Moda IEMs. Not only is it more secure and the cables are better hidden, but it also eliminates some of the cable-microphonics, of which the CX300 has plenty. Microphonic cables means that a lot of noise is transferred to your ears when you touch the cable, or it moves around your clothing. The CX300 is one of the worst IEMs in that aspect. It's much better now with the Y-style cable, with equal lengths for both earplugs.

So I cut the molded plastic cable divider in half with an Exacto Knife, slipped a piece of heat-shrink tube on the cable (the angled 3.5mm plug is flexible enough to get a 1cm diameter tube over it), twisted and knotted the longer right cable and secured it into place with the heat-shrink.

I left the remainder of the molded cable divider on the left cable, so I know which plug goes into which ear. Useful when putting the CX300 on in the dark... All in all, the cable's now only 15cm shorter than the ones on my V-Moda Vibes, so it's still quite pocketable and useful on-the-go.

It's not overly pretty, maybe I'll redo it with more consistent loops and knots, but it works well - and I'm wearing the cable under my shirt anyways.

Voila, world's first Y-style cable CX300 (probably).

[CrowdAds]

[JDGAFFLIN]

Terrific mod. I actually am going to try that...

[dfkt]

Already used it for some hours... Y-cables are so much better than J-cables, IMO.

The only slight advantage with J-cables that I can think of is that you can let them hang down your shoulders when you take the plugs out. But that's about it - everything else is annoying about them, IMO.

[JDGAFFLIN]

I agree. Im not a fan of the J-Style at all.

[gorcorps]

Originally Posted by dfkt

Already used it for some hours... Y-cables are so much better than J-cables, IMO.

The only slight advantage with J-cables that I can think of is that you can let them hang down your shoulders when you take the plugs out. But that's about it - everything else is annoying about them, IMO.

I got used to it. I actually like being able to drape them around my neck when I have to listen to somebody.

[dfkt]

The way I use them (cables up around the ears), I can take them out of the ear canals and they stay in place... nearly the same solution.

[t-nine]

Nice mod! I'll probably use this when I buy my CX300's...

[WalkGood]

dfkt,

You hit the nail on the head with the CX300’s! They look awesome…


The two things that bother me the most are 1 - Cable microphonic’s and 2 - the J-cable as you stated. I get the microphonic sound just from the wind hitting the cables...

Once I get a break as I’ve been working way too much I’ll give it a try. I’ve found that a softer cable has less microphonic’s, is that your experience as well? And did you think of total cable replacement?



As always dfkt, thanks for all you share with us......Nuff Respect!

[dfkt]

Thanks Ray.

Yeah, a total recabling is certainly possible. It should be easy to pry the plastic shells of the CX300 open, then glue them back together again. (See the fake CX300 thread for pics of an opened CX300.) The Ultimate Ears replacement cables would be nice for that. I just don't know how much the heat from the soldering gun would harm the dynamic drivers inside.

I like the soft cables on the CX300 - now that I can wear them up round my ears, they have a lot less microphonics than before.

[WalkGood]

I don’t know if I have the huevos to bust open the plastic shells and attempt melting the drivers, but I wouldn’t have a problem cutting them close to the actual shell under the plastic sleeve and trying to either replace the sleeve or using the existing sleeve to cover the splice over. See attached pic (your’s BTW, so I don’t take credit for the pic). Thanks for the link for the cables, have you tried them for microphonics?

[dfkt]

I meant the stock cables of the CX300 are quite soft, and I like them - now, over the ears. Yeah, I have Ultimate Ears IEMs, and the cables are nice quality, very sturdy. Also UE's plug design is the best, IMO - it's the flattest angled plug I know of, it doesn't stick out of the player much.

Splicing the cables just below the plastic sleeve would work, too... it's not the prettiest method, but much safer than opening the CX's shell. Once you cut the cables you could slip on much thinner diameter heatshrink tubing to cover up the spliced section.

(Lol, "huevos"... we use "eggs" in German with the same meaning... )

[JKnz]

Good post and great idea. Only got my CX300s the other day and already the cable microphonics and j style cable are getting on my wick. Looks like a pretty simple process to fix up!

[noam790]

Thanks mate!
I've just got my cx300 few days ago and became pissed from the cable so I've looked for solution and used your's and it's just great now!
great idea!

[dfkt]

Cool, glad it works for you. Good thing it's really easy to fix this "flaw" in the CX300.

[Drive-In-Freak]

I know this is an old post..but..

Thanks for the tip. Not only are they more comfortable that way, but FM reception improved quite a bit too.

"J" cords are often horrible as an FM antenna.